The Best Apple Watch Alternatives

To get an Apple Watch with a stainless steel case, you’ll have to shell out $549. Luckily, you can get a business-appropriate smartwatch for less. Going for about $199 on Amazon as of this article's latest update, the Pebble Steel is a dressier version of the original Kickstarter-launched Pebble smartwatch, and it works with both Android and iOS devices. You can choose from a black or ​gray leather band, or spend $20 extra to upgrade to a stainless steel band. Just keep in mind that there’s no color display. 

If you want a good-looking smartwatch running Google’s Wear OS (formerly Android Wear) software, the Moto 360 is one of your strongest choices. In a sea of smartwatches with rectangular displays, the 360 stands out for its 1.65-inch circular display. The display also features an analog ​watch face, so it looks more like a timepiece than a piece of technology strapped to your wrist. But unlike a regular watch, the 360 brings you Google Now alerts and smartphone notifications including SMS and email.

Like the Moto 360, this watch offers a round display, and its 320 x 320 resolution makes it one of the better smartwatch screens so far. Apart from that, you get the benefits of the Wear OS operating system, including at-a-glance alerts via Google Now and turn-by-turn directions. The LG G Watch R also features a heart rate monitor for fitness tracking.  

While the LG G Watch R is a great choice, the LG G Watch Urbane could also be worth a look, especially if you want a more refined design. Unlike the G Watch R, this smartwatch comes in a gold or silver steel body with a stitched leather band. Most of the specs are the same as the LG G Watch R, however.