Your wrist is looking pretty naked right now. That’s so scandalous. You know what you need? A smartwatch. It’s so 2023 to use a watch to just tell the time. Let’s go one step further with a tech tool that's always right by your side (literally). 

Smartwatches give you access into a world of data, allowing you to gain deeper insights into yourself. But which one to pick? Apple, Garmin, Samsung, FitBit – there’s just so many options. Fear not, we’re breaking it down for you to help you make your decision a whole lot easier. 

Here are some guidelines to keep in mind before you make your pick. 

Know Yourself

To know oneself takes you one step further on the path to enlightenment (we think Gandhi said that). Before you start scrolling through an endless sea of smartwatches, take a moment to reflect on what your inner gadget guru needs.

What are you really looking for in a smartwatch? Fitness tracking, something to help monitor your health, a productivity booster, a style statement, or maybe just a cool conversation starter? Once you've sorted that out, you're ready to take on the tech jungle.

If you’re looking for a smartwatch that does it all, the Garmin Instinct Standard (R670 per month) is a great choice. Made to suit the U.S. military standard 810 for thermal, shock and water resistance, this rugged GPS watch was built to withstand the toughest environments. 

It comes equipped with enhanced optical heart rate technology to track the intensity of your fitness activities, stress tracking, and preloaded activity profiles for running, hiking, mountain biking, swimming and more. 

It also has ABC sensors, including an altimeter for elevation data, barometer to monitor weather and three-axis electronic compass to help you navigate your next trail. You can even use the trackback routing feature to navigate your running or cycling route back to your starting point. 

All About the Features

Now that you know what you want a smartwatch for, it’s time to think about the nice-to-haves that add the cherry on top of a delicious smartwatch sundae. We recommend the Samsung Galaxy Smartwatch 5 (R800 per month), which some argue is the best android smartwatch on the market.

It’s easy to see why. 

This smartwatch was made for adventurers. It comes with a route workout feature that lets you import GPX format workout routes from your smartphone to your watch, syncing your route list so you can always stay on track. 

And health features? There’s sleep tracking technology that tracks your sleep stages to help you create healthier sleep habits and identify your sleep type. The BioActive Sensor helps you monitor your heart rate and blood pressure to track your cardiovascular health. This watch even gives you body fat percentage (BIA) to skeletal muscle weight insights, allowing you to take greater control of your body composition.

It even helps you capture the perfect selfie! You can connect your smartwatch to your smartphone and use it to check the shot from your wrist, then tap your watch to capture. You can even zoom into the image by simply pinching the screen or twisting the bezel. 

Make it Aesthetically Pleasing 

Let’s be honest – we’re all vain. How something looks is important. Commitment is messy, especially when it's to something that’s not aesthetically pleasing. 

A chic and stylish smartwatch we love is the Apple Watch Series 8 (R1110 per month). This slim, sleek smartwatch has a 100% recycled aluminium case, and features a thick front crystal screen for durability and crack resistance. 

The Apple Watch Series 8 features a big, brilliant always‑on display that's detailed and easy to read, even when your wrist is down. Narrow borders push the screen right to the edge, resulting in an elegant integration with the curvature of the case.

There's brains behind the beauty, too. The Apple Watch Series 8 comes with temperature sensing, crash detection, advanced cycle tracking, a sleep tracker, heart rate and blood oxygen level tracking, and a medication app to help keep you on track of your health. 

Can You Pay My (Subscription) Bills

Let’s talk about budget, baby. Smart watches can cost a pretty penny, so you gotta make sure the one you pick is within your means. Are you balling on a budget or living lavish? Either way, getting a smartwatch on subscription will help you stay within your monthly spending limit. 

If you only have a small budget to work with, you’re in luck. The Huawei Watch Fit Black (R240 per month) perfectly fits into your monthly budget and your life.

This smartwatch is tiny but mighty. It features 24/7 heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking technology, a stress tracking algorithm, a 10 day battery life, a textured matte watch frame that pairs perfectly with the colourful and soft straps for a premium and solid design. 

It’s even a personal trainer on your wrist, with 12 kinds of animated quick-workouts you can follow during your next sweat sesh. The Huawei Watch Fit Black also comes with a built-in GPS sensor, an AI heart rate algorithm and innovative sensors that help you train better by providing real-time metrics, scientific training effect evaluations and professional guidance.

If you’re still not sure which smartwatch to get, why not try them out with a subscription? If, after a few months, you’re not really feeling the one you chose, you can simply exchange it for a different one – no questions asked. You’re welcome. 

Commitment is messy. Just Rentoza it.