The Best Smartwatches in Canada

We also think the Apple Watch 5 is the best smartwatch with medical alerts, as well as the best Apple Watch currently available in Canada.

Apple Watch Series 5 (GPS) 40mm Space Grey Aluminum Case

Smartwatches can be used for a lot more than just telling the time or giving you notifications from your smartphone – they can also help you contact the appropriate people for help in necessary situations.  

 The Apple Watch 5 has fall detection – if you’ve fallen (or just dropped your smartwatch), it’ll wait for about a minute for a response from you. If you’ve not responded, it’ll automatically dial 911 for you. This feature is particularly useful for people with medical conditions like seizures, or for the elderly who are particularly at risk for falling.  

If you’re not keen on your smartwatch calling 911 as a result of a fall, you can configure your smartwatch to use apps like FallCall Lite to contact a pre-defined caregiver of your choice.   

Besides fall detection, this smartwatch has a few other useful functions. It can monitor your heart rate and even help you monitor your sleeping habits, which can be helpful information to have for your doctor’s visits. To help maintain battery life, this smartwatch has an ambient light sensor that’ll adjust the brightness of the watch according to how bright it is around you. 

For those of you wondering what the main differences are between the Apple Watch 4 and the Apple Watch 5, here’s a quick summary: the Apple Watch 5 features an always-on display, the ability to add apps independently of your iPhone, a built-in compass and new design materials.  If you’ve never purchased a smartwatch before, the Apple Watch 5 could be a relatively good investment. However, if you’re wanting to upgrade from an Apple Watch 4, you might want to wait for more significant feature upgrades and changes. 

Something else worth noting is that this watch is swim-proof. It can even help you record splits and sets for when you’re swimming. 

Overall, this smartwatch is quite useful for those who are concerned about needing emergency services frequently due to health issues, or people who want to monitor their health in general. It’s also a great choice for anyone who has an iPhone. On the downside, this smartwatch is quite pricey depending on the size you choose. 

If you’re not keen on the idea of paying hundreds of dollars for a smartwatch, you’ll be happy to know you don’t have to. The Amazfit Bip is a budget-friendly option with a decent number of features. For one, it has a relatively impressive battery life – the manufacturer claims you can get up to 45 days of typical everyday usage on just one charge. However, reviewers on Amazon have found that this watch lasts closer to about 21-22 days. 

If you’re looking for a decently priced smartwatch to help you monitor your workouts, you might find what you’re looking for here. This Amazfit Bip has 4 different sport modes (outdoor running, indoor running, walking and outdoor cycling) that allow you to see detailed information about your workout, such as duration, distance, pace, maximum speed and heart rate. It even has GPS tracking, so you’ll always know where you are. Something to note is that while several Amazon reviewers found the GPS and sport modes accurate, some reviewers found that the heart rate monitoring from this smartwatch isn’t quite so accurate.  

Moving on, you might be wondering about receiving notifications with this smartwatch. While you can receive notifications from various different apps like Facebook and Twitter, you won’t be able to respond to these notifications directly from your smartwatch. One last thing worth noting about this smartwatch is that it’s lightweight – it only weighs about 31 grams. If you dislike the feeling of having something on your wrist, this smartwatch could be a good compromise. 

Overall, if you’re looking for a budget-friendly smartwatch that can monitor your workouts and/or send you notifications from your phone, this model does the job decently. 

We also think the Fossil Women’s Neely Stainless Steel Hybrid Smartwatch is the best smartwatch that looks like a watch.

If you prefer how regular watches look over smartwatches but still want smartwatch functionality, this Fossil smartwatch could be a good fit. Before we get into the features of this smartwatch, let’s explain what a hybrid smartwatch is first. 

A hybrid smartwatch is a cross between a smartwatch and a regular watch – you can think of them as a smartphone-connected watch that doesn’t have a touchscreen interface. In particular, one advantage of hybrid smartwatches is that they typically have a longer battery life than a regular smartwatch. This Fossil smartwatch will give you 6 months of use before you’ll need to get the battery changed. 

Moving on, this smartwatch has the typical features you’d expect of a smartwatch – activity tracking (e.g. steps), sleep monitoring, relaying notifications from your phone and even music control on your phone. 

If you’re not a fan of the watch strap that comes with this smartwatch, Fossil sells other watch straps you can use instead. You should note, however, that watch straps from Fossil tend to be pricy and typically go for more than $60 – another option is simply buying a smartwatch strap from a different seller. 

Overall, reviewers on Amazon love how this smartwatch looks but many of them agree that the display can be difficult to read given how small the numbers are. 

Most smartwatches out there aren’t really child-oriented, in terms of functionality or looks. However, we found one that is: the Vtech Kidizoom smartwatch. 

It comes in a variety of patterns or colours and it features games and other downloadable content that’s oriented towards children. If you want to monitor how much exercise your kids are getting, this smartwatch comes with pedometer functionality, so you’ll be able to know whether or not your kids get enough exercise. 

 You can even use this smartwatch to help keep your kids learn how to tell time – there are over 55 digital and analog watch faces to help you keep your children motivated when it comes to telling time. 

Something else worth noting is that this smartwatch has two cameras that allow you to take pictures – this smartwatch is a great alternative to a camera or a smartphone for taking pictures.  

Overall, this watch is a good match if you want to get your kids a smartwatch without worrying too much about the cost. 

If you’re not an Apple user and want an Android-friendly equivalent of an Apple Watch, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 might fulfill that need for you. Much like the Apple Watch 5, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 comes with a fall detection feature. When it’s triggered, it’ll send out an SMS message or call along with your current location to your designated contact. 

And of course, this smartwatch comes with fitness monitoring and sleeping monitoring. It has over 120 home workout programs to choose from, as well as real-time heart rate monitoring. Plus, it has a running guide to help you improve your form and fitness level on the go. 

As for sleep monitoring, the Galaxy Watch 3 is capable of recording your REM cycles as well as your deep and total sleep times to give you a good idea of the quality of your sleep. Plus, this smartwatch even provides tips for improving your sleeping habits right on the watch itself. 

Something particularly nice about this smartwatch is that whenever you receive a new text, the chat history before the text is also shown. Having context definitely helps, especially when long periods of time pass between messages.

Lose your phone often? Smartwatches can help with that. In particular, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 can help you find your smartphone with the help of apps like Find My Phone. 

Overall, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 is a decent replacement for an Apple Watch for those of us who don’t use iPhones. However, like the Apple Watch 5, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 is quite expensive.

If you’re going on a run, we think a decent companion to take with you is the Fitbit Versa 2 smartwatch. One thing worth noting off that bat is that it has an operating temperature from -10° to 60° C – you’ll be able to go for runs in moderate cold or in the hot summer sun. You’ll also want to note that this watch is swim-proof, meaning you can take this smartwatch with you on those days where you go to the pool. 

If you’re on your feet all day and want to track things such as steps, calories burned or how active you were, this smartwatch has all-day activity tracking. Plus, with a 6-day battery life, you won’t worry about having your smartwatch die on you in the middle of the day.  

Hate pulling out your phone mid-run to change the skip a song? You’ll be able to control your Spotify app with this smartwatch so you can leave your smartphone in your pocket. Similarly, if you don’t feel like pulling out your phone to answer a text, you can use voice control to dictate and send a reply. 

Like several other smartwatches, the Fitbit Versa 2 can help you monitor your sleeping habits. It goes a step further, however, and can help you set up a smart alarm that’ll wake you up at the optimal sleeping stage, so you feel rested. There’s also a Fitbit pay app if you want to make payments with this smartwatch, but several customers have noted that only a few banks are compatible with the app. 

Overall, the Fitbit Versa 2 is a great fitness-focused smartwatch, with accurate heart rate monitoring, step counting and workout tracking. 

We also think the Movado Connect 2.0 is the best smartwatch for business.

If you’re not sold on some of the other high–end smartwatches listed in this post, here’s another one to consider. It’s also worth considering if you’re not a fan of the ‘sporty’ look a lot of smartwatches have, the sleek black stainless-steel design of this smartwatch matches business attire much better. If you’d rather have a different colour for your wrist strap, the wrist straps are interchangeable for this model. 

It features everything you’d expect from a smartwatch – notifications for calls, appointments, heart rate monitoring, NFC payments, music streaming and GPS functionality (untethered). It even works with Google Fit for activity tracking. 

Something else to note is that this watch has IPX 8 water resistance – it can handle being submerged in over one metre of water. You also won’t have to worry about the watch face chipping or breaking – it’s made with Gorilla glass, which is a lightweight, chemically strengthened type of glass. 

If you’re a bit hesitant to select this watch due to its high price, it might reassure you to know that it has a two-year warranty in case you encounter any issues during normal usage. Overall, if you’re looking for a unisex luxury smartwatch that’s sleek in design but also not short on features, this model is worth thinking about. 

We also think the Moto 360 3rd Gen 2020 is the best smartwatch you can text on. 

Many smartwatches that are capable of letting you respond to text messages only allow you to do so via voice control. However, the Moto 360 3rd Gen smartwatch allows you to either reply via voice control or via typing out a message on the screen. It’s great for situations where talking isn’t appropriate, like in a library. 

If you’re a fan of how regular watches look over how traditional square faced smart watches look, this model might be a good fit for you. It features a round clock face as well as a leather band.  It also comes in 3 different colours (gold, black and gray), all of which are neutral colours that are easy to match with most outfits. Just because this watch is stylistically pleasing doesn’t mean that it’s delicate – it features scratch resistance glass, water-resistance of up to 3 ATM (30 metres), plus a stainless–steel body with durable PVD coating. 

Moving on from the design, this smartwatch has a fairly decent charging time – an hour or so of charging can give you up to 2 days of full usage with the screen always on, GPS tracking activated and notifications and music turned on. 

If you’re picky about what fitness or health monitoring apps you use, not to worry. The Moto 360 3rd Gen is compatible with a wide variety of apps like Nike Run Club, Google Fit and Adidas running so you’ll be able to access the app that suits you best when it comes to monitoring your workouts. 

Overall, reviewers on Amazon are satisfied with both how this watch looks and the array of features it provides. On the downside, however, several reviewers find that the battery life is slightly at odds with the manufacturer’s description and lasts only about a day or so instead.  

Here’s a smartwatch option for men that like the look of a classic watch but still want some smartwatch functionalities. Like other hybrid smartwatches, this Skagen smartwatch has a long–lasting battery life of up to six months, after which you’ll need to replace it with a new battery. 

The band of this smartwatch will work for those with band sizes between 195 – 205 mm – generally, male wrists measure between 15 – 19 cm. 

Something that sets this smartwatch apart from other models is that the case and band material are made of titanium, which happens to be lightweight in comparison to other metals. It won’t wear out as fast as plastic or rubber bands and it’s still light enough to not feel bulky on your wrist during workouts. If you plan to take a swim, that shouldn’t a problem with this watch. It comes with a water resistance of up to 100 ft or 30 m. 

Other than activity tracking, this smartwatch can display your text and phone notifications, monitor your sleep, and help you set goals. It even has automatic time zone updates if you happen to travel often. Overall, this watch is a great option for men that want a fashionable watch that’s still lightweight and capable of fitness monitoring. 

If you like the Fitbit Versa 2 (or Fitbit Versa) but you don’t quite need all of the features either of those smartwatches offer, you might want to look into the Fitbit Versa Lite. It still monitors your heartrate alongside a handful of other features, but at a lower price. 

So, what exactly can’t it do (relative to the Fitbit Versa)? It won’t be able to play or store music, track floors climbed, or display onscreen workouts. The features it does have include 24/7 heart rate monitoring, water-resistance up to 50m, a 4 day or more battery life, text alerts, call alerts, over 15 exercise modes and female health tracking.  

One thing to note is that while you can reply to texts, you’ll only be able to do so using pre-determined replies such as ‘yes’ or ‘no’ as well as a few emote options. 

Overall, if you’re in need of a smartwatch with an accurate all-day heart rate monitor, the Fitbit Versa Lite is worth looking into if you’re okay with fewer features or if you want to pay a bit less than you would for a Fitbit Versa or a Fitbit Versa 2. 

For a smartwatch that’s a bit of a step up from a budget option, the Samsung Galaxy Fit may fit the bill. It’s lightweight, allows for tracking of up to 6 activities automatically and it has over 90 workouts to choose from. Plus, it even has automatic sleep monitoring that provides a detailed read-out about all 4 stages of your sleep cycle. 

It also has decent water resistance (5 ATM/ 50 metres) and allows for responses to texts with pre–set messages. 

Like many other fitness-focused smartwatches, the battery life lasts quite long in comparison to other smartwatches. With normal usage, the battery will last you about 7-8 days while low usage can get you as many as 11 days of use. 

Overall, there’s not much else to say – the Samsung Galaxy Fit does its job well as a fitness-focused smartwatch, with the added bonus of being able to reply to texts. 

When it comes to pricing, this smartwatch is pretty hard to beat. While it won’t have as many features as other smartwatches, this L8star Fitness Tracker should be more than adequate in helping you monitor your fitness metrics. It comes with six different sports modes to help you record your calories burned and distance travelled as accurately as possible. 

You can set it to monitor your heart rate every 1, 2, 6 or 12 hours or set up real-time heart rate tracking, depending on how much you want to conserve battery life. Reviewers find that the battery life lasts between 7-10 days with regular use. Getting a full charge only takes about an hour – the battery life alone is quite decent relative to the price. 

When it comes to waterproofing, it has an IP67 rating. While you won’t be able to take it swimming, you won’t have to worry about being caught in the rain or washing your hands possibly damaging your smartwatch. 

One downside with this smartwatch is while you’ll be able to see text and call notifications, you won’t be able to respond to them. Another is that it doesn’t feature sleep monitoring, which most other fitness smartwatches offer. 

Overall, you can’t go wrong with the L8star Fitness Tracker if you’re looking for a budget-friendly fitness-focused smartwatch with decent battery life. 

We also think the Garmin Vivoactive 3 Smartwatch is the best smartwatch you’ve never heard of. 

Apple Watches and Fitbits are among the most well-known smartwatches out there. If you look beyond the most well-known brands, however, you can find hidden gems like the Garmin Vivoactive 3 Smartwatch. 

It also happens to be a smartwatch that has great water resistance (up to 5 ATM/ submersion of up to 50 metres), as well as a number of colours to select from. If you’re not a fan of black (which happens to be the default colour of most smartwatches), this model comes in alternate options such as white or white with a rose gold accent. 

To start, it comes with 15 pre-loaded GPS and indoor sports apps. Don’t see one that suits your needs? You can create and download your own workouts and your smartwatch will keep track of your exercises, reps, sets and rest time for you. Plus, this smartwatch can also help you find your vO2 max, also known as the maximum amount of oxygen your body can utilize during exercise – it’s useful for seeing how your cardiovascular health is doing. 

While it measures your heart rate as many other smartwatches, it takes it one step further and measures your heart rate variability which is used to measure stress. By making you more aware of your own stress, you can take better care of your health by removing or seeking help for any physical or emotional stressors. 

One downside about this watch is while you can receive text and call notifications, you’ll only be able to choose from pre-set responses if you want to reply to them. Overall, reviewers on Amazon are especially impressed with this smartwatch’s battery life, design, and its wide array of sports tracking. 

Do you want a smartwatch with long battery life but don’t want it to be too bulky? This Huawei smartwatch could be worth considering.  It has a thickness of 10.6 mm, making it no thicker than the average smartwatch out there.  

The battery life for this watch varies depending on how you use it. If you’re using it for heart rate monitoring and about 90 minutes of exercise a week, it’ll last you about 2 weeks. For just receiving messages and call notifications, it’ll last a whole month. Continuous exercise tracking, heart rate monitoring and GPS activation all together would last 22 hours. Speaking of the GPS function, this smartwatch uses 3 satellite systems to ensure that your location is as accurate as it can be. 

Other than a great battery life for average use, this smartwatch features a wear and scratch-resistant AMOLED screen so that you don’t have to worry about bumps and knocks. It also features 5 ATM waterproofing, which means it can go into the water as deep as 50m for up to 10 minutes. It can also help you monitor your swimming workouts by recording stroke count and swimming efficiency for you. 

Overall, reviewers on Amazon are quite satisfied with this watch – one reviewer even found that the battery life exceeded expectations and lasted 3 weeks even with everything activated.