Blog
Every Smartwatch Labs article, newest first.
Garmin Fenix 8 vs Enduro 3: Which One Should You Choose?
Garmin Fenix 8 vs Enduro 3 after using both: weight and materials, real-world battery life and solar, MIP vs AMOLED, price, diving, the LED flashlight and maps on the trail.
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Garmin Vivoactive 6 Unboxing and First Impressions: 11-Day Battery for €250
Garmin Vivoactive 6 unboxing: what's in the box, design, the 1.2-inch AMOLED screen, 11-day battery and how it compares with the Fenix 8.
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Garmin Smartwatch comparision table 2024–2026
Garmin smartwatch comparison table: prices, battery, AMOLED or MIP display, flashlight and titanium for Forerunner, Instinct, Venu and fēnix.
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Garmin Fenix 7: 6 Reasons to Buy Over the EPIX Gen 2
Six reasons to choose the Garmin Fenix 7 over the Epix Gen 2: price, battery life, case sizes, solar charging, no burn-in risk and a flashlight.
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Garmin Fenix 7 & Epix How to Download Maps
How to download maps on the Garmin Fenix 7 and Epix, using Map Manager on the watch or the faster Garmin Express on your computer.
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Garmin Instinct 2 Review
Garmin Instinct 2 review: rugged G-Shock style, up to unlimited battery with solar, new sensors and Garmin Pay, but no maps or music.
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Garmin Epix: 3 Reasons to Buy Over the Fenix 7
Three reasons to pick the Garmin Epix over the Fenix 7: the vivid AMOLED screen, higher resolution and a display you can read in the dark.
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Garmin Epix Gen 2 Review
Garmin Epix Gen 2 review: the Fenix 7 with an AMOLED screen. Hardware, sensors, battery life, price and first impressions from the unboxing.
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Garmin Fenix 7 Review
Garmin Fenix 7 review: longer battery life, a touchscreen, the 7X's LED flashlight, Sapphire editions and my real-life 7X Solar battery test.
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Smartwatches with offline Spotify or Deezer
Which smartwatches play Spotify or Deezer offline? Garmin and Samsung support offline Spotify, Garmin and Fitbit offline Deezer. Full list inside.
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Garmin Venu 2 vs Venu 2 Plus
Garmin Venu 2 vs Venu 2 Plus: the Plus adds a speaker and microphone for calls and voice assistants. Price, battery and size differences.
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Best Garmin Watch for Spotify in 2022
The best Garmin watches for offline Spotify in 2022 at three budgets: Vivoactive 4, Venu 2 and Fenix 6 Pro, with battery and song storage.
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Garmin Vivoactive 3 Music Review and Extended Test
Garmin Vivoactive 3 Music long-term review: offline music, swimming, sports tracking, Garmin Pay and real battery life from daily use.
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Kettlebell Snatch Challenge: the 10-Minute Test and How I Track It with My Garmin
The 10-minute kettlebell snatch test, how to choose a kettlebell size, a 60-day snatch challenge, and how I track kettlebell and CrossFit workouts with my Garmin Enduro 3.
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Wearing a Smartwatch in a Sauna
Can you wear a smartwatch in the sauna? What water and temperature ratings mean, my own tests, and what Garmin, Polar, Apple and Fitbit say.
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Top things to buy on AliExpress and still get top Quality
Is AliExpress safe? How to avoid junk, plus the cables, cases, screen protectors, socks and other finds that proved good quality in my testing.
Buying Guides
Polar Nightly Recharge review
Polar Nightly Recharge review: how Sleep Charge and ANS Charge measure overnight recovery, and why it's my favourite sleep tracking feature.
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What are the Benefits of a Smartwatch?
What a smartwatch can do that a phone can't: heart rate, sleep and fitness tracking, music, payments and safety features, plus the downsides.
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Seiko Smartwatches?
Does Seiko make smartwatches? What Seiko Epson and Seiko x Wena offer, how Astron GPS Solar and Kinetic compare, and a stylish smart alternative.
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Are Smartwatches Worth Buying – You might be surprised by #11
Are smartwatches worth buying? The five must-have features, from heart rate and sleep tracking to GPS, plus six more that may surprise you.
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Best Deals at Amazon
How to find the best Amazon deals: Warehouse Deals with an extra 20% off on Prime Day and Black Friday, and free shipping to Finland and Europe.
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Best travel camera on a budget
Choosing a budget travel and vlogging camera: sensor size, flip screen, mic input and lenses compared, and why I picked the Canon EOS M50.
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Best Smartphone Guide
How to find a good Android phone for $100–$400: compare specs, shortlist candidates and save with Amazon Warehouse Deals. My current picks.
Buying Guides
Smartwatches that can measure Blood Pressure
Can a smartwatch measure blood pressure? The FDA-cleared Omron HeartGuide does. Why blood pressure matters and how the readings compare.
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Stuff you can get for Free
Useful services you can try for free, starting with two free Audible audiobooks, plus the non-fiction titles I enjoyed most.
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Best Smartwatches and Fitness Trackers Guide – Top picks for every Budget
The best smartwatches and fitness trackers for every budget, from the $25 Mi Band 3 to the Garmin Vivoactive 3, with a comparison table.
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Xiaomi Mi Band – Cheapest Fitness Tracker which is Worth It
Xiaomi Mi Band 3 review: a waterproof fitness tracker with heart rate, sleep and sports tracking and notifications for about $25. Only GPS is missing.
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Are Smartwatches Safe to Wear – Health and Privacy concerns
Are smartwatches safe to wear? What the research says about Bluetooth, WiFi and 4G radiation, plus the real privacy and driving risks.
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Self-charging Smartwatches Powered by You
Self-charging smartwatches are becoming real. Solar, kinetic and body-heat powered watches from Matrix, Casio, Sequent and LunaR compared.
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Can a Smartwatch detect a Heart Attack or Cardiac Arrest
Can a smartwatch detect a heart attack or cardiac arrest? What watches can and can't do, and how AI spots irregular heart rhythms.
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What are Hybrid Smartwatches?
Hybrid smartwatches look like analog watches but track steps, sleep and notifications. How they work and the best models from Fossil, Garmin and more.
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Can You Change Your Smartwatch Strap?
Yes, most smartwatch straps can be changed. Lug widths for Garmin, Apple, Fitbit, Samsung and Wear OS watches, and how to swap a band.
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Can Smartwatches Play Music
Yes, smartwatches can play music to Bluetooth headphones. Which watches stream over LTE and which store songs for offline listening.
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Waterproof Smartwatches and Fitness Trackers For Swimming – Guide for getting Best Bang for your Buck
The best waterproof smartwatches and fitness trackers for swimming. Over 30 models from Garmin, Apple, Fitbit, Polar and Suunto compared.
Buying Guides
Smartwatches for Kids and in School
Are smartwatches allowed in school and exams, and does a smartwatch make sense for kids? GPS, calling and the benefits for parents.
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What to do about a Smartphone without a Headphone Jack?
No headphone jack on your phone? Adapters, USB-C headphones, smartwatches with a jack, and why switching to Bluetooth headphones is easiest.
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What types of Wearable Technology are there
The main types of wearable technology: smartwatches, fitness trackers, smart rings, smart clothing, implants and head-mounted displays.
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