Technology

The one I wish still existed: The Pebble Steel. This beast had a battery that lasted an entire week on a single charge, kept basic step tracking, etc., and notifications from my phone to my wrist. It was the perfect device. I was devastated when mine stopped working.

What I used for a long time: Fitbit Versa / Versa 2. Same deal, shittier battery life. But worked really well. Build quality declined dramatically, and I had to warranty my original Versa something like 4 times and ended up with a Versa 2 as a "We're all out of the 1st gen, take this and shut up" upgrade.

What I use now: The Pixel Watch. The battery life is trash, but the features are solid. I've used an Apple Watch while carrying an iPhone for a few months, and the integration with my Pixel phone is just as seamless. The weird transition from Fitbit to Pixel Watch and how the apps interact make it blindingly obvious Fitbit as a brand is done and Google intends the "Pixel Watch" brand to replace it. I actually appreciate the round watchface.

My selections are always driven though, by my desire to see data from my continuous glucose monitor (type 1 diabetes) on my wrist. Android Wear / WearOS handles that far better than an Apple Watch, and I didn't need the insane features (or price point) from a lot of the other WearOS devices out there.

I currently have a Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 to replace my Garmin Vivoactive 3, but I prefer the Garmin. It's got a bit less by way of bells and whistles, but I also think that the watch might have been overkill for the most part. I don't end up using the onboard replies as much as I thought I would, and things like ECG and Blood Pressure monitoring are just troublesome enough that it's not worthwhile (Blood Pressure requires recalibration with a proper machine every once in a while).

The only issue that I had with the Garmin was mostly that the body is a bit too fragile. It's just plastic, so the corner will break off due to age, which is what happened with mine. If it wasn't made of plastic, but more durable metal, like the Samsung, I'd still happily wear it. The battery life tended to be better too.

If it was still around, and not incredibly uncomfortable, a Pebble might also not go amiss. I personally don't need a lot of features in my smartwatch (just timers, alarms, activity/HR tracking, and notifications), so a cheaper, hardier one would serve just fine.

I have a polar vantage m and i like it, it was relatively cheap and has everything one needs when it comes to running

I have a galaxy watch 5 but even 3 days of batteryife is irritating enough I'm looking longingly at the Garmin's. Really don't need a lot of the fluff they come with

I also have a Watchy. The thing is in no way a consumer device but it lasts over a week and the eink display is great. Reminds me of what we lost when pebble went away..

Been using the Apple Watch for the past 3 years (currently on the Ultra) and have been loving it. I’m not a serious athlete but use it to track my daily walks/runs. It keeps me honest and active.

Plus I have a data line for my watch so I can ditch my phone and still talk, text, and check emails as needed. I hate to admit it but I have completed many meetings with just my Apple Watch + AirPods while on a run/walk.

Also, it acts as a wallet replacement for the most part. ~8 out of 10 times I can tap and pay with my watch. I only keep 1 physical card and my state ID on me.

Has anyone tried the current Ticwatch Pro? I heard decent things about the previous model but I'm a bit leery of the their app on my phone, plus that they are still pending a WearOS update and various features (Google assistant etc)

Coros Pace 2. Cheaper than the entry level Garmin and just as capable.

I recently upgraded from a Fenix 3 to a 6x and i love it, which actually makes me use it way more ❤️ Suddenly dropped the idea of trying out mainstream alternatives.

I've had a Garmin vivofit 3 unsmart watch since 2017. I've replaced the band and battery a few times but it's been a pretty good tracker. the watch battery has been a great feature as I don't have to charge it, just replace it once a year or so.

I like fitbit but that’s because I basically strictly use it for calorie counting. The battery life is good enough that I just charge it when I’m in the shower and it’ll never die on me.

I loved Wear OS from Fossil before I switched to Linux phone.

I'll wear my Pebble Time Round until it disintegrates