What's the best smart watch?

While we are caught up with the competition between the iPhone, Galaxy and others, another battle for gadget supremacy is brewing. Enter the smart watch industry, a forgotten sector in technology which could potentially take flight sooner rather than later.

Albeit tamer and not as well publicized, tech titans and small startups alike are involved in one way or another in developing this wearable technology.

This year, we are treated with the earliest incarnations of what may soon be as pervasive as smartphones. Verizon even mentioned that this year alone, about 1.2 million units of smart watches were shipped and an estimated 485 million of these tech-fashion hybrids are projected to be sold. Let’s take a look at the best smart watches introduced to us this 2013.

Samsung Galaxy Gear

What makes the Samsung Galaxy Gear unique is the posh and the class it exudes. While the design itself is polarizing, critics have lauded the design choices regarding the material. Made up of a sturdy body and soft, plastic band, the Galaxy Gear’s look is a bit on the bulky side.

The buckle is where the speakers are located, a clever integration but can sometimes be annoying to wear especially if you are performing tasks like typing. One thing going against it though is its very high price tag (relative to the others). It also does not help that the device is fragile, considering that it is not naturally water or debris resistant.

This watch is definitely aimed towards those who already have a Galaxy Gear series phone. There are many neat features which usually involve syncing the two gadgets. Otherwise, the upwards of $280 price tag may not be justified for non Galaxy users.

Design: 7

Features: 8

Battery Time: 2

Value for Money: 4

Total: 21

Sony Smartwatch 2 SW 2

It seems like Sony’s philosophy with their smart watch venture is to keep everything easier to use and more intuitive. Sony Smartwatch 2 SW 2, unlike the Galaxy Gear, is compatible with most Android phones. On the flip side, the Sony watch does not have the envelope-pushing features such as the camera, voice command and loudspeaker. Is that a bad thing, though? Sony does not think so as it focuses on the most basic and necessary features rather than the fancy extras.

The interface could have been more polished, but the overall look of the watch is sleek and sharp. It is definitely worth your buck if you are an Android owner. Too bad that iOS users have been left out, which could have nudged the Sony Smartwatch 2 SW 2’s rating much higher. Additionally, this watch has three days of uptime with normal usage.

Design: 6

Features: 5

Battery Time: 8

Value for Money: 6

Total: 25

Pebble E Paper Smartwatch

Great things happen to good ideas. Starting out with a measly $100,000 goal on Kickstarter, Pebble rose into popularity after gathering more than $2 million in crowdsourced funding. Due to its compatibility with both iOS and Android devices, the Pebble Smartwatch has been a favorite by many since its launch. What’s interesting is that out of all the other options on the market, this independently made accessory boasts of the most protection against water, had the best core app features such as the accelerometer and sports buttons.

The display is very well done and the design is good, although unremarkable. Much is left for improvement for the Pebble watch which is understandable since these versions are the first in a long line. The most exciting part about this particular product is the thought that Apple itself might be performing smart watch integration for its iPhone series in the very near future.

Design: 5

Features: 9

Battery Time: 5

Value for Money: 9

Total: 28

Ultimately, the Pebble remains as this year’s best smart watch. The Samsung Galaxy Gear and Sony Smartwatch 2 SW 2 are also both solid choices. We won’t be surprised if we will be seeing higher quality wearable technology worthy for a review next year. Will you be getting one anytime soon?

About the Author: Lily Sommers is a gadget freak and tech writer for Techie Doodlers. She is flaunting her new black Sony Smartwatch which she got as an early Christmas gift for herself.

Critical thinking challenge: Why is this a good time to buy a smart watch? Why might it be better to wait, or not get one at all?