Sunday, July 5, 2020

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The best iPhone for you depends on your tastes, needs and budget. Do you want to upgrade to the most expensive model every year or do you want to get the most you can for your money and settle into a few years with the same iPhone?

Apple knows people have different buying habits and so it currently sells four different lines of iPhone: iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11, iPhone SE and iPhone XR. Each can run the latest iOS 13 and all will be updated with the new iOS 14 and likely several versions to come after that, one of the big advantages of getting an iPhone rather than an Android device.

The iPhone 12 range is hotly anticipated but we’re still not sure if it’ll drop as usual in September or if the coronavirus pandemic will mean it is delayed. For now, your choice depends on whether you want a home button or want to use Face ID, the number of camera, the screen size and - probably most importantly - the price.

Below we’ve ranked all the iPhones Apple sells plus models that are still available from other retailers. At the moment we think the iPhone 11 is the best iPhone for most people, but you might not be most people. Take a look at our buying advice and standalone reviews to see which iPhone will suit your pocket. 

Short of time? Watch our "which iPhone is right for you?" video explainer below:

Best iPhone: which one should you buy today?

iPhone 11

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1. iPhone 11

The best Apple iPhone bang for your buck

Weight: 194g | Dimensions: 150.9 x 75.7 x 8.3mm | OS: iOS 13 | Screen size: 6.1-inch | Resolution: 828 x 1792 | CPU: A13 Bionic | RAM: 4GB | Storage: 64/128/256GB | Battery: Unknown | Rear camera: 12MP+12MP | Front camera: 12MP

Great value
Fast speeds at a discount
Ultrawide lens is far better than telephoto
Still an LCD screen
Glass back attracts fingerprints

The iPhone 11 isn't the highest-spec Apple phone, but it supersedes the iPhone XR 'budget flagship' in better ways to become the standout phone of its generation in terms of sheer value. 

True, it misses out on a telephoto lens, but like we found with the Samsung Galaxy S10e, a coupling of main and ultrawide lenses serve most photo needs. While it doesn't get an OLED display, its LCD screen at least allows the phone to keep its best-in-generation battery life crown. And it even gets a bit more RAM - up to 4GB from its predecessor's 3GB.

Add in iOS 13 and all the new tweaks coming in the iPhone 11 series and this phone is a lean, mean, photo-taking machine - and all for $699, the cheapest an iPhone has debuted since the iPhone 8.

Read our in-depth iPhone 11 review

iPhone 11 Pro

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2. iPhone 11 Pro

Nearly the best, but a bit too pricey

Weight: 188g | Dimensions: 144 x 71.4 x 8.1mm | OS: iOS 13 | Screen size: 5.8-inch | Resolution: 1125 x 2436 | CPU: A13 Bionic | RAM: 4GB | Storage: 64/256/512GB | Battery: 3,046mAh | Rear camera: 12MP+12MP+12MP | Front camera: 12MP

Camera a real step forward
Sizeable battery upgrade
Similar to iPhone XS visually
Few non-camera upgrades

The iPhone 11 Pro is a more advanced smartphone than the base iPhone 11, but it isn't the best iPhone just because its price is a big step up too.

Sure, the smaller screen is one-hand-friendly, the screen quality is a bonus, and it's Apple's most affordable handset with three rear cameras, so it's a decent phone all in all – that's why it's at our second spot on the list of our best iPhones!

But money is a concern for most people when they're looking for a new smartphone, and the big price step up may be questionable for most people when you put the stats side-by-side with the iPhone 11.

Read our full iPhone 11 Pro review

iPhone 11 Pro Max

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3. iPhone 11 Pro Max

Big phone, best phone, top price

Weight: 226g | Dimensions: 158 x 77.8 x 8.1mm | OS: iOS 13 | Screen size: 6.5-inch | Resolution: 1242 x 2688 | CPU: A13 Bionic | RAM: 4GB | Storage: 64/256/512GB | Battery: Unknown | Rear camera: 12MP+12MP+12MP | Front camera: 12MP

Three rear cameras
Fastest, best iPhone out there
Even more battery
Expensive
Mostly unchanged

The iPhone 11 Pro Max is not only a confusing shift in naming convention - it's the biggest, fastest, baddest iPhone out there. It's also the most expensive at $1,099 starting price, which only goes up if you expand storage.

Not much has changed from the iPhone XS Max, aside from the upgraded camera suite - but then again, adding an ultrawide lens is a big upgrade. The photo software has been upgraded, too, and switching between zoom levels is far smoother here than in other phones.

The battery level has been improved a staggering 4 hours over the iPhone XS Max, according to Apple. And if you can get beyond the truly weird-looking triple-lens rear camera block, this is truly the most powerful iPhone out there.

Read our in-depth iPhone 11 Pro Max review

iPhone SE

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4. iPhone SE

The choice for those who want a cheaper iPhone

Weight: 148g | Dimensions: 138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3mm | OS: iOS 13 | Screen size: 4.7-inch | Resolution: 750 x 1334 | CPU: A13 Bionic | RAM: 3GB | Storage: 64/128/256GB | Battery: 1,821mAh | Rear camera: 12MP | Front camera: 7MP

Cheapest ever iPhone
Lightweight frame
Battery life could be better
Old screen technology

Unveiled in April 2020, the new iPhone SE may look like an older iPhone but it comes with a lot of benefits over the rest of the range. The chief reason you may want to buy this is it's the cheapest iPhone you can buy from Apple right now.

It comes with the same design as the iPhone 8, but this has upgraded internals such as an A13 Bionic chipset that is the same we've seen powering the three phones you'll find above in this list.

It also comes with a Touch ID fingerprint scanner, which is something we haven't seen on recent iPhones. The camera is good on this phone, but won't compete with the very top iPhones and it has an average battery life too.

Overall, if you're looking for a cheaper alternative to the devices you've read about above you'll love the iPhone SE.

Read our in-depth iPhone SE review

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5. iPhone XS

Another option for those looking for something compact

Weight: 174g | Dimensions: 143.6 x 70.9 x 7.7mm | OS: iOS 12 | Screen size: 5.8-inch | Resolution: 1125 x 2436 | CPU: A12 Bionic | RAM: 4GB | Storage: 64/256/512GB | Battery: 2,659mAh | Rear camera: 12MP+12MP | Front camera: 7MP

Smart HDR helps the camera
Faster operation in one hand vs Max
Battery life not world-beating
Still very expensive

Believe it or not, the iPhone XS was once Apple's best 'small' phone. It has a 5.8-inch screen, so it's more one-hand-friendly than a lot of the larger phones on this list, but it still packs a punch in terms of spec.

The iPhone XS may be a little older now, but it has a Smart HDR-capable 12MP camera, enhanced TrueDepth front-facing camera, and a fast A12 Bionic chipset, exactly like the larger iPhone XS Max.

In fact, this all-screen phone is pretty much the iPhone XS Max in a smaller form factor. It does have a smaller battery than the Max and obviously a smaller screen, but you will still capture the same great photos and videos on this device and play the same games. 

Plus, it's cheaper that is used to be when it was the latest and greatest iPhone.

Read our in-depth iPhone XS review

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6. iPhone XS Max

The iPhone XS Max is still a big, speedy phone

Weight: 208g | Dimensions: 157.5 x 77.4 x 7.7mm | OS: iOS 12 | Screen size: 6.5-inch | Resolution: 1242 x 2688 | CPU: A12 Bionic | RAM: 4GB | Storage: 64/256/512GB | Battery: 3,179mAh | Rear camera: 12MP+12MP | Front camera: 7MP

Great big screen for games and movies
Camera is strong for an iPhone
Price: most expensive iPhone ever
Size can make it tricky to handle

This was once the very best iPhone if your hands and wallets were large enough. It has an expansive 6.5-inch OLED screen with HDR10 support to make colors pop. It's the perfect phone if you want a giant screen, but it has now been replaced by the iPhone 11 Pro Max we've mentioned above.

Behind that huge screen is a dual-lens 12MP camera. Apple outfitted it with Smart HDR and increased the sensor size to capture larger pixels. Don't let that static 12MP number fool you. The iPhone XS Max (like the XS) has depth-sensing capabilities for adjustable bokeh (background blur) during and after a shot.

The TrueDepth camera returns with faster Face ID recognition, and your 7MP selfies get better depth control and Smart HDR, too. This is now cheaper than at launch too, so it may be a good option if you want lots of spec but don't want to get the absolute latest iPhone.

Read our in-depth iPhone XS Max review

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7. iPhone XR

The best iPhone for those looking for great battery life

Weight: 194g | Dimensions: 150.9 x 75.7 x 8.3mm | OS: iOS 12 | Screen size: 6.1-inch | Resolution: 1792 x 828 | CPU: A12 Bionic | RAM: 4GB | Storage: 64/128256GB | Battery: 2,942mAh | Rear camera: 12MP+12MP | Front camera: 7MP

Great battery life for an iPhone
Lower price tag and fun colors
Some apps still not fully optimized
Lower-res screen

The iPhone XR is a great upgrade for the average consumer who doesn't want to pay for the most expensive iPhone money (a lot of money) can buy. This was Apple's 'cheap' iPhone until the iPhone SE 2020 came along. 

It stands out with a variety of iPhone XR colors: Blue, White, Black, Yellow, Coral, Red. This contrasts heavily with the rather muted colors of the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max. Yet it shares the same internal specs: Apple's A12 Bionic chipset and a 12MP dual-lens camera with a single lens on back. 

You don't get the dual-lens camera like you do on a higher-tier iPhone, so you miss out on telephoto shots. But Smart HDR is the real perk to taking great photos, and that's here.

It's cheaper, it's more colorful and it has a big 6.1-inch screen. That's enough for most people, especially those who aren't insistent on an impressive OLED screen.

Read our in-depth iPhone XR review

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8. iPhone X

The iPhone that changed the range

Weight: 174g | Dimensions: 143.6 x 70.9 x 7.7mm | OS: iOS 11 | Screen size: 5.8-inch | Resolution: 1125 x 2436 | CPU: A11 Bionic | RAM: 3GB | Storage: 64/256GB | Battery: 2,716mAh | Rear camera: 12MP+12MP | Front camera: 7MP

Brilliant screen
Powerful innards
Smart TrueDepth camera
Incredibly expensive

The iPhone X is as impressive as it is expensive, but if you really want a great modern iPhone without buying a newer device, this is the one to get today. 

It has a large all-screen display, except for a notch cutout at the top that houses a new TrueDepth Camera. This takes selfies to another level and can also map your face to an iPhone X-exclusive Animoji. If you don't know what that is by now you probably won't care.

The iPhone X is Apple's 10th anniversary smartphone and has just about everything iPhone users have been asking for, from a more forward-leaning design to faster specs and new features. You'll just have to get used to Face ID instead of reaching for that non-existent fingerprint sensor.

Read our in-depth iPhone X review

  • Get the best price with our iPhone deals guide
  • Get extra security and IP spoofing with these iPhone VPN apps


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Latest Tech News

You might be surprised that our picks for the best smartwatch for iPhone aren’t all the Apple Watch. While Apple’s own wearable syncs up nicely with iPhones there are a plethora of other options if you want a watch to track your fitness and ping you notifications. Oh yeah, and tell the time. 

Smartwatches that run Google’s Wear OS also work perfectly with iPhones, though some omit some features that you can only get with an Android phone. Make sure to read our full reviews of each watch to be sure of what functionality you’ll get.

Samsung’s watches with its own Tizen software and Fitbits also couple up nicely with any iPhone, as do hybrid wearables from the likes of Withings. Basically if you want a smartwatch for iPhone, you’re really spoilt for choice.

What watch should you use with your iPhone?

Most will track your basic health metrics like steps and calories, while ones with built in GPS make for perfect running, cycling and swimming companions. Many of the watches here also sync up to ping your wrist with notifications should you want to be bothered there instead of in your front pocket.

We’ve fully worn, tested and evaluated all the watches in this list and ranked them based on software and which we think is best for most people. Bear in mind the watch at number one might not be best for you though depending on your needs, tastes and budget. 

Best Apple Watch: what are the choices?

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Apple Watch 5 review

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Apple Watch 5 review

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1. Apple Watch 5

The best Apple Watch money can buy

OS: watchOS 6 | Compatibility: iOS | Display: 1.78" OLED | Processor: Apple S5 | Band sizes: Varies based on watch size | Onboard storage: 32GB | Battery: 1 day to 36 hours | Charging method: Wireless | IP rating: Water-resistant to 50m | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, LTE

Always-on display
More storage
Battery isn't incredible
Still pricey

Looking for the very best Apple Watch on the market? It probably won't be a huge surprise to learn that it's the newest one. The Apple Watch 5 is the device that offers the best selection of features within Apple's range, but it's not a cheap option.

It's currently the most expensive Apple Watch, and the biggest upgrade for that is the fact you'll get an always-on display.

This doesn't drain your battery life as much as you may expect as the watch will dim its screen to offer you notifications on your wrist at all times rather than you having to raise it and wake it up to see your stats.

WatchOS 6 is available on the watch, so you can downloads apps directly to your wrist and it comes with a compass feature for the very first time.

If you own an Apple Watch 4, there's not much reason to upgrade here but if you own an older Apple Watch or you're looking to get your first smartwatch this may be a solid option for you.

Read the full Apple Watch 5 review

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2. Apple Watch 4

Once best Apple Watch money can buy

OS: watchOS 5 | Compatibility: iOS | Display: 1.78" OLED | Processor: Apple S4 | Band sizes: Varies based on watch size | Onboard storage: 16GB | Battery: 1 to 2 days | Charging method: Wireless | IP rating: Water-resistant to 50m | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, LTE

Larger display
Lightweight design
Battery could be better
Doesn't offer always-on

The introduction of the Apple Watch 5 may have seen the Apple Watch 4 drop in terms of pure excitement, but it's not cheaper than ever and it's not all that disimilar to the latest device.

This was the first smartwatch from the company to increase the display size to a 1.78-inch OLED. That looks great on your wrist, and the device comes in either 44mm or 40mm versions.

We particularly liked that the speaker is louder, plus the ECG monitor tech was a big upgrade at the time too. 

You won't get the benefits of an always-on display, but if you want to save a bit of money you may want to look at the Apple Watch 4 over the latest addition to the range.

Read our full Apple Watch 4 review

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3. Apple Watch 3

Now even cheaper, but still great

OS: watchOS 5 | Compatibility: iOS | Display: 1.65" OLED | Processor: Apple S3 | Band sizes: Varies based on watch size | Onboard storage: 16GB | Battery: 1 to 2 days | Charging method: Wireless | IP rating: Water-resistant to 50m | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, LTE

Good battery life
Clear, bright screen
Only iPhone compatible
Siri still patchy

The Apple Watch 3 was of course the best smartwatch to use with an iPhone... but it's not the best anymore. Even though you can now buy the Apple Watch 4 and 5, this is still a fantastic smartwatch.

The Series 3 has a bright, high-quality screen, built-in GPS, waterproofing, optical heart rate monitoring and well over a day of battery life, plus all the things that make the Apple Watch 2 great, like a stylish design, water resistance and enough fitness features to cater to most users.

It’s a great all-rounder then, with style and substance, suited to both the office and the gym. There’s even an LTE model – though at a higher price. And of course, being an Apple Watch, it works perfectly with iPhone.

Read our full Apple Watch 3 review

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4. Apple Watch Series 2

Good still if you can find one

OS: watchOS 5 | Compatibility: iOS | Display: 1.53" OLED | Processor: Apple S2 | Band sizes: Varies drastically per watch size | Onboard storage: 8GB (only 2GB and 75MB allowed for music and photos, respectively) | Battery: A day and a half | Charging method: Wireless | IP rating: Water-resistant to 50m | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC

Water-resistant
GPS onboard
Ageing processor 
Hard to find

There's a lot going for the Apple Watch 2 - if you can find one, that is. Apple didn’t sell it for long and it’s much easier to find the Apple Watch 3 as Apple still sells it for a reasonable price.

If you’re really on a budget and want an Apple Watch though, then the Series 2 will still serve you well and gets software updates still. It's water-resistant so you won't have to worry about getting it wet in the rain when you're out for a jog.

With GPS onboard and watchOS 6 software running on it, if you own an iPhone 6s or later this is a great choice, and a touch more affordable than the Apple Watch 3 or 4. 

Apple itself has stopped selling it, so the Watch 2 is now hard to find and often if you do spot it at a third-party retailer it'll be around the same price or sometimes even more expensive than the watch just above this one so be sure to check first. 

Read our full Apple Watch 2 review

Wear OS and Tizen watches

You’re not just limited to the Apple Watch if you want a smartwatch for your iPhone. There are some great compatible options that run either Google’s Wear OS or Samsung’s Tizen software.

As you might expect, Tizen is only found on Samsung smartwatches but they are all excellent, offering attractive circular designs, top specs and good battery life.

Wear OS is used by several manufacturers including Fossil and TicWatch, two brands who tend to make the best of Google’s platform.

Along with their Samsung counterparts they have GPS, heart rate sensors and just as many tracking features as most Apple Watches. Some of them also cost a lot less than the latest Apple wearable, meaning you can save some money and still get the features you want, all running in harmony with your iPhone. 

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1. Samsung Galaxy Watch

Our favorite smartwatch right now

OS: Tizen OS | Compatibility: Android, iOS | Display: 1.2" or 1.3" 360 x 360 Super AMOLED | Processor: Dual-core 1.15GHz | Band sizes: 22mm or 20mm | Onboard storage: 4GB | Battery duration: 4 days on 46mm / less on 42mm | Charging method: Wireless | IP rating: 50m | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth

Impressive battery life
Useful rotating bezel
Annoying charger
Bixby isn't great

The latest Samsung watch is our favorite money can buy right now, but it's not our favorite to recommend alongside an iPhone. We found the Galaxy Watch to work best with Samsung phones, but if you own an iPhone it'll still work really well and will offer top-end fitness features alongside its premium look.

We particularly like the design of the larger Galaxy Watch, but you have the choice of either a 46mm or 42mm build. Each will sit large on your wrist but also offer a big, bright display.

Opt for the LTE version and you'll be able to get phone calls and notifications when you're on the move too. The rotating bezel around the outside is one of the main highlights, and the 46mm version also comes with four days of battery life from a single charge.

It may not be the best smartwatch to work with your iPhone, but it is still a fantastic choice if you like the design and look of the Galaxy Watch from Samsung.

Read the full Samsung Galaxy Watch review

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best cheap smartwatch deals prices sales

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2. Fossil Sport

Fossil's latest big smartwatch attempt

Compatibility: Android, iOS | Display: 1.2-inch 390 x 390 AMOLED | Processor: Quad-core 1.2GHz | Band sizes: 22mm straps | Onboard storage: 4GB | Battery duration: Two days | Charging method: Proprietary | IP rating: IP68 | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS

Lightweight design
Powerful watch
Lacks high-end features
GPS can be slow

Our favorite Wear OS watch right now is the Fossil Sport, which is cheaper than a lot of the watches you've read about above. 

It features the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 3100 chipset that offers enough power to run any of the apps you'll find in Wear OS, and in our experience we found the whole interface to be notably smooth.

It'll last for around two days from a single charge, and the design here feels premium on the wrist when you consider how much it costs compared to other Wear OS watches.

There isn't much uniqueness to the Fossil Sport, but it's good at pretty much everything you'd expect a smartwatch to do and it'll work with your iPhone too.

Read the full Fossil Sport review

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3. Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2

Samsung’s sporty option

OS: Tizen OS | Compatibility: Android, iOS | Display: 1.4" 360 x 360 Super AMOLED | Processor: Dual-core 1.15GHz | Band sizes: 20mm | Onboard storage: 4GB | Battery duration: Around 2 days | Charging method: Wireless | IP rating: 50m | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth

Top performance 
Two-day battery life
Quite expensive 
Limited app choice 

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 is a fine Tizen smartwatch with great battery life and solid performance. 

Its circular display might attract you compared to the Apple Watch’s squarish look, and the Active 2 has a clever digital bezel to navigate menus. Its fitness features are just as good as Apple’s but you’ll have to use the Samsung Health app for iOS instead of Apple Health.

It’s waterproof and can track tons of different workouts including outdoor runs using GPS. There’s even a 4G option. Just bear in mind that while it works with an iPhone, it won’t be as smooth an experience as an Apple Watch. 

Read the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 review 

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4. TicWatch E2

A fully-loaded Wear OS watch you’ve never heard of

OS: Wear OS | Compatibility: Android 4.3+, iOS 8+ | Display: 1.39" 400 x 400 OLED | Processor: Snapdragon Wear 2100 | Onboard storage: 4GB | Battery duration: Around 48h | Charging method: Magnetic connecting pin | IP rating: IP67 | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1

Affordable price
Easily two day battery life
No NFC for payments
Bland design

The TicWatch E2 is one of the more affordable devices on this list, and it's worth noting that this isn't the most premium looking device. That said, it's still a fantastic Wear OS watch.

It offers solid battery life as well as built-in GPS, an accurate heart rate sensor and sleep tracking as well.

The latest Wear OS software is running on the watch too, but you won't be able to get contactless payments as there's no NFC on this watch.

Read the full TicWatch E2 review

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5. TicWatch Pro

Our favorite Wear OS watch comes with two screens

OS: Wear OS | Compatibility: Android 4.3+, iOS 8+ | Display: 1.4" 400 x 400 OLED paired with LCD screen | Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 2100 | Onboard storage: 4GB | Battery duration: Up to 48h, 5 extra days in Essential mode | Charging method: Magnetic connecting pin | IP rating: IP68 | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1, NFC

Innovative screen tech
Premium design
Limited app
No LTE features

Our favorite Wear OS watch is the TicWatch Pro, which you can use easily with your iPhone. TicWatch is a little known brand so far, but this watch comes with two different displays that helps it stand out from the rest of the crowd.

There's a transparent LCD display at the top with a full color OLED panel below it. That means you can get a full Wear OS watch experience with the TicWatch Pro, but when the battery dies off you can then still get some details like heart rate, date and time through the secondary display.

That's a great feature - but there's lots else to love here including GPS, NFC for Google Pay and the Snapdragon Wear 2100 chipset we've seen in almost all the Wear OS watches on this list.

The best part is the lower price than a lot of other top-end smartwatches, which makes this one of the best Wear OS choices to use alongside your iPhone.

Read the full TicWatch Pro review

Other alternatives

There are quite a few devices you can use with your iPhone including some running Fitbit OS and others that you may not even refer directly to as a smartwatch. Read on about them all below:

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Fitbit Versa 2

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Fitbit Versa 2

The best smartwatch from Fitbit

OS: Fitbit OS | Compatibility: Android, iOS | Display: 1.4" 300 x 300 AMOLED | Processor: Dual-core 1.0GHz | Onboard storage: 2.5GB | Battery duration: 3-4 days | Charging method: Proprietary charger | IP rating: 50M water resistant | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth

Always-on display 
Five day battery life
No GPS
Design not for everyone 

A third attempt at the smartwatch from Fitbit has seen the brand create one of its best devices in years. The Fitbit Versa 2 is slimmer and smaller on your wrist than an Apple Watch and offers a lot of great fitness features including swim tracking as well as HIIT coaching.

The Versa 2 is also cheaper than Fitbit's other watch called the Ionic (which you'll find coming up in this list) making it an attractive option for your wallet as well as your wrist.

Fitbit OS isn't as fully fledged as the Wear OS or Apple Watch devices above in this list as there are still a limited amount of apps available to you, but if you want to have a watch as a fashion piece and focus on the fitness elements you'll enjoy the Versa 2.

It allows you to listen to music on the move, plus you have Fitbit Pay so you can do contactless payments if your bank supports it. Our main gripe with the Versa 2 is the lack of GPS, but if you plan to exercise with your phone in your pocket or strapped to your arm it won’t be an issue.

Read the full Fitbit Versa 2 review 

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Fitbit Ionic

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Fitbit Ionic

A noble first effort from the fitness kingpin

OS: Fitbit OS | Compatibility: iOS / Android | Display: 1.45-inch LCD | Processor: Unknown | Band sizes: Small (its wrists 5.5" - 6.7" in circumference) and large (its wrists 6.7" - 8.1" in circumference) in box | Onboard storage: 7 days of movement | Battery: 4+ days (10 hours of GPS) | Charging method: Proprietary wired | IP rating: 50m water resistance | Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, NFC, GPS

Solid battery life
Great fitness features
Controversial design
Lack of apps

Fitbit’s answer to the Apple Watch’s fitness threat piles all of its best fitness-tracking features into a highly functional smart timepiece. 

There’s GPS, continued heart rate tracking, excellent multi-day battery life and the ability to track multiple activities. 

That being said, the Fitbit Ionic runs off the bespoke Fitbit OS so it doesn’t offer the full fat smartwatch features of watchOS or Wear OS.

There’s also a shortage of apps available right now, you can download around 300 songs and connect Bluetooth headphones for phone-free exercise. Also, the design’s a bit controversial and very much has the look of a first-gen smartphone.

Read the full Fitbit Ionic review

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Garmin Forerunner 735XT

For serious fitness fanatics only

OS: Forerunner 735 software | Compatibility: iOS / Android | Display: 1.23-inch IPS | Processor: Unknown | Band sizes: QuickFit 22mm | Onboard storage: 80 hours activity data | Battery: 14 hours in GPS mode | Charging method: Proprietary wired | IP rating: 5ATM | Connectivity: Bluetooth, GPS

Great looking
Advanced fitness and training features
Thick-ish bezel
No music storage

If you’re seeking a powerful fitness companion rather than a wearable extension of your smartphone, they don’t come much better than the Garmin Forerunner 735XT

The multi-sport GPS watch, designed with triathletes in mind, features an optical heart rate sensor and reams of deep data insights into your performance. 

Runners, for example, will glean metrics like ground contact time, balance, stride length, vertical ratio and much more. There’s a VO2 max estimator, race predictor and recovery adviser too.

Read the full Garmin Forerunner 735XT review

Withings Steel HR

Image Credit: Withings

Withings Steel HR

A great hybrid choice

OS: N/A | Compatibility: iOS / Android | Display: OLED monochrome 72 x 36 | Processor: Unknown | Band sizes: Fits wrists up to 200 mm | Onboard storage: One week of data | Battery: 25 days | Charging method: Magnetic charging pad | IP rating: 5ATM (50m) | Connectivity: Bluetooth LE

Best-in-class design
Reliable data
Expensive for functionality offered
No replaceable battery

This hybrid watch used to be called the Nokia Steel HR, but it has now been rebranded as the Withings Steel HR.

It features a built-in digital display that’ll show your heart rate in real time, as well as step progress and limited smartphone notifications. It has the neat analogue dial showing process towards a daily movement goal and can automatically track activities like running and swimming. 

There’s no GPS so you can’t expect hyper-accurate distance tracking, but the Steel HR is still a fantastic, stylish watch with great battery life that you can wear around the clock.

Read the full Withings Steel HR review

Looking for a smart running watch?

You should also check out our extensive range of devices to help you run - in our cunningly named best running watches round up - as many of these offer incredibly battery life as well as smart notifications from your wrist.

For instance, the Garmin Forerunner 935 will last almost 10 days on a single charge while running every day, allow you to take or reject calls and control your music - plus it's one of the most gifted exercise companions we've seen.

So if you're thinking of getting fitter - check out the burgeoning world of running devices to help you out.



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Latest Tech News

Dell PowerEdge T140 Tower server - $439.99 (£509.04)
Thanks to Dell's ongoing cyber savings promotion, you can nab this entry-level server for almost half off. It's powered by an Intel Celeron G4930 and features 8GB RAM and space for four 3.5-inch hard drives. Pick it up while you can!View Deal

Right now, you can enjoy cyber savings of up to 47% if you're looking to upgrade your on-prem hardware.

The Dell PowerEdge T140 Tower server is the cheapest around, with a starting price of just $439.99 (£509.04), making for a total saving of $384 off the suggested retail price.

Powered by an Intel Celeron G4930, a dual core processor with 2MB cache, it comes with 8GB of ECC DDR4 memory (but can house 64GB thanks to four memory banks) and has space for up to four 3.5-inch hard disk drives. We love the design of the chassis door and can’t complain about the various RAID options available.

By default, the server houses a 1TB 7.2K RPM SATA drive and a dual-port Broadcom 5720 Gigabit LAN on Motherboard (LOM). Other than basic iDRAC9 embedded system management, a one-year next business day warranty is also included.

The rest of the specification is rather intriguing: there’s no HDMI, DVI or DisplayPort connectors, only an antiquated VGA powered by the Matrox G200eR2 graphics card with 16MB memory. Matrox used to be one of the big graphics card manufacturers back in the days, competing with the likes of 3D FX, ATI and Number Nine before the rise of Nvidia.

There’s also a serial port, six USB ports, space for four PCIe expansion card slots as well as a pair of built-in self test (BIST) for the 365W power supply unit.

Bear in mind

  • If you've managed to get hold of a cheaper product with equivalent specifications, in stock and brand new, let us know and we'll tip our hat to you.
  • If this product is unavailable in your region, you may need to use a specialist parcel-forwarding service to take advantage of the deal.


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