If our grandfathers lived in an era of analog and our fathers in a time of digital, we’ve landed squarely in the future of smart — smartwatches, that is. These whirring electronic gems have been kicking around for years now. While they seemed at first like little more than Jetson-esque playthings, they’ve come a long way in terms of durability, affordability, accessibility, and practicality. Even better: They're a helluva lot more affordable now, too. All of which is why they're replacing "dumb" on the wrists of most active people these days.
Smartwatches have become incredibly popular in recent years, and while they were only made for convenience in the past, they're now aesthetically pleasing to look at too. Two birds with one stone, right? These days it's hard to tell if you're even looking at a smartwatch, with brands like Diesel and Citizen coming out with stainless steel bracelets and hybrid models. Of course, that doesn't take away from the reason men actually buy smartwatches, which is for things like heart rate monitoring, fitness tracking, built-in GPS, etc. and these all have exactly that.
Nowadays, there are scores of men’s smartwatches available from mainstream brands like Apple and Fossil to niche outdoor manufacturers like Garmin and Suunto. It might seem to be too overwhelming to look for the right smartwatch for you, with each one varying widely in terms of style, features, and price point. But fret not, as we've done the hard work for you to research dozens of top-selling models. Below, we've rounded up our picks for the best smartwatches for men in 2024.
Garmin fēnix 7 Sapphire Solar Edition
Garmin's catalog of men's smartwatches is arguably the deepest on the market with a wide range of models for every budget and fitness level. Near the top of the heap lies the flagship fēnix 7 Sapphire Solar Edition. This ultra-premium smartwatch combines just about every tech feature Garmin offers into a single model.
With a nearly $900 retail price tag, you'll pay handsomely for the privilege of wearing it, of course. But, that gets you up to 22 days of battery life (bolstered by integrated solar charging), excellent activity coaching features, preloaded TopoActive maps, and built-in storage for downloading tunes to directly to the watch, so you can leave your phone at home. It's all wrapped in a rugged, mil-spec case that's thermal, shock, and water resistant.
Garmin Forerunner 745 GPS Running Watch
Runners demand a lot from their smartwatches, and Garmin's aptly named Forerunner 745 delivers. It boasts comprehensive fitness tracking for all your most important metrics, including a wrist-based heart rate monitor, while keeping tabs on your overall training status and offering the proprietary Garmin Coach with adaptive training plans.
With multiple global navigation technologies baked in, it's far more accurate than relying on just GPS alone — great for trail runners and those who like exploring far off-grid. It's all wrapped in an ultra-rugged design with Corning Gorilla Glass DX and a housing that's waterproof down to 50 meters.
Fossil Gen 6 Touchscreen Smartwatch
Want a smartwatch that doesn’t look like a smartwatch? Allow me to introduce you to the Fossil Gen 6. This bad boy is built to look like any ol’ Fossil watch, with one slight difference — its handsome, Google Wear OS-powered display. Compatible with both iPhone and Android devices, this watch packs a serious punch with options to set alarms, create app and calendar alerts, check email, monitor social media, and text.
Plus, it boasts built-in GPS and tracks all your vital stats, too. While it doesn’t have the same futuristic look of other options on the market, its leather band and more traditional watch face could endear it to folks looking to rock an old-school vibe.
Fitbit Versa 4
The Fitbit Versa 4 is one of the most sleek smartwatches around, and would even suit your everyday outfits just as much as your hiking shorts or biking spandex. Featuring built-in GPS, it tracks your outdoor runs or bike rides without you needing your phone in hand (because let's face it, you'll drop it in the mud for sure.)
The Versa 4 has over 40 exercise modes, heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking (for those post-hike naps), and stress management tools to keep your mental health balanced. It's exceptionally lightweight, ensuring it won't feel heavy on your wrist as get your sport on, and has six days of battery life. The bright display gives easy access to notifications, music controls, and time.
Apple Smartwatch Series 9
If you're looking for a men's smartwatch that is more than just an accessory, but like your smartphone, is literally an extension of yourself, then the Apple Watch Series 9 is here to change your life.
While normal watches tell you the time, date, and sometimes even the moon cycles, this Apple smartwatch takes care of you. For example, while you're moving through life, walking to work, or hanging with the guys, the Apple Watch Series 9 monitors your heart rate and reminds you to calm down, tracks your steps, measures your blood oxygen levels, and tracks your sleep. Basically, if you want to know all about yourself, the you you don't normally see, this Apple smartwatch will give you just that. The display is twice as bright as past Apple smartwatches and is powered by the brand's most versatile chip they've ever made, the S9.
Fossil Gen 6 Smartwatch Wellness Edition
Wellness is one of the biggest trends at the moment, and Fossil jumped on the bandwagon by updating its Gen 6 smartwatch, bringing it out in a wellness edition. It includes all the benefits of the original but is designed to enhance your health.
Offering more than just traditional timekeeping, it comes with an array of features including real-time heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen level tracking, sleep analysis, and giving you a comprehensive view of your health metrics. If you want to keep track of your activity level, it can do that, too, with a built-in GPS, guided breathing exercises and an integrated wellness app to help you stay on top of fitness goals.
Diesel Men's Griffed Gen 6 smartwatch
Smartwatches are getting better and better these days, right? We're not talking the technology, though, which sometimes feels like a movie about the future, but how much they've been made to look like normal watches. The Diesel Men's Griffed Gen 6 smartwatch is rugged, and masculine looking with a 45 mm stainless steel case, yet it has all the functions of a modern smartwatch. It's equipped with Wear OS by Google and works easily with Android and iOS devices.
This watch also features a speaker, microphone, and customizable buttons. If you're into fitness and tracking your health, it has a heart rate monitor, built-in GPS, advanced health metrics tracking, and built-in Alexa. This is the perfect smartwatch to wear with a suit to the office without sticking out like a sore thumb, and can take you into the weekend during your various fitness-related hobbies.
How to find the best smartwatch for you
Smartwatches can be surprisingly complex. Wearing one is akin to wearing a mini-computer on your wrist, after all. So, it can be difficult to shop for the perfect model for you. It all comes down to how you plan to use it, how much you're willing to spend, and whether it's compatible with your existing tech setup. Here's the low-down on what to look for.
Tech compatibility
Above all else, you'll need to make sure that any smartwatches you're shopping are compatible with your smartphone (assuming you're planning to pair the two, and you probably are). Some smartwatches work with Apple iOS, others work with Google's Android platform, and the best smartwatches play nice with both technologies. It's worth noting that Google Wear OS is technically compatible with iOS, but they don't always work perfectly together, so some features may be unavailable.
Battery life
For old-school (i.e., "dumb") watches that could run for years on a single battery, battery life wasn't really an issue. Today's smartwatches, however, typically measure battery life in days, maybe weeks, if you're lucky. So you'll want to be sure that any models you're shopping can keep up with you and your preferred activities. Most smartwatches offer a variety of power modes to help you get the most out of their batteries.
Construction and durability
Likewise, you'll also want to check that your potential smartwatches are built to withstand whatever you plan to throw at them. Some "everyday wear" type watches aren't ruggedized and might only be swimproof, but not waterproof. The most durable models, however, can withstand deep water, freezing temperatures, shocks, and more.
Budget
Smartwatches vary widely in price. The most budget-friendly models can be had for $100 or even less, while midrange options run around $200-$400. This is the sweet spot where most "average" (if there is such a thing) smartwatch buyers fall. Don't feel obligated to spend more than $500 on the very best smartwatch unless you're an athlete who knows they'll need all the next-gen features such models typically offer.
