Did you know, that Apple prefers their customers to visit a local store — through appointment — to preview the various Apple Watch models before making a purchase?
It’s true. You can purchase an Apple Watch online through Apple’s website, but the process can be a little confusing to say the least. There are some guides that will help you choose the right model, but that’s beside the point.
Don’t worry though. This is not a staple of the smartwatch industry as a whole. Other companies have easy ways to purchase a smartwatch online, such as Google who has an entire section of their online marketplace — Google Play — dedicated to Android Wear smartwatches.
Pebble, one of the most popular smartwatches, also has an online store where you can purchase one their many models.
In the end, it really comes down to what type of smartwatch you want. But how do you decide? What are some of the best watches available? That’s where we come in.
What are the Best Smartwatches to Buy Online?
When it comes to this list, try to keep in mind we’re specifically talking about the devices that are the easiest — and best — to purchase online. We’re not talking about what Best Buy may have on their shelves, or what various electronic stores may carry.
In addition, we’ll try to keep it to the point. If you’d like to know more about smartwatches, in general, be sure to check out some of the other articles in our “learn” section.
Sony Smart Watch 3
Sony’s latest model in their SmartWatch series is the third edition. It’s running Google’s Android Wear OS, and it includes a variety of Sony branded applications out of the box such as Sony’s LifeLog. There is a variety of integrated sensors to track fitness data like calories burned, steps were taken and more.
It boasts a waterproof rating of IP68, which means it can be submerged for up to 1 meter for about 30 minutes or so. It comes in several colors including black, brown, yellow, silver and leather brown.
The retail price is $249.99 and you can purchase it through Sony’s official site or via Google Play.
You could also go for the older Sony Smartwatch 2 for about $150 through Amazon.
Moto 360
The Moto 360 features remarkably slim bezels, a completely minimalist design, comfortable wristbands, and a sizeable, round display that just seems to capture your eye. Of course, it is a little large especially when it’s mounted on your wrist, but we challenge you to find a comparable smartwatch that is noticeably smaller. They all seem to be pretty bulky these days.
At launch, it did suffer from rather lackluster battery life and a few performance issues. However, the device has since received updates to fix any problems that did exist. Battery life is improved, screen problems have been addressed and the Android Wear OS has even seen a few feature updates recently.
At $249.99 the Moto 360 is a bit more pricey than some of the other options out there but it is hands down one of the best smartwatches on the market currently. You can purchase it from Motorola, or via Google Play.
LG G Watch R
The G Watch R is the rightful successor to the G Watch, which was quite frankly an average device. The G Watch R improves on nearly everything that was flawed or missing from the G Watch. The large, vivid display is round and attractive. It uses the entire screen, unlike the Moto 360 which has a small unusable sliver on the bottom due to sensors. It even mimics the style and design of a traditional wristwatch and ends up looking a hell of a lot like a diving watch. That said, it’s powered by the Android Wear OS so the experience you get on this device and others — a la Moto 360 — is nearly identical.
At $299, the G Watch R is a little more expensive than some of the other options on this list. The G Watch R is an incredible device all around and offers some truly practical uses. It also achieves well over two days of battery life — provided you’re not relying on it heavily — which is world’s better than most comparable watches.
You can purchase it from LG, or via Google Play.
Pebble Steel
It’s relatively easy to overlook the Pebble Steel which is the successor to the original Pebble smartwatch, even though it’s better in almost every way. The design, composition and features are all improved.
The Steel costs a bit more at $199, but it’s definitely worth the price. You’d think by now that the Steel would have been far surpassed by many other smartwatches, but that’s just not true. Sure, it’s lacking a few things like a full-color touchscreen display and advanced health tracking support but it still holds its own against the competition.
The best part about the Pebble is the incredible third party support thanks to the SDK which allows independent developers to create custom apps, watchfaces and more for the device.
Thanks to it’s black and white e-ink display it achieves a full seven days of battery life even with Bluetooth active. There are three different styles to choose from, including a dark black, gunmetal polish or a stainless steel one. No matter which model you choose, it comes bundled with two swappable wrist straps, one of the leather variety, and the other comprised of steel links.
Other than the bright display, you’d be hard pressed to discern the Pebble Steel from a traditional timekeeper, which is perhaps what makes it so attractive.
If you like the style of the Pebble but want something with a color touchscreen display you can opt for the new Pebble Time. Either model you choose can be purchased via Pebble’s online storefront or through Amazon.
Asus ZenWatch
While this is yet another Android Wear smartwatch, it is one of the better looking options on the market.
It is running Android Wear like the Moto 360, but as you can see it has a completely different physical appearance and style. The rose gold case and leather strap mesh nicely, making the ZenWatch a great fashion accessory in addition to a functional companion.
The Asus ZenWatch is $199, about $150 cheaper than the base model of the Apple Watch. Unfortunately, Android Wear is only accessible if you have an Android smartphone. If you’re using an iPhone the only option on this list is the Pebble unless you spring for an Apple Watch.
You can pick up the Asus ZenWatch through Google Play.
Do You Know Any Other Great Smartwatches?
That’s it for our list of the best smartwatches to buy online. If you know some others that we missed, feel free to mention it.
The Apple Watch is great, but it doesn’t hurt to have a little competition in the space. Keep in mind, we’re not saying any one device is better than the other. We believe it’s best if everyone has the option to purchase a smartwatch.
If you’d like to take a peek at some smartwatches that won’t break the bank, we have a great list of watches for under $110. Or, if you’d rather go with a name-brand device that’s still relatively cheap, hit up our cheap smartwatches for geeks on a budget write-up.