With the rapid advancement of technology, smartwatches have become more than just an accessory, offering a wide range of features such as voice assistants, crash detection, call and text support, and long battery lives. Some smartwatches now integrate smart band features which increases the usage scenario of the device. Most recently, we have seen a couple of smartwatches that have a feature that estimates blood oxygen levels. This is a pretty decent advancement in the development of smartwatches. As this year, 2023 rolls out, we take a look at the Top 5 smartwatches that were released this year.
It is however important to note that the devices on this list are the editor’s pick and they are not arranged in order of importance. Also, in addition to specs and overall workability, the devices on this list are considered affordability. This means that some devices on the list may not be the best, however, they have a very high price-performance ratio. Hence, their place on the list.
1. Apple Watch Ultra 2
Apple Watch Ultra 2 is the latest smartwatch from Apple, designed for outdoor enthusiasts who need more durability and a wider range of features than the Series 9. The smartwatch was released on September 22, 2023, and is available for purchase. It supports an Always-On Retina LTPO OLED display with a flat sapphire crystal display, up to 3000 nits maximum brightness, and a size of 49mm. It is powered by an S9 SiP chip, which is much faster than the previous model. This device has a customizable Action button, a Digital Crown with haptic feedback, Side button, and a double-tap gesture. It is rated IP6X dust resistant and has been tested against subsections for Altitude, High Temperature, Low Temperature, Temperature Shock, Immersion, Freeze/Thaw, Shock, and Vibration.
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 has a battery life of up to 36 hours in normal use and up to 72 hours in Low Power Mode. It is compatible with iPhone Xs or later with iOS 17 or later. It comes with a range of sensors, including an accelerometer, gyroscope, heart rate sensor, and barometer. On the software end, this device runs on watchOS 10.1 and has on-device Siri. It is available in new strap colors and is a certified carbon-neutral product. In terms of price, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is priced at $799 in the U.S. It is £50 cheaper in the UK, and AU$170 more expensive in Australia
2. Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic
Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic is a smartwatch that was released on August 11, 2023. It features a 1.5-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 480 x 480 pixels and a density of 453 ppi. The watch is powered by an Exynos W930 chipset with a dual-core 1.4 GHz Cortex-A55 CPU and a Mali-G68 GPU. It has 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal storage. It has Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, and Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity. The watch is equipped with various sensors, including a Samsung BioActive Sensor, Temperature Sensor, Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyro Sensor, Geomagnetic Sensor, Light Sensor, and 3D Hall Sensor.
On the software end, this watch runs on Wear OS 4 with One UI Watch 5. It is also compatible with Android 10.0 or higher with more than 1.5 GB of RAM. The watch is MIL-STD-810H compliant, 50m water-resistant (IP68), ECG certified, and has a blood pressure monitor. This device is available in two versions: 47mm and 43mm, with Bluetooth only or LTE connectivity. The watch has a sapphire crystal front and a stainless steel frame and it supports standard 20mm straps. The price of this device varies depending on the model and retailer. However, on Samsung’s official website, the LTE version of the 47mm model is priced at £384.00. Argos sells the 47mm model for £324.00. The prices may vary depending on the retailer and any ongoing promotions.
3. Google Pixel Watch 2
The Google Pixel Watch 2 was unveiled on October 4, 2023, and officially released on October 12, 2023. The smartwatch is available in two models: the Wi-Fi model priced at $349 and the LTE-compatible version priced at $399. The Pixel Watch 2 features a 1.2-inch 320 PPI AMOLED display with 1,000 nits peak brightness, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n 2.4GHz, GPS, 4G LTE (on the LTE model), 32GB storage, and 2GB RAM.
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This device comes with a 41mm always-on display with custom 3D Corning Gorilla Glass 5 and 320ppi AMOLED resolution. The watch is available in various colors and materials, including 100% recycled aluminium. Under the hood, there is a Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 processor, which is more powerful than the older Exynos 9110 chipset. The watch comes with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, which is sufficient for housing workout songs and other data. In terms of connectivity, the Google Pixel Watch 2 supports Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi, 4G LTE (on the LTE model), and GPS.
The Pixel Watch 2 includes a multi-path heart rate sensor, body-response sensor, skin temperature sensor, Fitbit stress management, and an improved battery life with fast charging. On the software end, it runs on Wear OS, offering improved performance and battery life and it is also compatible with Android and iOS devices. The Pixel Watch 2 introduces new safety features, such as the “Get home safe” timer and Emergency Sharing, which share your location with your emergency contact if you miss checking in before the timer expires.
4. Garmin Vivoactive 5
The Garmin Vivoactive 5 is a sleek and affordable smartwatch with a bright AMOLED display, a variety of health monitoring features, and improved battery life compared to its predecessor. It is a suitable choice for active individuals looking for a comprehensive health and fitness tracking device. Garmin announced the release of the Vivoactive 5, a health and fitness smartwatch with a bright AMOLED touchscreen display. It is designed to be an essential part of everyday life at an affordable price. The Vivoactive 5 was released on September 20, 2023.
The company did not reveal the size of the display but the dimensions of the watch face is 42.2 x 42.2 x 11.1 mm. Also, this device comes with a wrist fit circumference of 125 – 190 mm and a 390 x 390 pixels display resolution. With a decent chip as well as 4GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage, this device is pretty cool. The smartwatch supports Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, allowing users to sync their health and fitness data with the Garmin Connect app. It also features Garmin Pay™ contactless payments, enabling users to make phone-free purchases.
The Vivoactive 5 includes a variety of health monitoring sensors, such as a Gen 4 Elevate heart rate sensor, sleep tracking, respiration rate, and stress tracking. The Vivoactive 5 runs on a custom Garmin operating system, with a redesigned interface that includes a useful Recents menu, expanded shortcuts, and separated app and activity menus. In terms of compatibility, this device supports both iOS and Android devices. It allows users to access their health and fitness information on their smartphones. On the shelf, this device is listed for $299.99.
5. Amazfit Bip 5
The last device on this list is for folks who prefer a pretty affordable smartwatch and one out of China. For this purpose, I choose the Xiaomi Amazfit Bip 5. It is one of the decent smartwatches of 2023. This device is not only affordable, it comes with pretty decent features for its price. The Amazfit Bip 5 is a smartwatch that combines fitness tracking and smartwatch functionality, offering a wide range of features to enhance your daily experience.
This device was released on August 1, 2023, and it features an ultra-large 1.91-inch display. The Amazfit Bip 5 also comes with a resolution of 320 x 380 pixels as well as a sleek design. Its ultra-slim design has a dimension of 45.9 x 38 x 11.2 mm and weighs only 26 grams. With this weight, users could barely feel the weight of this device on their arms. It is also available in various colors, including Soft Black, Cream White, and Pastel Pink.
Hardware
The Amazfit Bip 5 is powered by a MediaTek MT2523 processor, with a single-core 208MHz ARM Cortex-M4 CPU. It supports 1GB of RAM and 4GB of internal storage, which is not expandable. It also supports Bluetooth phone calls, allowing you to connect with your smartphone for calls and notifications. Furthermore, this device features four satellite positioning systems, providing accurate location tracking. The smartwatch is equipped with an accelerometer, barometer, compass, heart rate monitor, and pedometer, ensuring accurate tracking of your fitness goals and health. On the software end, this watch runs on a proprietary operating system. This system has a user interface that is easy to navigate and use. It is also compatible with Android 7.0+ and iOS 12.0+ devices.
Under the hood, there is a 300 mAh battery. It offers a long battery life of up to 10 days on a single charge. It combines fitness tracking, smartwatch functionality, and compatibility with both Android and iOS devices. All of these can be gotten for just £71.49 in the U.K.
Final Words
In terms of smartwatches, this year, 2023, has no doubt brought some interesting devices. Many smartwatches of 2023 in the market are now tailored to users’ specific needs. Thus, the individual preferences of people may vary depending on their needs. This article reveals the features you stand to enjoy with any of the devices on the list.
