10 Hot Smartwatches, Fitness Trackers For Your Holiday Gift List
Wearable tech gadgets, such as smartwatches, are popular must-haves on holiday shopping lists. Here, we take a closer look at this season's best picks from Apple, LG, and Fitbit.
![](https://eu-images.contentstack.com/v3/assets/blt69509c9116440be8/bltb3c52dc600cb24fa/64cb3e1c8b0242c7d323de43/AppleWatchIntro.png?width=700&auto=webp&quality=80&disable=upscale)
It has been a big year for wearables, with the launch of Apple Watch, an updated Microsoft Band, and the growing popularity of smartwatches and fitness trackers from LG, Asus, Fitbit, and Garmin.
In August, IDC reported that worldwide shipments of wearables topped 18 million units during the second quarter, an increase of 223% over the same quarter a year earlier.
Now the big question is: which models are on everyone's holiday shopping lists?
To find an answer to this question, market research firm Argus Insights evaluated more than 6,000 reviews of wearables submitted by consumers to online shopping sites between October 4 and November 11, 2015. The idea was to gauge consumer opinions immediately before the holiday shopping madness kicked off on Black Friday.
In the resulting report, Hot Wearables Headed into Black Friday & the 2015 Holiday Season, Argus researchers revealed select smartwatches and fitness trackers preferred by consumers, and also determined a few trends shaping the wearables market throughout the holiday season.
[Google plans $1 million donation to special education programs during 2015 holidays]
Data indicates quality is a priority for the wearables market. Consumer demand for wearable tech has dropped 4.36% year-over-year, according to the Argus report, but those who are shopping for fitness trackers and smartwatches are browsing high-end devices.
The trend is mirrored in Black Friday promotions from retailers offering deals on Apple Watch, including Target and Best Buy. Apple has yet to release data on Watch sales, but research from Canalys indicates the company has shipped nearly 7 million units since it was released in late April.
Apple Watch is one of the top wearables listed by Argus in its report, which details market trends and hot products entering the 2015 holiday season. Devices from Asus, LG, Fitbit, and Garmin were among those ranked highly by consumers.
Smartwatches may be packed with apps and cool features, but consumers are putting health first. "Despite the laundry list of features available on most smartwatches, consumers spoke most fondly of fitness focused capabilities," according to the Argus report.
Given this, the demand for smartwatches has not yet overwhelmed that for fitness trackers, explained Argus Insights CEO John Feland in an interview with InformationWeek. He predicted the smartwatch market will continue to grow as issues around battery life and utility are resolved.
With Cyber Monday behind us, holiday shopping is in full swing. Here, we take a deep dive into which smartwatches and fitness trackers are stealing the spotlight, and the trends shaping demand for wearables in 2015.
**New deadline of Dec. 18, 2015** Be a part of the prestigious InformationWeek Elite 100! Time is running out to submit your company's application by Dec. 18, 2015. Go to our 2016 registration page: InformationWeek's Elite 100 list for 2016.
The Lumo Lift Posture & Activity Tracker is leading the demand for fitness wearables with its posture-correcting coach, according to Argus report. It's not a wrist-worn device, but a small sensor you clip to your shirt.
The tracker uses biomechanics monitoring sensors to track angle displacement and recognize when you start to slouch. When you do, the device gently vibrates to remind you to straighten up. The idea is those reminders will improve posture over time and decrease the risk of back pain.
In addition to its posture coach, the Lumo Lift records steps taken, distance traveled, and calories burned. You can access all of this health data through a compatible app for iOS, Android, or Windows Phone.
The Lumo Lift retails for $79.99.
The Apple Watch proved popular in the Argus smartwatch rankings. The classic Apple Watch is the most popular model, followed by the Apple Watch Sport.
Consumer opinions on Apple Watch highlight a common trend in the wearables report: size does matter. Among the four Apple Watch models on the list, smaller devices were in higher demand (38mm and 42mm for both Classic and Sport).
Most Apple Watch owners wear their devices daily and report the two most useful features are the ability to send and receive notifications, and to track health and fitness data. Subpar battery life and reliance on the iPhone were two common complaints.
Other features in Apple Watch include access to Maps, Siri, Apple Pay, and third-party apps from companies such as Salesforce and Groupon. The newly released WatchOS 2 delivers greater customization, new watch faces, and the ability to "time travel" through your schedule.
Feland, of Argus Insights, said he was unsurprised to see Apple Watch in the top spot, even with its starting prices of $350 for the Sport and $550 for Apple Watch. Wearables are only now beginning to see growth, he explained, and many people already trust Apple products.
The Pebble Time Steel was another top pick from the Argus Insights report. Demand for the high-end smartwatch supports the data indicating customers are willing to pay for quality and style.
The $250 Pebble Time Steel smartwatch, a $50 upgrade from the Pebble Time, has a thicker, all-steel body that's water resistant for up to 30 meters. Unlike other smartwatches, it swaps the touchscreen for physical buttons located on the side of its face. In that sense it's a watch-first, smartwatch-second device.
Physical differences aside, Pebble Time Steel has the same core capabilities of other smartwatches. The Pebble Time Steel provides basic fitness tracking and push notifications, alerts you to incoming calls, and comes with a selection of hundreds of different watch faces.
If you're looking for the more advanced features of Apple Watch or Android Wear, it may not suit your needs, but if you want a basic wearable to show texts, track steps, and have a battery that lasts for days, the Pebble Time Steel may be a good fit.
The Moto 360 2 offers greater customization in the event you're shopping for a hyper-picky friend or family member (or, let's be honest, yourself). It's an upgraded version of the Moto 360 and irons out kinks, including the oversized display.
While building your smartwatch, you can choose between a 46mm or 42mm face, three colors of steel for the bezel, and 14 different watch faces. The band comes in black or brown leather, or in silver, gold or black metal.
Additional hardware features include a heart rate monitor on the back of the face, accelerometer, gyroscope, and easily interchangeable bands. The face is water resistant in up to 3 feet of water for up to 30 minutes, but you'll want to be careful when exposing its leather strap to the elements.
You can use the Moto 360 2 to track fitness data, such as steps taken and calories burned, receive push notifications for messages and news, and set reminders with your voice. It's also compatible with Google Maps and Google Keep, which lets you make to-do lists and save photos for later access on your laptop or smartphone.
Google promises 1.5 days of battery life for mixed use with ambient lighting off, and up to one day with the lighting on. The Moto 360 2 runs on Android Wear but is also compatible with iOS. It comes with 512MB RAM and 4GB internal storage.
The Moto smartwatch sets the bar for the Android smartwatch experiences, said Feland.
Prices for the Moto 360 2nd Gen start at $300.
The Microsoft Band was a popular option in the Argus wearables report, but Microsoft's recent upgrade to its fitness tracker may also prove in-demand this holiday season.
At $250, the second-generation Band is pricier than its predecessor but comes with a sleeker and more comfortable design, Cortana integration, and additional sensors for tracking elevation and VO2 max. It works with Windows Phone, Android, and iPhone.
Customers shopping for fitness trackers are on the lookout for devices equipped with heart rate monitors, said Feland. The Band is one of many health wearables with this in-demand feature.
Microsoft Band is classified as a fitness tracker with 11 sensors that monitor data, from UV exposure to heart rate, but it has some basic smartwatch capabilities. The Band also displays emails, text messages, calendar appointments, and call alerts, and has a tiny onscreen keyboard for writing responses.
Battery life is a promised 48 hours of normal use, but using advanced features like GPS will cut into that.
If you're looking for an Android smartwatch at a lower price, the Asus ZenWatch will only cost you $200 -- a welcome savings from the Moto 360 2 and other competitor smartwatches.
The Asus ZenWatch comes in 37mm and 41mm models with silver, dark gray, or rose gold frames available. Its AMOLED display is covered with curved Gorilla Glass, and it has a small power button on one side. It's water resistant in up to one meter of water for up to 30 minutes.
Its basic features are the same you'll find in Android smartphones: Google Now cards and notifications, touchscreen navigation, and voice recognition for sending messages and taking notes. An Android app called ZenWatch Manager offers additional features: you can change the watch face, receive an alert when you've wandered too far from your phone, or mute your phone from the watch.
ZenWatch has the fitness tracking capabilities you'd expect. Asus Wellness provides data on steps taken, calories burned, heart rate, and distance traveled. In a unique twist, it also uses a biosensor to track your relaxation level, and aims to give you advice based on the results.
The ZenWatch doesn't the have advanced features of some other smartwatches, but you'll get a handsome device and basic smartwatch capabilities for a reasonable cost.
Samsung's smartwatches are noticeably absent from the Argus Hot Wearables report, noted Feland, who explained how Samsung has focused more on packing its smartwatches with new capabilities than on tying those features together to create an optimal user experience.
While Samsung has some work to do in the smartwatch space, its Gear Fit health tracker is a popular pick this holiday season. Like the Microsoft Band, this device is a fitness tracker enhanced with some smartwatch capabilities.
The Gear Fit, which normally retails for $150, has a curved touchscreen display and is water resistant for up to 30 minutes in one meter of water. You can switch between horizontal and vertical displays as needed, depending on whether you're checking steps or reading an email.
On the fitness front, the Gear Fit tracks steps, heart rate, distance traveled and calories burned. You can set the tracker to running, walking, hiking or cycling mode, and enter a goal time/distance/caloric burn before you start exercising so that the real-time coaching kicks in. Health data is recorded in Samsung's S Health app.
As a smartwatch, the Gear Fit is an accessory to compatible Samsung smartphones. It displays calls, texts, emails, and notifications for a few apps. The alerts continue while you're exercising, which could be helpful or annoying.
The battery life is a reported three to four days with typical usage, and up to five days with low usage.
Garmin Vivofit isn't flashy, but it puts fitness first.
The $100 health tracker offers accurate data via an always-on display attached to a durable wristband. It's water resistant for up to 50 meters and runs on batteries, which have a promised one-year lifespan.
Vivofit learns your activity level and assigns a daily goal, which changes as you meet certain milestones to encourage an increasingly healthy lifestyle. The display shows steps taken, calories burned, and distance traveled, as well as monitoring sleep quality.
The band actively encourages you to keep moving. If you've been inactive for one hour, a red bar appears on the screen to prompt you to move around.
Data is recorded and stored in Garmin Connect, which also enables you to join online challenges or start fitness competitions with friends. You can compete to earn virtual badges through the app.
Garmin's Vivosmart, which retails for $150, is also on the Hot Wearables list. It has the same basic capabilities as the Vivofit, but also provides vibration alerts for incoming calls, texts, and emails from your smartphone.
The Fitbit Zip, which retails for $60, is a solid choice for anyone seeking a budget fitness tracker.
The Zip is a bare-bones tracker compared with other fitness gadgets on the market. It works as a pedometer and uses steps to calculate total distance traveled and calories burned. Like the Lumo Lift, it's not a wristband but intended to clip on a belt or pants pocket.
Health data recorded on the Zip automatically syncs via Bluetooth to your iPhone, Android, or Windows smartphone or computer. It's water resistant and its replaceable watch battery lasts a promised six months.
Other popular Fitbit devices listed in the report include the Fitibit Charge HR and Fitbit Surge.
The Charge HR, at $150, is a subtle wristband designed to track heart rate, workouts, distance, caloric burn and floors climbed. It recognizes when you exercise and records data in the Fitbit app. You can also receive call notifications from compatible smartphones.
Fitbit Surge, at $250, is the priciest Fitbit on the list. The GPS watch monitors distance, pace, elevation, and heart rate, in addition to calories burned and steps taken. You can use it to record runs, bike rides, and other workouts through multi-sport mode, receive call and text notifications, and wirelessly sync to your smartphone or computer.
The LG G Watch is less expensive than the latest Microsoft Band, but at $230 you still want a capable device that's going to last. It serves as an extension of Android phones running 4.3 or later by displaying email, call, and text notifications, and information from certain apps.
G Watch is also integrated with the Google Fit health tracking service for storing fitness data it records on the go. The touchscreen face has no physical buttons, so you interact via voice, taps, and swipes. It's handy for vocal interactions if you want to ask about anything, from calorie counts to movie times.
You can opt to have the display always on, or switch off after a period of time if you need to save battery. LG promises a full day on a single charge. The G Watch is water resistant enough to survive a splash, but you'll want to take it off before swimming.
The LG Watch Urbane, which retails for $350, was also noted in the Argus report. It's a higher-end smartwatch, built of leather and steel, that runs on the Android Wear OS.
The LG G Watch is less expensive than the latest Microsoft Band, but at $230 you still want a capable device that's going to last. It serves as an extension of Android phones running 4.3 or later by displaying email, call, and text notifications, and information from certain apps.
G Watch is also integrated with the Google Fit health tracking service for storing fitness data it records on the go. The touchscreen face has no physical buttons, so you interact via voice, taps, and swipes. It's handy for vocal interactions if you want to ask about anything, from calorie counts to movie times.
You can opt to have the display always on, or switch off after a period of time if you need to save battery. LG promises a full day on a single charge. The G Watch is water resistant enough to survive a splash, but you'll want to take it off before swimming.
The LG Watch Urbane, which retails for $350, was also noted in the Argus report. It's a higher-end smartwatch, built of leather and steel, that runs on the Android Wear OS.
-
About the Author(s)
You May Also Like