Year in Review: From Apple Watch to Garmin, best wearable devices of 2019

It has been an eventful year for fitness enthusiasts, especially those who wanted an ideal companion to track their workouts and offer insights.

The year 2019 saw smartwatches becoming part of daily life for many. These devices not only help you keep track of your daily steps and heart rate but also measure other fitness metrics crucial for overall insights. What’s more, you get regular notifications on apps ranging from WhatsApp to Instagram, and you can reply to them from your watch itself. They can also store music, so you wouldn't have to carry your phone during workouts. With some smartwatches, you could even attend calls.

Of the many launches this year, Business Standard lists top 5 smartwatches that stood out in 2019:

Apple Watch Series 5

Apple Watch

The Apple Watch Series 5 does a lot to ease your everyday life — it is not only a phenomenal lifestyle gadget but also a proactive health support. The addition to an always-on display, a compass, and an electrical heart rate sensor, its own App Store makes this fifth-generation update a fiercely independent device.

Its accuracy in tracking fitness metrics is top-notch, and the deep integration of its watchOS 6 with iOS 13 makes it one of the best smartwatches available right now.

Starting price: Rs 40,900.

Samsung Galaxy Watch LTE

Samsung Galaxy Watch LTE

The Samsung Galaxy Watch LTE, a smartwatch with eSIM support, serves more like a standalone device than a smartphone companion — just like the Apple Watch.

With the Galaxy Watch LTE, Samsung came close to the Apple Watch in terms of utility and features. Easily the best smartwatch at present for Android smartphone users, the Galaxy Watch LTE is the only smartwatch supporting eSIM functionality; its health & fitness features and on-battery time are also impressive.

Starting price: At Rs 30,990.

Garmin Forerunner 245 Music

Garmin Forerunner 245 Music

Most smartwatch launches of 2019 complement everyday lifestyle. But when it comes to a fitness variable for serious fitness aficionados, Garmin Forerunner 245 Music is second to none. The Forerunner 245 offers a slew of performance-monitoring features for those who take their data seriously. That, however, is not to say that it won’t appeal to fancy or casual runners. It indeed comes across as a complete smartwatch with something for all fitness enthusiasts.

Starting price: Rs 34,990

Samsung Galaxy Watch Active

Samsung Galaxy Watch Active

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Active is a fine example of a wearable that is ideal for various situations. It’s both a fitness tracker and an everyday watch that goes well with casual wear.

Consider this watch for its two-day on-battery time, dynamic fitness tracking, ability to customise face and widgets, third-party app support, built-in storage and heart rate monitor.

Starting price: Rs 19,990

Mobvoi TicWatch Pro

Mobvoi TicWatch Pro smartwatch

This premium smartwatch has one of the best displays and a bag full of features. And it can even take on an Apple Watch or a Samsung S3 gear with what it has to offer. The Mobvoi's TicWatch Pro brings a balance between style and performance and can be an ideal companion if you want to keep track of your everyday activities.

Starting price: Rs 20,249

Fossil Gen 5 review: Fascinating smartwatch that leaves you asking for more

Smartwatches usually look great, but choosing the right one is not always easy, especially if you have an Android smartphone. Some Android-compatible smartwatches do offer a balanced mix of utility and features, but many others focus more on design than utility. The Fossil Carlyle HR (Gen 5) might fit better in the latter type. Being a smartwatch, it does a lot more than showing just time and date. But is it a capable smartwatch in terms of features? Let’s find out:

Design

Manufactured by American contemporary accessories brand Fossil, the Carlyle HR is one of the better-looking smartwatches. Its classic circular design makes sure you do not look nerdy. There is a 1.3-inch AMOLED touchscreen; and its 44mm stainless steel case, treated in smoked colour, blends well with most clothing styles. The watch’s stainless steel strap is easy to wear and looks luxurious; you can change them for silicone or leather straps (sold separately), based on your choice.

Fossil Carlyle HR (Gen 5)Features

Fossil has traditionally used Google’s WearOS in its smart wearables; it continues to do so in the Carlyle HR. The watch has all the regular features that the OS supports, including activity tracking using Google Fit, calendar alerts, date reminders, watch apps, music controls and app notification support. In addition, Fossil has integrated some value-added features that make this watch better than other WearOS-based smartwatches. These include untethered GPS, a heart-rate sensor, customisable dials, fast charging and 8GB internal storage, besides a speaker and microphone. With Google WearOS and a comprehensive list of features, the Fossil Carlyle HR might look like a perfect smartwatch. But, it is not.

Fossil Carlyle HR (Gen 5)Performance

Even with support for many apps, the operating system in the Fossil Carlyle HR’s lags those in other smartwatches — Samsung’s Tizen and Apple’s WatchOS6, for instance. The watch doubles up as a health and fitness tracker, but it struggles to record accurate data which results in unreliable findings. Its heart-rate sensor is erratic, and adds little to the mix. The built-in untethered GPS functionality allows you to track your run, but it goes for a toss if your route is through narrow lanes or any other place that requires GPS precision. The watch’s built-in speaker and microphone allow you to answer calls directly using the watch, but the speaker’s muted output hampers its utility. Lastly, the watch’s on-battery time is not impressive. At best, you get a day’s battery despite most of the watch’s features being turned off.

Fossil Carlyle HR (Gen 5)Verdict

Priced at Rs 22,995, the Fossil Carlyle HR (Gen 5) is one of the better choices if you prefer looks to utility and performance. The watch brings major improvements if you compare it with its predecessor — there’s more internal storage, responsive user interface, and a speaker and microphone for calls, besides Google Assistant support. But even with all these upgrades and value-added features, the device fails to impress as a smartwatch.