More than a fashion accessory or a digital assistant, the connected watch for men reveals the personality of the wearer. But you still need to find a model and a brand that meet your expectations and are affordable. Save time in your research with our guide to the best connected watches for men.
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Our selection
"A man will choose the Garmin Venu SQ MusicLight if he's looking for something that looks like an Apple Watch, just as stylish, but not…"
"Not easy to succeed the Huawei Watch GT! But the Huawei Watch GT 2 takes what made the success of its predecessor while improving it:…"
"Released last year, the Garmin Fenix 6 Solar has a discreet design, reminiscent of classic watches. But its smart functions and autonomy will impress you.…"
"The latest version of the Apple Watch, the Series 6 Cellular, includes significant hardware and software updates. It remains a safe bet in terms of…"
A man will choose the Garmin Venu SQ MusicLight if he's looking for something that looks like an Apple Watch, just as stylish, but not as expensive. Also, the performance and build quality are on point.
180 £ on AmazonThe Garmin Venu Sq MusicLight will follow you at work or during a running session. It is a watch with a design more neat than the other Garmin watches. In addition to its lightness and its thinness, we like its square screen with golden and rounded edges. Note also the simplicity of the interface, almost entirely based on the monitoring of physical activities and health measurements.
The Garmin Venu SQ MusicLight accesses its own app store, the Connect IQ. But there aren't many apps, and most of them are about fitness. And for the quality of manufacture, you will not be disappointed: Gorilla Glass 3 screen, aluminum contour, in short only good.
Not easy to succeed the Huawei Watch GT! But the Huawei Watch GT 2 takes what made the success of its predecessor while improving it: longer autonomy, improved design and serious upgrade of the app for a better interface.
96 £ on AmazonDesign-wise, there's nothing to complain about: the Huawei Watch GT 2 is a success. The Classic version takes a more professional approach compared to the GT 1, with its leather strap close to the industrial design. As for the buttons, there is no crown, but there are two physical buttons on the right side. One is the home button, which also displays the built-in app switcher, and the other is specifically for tracking health and launching workouts.
At 326 ppi, the GT 2's display is crisp, very crisp even when compared to the entry-level competition. The AMOLED panel is nice and bright on the outside, but could have been slightly brighter at the highest setting. Finally, the watch does not feel thick or bulky on the wrist. It fits comfortably under shirt sleeves and does not interfere with sports activities.
Released last year, the Garmin Fenix 6 Solar has a discreet design, reminiscent of classic watches. But its smart functions and autonomy will impress you. It even has solar charging!
394 £ on AmazonIf you like to go on adventures, treat yourself to the Garmin Fenix 6 Solar. With a battery that lasts for 6 days, it also has a solar charging mode to help out if you're far from a power source. This high-end connected watch has a devilishly accurate GPS function. It also monitors your health, especially your heart, with heart rate data analyzed 24/7, even in the shower.
The many notifications are neatly arranged, visible and audible if needed. For hikers, athletes and campers, the pulse oximeter can be useful in the mountains. The Garmin Fenix 6 Solar measures the oxygen level in your blood using light beams (Pulse Ox sensor) on your wrist. In terms of additional options, you will be able to benefit from the Garmin Pay contactless payment functionality.
The latest version of the Apple Watch, the Series 6 Cellular, includes significant hardware and software updates. It remains a safe bet in terms of connected watches for men, especially if you like the brand.
411 £ on AmazonVisually, the Apple Watch Series 6 looks like the recent Apple Watch (Series 5 and Series 4). You have the same rounded edges that blend into the screen as well as the traditional digital crown on the side. On the back of the Apple Watch 6 Cellular, you have a heart rate monitor that has been updated many times, and here includes new features such as blood oxygen detection and ECG monitor.
It's mostly in the hardware and software interface that Apple has made some major changes. The screen uses a beautiful OLED panel, which allows for incredible contrast between black and white tones and draws the eye to everything on the watch. It's also 5ATM certified. You can wear it for swimming or diving to 50 meters for 10 minutes. Finally, this Cellular model has a SIM card slot for making calls like a real iPhone.
Any specific needs?
The best connected watch for men in 2021
The best entry-level connected watch for men
The best high-end connected watch for men
The best connected watch for men at Apple
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In accordance with our commitment, this buying guide does not contain any sponsored products. |
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| OUR SELECTION |
Garmin Venu SQ MusicLight
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Huawei Watch GT 2
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Garmin Fenix 6 Solar
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Apple Watch Series 6 Cellular
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A man will choose the Garmin Venu SQ MusicLight if he's looking for something that looks like an Apple Watch, just as stylish, but not as expensive. Also, the performance and build quality are on point.
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Not easy to succeed the Huawei Watch GT! But the Huawei Watch GT 2 takes what made the success of its predecessor while improving it: longer autonomy, improved design and serious upgrade of the app for a better interface.
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Released last year, the Garmin Fenix 6 Solar has a discreet design, reminiscent of classic watches. But its smart functions and autonomy will impress you. It even has solar charging!
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The latest version of the Apple Watch, the Series 6 Cellular, includes significant hardware and software updates. It remains a safe bet in terms of connected watches for men, especially if you like the brand.
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Compatible systems
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iOS and Android
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iOS and Android
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iOS and Android
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iOS
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Screen tile
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Amoled
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Amoled
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LCD
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LTPO Oled Retina with Force Touch
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Screen size
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1.3 inch
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1.39 inch
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1.2 inch
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1.78 inch
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GPS and Glonass
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Calls
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Caller notification
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Caller notification
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Caller notification
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Receive and call directly from the watch
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Since most connected watches assist the smartphone, device compatibility is very important. For example, the Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Watch Active 2 running on Samsung's Tizen operating system are compatible with both Android and iOS smartphones. Competition makes it easier to use these two watches with an Android smartphone than an iPhone, while Apple does not expect any compatibility with a system other than iOS or Mac OS. In the end, don't buy a connected watch for men unless you know it will actually work with your smartphone.
Beyond the size, which will not exceed 2 inches, you have to take into account the slab used. Most smartwatches embed a colored LCD screen, an OLED screen or an AMOLED screen. The latter displays photos, applications and other content with richer and brighter colors. In addition, connected watches for men with an AMOLED screen have a better battery life than others. You can also opt for a black and white screen if you want something more vintage or save even more battery. Note that the most expensive connected watches have an OLED screen, allowing for a thinner watch. Apple developed its first OLED screen to make the Apple Watch as thin as possible. But it was Samsung that produced the very first connected watch with an OLED screen, namely the Galaxy Gear.
The best connected watches offer different strap choices, in terms of colors and design. In addition, most connected watches offer many customization options before purchase. For example, you can choose the color and material of the band, as well as the finish and size on high-end models such as the Moto 360 and Apple Watch.
This
criteria flows directly from the design. Keep in mind that comfort matters, as does ease of attachment to the wrist. You should also avoid connected watches with hard-to-operate clasps. Fortunately, most new generation models use standard buckles. More and more smartwatches are sporting rounded lines, so they can be mistaken for classic watches. The latest models are becoming increasingly slim. Moreover, traditional watchmakers are joining the competition with connected watches and autonomous operation.
Opting for a touch screen for a connected watch is a no-brainer. But selecting items on such a small touchscreen is not easy. And some of the gesture-based interfaces aren't very intuitive. The Wear OS stands out with card-based notifications that you can easily ignore with a swipe. But there's a lot of swiping to do to access other apps and options. Apple opted for a combined approach, offering a touchscreen, a digital crown and a side button on the right side. You can use the crown to quickly zoom in on content or to scroll. The screen uses Force Touch, which knows the difference between a click and a long press. A press on the side button takes you to the frequently used application dock. Finally, at Samsung, specifically the Galaxy Watch and Samsung Gear 3, a bezel has been added to rotate to see the scrolling menus. These are used in combination with a set of touch gestures.
Because it is on your wrist, the connected watch is exposed to multiple dangers. It can easily collide with elements in the environment and/or get wet. Does this mean you need to increase your level of vigilance?
Well, some connected watches, like the Casio Pro Trek WSD-F30 and Mobvoi Ticwatch S2, meet military standards for durability and can withstand harsher treatment than others.
In addition, many of today's connected watches are water resistant, like the Apple Watch Series 5 or the Kate Spade Scallop 2. Not all of them have a protective sapphire crystal film on the screen, which adds a level of scratch resistance to the screen and provides a nice reflective sheen. But you have to pay more money for this kind of model.
If you want to make sure you can wear the device of your choice in the shower or for swimming, you need to think about the water resistance level of the watch and check the IP rating carefully.
It's wise to treat your connected watch with care, even with these extra levels of protection, but no more than with a traditional watch.
A smartwatch is very similar to a regular watch but is not mechanical. Instead of gears that turn the hands, a connected watch has a processor and a touch screen for the watch face. Unlike regular watches, connected watches display more than just the time and date.
Connected watches can work independently, but are often paired with a smartphone. If your smartwatch is connected to a smartphone, you'll receive notifications on the watch's screen for emails, texts, and calls. You can also play music stored on the phone or even access photos. Note that the features of connected watches can vary depending on the brand and model. Some models have built-in cameras and even support SIM cards.
Activity trackers are highly specialized in the features they offer compared to traditional connected watches. Like connected watches, fitness trackers can be synced with apps installed on the smartphone. However, fitness trackers are designed with one particular purpose in mind: to monitor your health. Fitness trackers have smaller screens and are slim compared to traditional connected watches. In addition, they also tend to be sweat resistant.
Fitness trackers are usually equipped with a range of sensors to monitor your sleep, heart rate, distance traveled, time traveled, pace and many more. Some fitness trackers can also display the time and phone notifications, similar to connected watches. Overall, if you buy a fitness tracker, you can expect a range of features related to health and physical activities.
In short, connected watches, depending on the model, are more versatile. If you are willing to pay the price, you can have a connected watch that will serve as both a miniature smartphone and a fitness tracker. On the other hand, if your budget is quite limited and you are only looking for a gadget to monitor your overall health, a fitness tracker will do very well.
Choose your connected watch according to your needs
Connected watches are relatively new gadgets. Their features and functionality will continue to evolve over time. Before you overcommit or overspend, decide which features are important to you.
When searching, pay attention to the brightness and contrast of the screen
Unlike
regular watches, a connected watch should be bright so you can use it in daylight. Look at the quality of the screen, especially the brightness and contrast of the screen. If a connected watch has good performance and lots of features, but the screen is unreadable in daylight, you may have a bad experience.
Choose a connected watch that uses a micro USB charging cable
When it
comes to charging, it's best to opt for a micro USB charging system, as it's easier to find a cable when you lose or forget the one that came with your device
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For an efficient follow-up of your physical activities, always opt for fitness trackers
More
and more brands of connected watches are incorporating activity monitoring features into their products. Most of these connected watches that have a built-in heart rate monitor are unreliable compared to a watch designed solely for that purpose. Only the heart rate sensor in the Apple Watch proves to be more accurate than others.
If the connected watch you want requires a proprietary charging cable, buy an extra one.
Some smartwatches have their own charging cable interface, so they can't be charged with standard micro-USB cables. No matter how your smartwatch is powered up, keep a spare cable at your desk or in your bag - you never know when you'll need a charge on the go.
The best connected watch for men depends on your needs and budget. Read our buying guide for the best products available.
There are currently three main operating systems found on almost all connected watches on the market: Google's WearOS, Tizen OS and Apple's watchOS.
It's a silly question, but one that deserves an answer. Traditionally, connected watches were tech gadgets aimed at a primarily male audience. But things have definitely changed over the past decade. Women are now just as likely to own a connected watch as men.
Yes. There are a few connected watches that can work independently of a smartphone. The Apple Watch series and the Samsung Galaxy Watch are among those. That's because they have their own cellular connection. This is a premium feature, and you'll shell out more money to take advantage of it. This will allow you to make calls and respond to texts.
The camera is one of the most used features on a smartphone. So if connected watches were to replace smartphones, they would have to offer a very good camera module. Right now, connected watches are way off the mark.
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