Ahead of the Apple Watch launch on 9 March, Sophie Curtis compares the best of the other smartwatches on the market
The Apple Watch is due to launch next week, promising to propel smartwatches into the mainstream. But Apple's Watch will be joining an already crowded market, with many smartwatch makers currently on their second or third edition.
Some of these devices excel in battery life, others in usability; some work independently from smartphones while others need to be contantly connected; some are beautiful items intended as objects of desire, while others focus on functionality and affordability.
If you're trying to work out which smartwatch to buy, you first need to work out what you want from it. Here The Telegraph rates the current batch of devices, based on a range of different criteria:
Best for battery: Pebble Time Steel
Compatible with: iPhone and Android
Price: $250 (£163) on Kickstarter or $299 (£195) thereafter
Compatible with: iPhone and Android
Price: $250 (£163) on Kickstarter or $299 (£195) thereafter
The Pebble Time Steel is the first 'premium' device from smartwatch maker Pebble Technology. Announced at Mobile World Congress, the device is made from stainless steel with a colour e-paper display and a scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass lens. It has a built-in microphone for quick voice replies and notes, and is water resistant. It also runs Pebble's new timeline interface, which organises information chronologically. Most importantly, however, it boasts a battery life of up to 10 days, blowing most other smartwatches out of the water.
Best for design: LG Watch Urbane
Compatible with: Any Android smartphone
Price: Unknown
Compatible with: Any Android smartphone
Price: Unknown
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