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| Alcatel’s Onetouch Watch is more affordable than its competitors. |
Will a smartwatch make you more productive in 2015? These handy accessories deliver all of your alerts, calls and messages right to your wrist, so you never miss a thing. This year, smartwatches are getting software updates, better looks and longer battery life. And while most have to be paired with your smartphone to work, at least one new smartwatch can function as a stand-alone smartphone replacement. We went hands-on with a slew of new smartwatches this month. Here are four of the best.
Martian Voice Command
The Martian Notifier was one of my favorite smartwatches of 2014, thanks to its good looks and minimalist approach to smartwatch functionality. Now, the Martian Voice Command watch improves upon that formula with a microphone that lets you perform all sorts of hands-free actions, from setting reminders to sending text messages. Martian watches don't have touch-screen displays. Instead, they're like regular watches, but with a small LCD panel at the bottom that shows alerts and message previews. Whereas other smartwatches need to be recharged every night, Martian watches can last for more than a week on a charge. Plus, the Martian Voice Command watch is compatible with nearly all smartphones.
Sony Smartwatch 3 Steel
Sony's updated smartwatch stands out thanks to a sophisticated new design, which includes a stainless steel band. The brushed metal makes the watch one of the more attractive wearable devices on the market, which is an important factor for business users – especially if you plan to pair your smartwatch with a suit or other formal wear. Otherwise, the Smartwatch 3 Steel is a typical Android Wear-powered smartwatch. It pairs with any Android phone to pull in alerts and notifications. It also has a microphone, so you can use voice commands to save notes, perform web searches, send short messages and even retrieve turn-by-turn driving directions. Sony also gave the watch a faster processor and more memory than last year's model, so it's one of the snappier Android Wear devices out there.
Alcatel OneTouch Watch
Alcatel's new OneTouch Watch has a lot going for it. It runs on a colorful, capable new operating system developed by Alcatel. It pairs with iPhones, Android phones and Windows Phones, whereas many other top smartwatches are Android-exclusive. And at just $150, it's more affordable than most of its competitors. Plus, when it launches in March, it will be one of the few touch-screen smartwatches with a round face. In other words, it's more watchlike than your average smartwatch. Admittedly, it feels a bit cheap compared to more premium Android Wear devices like Motorola's Moto 360, but there's a lot of value packed into Alcatel's offering.
GoldKey Secure Communicator
Whereas most smartwatches are really extensions of your smartphone, GoldKey's Secure Communicator really stands on its own. The smartwatch is basically a tiny Android smartphone that you wear on your wrist, complete with a data connection and the ability to take and place phone calls. You can use the watch's built-in microphone and speaker for calls, or pair it with a Bluetooth earpiece or headset. The device can run any Android app, and even lets you type with a tiny QWERTY keyboard, which vibrates with each key press. Admittedly, it's pretty hard to type on such a small screen — and most Android apps weren't designed for such cramped quarters — but the functionality is certainly novel. GoldKey is also packing in its own secure applications that let you send encrypted email, store encrypted files and more. Of course, buyers will have to ask themselves whether a tiny smartwatch can really replace their smartphone, or if they're willing to shell out for an additional monthly data plan.
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