The Most Rugged Smartwatch For 2024
The Rundown
1. Best Of The Best: Garmin 010-02064-00 Instinct, Rugged Outdoor Watch with GPS
This rugged outdoor watch is designed to withstand the toughest environments. It stays running no matter what, whether you're hiking, hunting, or just taking a walk around your neighborhood. The 010-02064-00 Garmin Instinct has been tested to 100 meters of depth and is rated for thermal shock and water resistance. Read Review
2. Best For The Price: SAMSUNG Galaxy Watch (46mm, GPS, Bluetooth)
For those who prefer more robust smart features, the Samsung Galaxy Watch is an excellent option, particularly for Android users. Thanks to cellular support for calls, texts, and streaming content, as well as GPS tracking for more than 39 workout modes, this is an excellent choice for users on the go looking for a smartphone replacement. Read Review
3. Best Performance: Garmin fēnix 5, Premium and Rugged Multisport GPS Smartwatch
Garmin fēnix 5 is a premium wristwatch with Elevate wrist heart rate technology. The watch boasts a sleek design and is compatible with the included cockpit band for sporty style. The rugged design features stainless steel bezel, buttons, and rear case for a comfortable feel. Read Review
4. Best Versatile: Fossil 44mm Gen 5E Stainless Steel Touchscreen Smartwatch
Keep up with your life with Fossil's 44mm Gen 5E Smartwatch. It’s a watch designed for all-day wear and designed with the latest technology. The 1.39" curved glass display is protected by a sapphire lens with an anti-reflective coating, and it has a halo ring of light around the screen that illuminates the time in any situation. Read Review
When you are not sure if your phone is inside your jacket or shirt, and you don’t want to take it off to check, then having a rugged smartwatch is the best solution. Smartwatches have become increasingly common in our day-to-day lives. They are small and portable, with the ability to communicate with us through various apps.
However, they can still be prone to damage when not taken care of properly. A rugged smartwatch however, has more durability than a standard smartwatch because it is made to withstand harsh conditions. It can even be used for emergency situations because it has the ability to send alerts, call for help and track the user’s location. Below we list the best rugged smartwatch in 2024.
Our team, including qualified experts in this area, conducted a survey and carried out it for a great amount of time on finding the right products for most rugged smartwatch, nearly 15 hours. And after lots of effort, we have done it well.
As the result, we found some top trending models on the market that many customers tend to search for. In addition, we believe that the Garmin 010-02064-00 Instinct, Rugged Outdoor Watch with GPS is one of the best options available to you. We have provided you with a detailed buyer's guide and many other good choices so that you can decide which one is the best for your requirements.
RELATED: We've compiled 4,880+ customer reviews to find the best waterproof smartwatch in 2024 for you. See our top picks and buying guide here.
Our Top Picks
TOP Choice #1
![Garmin 010-02064-00 Instinct, Rugged Outdoor Watch with GPS]()
- Constructed to U.S. Military standard 810G for thermal, shock and water resistance (rated to 100 meters)
- Stay connected with smart notifications (with a compatible smartphone) and automatic data uploads to the Garmin connect online fitness community
- Use the trackback feature to navigate the same route back to your starting point; Use the Garmin explore website and app to plan your trips in advance
- Built in 3 axis compass and barometric altimeter, plus multiple global navigation satellite systems (GPS, Glonass and Galileo) support helps track in more challenging environments than GPS alone
- Battery life: Up to 14 days in smartwatch mode, up to 16 hours in GPS mode, up to 40 hours in Ultratrac battery saver mode
- Monitor your estimated heart rate, activity and stress; Train with preloaded activity profiles. Strap material: Silicone
- Rugged GPS watch built to withstand the toughest environments
- Included in box: Galaxy Watch, Additional Strap (Large and Small included), Wireless charging Dock, Travel Adaptor, Quick Start Guide, User Manual (Warranty: 1 Year Standard Parts and Labor)
- Live a stronger, smarter life with Galaxy Watch at your wrist. Rest well and stay active with built-in health tracking and a Bluetooth connection that keeps everything at your wrist. Plus, go for days without charging.
- Available in two sizes and three colors, the Galaxy Watch offers stylish watch faces so realistic they hardly look digital. Plus, choose from a collection of interchangeable bands.
- Pairs with both Android and iOS smartphones via Bluetooth connection.
- Go nonstop for days on a single charge. The wireless charger lets you power up without slowing down. (Average expected performance based on typical use. Results may vary.)
TOP Choice #3
![Garmin fēnix 5, Premium and Rugged Multisport GPS Smartwatch]()
- Outdoor sensors, including GPS and GLONASS satellite reception and 3 axis compass with gyroscope and barometric altimeter. Battery life- Smartwatch mode-Up to 2 weeks. GPS/HR mode-Up to 24 hours. UltraTrac mode-Up to 60 hours without wrist heart rate
- Connected features include smart notifications, automatic uploads to Garmin Connect online fitness community and personalization through free watch faces and apps from our Connect IQ store. Display size: 1.2 inches (240 x 240)
- Premium Multisport GPS watch with Elevate wrist heart rate technology. Physical size 1.8 x 1.8 x 0.6 inches. Cockpit watch band compatible included (22 mm)
- Put key stats at your fingertips with the performance widget that shows the effects and progress of your workouts. Case material : Fiber reinforced polymer with stainless steel rear cover
- Fit for adventure with a rugged design that features stainless steel bezel, buttons and rear case. Display type: sunlight visible, transflective memory in pixel (MIP)
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![Fossil 44mm Gen 5E Stainless Steel Touchscreen Smartwatch]()
- Automatically tracks activity goals, steps, sleep, heart rate, cardio level and more. Activity modes with tethered GPS keep you on track with your distance and path. Advanced sensors provide the data to power all your health and fitness apps.
- Android users can get a little extra help with Alexa. Download the 'Amazon Alexa for Smart Watches' app from the Play Store to easily access quick news and information, check the weather, set timers and alarms, control smart home devices, and more.
- Use the WearOS by Google app on your phone running the latest version of Android (excluding Go edition) or iOS . Supported features may vary between platforms and countries with compatibility subject to change.
- Battery: 24 Hr + multi-day Extended Battery Mode Varies based on usage and after updates install. USB cable with magnetic charger snaps to rings on watch caseback and spins 360 degrees for ease of use. 50 minutes to reach 80%.
- Stay connected with notifications for calls, texts, apps and automatic time, time zone and calendar syncing. Never miss a call - answer and make calls directly on your watch when your phone is out of reach.
- This is one smart watch with always-on display and thousands of watch faces to personalize. Hundreds of apps from assistant to fitness, payments, music, social, news, games, stopwatches and more. The swimproof design is perfect for all your activities.
- 【TOUGHNESS FROM THE INSIDE OUT】The Amazfit T-Rex Pro comes with a 1.3" HD AMOLED always-on color screen; The outer bezel undergoes a metal-spraying process, which enhances the rich textures of the light 60g watch body. Having passed 15 military-grade tests1, this smart watch can battle with you through hot deserts, humid rainforest and polar glaciers. Witness endurance that braves the elements with ease.
- 【YOUR ULTIMATE PERSONAL ASSISTANT】The Amazfit T-Rex Pro smart watch notifies you of any incoming text messages or calls, scheduled alarms, and events, to prevent you from missing any important information. It can also easily control music playback.
- 【YOUR PARTNER IN EXPLORATION】The Amazfit T-Rex Pro smartwatch is high-level exploration partner, supporting four global navigation satellite systems, a blood-oxygen saturation measurement system, a heart rate monitor, a sleep monitor, a weather tracker, a sunrise and sunset monitor, a current moon phase display, a compass and barometric altimeter.
- 【Ultra-long 18 Day Battery Life】When fully-charged, you can relax and enjoy up to 18 days of activity and progress with typical usage, or up to 9 days with heavy usage, or up to 40 hours with GPS continuous working mode. Go nonstop with T-Rex Pro watch！
- 【OVER 100 SPORTS MODES】The Amazfit T-Rex Pro fitness watch features over 100 sports modes and can be used to monitor critical data such as workout heart rate, distance traveled, movement speed, and calories burned in real time for most sports modes, to help you track and improve your athletic performance.
- 【10 ATM WATERPROOF】With a 10 ATM grade, the Amazfit T-Rex Pro smart watch is water-resistant to a depth of up to 100 meters and can accompany you as you surf, swim, or explore the mysterious underwater world together.
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![Garmin Vivoactive 4, GPS Smartwatch, Features Music]()
- Personalize your watch with thousands of free watch faces, apps and widgets from our Connect IQ store
- Record all the ways to move with more than 20 preloaded GPS and indoor sports apps, including yoga, running, swimming and more
- Battery life: Up to 8 days in smartwatch mode; Up to 6 hours in GPS and music mode
- Stay connected with smart notifications (when paired with a compatible device) for incoming calls, text messages, calendar reminders and more
- Safety and tracking features include incident detection (during select activities) and assistance (when paired with a compatible device), which both send your real time location to emergency contacts
- Garmin Coach provides free 5K, 10K and half marathon training plans that guide you to reach your race goal and adjust based on your performance in the plan
- Keeps track of your energy levels, Pulse Ox (this is not a medical device and is not intended for use in the diagnosis or monitoring of any medical condition), respiration, menstrual cycle, stress, sleep, estimated heart, hydration and more
- Easily download songs to your watch, including playlists from Spotify, Amazon music or Deezer (may require a premium subscription with a third party music provider), and connect with headphones (sold separately) for phone free listening
- Get easy to follow, animated workouts right on your watch screen, including cardio, strength, yoga and Pilates
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![Garmin Forerunner 245 Music, GPS Running Smartwatch]()
- Get free adaptive training plans from Garmin coach, or create your own custom workouts on our Garmin connect online fitness community
- Evaluates your current training status to indicate if you’re undertraining or overdoing it; Offers additional performance monitoring features
- Sync with music streaming services, such as Spotify, to easily store and play your favorite songs right from your watch
- GPS running smartwatch with music advanced training features, Lens Material:Corning Gorilla Glass 3, Bezel Material: fiber-reinforced polymer, Strap material:silicone
- Provides advanced running dynamics, including ground contact time balance, stride length, vertical ratio and more (When used with Running Dynamics Pod or HRM Run or HRM Tri monitors (sold separately))
- Battery life: up to 7 days in smartwatch mode and 6 hours in GPS mode with music
- Safety and tracking features include incident detection (during select activities) which sends your real-time location to emergency contacts through your paired compatible smartphone
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![Military Smart Watch for Men Outdoor Tactical Smartwatch]()
- BLUETOOTH DIAL AND SPEAKER- Smart watch after connecting to bluetooth, you can receive and get all SNS notifications (SMS,Facebook,WhatsApp,Twitter,LinkedIn,Instagram,Gmail,etc) straight to your health tracker watch,you will never miss important news .You can see incoming calls and reject them should you be busy. With built in speaker, you can use it to play music. Anytime, Anywhere, communication brings you a convenient life.Only need 2 hours to get fully charged,Work watches for men equipped with 400 mAh large capacity long battery life and can be used 7-15 days with a standby time of 30 days If fully charge.
- 24 HOURS HEALTH MONITORING & SLEEP TRACKING- Adopting advanced latest built-in optical sensor, Blood pressure watch men can monitor your real-time heart rate all day automatically,and measure Blood Pressure.Fitness tracker watch using a 1.3-inch high-definition full touch screen. Bluetooth smart watch for android & ios can track your sleep status all day,analyze your sleep quality(deep sleep,light sleep and wake up time)which can help you better understand your health and make reasonable adjustment on your life-style.
- COMPATIBILITY & 12 MONTHS GUARATANTEE SERVE-This GUCABE Smartwatch is compatible with smart phones that use iOS 9.0 or Android OS 4.4 or above, aAndroid 4.4 and above smartphones(not for PC, iPad or tablet). It also supports iPhone, Samsung, Huawei, Xiaomi, OnePlus etc.you need turn on the phone's Bluetooth and connect to the smart watch via APP. And this GUCABE watch also has alarm, stop watch, remote camera control, sedentary reminder, music control and weather forecast functions.GUCABE products come with 12 Months money-back or replacement guarantee. Riskless purchase! You can select our products and enjoy the latest and convenient after-services.
- MULTIPLE EXERCISE MODES&ULTRA-LONG BATTTERY LIFE- This smartwatch for accurate track step,distance,calorie counter watch. It has 7 exercise modes, including running, walking, cycling, skipping, basketball, football, badminton, etc to give you more detailed insight into whole day activity.To record your workout on "Dafit" App, it can connect your phone's GPS, and perform real-time heart rate monitoring and accurately record all-day activities, such as pedometer, distance, calories burned, heart rate and active time. It also supports weather forecast, message notifications etc. Let you rest assured that outdoor sports.Hiking watch help you exercise scientifically and achieve fitness goal.
- USTOMIZED YOUR UNIQUE SMART WATCH-Upgraded smart watch with 1.3" HD Square touch screen, makes it clear and intuitive to understand your health and sports data.Military sports watch has a 10 military grade certifications and can be used under the harsh environmental conditions, Military tactical sports watch is definitely convenient for your outdoor activities.Please download the latest version of the "Dafit" APP, and related functions can be set and used in the APP. Big smart watch contains many dials readily available to choose from along with another 100 more dials within the app.You can also customize your watch face.Big face watch for men can be any photo,such as your family, pet,et.
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![Kospet Smart Watches for Men - Waterproof Fitness Smartwatch]()
- ✅Keep your Activities on Track - Kospet mens smartwatch comes with 24 sports modes, such as running, walking, trail running, cycling, climbing, skiing, swimming, basketball, football and baseball. Efficiency and accuracy of our bluetooth watch data reminds you to rest timely and perform all your physical activities
- ✅Military Standard Verification - Special composite materials and metal shell makes our smart watches for women and men pass dozens of standard tests including temperature, low pressure altitude, dustproof, salt spray, fluid contamination, etc. Fitness watch can undoubtedly become your reliable companion when you like outdoor activities
- ✅Know Your Health Status - The blood pressure watch has a real time monitoring feature which collects data about your health, heart-rate for 24 hours and real time blood pressure and blood oxygen. Fitness watches for men and women help you to monitor sleep. Fitness tracker watch contains a pedometer which allows controlling the calories burnt throughout the day
- ✅Live an Efficient Life - To make your everyday life easier, Kospet smart watch for android phones comes with a touch screen and features like 1.72” high-end brightness and 280x320 resolutions for a better visual experience. Thanks to 380mAh Li-Polymer battery of heart rate monitor watch that has a standby time above 50days. Communicate and entertain all week long with 15 days use time
- ✅Extremely Resistant to Damage - Our fully enclosed slim shell designed android smart watch can be immersed in 50m (5ATM waterproof) deep water. Our military watch is a proven survivor of extreme conditions and has passed the drilling, crushing and hot steam scouring test which makes sports watch suitable to be used in high temperature and high pressure environments
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![Smart Watch for Men with Call Answer/ Dial, Military Smartwatch]()
- 【New Upgraded Bluetooth Dial Watch】- With built-in speaker, after connecting to Bluetooth, you can directly dial the phone number on the screen to answer the call. Bluetooth 4.0 (supports iOS 8.0 and Android 4.0 or above). Strengthened the design of the body details and internal structure, 1.3 inch full touch high definition large screen with a resolution of 240*240, comfortable TPU bands, VALYV smartwatch combines aesthetics and the practicality.
- 【Waterproof & Multifunctional】- IP65 waterproof to meet the waterproof needs of daily hand washing, rain walking etc. Note: do not use in hot water. As a high quality smart watch, VALYV sports watch also support real-time message notifications, weather forecast, music player, remote camera control, stopwatch, pedometer, etc.
- 【24H Health Monitor & Long Battery Life】- VALYV fitness tracker watch supports 24h automatic heart rate monitor, blood oxygen and sleep monitor. Helping you get a better understanding of your health.(Note: The measurement data is for reference only and cannot be used as medical monitoring data) Built with a 400mAh battery that can be used for up to 5-10 days with a standby time of 30 days. Keep technology always online.
- 【Great Compatibility & After Sales Guarantee】- VALYV smart watch is compatible with most iOS 8.0 and Android 4.0 or above smartphones (not for PC, iPad or tablet), supports for iPhone, Samsung, Huawei, Xiaomi, OnePlus etc. And VALYV provides 12 months money-back or free replacement. Buy without risk! After-sales service to assure your long-term enjoyment. If you have any questions or problem, pls contact us any time.
- 【Precision Activity Tracker】- VALYV military sports watch contains 7 profession sports modes, such as walking, running, cycling, badminton etc. During exercise, accurately record your exercise status, track the number of steps, calories burned, distance walked, etc. Besides, after successfully connected with the phone, you can see your GPS movement trajectory on the paired APP ”Dafit”.
Product Images, Product Titles, Product Highlights from Amazon Product Advertising API
What to Look For in a most rugged smartwatch?
The most rugged smartwatch is a product type that many customers feel hesitant to select because of the challenges in evaluating its features. It comes to trust! When studying a significant purchase, many factors must be considered. Our most rugged smartwatch knowledge will help you make an ideal decision.
Our article here will highlight some outstanding items and provide solutions to FAQs and guides to buying. You should keep in mind some main criteria of most rugged smartwatch below:
Apps
A majority of smartwatches have basic apps that allow you to view your calendar, check weather forecasts and track your steps throughout the day. For now though, an Apple Watch or Wear OS device will provide the most variety of apps.
Display
The display's quality and abilities are important. The display, which is also a key component in any smartwatch, acts as a hub for all information and allows you to interact with it. It is important to have a display that works well outdoors as well as indoors, particularly in direct sunlight. It should have high-quality protection glass as well as a responsive touch technology. This is an important feature that you should consider as it can severely impact the user's experience.
You should also verify the display panel used. AMOLED displays are usually better than LCDs because they offer better colors and contrast as well as higher power consumption.
You should also verify the display panel used. AMOLED displays are usually better than LCDs because they offer better colors and contrast as well as higher power consumption.
Compatibility
When buying a smartwatch, the first thing you should consider is which type of smartphone it will work with. You shouldn't have any issues with this in most cases. However, if you want to buy the Apple Watch Series 5 for instance, an iPhone will be required. Sorry Android users. Most other manufacturers, including Fitbit and Garmin, should work with Android and iOS phones.
Battery
Battery life is one of the most frustrating aspects of having a smartwatch. Smartwatches are small smartphones that fit on our wrists and offer limited battery life. Smartwatches that have a lot of features, such as GPS and cellular support, heart rate monitoring, or other biometric sensors require charging overnight. This gives you about a full day. You can extend that time by turning off these functions. Budget smartwatches have a longer battery life, with some models claiming to last for several days. They aren't the best options for high-end features, so they don't offer the greatest selection.
Health Tracking
Smartwatches offer a number of features, including the ability to monitor your health. You can track your steps and calculate how much exercise you have done by using step count. Smartwatches can now track your health and do more than just count steps. Many smartwatches now offer features such as ECG heart rate monitoring, SpO2 meters, activity tracking and sports tracking.
Design And Build
You will find two options for dials when buying a smartwatch. One is a classic round one, and one that's square or rectangular. The best option is available, but it's up to you to choose what is most important to you. A round dial is my favorite, however, a rectangular or square dial may offer slightly better screen space.
Lower price smartwatches don't offer high-quality materials such as leather straps and metal casings. These watches usually come with plastic straps and silicone cases that are not durable. You can expect a higher quality build, which is why you should pay more. A smartwatch with a simple metal case will not be as durable as one that has Stainless Steel and Aluminum. There are many different types of leather, protective glasses, plastics and other materials. Most smartwatches come with rugged protection as they are intended for daily use. Some smartwatches have an extremely solid construction that is resistant to minor bumps and knocks. Others, however, are IP certified so they can resist water and dust. If you plan to purchase a smartwatch for sports tracking, such as swimming, make sure that you check these ratings.
Lower price smartwatches don't offer high-quality materials such as leather straps and metal casings. These watches usually come with plastic straps and silicone cases that are not durable. You can expect a higher quality build, which is why you should pay more. A smartwatch with a simple metal case will not be as durable as one that has Stainless Steel and Aluminum. There are many different types of leather, protective glasses, plastics and other materials. Most smartwatches come with rugged protection as they are intended for daily use. Some smartwatches have an extremely solid construction that is resistant to minor bumps and knocks. Others, however, are IP certified so they can resist water and dust. If you plan to purchase a smartwatch for sports tracking, such as swimming, make sure that you check these ratings.
Connectivity
Today's smartwatches offer connectivity options such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Some smartwatches have optional cellular LTE connectivity. This allows you to configure an eSIM parallel to your existing SIM card. You can use a smartwatch that has both GPS connectivity and cellular connectivity without requiring a smartphone. You can use the GPS built into the smartwatch to navigate, go on walks or make calls. These features can be draining on your battery.
FAQs
Should You Buy A Smartwatch?
Do you really want one? Are you sure? You don't really need a smartwatch, but a smartphone is not the only option.Manufacturers are now realizing that smartwatches need to be attractive, and they look a lot better than ever. Some people find a one-day battery and touchscreen watches difficult to accept. However, hybrid smartwatches have been invented and the battery performance and control methods for them are continually improving.
The huge selection of hybrid watches is available for those who aren't ready to buy a smartwatch but want to test out smart features. These hybrid watches are half the price of an Apple Watch and can be linked to any smartphone. They offer a classic watch design with smart features.
Will A New Smartwatch Work With My Older Phone?
The answer to this question is probably yes if your iPhone or Android smartphone was bought in the past three or four years. Here are the specifications for each version. Google Wear OS is compatible with Android phones running Android 4.4 and later or iPhones running iOS 9.3 or higher.There are some differences in the Apple Watch. An iPhone 6 or older is required for the Series 3 and subsequent models that have a cellular connection. An Apple Watch Series 3 or 5 purchased without a cellular network will work. However, the Apple Watch Series 6 or Series 7 or Apple Watch SE requires an iPhone 6S and iOS 15.
Samsung's Tizen operating systems, which can be found on other devices such as the Galaxy Watch, require Android version 5.0 and later. On an iPhone it requires iOS 9.0 and later. Only compatible with Samsung smartphones, the 4G LTE version is available for certain carriers.
Which Smartwatch Works With My Smartphone?
This is actually quite simple, even though it may sound complicated. An Android smartphone can be used to control any smartwatch running Google's Wear OS, Samsung's Tizen software and any smartwatch that runs Android. This includes the Fitbit Versa 3 or the Amazfit GTR 2. You can only use the Apple Watch with iPhone.All smartwatches can be used with an iPhone if you have the appropriate app. Be aware, however that Wear OS and Tizen watches won't provide the same functionality when they are connected to Android phones. Apple places restrictions on third-party devices. We don't recommend that iPhone users buy other smartwatches than the Apple Watch.
Do I Need A Smartwatch With GPS?
GPS is required if you plan to use your smartphone to navigate your route. Modern smartwatches have GPS built-in, and you might find that it is available in case you require it. Your smartwatch may not have GPS. However, it can connect to your smartphone's GPS and will work slower. The watch's battery will be depleted faster by using GPS than normal.Which Smartwatch OS Is Best?
Every smartwatch operating system has its own unique characteristics. This is changing with the collaboration between Google and Samsung on Wear. WatchOS for the Apple Watch currently leads the pack, closely followed by Tizen from Samsung. They are both easy to navigate and have excellent fitness tracking and mobile payment options. Both will also run the apps from their respective app stores. Google Wear OS has the same features but it isn't always as simple to use or reliable.Can My Smartwatch Use My Data Plan?
Your smartwatch will connect to your smartphone via Bluetooth. All data required by the watch comes directly from your smartphone at no additional cost. If you purchase a smartwatch that has 4G LTE (like the Apple Watch LTE), this will change. A smartwatch that has its own data connection can work on its own, without needing to be connected to your phone. It is ready to receive and make calls as well as send messages.You will need to pay an additional fee for this privilege. The exact amount will vary depending on the carrier you have and your current plan.
How Durable Is A Smartwatch?
Smartwatches can be dangerous because they are worn on the wrist. It's easy for them to be knocked against other things, and they can also get wet easily. This means you need to be more careful about your watch. Today's smartwatches have IP68 water resistance ratings. Some watches meet military toughness standards and can withstand more severe treatment.Although many smartwatches today are waterproof, they do not have all of the sapphire crystals. You'll need to spend a bit more to enjoy the extra scratch resistance and beautiful reflection sheen.
Smartwatch water resistance is important if you plan to use your device to swim or shower.
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About Tim Powers
