This smartwatch survived a 15K Tough Mudder. Matthew Miller/ZDNET
With advanced features such as voice assistants, crash detection, call and text support, and long battery lives, modern smartwatches are far more than just an accessory. And thanks to powerful sensors and extensive app suites, they've become one of the most popular health and fitness trackers, too.
How do we test and evaluate these smartwatches at ZDNET? How well is the watch supported by a smartphone companion? What functions and features stand out for each smartwatch? Here's the full breakdown.
Also: The best smartwatches you can buy
In most instances, the smartwatches we evaluate here on ZDNET are purchased after being released to the public, so there is no urgency in trying to publish a review based on a short period with the watch. Watches also require at least a couple weeks of 24/7 wear to test battery life, health and wellness tracking, GPS positioning accuracy, heart rate sensor reliability, and various design features.
We have relationships with most smartwatch brands, so we can send questions about the watch as we evaluate it and seek clarification on the hardware, software, and other aspects. We also test a handful of third-party applications, but with thousands of apps available on most of these watches, your personal experiences will vary from our testing.
Jason Hiner/ZDNET
Smartwatch performance also depends upon a person's body geometry, the fit of the band on the wrist, the specific smartphone that the watch connects with, cellular reception quality (for connected models), and more. We provide readers with our perspective from testing the watches with our large-size wrists and phones.
Price and battery life are factors in our recommendations but are less significant because most smartwatches only last for a day or two between charging, unless you are considering more fitness-focused smartwatches that have fewer third-party apps and battery life measured in days or weeks. Most modern smartwatches also range in the $300 to $500 range so there isn't a major price element to consider.
What makes a smartwatch ZDNET recommended?
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