NeutralPickHow to choose the best smartwatch for you: what to check before you buy
This guide lists what to look up for each smartwatch you are considering, before you pay. The same method works for any similar purchase, such as a fitness tracker, wireless earbuds or a phone: write down what matters to you, check every option against the same list, and then compare.
Why the adverts and the shop are not enough
Smartwatch adverts show the best case: the longest battery figure, the most impressive health feature, the watch on someone swimming. The small print often says something different. For example:
- The battery figure in the advert was measured with most features switched off.
- A health feature works only in some countries, or only if you pay a monthly subscription.
- A water rating does not mean what it seems to mean.
Reviews help, but many are written in the first week of use, before the battery has aged or the strap has broken. So check the same things for every watch, using the maker's own specifications and support pages. Then you are comparing the watches on equal terms.
Before you look at any watch
Write down your answers to these four points. They decide which checks in the list matter most to you.
- Your phone. Some watches work only with one type of phone (for example only iPhone, or only Android), and some features need a phone made by the same company as the watch.
- What you will use it for. Notifications, running or cycling with GPS, swimming, tracking sleep, paying in shops, or making calls without your phone.
- How often you are willing to charge it. Every night, or once a week. This alone rules out many watches.
- Your budget, including later costs. Subscriptions, replacement straps, and a battery replacement after a few years.
The checklist
The checks are in three groups. Must have means a problem here can make it hard to use or costly to fix. Nice to have means it makes a real difference for many people. Optional means it only matters to some people. When you open the checklist in NeutralPick, you can move any check to a different group to match your answers above.
- Must have
- Works fully with your phoneDoes it work with my type of phone, and do notifications, replying to messages and calls all work, not only the basic features?Some features only work with a phone made by the same company. Check the compatibility page on the maker's website.
- Battery life the way you will use itHow long does the battery last with GPS on, and with the always-on screen and heart-rate tracking switched on?The battery figure in adverts is usually measured with most features switched off.
- Health readings are estimates, not medical resultsWhich health features are approved by the health regulator in my country, and which are labelled for general wellness only?Most smartwatch readings do not come from an approved medical device. Do not use them instead of seeing a doctor.
- Water rating, and what it actually allowsWhat is its water rating, and does the maker say it can be used for swimming, in the shower, or in sea water?A rating such as 5 ATM or IP68 comes from a laboratory test. It does not mean the watch is safe for diving, and the seals wear out with age.
- A warranty that applies where you liveHow long is the warranty in my country, and does it cover a watch bought online or bought in another country?A watch bought abroad is often not covered by the warranty in your country. Your country's consumer law may give you more protection than the maker's warranty.
- Nice to have
- No subscription needed for the features you wantDo any of the features I want need a paid subscription, and what still works if I stop paying?Some health reports and coaching features are only available with a monthly fee.
- The battery and screen can be repairedCan the battery or the screen be replaced by the maker or by a repair shop, and how much does that cost?All batteries wear out. If the battery cannot be replaced, the whole watch has a shorter life.
- Software updates for yearsFor how many years does the maker promise software and security updates for this model?A watch that no longer gets updates can stop working properly with newer phone software.
- Its own GPS, so you can leave your phone at homeDoes it have its own GPS, so it can track a run or a ride accurately without my phone?Some watches use the phone's GPS, so you have to carry both.
- Contactless payments with your bankDoes paying by tapping the watch work in my country, and with my bank or card?This differs by country and by bank. Check your bank's list of supported watches.
- Your health data stays under your controlCan I use the watch without my data being shared for advertising, and can I export or delete all my health data?Look at the privacy settings in the watch's phone app, not only at the maker's marketing page.
- Optional
- Standard strapsDoes it take standard watch straps, or only straps sold by the maker?Standard straps are cheaper and easier to find.
- Readable outdoors and the right size for your wristCan the screen be read in bright sunlight, and is the watch the right size for my wrist?If you can, try one on in a shop, even if you then buy it somewhere else.
The button opens this checklist in NeutralPick. There you can:
- Remove the checks that don't matter to you, add your own, and move checks between groups.
- Add each watch you are considering.
- For each watch, fill in what you found on the maker's website, its support pages and the shop's product page.
- See every watch side by side.
Want to see what a finished comparison looks like first? See an example comparison with three made-up smartwatches.
Claims to look at carefully
Adverts and product pages often describe the points below in vague terms. When you see one, look for the specific information shown here. If you cannot find it, assume the answer is "no" or "only partly".
- Battery life "up to" a number of days. Look for the figure with GPS on, or with the features you will actually use.
- "Tracks your health." Look for which health features are available in your country, and which need a subscription.
- "Waterproof." Look for the actual water rating, and the maker's own list of what the watch is suitable for.
- The price. Add up the watch, any subscription for two or three years, a spare charger and a replacement strap.
What to do with what you found
- Put all the watches side by side.
- Look at the Must have checks first. If a watch gets a No on one of your must-haves, remove it, however good the rest looks. Look closely at any Partial.
- If two watches are close, read reviews from owners who have used each watch for several months.
- Before you buy, check the shop's return policy.
Why use NeutralPick to compare smartwatches
- The same checks for every watch. You fill in the same checklist for each watch you are considering, so you compare them on equal terms.
- Everything in one table. You see every watch side by side, check by check, instead of switching between shop pages and notes.
- Nobody can pay to influence it. There are no adverts, no paid placements and no "featured" products. No maker or shop can pay to be shown to you or placed higher.
- Free, with no account. You don't need to sign up or pay anything.