Round-UpBest Smartwatches: The Top 6 smartwatches for men, in India with prices

There is a new wave of Smart watches for men that have created their share of ripples in the watch industry in India and the world over. A throwback to the 70s era when the Japanese Quartz movement had gained popularity in leaps and bounds, smartwatches enjoy the same popularity today. This time around, unlike the 70s, Swiss luxury brands in particular, have taken the plunge in the trending rise of smartwatches.

What makes Smartwatches so popular?

People are getting smarter, so why should watches be left behind? While you enjoy the analog format of looking at the time, the Gen Z is looking for more than just time keeping. These “wearable computers” make life so much simpler and befit every “type”. The “fitness” type have at their behest a plethora of apps that count calories, steps, heart rate, and literally everything under the sun! For the “traveler” type, these watches are fitted with GPS receiver, altimeter, barometer, and the list goes on.

The war for which one makes it on your wrist is raging and brands up the ante with every new feature they incorporate. Incoming calls to selecting the next track, without even ambushing your cell phone! Gone are the days when smartwatches were looked upon suspiciously. The new gen smartwatches are futuristic in their appeal and have the standalone capacity to support apps that make them all the more functional.

There’s never been a better time to embrace the smartwatch trend. Your smartwatch essentially, must fit your needs and wrist, like a glove. So, while your opinions are still divided between an endless array of smartwatches, The Watch Guide has paired you and your next (or first) smartwatch by shortlisting the top 6 options in the market today.

1. Breitling Exospace B55 Smartwatch:

The authentic partner of Aviation, Breitling makes sure pilots are as abreast with the technology on their timepiece, as with the machines they fly. Hence, the introduction of the Breitling Exospace B55 smartwatch. The Swiss watchmakers have a unique take on smartwatches, i.e., they do not wish to take head on, players like Apple and Samsung who specialise in smartwatches. Instead, Breitling seamlessly amalgamates classic timekeeping with features useful for professionals, a niche domain.

The Exospace B55 boasts of an in-house movement and is night vision enabled. The Breitling phone app was specially developed and programmed for the watch, in Switzerland. The watch has a 46mm case with lightweight lugs made of alloy which makes it comfortable on the wrist. With the patented Breitling rider tabs, using the unidirectional bezel is a breeze.

Why it is The Watch Guide’s pick (pros):

• Striking design: The Breitling Exospace B55 has striking looks and tops it with smartwatch features.
• Battery life: AUTONOMY as Brielting likes to term the Battery life, can last up to 2 months. That’s enormous for a smartwatch when compared to others on the list. The battery life depends on the usage of the features, especially the backlight and Bluetooth.
• An easy user interface of the B55 App: The app is easy to operate and features alarms, time zones, among other features, and is also compatible with night vision goggles (often worn by pilots).
• Prompt notification alert: It takes merely 10 seconds to pair the B55 Exospace with an iPhone. The watch gets a pop-up, as soon as the phone receives a message.
• Two LCD screens and Bluetooth connectivity: It not only displays the chronograph data but also emails and calendar reminders. Exospace 55 is also Bluetooth equipped.
• Gesture enabled: The backlight sparks up by a simple gesture or using the crown on the side.

What to be ‘Watch’ ful of (cons):

• A touch screen on a smartwatch is a big boon, and unfortunately, that’s missing on the Exospace. The watch is dependable on the Smartphone to a great extent.
• Not so futuristic: This Breitling watch is not as advanced as other smartwatches in terms of features. But it is a great SuperQuartz™ timepiece.
• Not for the general masses: If you are looking at an out-and-out smartwatch, Breitling is not the perfect match. Made for professionals (pilots and military lovers) specifically, it appeals a little less to the tech savvy watch enthusiasts.

Worth it or not?

Breitling Exospace B55 is a great timepiece but a little steeply priced at ₹604,240, considering it is a smartwatch. Having said that, if you picture this as a Breitling timepiece with added smartwatch features, it’s totally worth it! The watch is very well constructed both in terms of its well-sculpted looks, to a great functional app. You can discover the Breitling Exospace B55 Smartwatch here.

2. Frederique Constant Horological Smartwatch:

Frederique Constant like Breitling, presents a great luxury watch with “DNA attributes of typical Swiss luxury watch complications, as well as connected functionality.” A Swiss Made watch that’s a whole lot smarter inside. This MMT (Manufacture Modules Technologies) watch appears to be a traditional analog watch on the outside and has no ports, digital screens etc., that will at first glance put it in the same bracket as a mechanical watch. But, here’s the twist, it has all the features of a smartwatch inside- Bluetooth enabled, progress indicator, and a quintessential app!

Fitted with a 42mm rose gold plated case, it features an elegant white dial with applied hour indexes. The hour and minute hands are in a beautiful rose gold tone that matches the case. The sub dial at 6 o’clock is the crux of the watch that has all the “smart” functions. An outer circle “scale” tracks the percentage of progress made by an individual in his pre-set activities. All features on the dial are in sync with the MMT 365 app available on Android and the App store.

Why it is The Watch Guide’s pick (pros):

• Easy pairing: The watch is very easy to pair with the app. Just the Bluetooth on the watch needs to be turned on to get started.
• Hybrid smartwatch: It is a classic timepiece, with smart features. Unlike the hoards of tech savvy smartwatches floating around, this watch has retained the traditional Swiss style. It exudes class that makes the watch a perfect pairing for a boardroom meeting or a casual dinner, alike.
• Activity tracker: The watch has the ability to keep a track of the user’s activity, courtesy the built in sensors. It can calculate- number of steps taken, hours of sleep, and one can set customizable goals.
• Enormous battery life: “The smartwatch does not need to be recharged and maintains around 25 months autonomy”. With that kind of a battery reserve, the watch is a 10/10 in terms of ease of everyday use.

What to be ‘Watch’ ful of (cons):

• No LED or backlight: So when you want to check your notification, the Frederique Constant watch can be a little bit of a scramble.
• Extreme dependence on the app: A major drawback on the FRC smartwatch is that even to adjust the time, one needs to access the app. This can be a hassle as adjusting the time on a watch is a common and frequent requisite.
• Needs to be worn at all times: To track the number of hours of sleep, the watch needs to be fastened around the user’s wrist or under the pillow case. This can be a little problematic considering it is the only time you are at rest position and do not want a watch fastened to your wrist or uncomfortably stuffed under your pillow.

Worth it or not?

The Frederique Constant Smartwatch will really appeal to you if, you are looking for a horological smartwatch and not a replacement for your activity tracker. It is a smart mechanical timepiece which is fairly priced at ₹84,900 and available here. This watch is sure to make you look smart and sharp!

3. TAG Heuer Connected Modular 45:

The TAG Heuer Connected Modular 45 is the undisputed champion of luxury smartwatches. The fact that the wrist watch is a TAG Heuer production makes it desirable and adds to the status symbol. The watch is a fashion innovator of sorts, topped with umpteen customization options. The plush body of the TAG 45 has smooth and light lugs with an array of stylish strap choices. The watch can be what you want it to be with as many as 45 looks to opt from.

The 45mm Grade 5 Titanium case is superior in size and durability as compared to the rivals in this segment. The highlight on the modular 45 is the design. The watch makes up for all its subtle flaws with substantial hardware and design.

Why it is The Watch Guide’s pick (pros):

• The best design in its class: TAG Heuer Modular 45 has a huge set of colour combinations to choose from. The ability to customize the body, lugs (rose gold, titanium or ceramic) and straps give it a great advantage. It has an uncanny resemblance to the popular TAG Heuer Carrera-01.
• Advanced collaborations: TAG partners with both Intel and Google which contribute to its cutting edge Atom Z34XX processor.
• Endless features: The watch is loaded with smart features- Android Pay, Android Wear 2.0, Bluetooth, Directional Wind and Weather Monitoring, Google Fit, Gyroscope and USB charging, among others.
• GPS and Wi-Fi enabled: TAG Connected Modular 45 has motion sensors. It is WI-FI equipped and has an NFC feature for Android users. Being GPS enabled makes the TAG a good standalone tracking device.
• Great water resistance: At 50 m water resistance capacity, the watch is safe to a great extent against light water showers and splashes.

What to be ‘Watch’ ful of (cons):

• Lack of a heart beat sensor: Not a through-and-through sports smartwatch because the typical heartbeat sensor is missing in this watch.
• Below par display: There are smartwatches with better displays that have more depth and vibrancy than the TAG. Though it has a sapphire crystal that covers the dial, the display is a little below average when compared to others in the segment.
• Lack of pushers: There is only one pusher on the Connected 45, which burdens it with excessive tasks. The addition of more pushers would divide the load and make opening apps to using google assistance simpler.
• Not the best battery life: The watch has a 410 mAH battery capacity which is most likely to last a day, considering it is moderately used.

Worth it or not?

Armed with the best looks in the smartwatch segment, stellar features and a brand name you can blindly trust. All this makes the TAG Heuer Modular 45 a ‘worth it’ indulgence! Priced at ₹147,000 it is a little higher than some smartwatches, but the price tag is justified by the exceptional technology and customization options. Discover the sleek smartwatch here.

4. Fossil Q Marshal Smartwatch:

As the name suggests, the Marshal is a powerful masculine looking smartwatch from Fossil. The big gun has a 45 mm case which deserves a second glance. You could almost say that owning a smartwatch which doesn’t come across as a toy watch (in this segment, of course), was a challenge until the Q Marshal showed up!

Why it is The Watch Guide’s pick (pros):

• Great processing speed: Courtesy 512 MB of RAM, opening and exiting apps like Google maps etc is fast.
• Wireless charging: The watch does not have a USB port which adds to its ‘unlike’ smartwatch looks. The watch comes with a magnetic pad, wherein the USB chord gets connected.
• High dust and water resistance: The solid metal IP67 body makes it water resistant up to 1.5 meters. This property makes it a great functional watch.
• Dress meets smartwatch: The design is awe inspiring. The steel bracelet gives it a dress watch appeal with smartwatch features. By keeping the conventional Fossil design and high-grade build quality, the watch distinguishes itself from other ‘boxy’ smartwatches.
• Multitude smart features: The watch has great smart features like- activity monitor, android wear, Bluetooth, G-sensor, Google Maps enabled, gyroscope, touch screen, WI-FI enabled.

What to be ‘Watch’ ful of (cons):

• Not the best battery life: With 400 mAH battery life, it is not an attribute you’d like to boast about, as it won’t last more than a day.
• Not-upto-the-mark technology: Unfortunately, seems like the Q Marshal was launched to simply add to Fossil’s portfolio. It lacks the technological thought resulting in a poor performance.
• Underwhelming display: The display on the watch is underwhelming. Grainy images and disrupted viewing angles are a drawback on the Fossil Q.
• An absent heart rate tracker: The absence of this feature removes it from the league of sports smartwatches.

Worth it or not?

The Fossil Q Marshal stirs up a lot of mixed emotions, good and not-so-good. But then it does have some great features, good looks, and priced at ₹19,995, it does not burn a hole in your pocket. Discover the watch here.

5. Montblanc Summit Smartwatch:

Known for opulent pens and watches, Montblanc has dived head first into the world of smartwatches. The result is a stylish watch that meets pretty much all the facets demanded from a smartwatch. A Swiss classic design, crafted to complement a dapper suit or a formal dinner. The watch makes an impression from the start, which makes sense, as it is the first smartwatch from Richemont’s portfolio brands.

The watch retains Montblanc’s sporty vintage appearance, the brand is known for. It is big at a case size of 46 mm and 12.5 mm thick, but is surprisingly lightweight. With a plethora of “more than 300 different configurations,” the watch outdoes its counterparts in the design segment. The Summit features a one of a kind domed sapphire crystal that protects the AMOLED display or dial.

Why it is The Watch Guide’s pick (pros):

• Heart rate monitor: Montblanc makes sure it does not give this crucial feature a miss unlike many others on the list. It makes the watch a great sports smartwatch for measuring steps and movement.
• Bluetooth enabled: The Montblanc Summit is equipped with Bluetooth connectivity. It also has a microphone to pick up voice commands even in a crowded environment.
• Great storage and processor: With 4 GB of storage, it is a great device to store offline data and sync your favorite playlist. A Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 2100 processor makes the Summit fast.
• A class apart display: The curved sapphire crystal screams quality. It is a full touchscreen, with no flat tire. The vibrant display is set with in a 39-inch, 400 x 400 AMOLED display.
• Receive notifications and sail through Play store: It allows you to operate advanced features like Google Fit. One Swipe allows you to view notifications and customize watch faces.

What to be ‘Watch’ ful of (cons):

• No speaker and NFC for Android Play- Unfortunately, Montblanc loses out the brownie points because of the lack of an NFC, as a result, one cannot access Android Pay. Also without a speaker, the watch cannot be used for calling.
• The absence of GPS- Though it has a heart rate monitor, it lacks a GPS. That means as an individual device, it is not an athlete or sports enthusiasts best companion.
• Average battery life: At 300 mAh battery power, a user would expect more from an established brand like Montblanc. But the watch would still last an entire day with an optimum charge.
• Ineffective crown: The crown on the side of the watch, is just a decorative addition and has no functionality.

Worth it or not?

The Montblanc Summit is stellar with all its features. Had there been a GPS and NFC inclusion in the watch, it would have actually been the perfect Smartwatch around. However, at an MRP of ₹69,600, it justifies its performance and the brand name it represents. View the Montblanc Summit here.

6. Michael Kors Dylan Smartwatch:

Michael Kors is a giant player and brand name in the fashion world. As soon as you mention the brand, their beautiful and elegant watches come back resonating. The brand which boasts of real star power has dropped its first smartwatch collection. It consists of Bradshaw Access and Dylan Access, for women and men respectively.

Dylan is large and appealing with a 46mm case. The size is apt considering Dylan qualifies for a sports smartwatch. The rubber strap makes the watch extremely comfortable to wear and the texture makes the strap ‘breathable’. This MK watch is available in three colors- all black, blue/silver and gold/black.

Why it is The Watch Guide’s pick (pros):

• A brilliant MK app: The Michael Kors Access app is brilliant and allows the user to experiment with the watch face and set up different modes for your smartwatch.
• Cutting edge sporty smartwatch: The Dylan makes a great sports tracker watch due to its smart features like- Goal tracking, Steps, Distance and Calories burnt using the Google Fit Application.
• Good app functioning- From Google fit to Spotify, all apps works perfectly well on the Dylan.
• Well built-in mic- It is a great feature that allows voice interaction with Google Voice. It makes receiving notifications, calls, alerts much more audible.
• Bluetooth and Wi-Fi enabled: Michael Kors made sure that the Dylan proves a solid competition by including Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, a must have in a smartwatch.

What to be ‘Watch’ ful of (cons):

• Not the best battery life: The Dylan Access battery is quick to drain out due to a 360 mAh capacity.
• Slightly glitchy performance: Though on paper it boasts of a great processor, Dylan is flawed in terms of picking up commands. Adding to the woes is the processing speed which is slow.
• Automatic time out: The watch needs to be looked at straight on or else the display goes into a ‘sleep mode’.
• Average display: The 320 x 290, 1.4-inch, “TFT transflective” display could’ve been worked upon for a better viewing experience.

Worth it or not?

Michael Kors is known for producing some gorgeous timepieces and the Dylan is no different. If you keep the minor bugs aside, the watch for its price is a bargain. It is also a treat for Michael Kors watch enthusiasts who’ve been waiting for the brand to come up with a smartwatch. Dylan has premium looks associated with it and is up to the mark even in terms of technology. Considering it imbibes everything Google has to offer, Michael Kors Dylan does a commendable job priced at just ₹25,995. View this sportive and outdoorsy watch here.

A new dawn for smartwatches:

It is a new dawn for smartwatches. And while it won’t be completely fair to give out a verdict and brand Smartwatches as a success or failure, as they are still in their nascent stage, they do combine the best of both worlds – great looks and superlative functionality.

All the above watches are available at Ethos Watch Boutiques. Are there other noteworthy smartwatches we’ve missed out? Let us know in the comments section below.