The Best Smartwatches of 2022: Here are the Top 5 I’ve Tested
2022 has been a great year for smartwatches and fitness trackers. There were a ton of devices, and we tested around 40 of these options in 2022, and half of them were smartwatches. They were available in almost every category and for all types of consumers.
So, here are the Top 5 smartwatches that I have tested this year.
| Galaxy Watch 5 | Amazfit T-Rex 2 | Apple Watch SE 2 | Pixel Watch | Huawei Watch GT3 | |
| Price | 299$ | 229$ | 249$ | 349$ | 249$ |
| Chipset | Exynos W920 SoC | Exynos 9110 | Apple S8 | Exynos 9110 | |
| Screen | 1.4-inch AMOLED Display | 1.36-inch AMOLED screen | 1.78-inch Retina Display | 1.2-inch AMOLED Display | 1.43-inch AMOLED Display |
| RAM + ROM | 1.5GB + 16GB | 32MB + 512MB | 1GB + 32GB | 2GB + 32GB | 4GB + 32GB |
| Battery | 410mAh | 500mAh | 295mAh | 294mAh | 455mAh |
| Speaker & Mic | Yes & Yes | No & No | Yes & Yes | Yes & Yes | Yes & Yes |
| NFC | Yes (NFC) | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| LTE | Yes (LTE) | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, optical heart rate, barometer, light sensor, and geomagnetic sensor, GPS
|
BioTracker 3.0 PPG Biometric Sensor, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Barometer, Ambient Light Sensor, Barometer, GPS | HR Sensor, Accelerometer, Barometer, Altimeter, Gyroscope, GPS | Optical Heart Rate Sensor, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Ambient Light Sensor, Blood Oxygen Sensor, Multipurpose Electrical Sensor | Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Geomagnetic Sensor, Optical Heart Rate Sensor, Temperature Sensor, Air Pressure Sensor |
| Weight | 33.5 grams | 66.5 grams | 33 grams | 36 grams | 35 grams |
Galaxy Watch 5
The first one on our list is Galaxy Watch 5. A proper watch for the android ecosystem is designed to work with almost every smartphone except iPhones. The 5th generation is more capable but not more powerful than the previous generation. It has very similar hardware, but the improvement on the software side is quite spectacular.
Galaxy Watch 5 has a fantastic build quality with a sound and minimal design that gets even better in pro versions. Detailed HR tracking, precise SpO2, sleep and stress tracking, ability to make main calls, and much more. In short, Galaxy Watch 5 is leading the game with its excellent features and functions.
But there are some shortcomings, like a complicated smartphone ecosystem. It requires 3 to 4 apps to function properly. Moreover, some fitness features like ECG and Blood Pressure monitoring only work when paired with a Samsung Phone.
Overall, it is an excellent feature-rich watch with exceptional build quality, software integration, and good battery life. So, if you are a Samsung user, then Galaxy Watch 5 is a valuable product.
Amazfit T-Rex 2
Next, we have the rugged Amazfit T-Rex 2. It is another champion watch that is a perfect fit for athletes. The sporty and almost indestructible watch has a high waterproof rating, military-grade construction and can work in extremely low and high temperatures. It feels great on the wrist and has precise GPS and fitness tracking options.
The rest of the things are almost perfect, with easy navigation through 4 buttons and touch, over 100 sports modes, an excellent smartphone app, and long battery life of nearly 20 to 30 days.
There is a vital piece missing, which is the speaker and mic. So, you cannot change music with voice commands and cannot receive and make phone calls through the smartwatch.
Apple watch SE 2
Among the list of top smartwatches of 2022, the third one is Apple Watch SE. The watch provides the best user experience and can make calls and many cell phone tasks on the go. It also has an LTE version which makes it even more practical device.
Like Galaxy Watch 5, Apple has followed the footsteps of Samsung by keeping the hardware the same and making tons of changes in the software, making it the best functional extension of an iPhone. You can respond to text messages, make phone calls, measure precise health matrices, and many more intelligent features.
Apple Watch SE 2 is a fantastic and functional smartwatch, compatible with almost every health and business app you need. Moreover, the difference in terms of usability and feature is minimal compared to Apple Watch 8, while it costs almost 2 to 3 times the price.
Pixel Watch
Let’s make an about-turn to the Android smartwatch. Google took a very long time, but the Pixel watch was finally here in 2022. Equipped with a Samsung chipset, Fit Bit’s health care integration, and Android OS Google Pixel is a watch to be seen in the near future. As the watch is going to get more and more exciting.
Right now, I think it is a little out in every department. But I really liked the experience of using the Pixel Watch, and it’s a substantial deal for android users.
The health tracking could be better, and the price is quite steep, but with regular software updates, Pixel Watch will compete against the high-end Apple and Samsung smartwatches.
Top Smartwacth of 2022 – Huawei Watch GT 3
Finally, we have my favorite smartwatch of 2022. It was launched in 2021, but the Pro version arrived in May 2022. So, I will consider it a 2022 smartwatch. Huawei Watch GT 3 is a great bang for the buck device, and the performance boost is quite significant compared to the previous generation.
The rotating crown is as functional as in Apple Watch, and health tracking features are the best in class. Battery life is another strong side. Moreover, Huawei has been working tirelessly and infusing regular software updates. And now Huawei Watch GT 3 has proper integration of Adidas Running and Strava, adding incredible value to the smartwatch.
Wrapping Up
So, these are the top 5 smartwatches that have impressed me with their incredible performance, beautiful design, excellent user experience, precise fitness tracking, and robust construction. And I think these smartwatches deserve the most attention this year.
Check out our YouTube video to learn more about smartwatches.
