5 best smartwatches of 2021

2021 saw the release of several impressive premium smartwatches.

According to Counterpoint Research’s Global Smartwatch Model Tracker, these helpful wearable gadgets are growing in popularity.

Total global shipments of smartwatches reached 9.9 million in the third quarter of 2021, between July 2021 and September 2021, an increase of 16% over the same period in 2020.

Apple has dominated this market over the last few years. In the fourth quarter of 2017, one in every two smartwatches sold was made by the Cupertino tech giant.

But the picture has changed drastically in recent times, with Samsung leading the charge for brands typically used with Android smartphones.

In Q3 2021, Apple claimed 21.8% of the total market share, meaning around 1 in every five smartwatches sold was an Apple Watch. This was down from 28% over the same period last year.

Samsung, meanwhile, increased its share from 9.9% to 14.4%, primarily thanks to its critically-acclaimed Galaxy Watch 4.

Amazfit, Imoo, and Huawei were the other major manufacturers during the period. These Chinese brands primarily catered for the low-end market, with many options available at less than $100 (about R1,600).

Aside from their benefits for fitness and health tracking, smartwatches can help you stay on top of your phone’s notifications, send messages, take and place phone calls, stream music to your wireless earbuds and even make tap payments.

We’ve assembled a list of the top 5 smartwatches released this year, considering performance, design, and features as our main metrics.

Galaxy Watch 4 / Watch 4 Classic

For the Galaxy Watch 4, Samsung ditched its own Tizen OS and collaborated with Google on its new and improved Wear OS.

Using this operating system ensures better integration with the Android ecosystem and Google apps, which reviewers have praised.

Other highlights on the Watch 4 include snappy performance, a large AMOLED display, and body composition analysis.

Apple Watch Series 7

The Watch Series 7 keeps what works from its predecessors and fine-tunes some of the shortcomings. It is Apple’s biggest, most powerful, and most durable smartwatch yet.

Notably, the 20% larger screen area can fit nearly 50% more text. While the battery life is roughly the same as its predecessor, charging is 33% quicker, allowing you to fill the smartwatch from 0-80% in about 45 minutes.

Oppo Watch 2

While it’s not being sold in South Africa, the Oppo Watch 2 makes for an intriguing import from China for those Android users looking for a watch reminiscent of Apple’s.

The Oppo Watch 2 comes with Android Wear OS, ensuring optimal integration with Google, and packs the fast Snapdragon 4100 processor paired with a massive 510mAh battery that can last up to four days in smart mode.

Huawei Watch 3 / Watch 3 Pro

 The latest entry in Huawei’s flagship smartwatch range runs its own HarmonyOS, which promises smoother performance than its predecessors.

It features a bright, high-resolution AMOLED display with minimal bezels, offering a stylish look.

Garmin Venu 2s / Venu 2

The Garmin Venu 2 strikes the perfect balance between a fitness-oriented sports watch and a premium smartwatch.

Its packed with fitness and training features in an understated design that makes it less bulky than Garmin’s hardcore sports offerings.

Now read: Best 5 smartphones released in South Africa in 2021