How do you choose the right smartwatch as an extension of your smartphone?

The most important part when you choose a smartwatch as extension of your smartphone is that it works well together with your phone. Otherwise, not all functions might work, which would be a shame. Choose a smartphone which operating system works together with the operating system of your smartphone.

• iPhone: works together best with Apple Watch, thanks to the watchOS operating system.
• Samsung: works together best with watches from the Samsung Tizen or Wear OS operating system.
• Other brand: works together best with watches with a brand-specific operating system and Wear OS.

The look of your smartwatch is important, but it also has to look good on your wrist. That's why you should measure your wrist circumference. Depending on your wrist circumference, we recommend a watch case size. If your wrist circumference falls within multiple categories, you're in luck. You can decide if you want a smaller or larger watch.

Wrist circumference:

• Less than 15cm: small size (S)
• 15 - 17cm: medium-sized (M)
• 17 - 19cm: large size (L)
• Larger than 19cm: extra large size (XL)

You can install apps on every smartwatch. It differs per operating system how many options you have and which apps you can choose. You have the most options if you choose a smartwatch with WearOS, watchOS, or the Samsung Tizen operating system. With these 3 operating systems, you can download apps on your watch directly. Brands like Garmin, Fitbit, and Huawei have a brand-specific operating system that has fewer aps. You also can't download apps via the watch, but only via an app on your phone.

You can make contactless payments with your smartwatch more often. That's because it's easy and quick to do. Thanks to the introduction of mobile payment services like Fitbit Pay, Garmin Pay, and Apple Pay, more and more watches support contactless payments. Note that each mobile payment service is connected to different banks. Check per watch if your bank supports the payment service.

With some smartwatches, you can read and answer smartphone messages. This way, you can quickly reply when you're in a meeting and can't take out your phone. In most cases, you can only reply with pre-set standard replies of your choice, like 'Okay', 'I'm in a meeting', or 'I'll call you later'. Only a few models allow you to type your own messages, which isn't always very convenient, due to the small screen.

Do you have to or do you want to be available? You probably want to be able to make calls with your smartwatch. Increasingly more watches support that, but's it's not standard. Calls via your watch are always on speaker. That means your conversation isn't private, but that's not a problem if you're at home. Some watches that support calls only allow you to answer calls, so you can't call a contact yourself. Keep this in mind when you find the call function important.