Top 10 Best Smartwatches in Malaysia 2023 (Budget + Pro)

Summary

Decide the budget that you have. Then decide also what features you will need and what you are going to use the smartwatch for. Here are some of our selections:

• Good Option For Under RM100: Realme Watch 2
• Best Fitness Smartwatch Under RM300: Amazfit GTS Fitness Smartwatch
• Best Budget Smartwatch Under RM200: Realme Dizo Watch 2
• Budget Smartwatch for Music: PHL Watch Music Pro 
• Good Option For a High-End Smartwatch: Coros Pace 2 Smart Watch
• Best Affordable High-End Smartwatch: Huawei Watch GT3 SE Smart Watch
• Popular Choice: Amazfit Bip 3 Pro Smartwatch
• Popular Choice: Apple Watch Series 8
• Popular Choice: Maimo Smart Watch
• Popular Choice: Aukey Smart Watch LS02

What Is a Smartwatch?

A smartwatch is a timekeeping device that is also integrated with a wide variety of activity-trascking and communication features, usually designed to work well with smartphones.

What Can You Do with A Smartwatch?

The main function of a watch is of course to provide the time of day. But besides timekeeping, a smartwatch – as the term “smart” implies – is also capable of a wide range of health and activity tracking such as ECG heart rate monitoring, step counting, SpO2 meter, as well as communication activity like displaying notifications, messages, to-do lists and taking calls.

Not all smartwatches are able to do all those things, however. So, first think about what you need and the budget you have.

Fitness Trackers vs Smartwatch

OK so if a smartwatch can do all those things, then what’s the difference between a fitness tracker and a smartwatch? Well, years ago when fitness trackers first hit the market, they were marketed specifically as a device for activity-monitoring (and still are). But as those devices became more and more popular, smartwatch manufacturers incorporated those very same features into their products. Today, many smartwatches can do almost everything a fitness tracker can. But fitness trackers are still cheaper than smartwatches though.

Realme, Xiaomi and Corus are some of the brands with smart watches with a particular focus on assisting in sports and daily activities. But there are many other popular smartwatch brands out there with designs suited for both women and men, ranging from budget smartwatches to high-end versions.

Pros & Cons of Smartwatches

So, are smartwatches worth it? Consider these pros & cons:

Pros

• Able to track activity and provide insights on your fitness performance.
• Let you view phone messages, notifications, take calls and perform various other actions from your wrist.
• Can look pretty stylish and fashionable.

Cons

• Need to be recharged after 1 – 12 days depending on the product and use.
• Much more expensive than a regular watch or fitness tracker.
• May be less durable than a regular watch.

Smartwatch Buying Guide

Before deciding on this or that smartwatch, perhaps it’s a good idea to think about the exact reason why you’d need a smartwatch. Ask yourself these questions:

• Do you exercise regularly and have fitness goals (you should, btw)?
• Would you like to keep track of your health or fitness on a daily level? If so, what kind of data would you like to see?
• Are you an athlete or aspiring athlete and would like to have top-level insights on your sports performance?
• Would you find digital tools and apps on your wearable that are designed for organizing tasks, meetings and communications helpful?

If you’re set on getting a smartwatch, here are some things to consider:

• OS & compatibility
• Display size and quality
• Weight, comfort & style
• Material
• Battery life
• Water or dust resistant
• Modes & features
• Connectivity
• Price & budget

OS & Phone Compatibility

The first thing you need to consider is the most important consideration: to ensure your smartwatch is compatible with your phone. Apple Watches can only run on iOS devices, so if you use many iOS devices, best if you stick within the Apple ecosystem. The same is true for Android users (Samsung smartwatch for Samsung devices). Note that there are many smartwatches that are compatible with both Android and iOS but sticking within the ecosystem ensures the most seamless experience. But if you don’t have the budget, it’s fine to go outside the ecosystem.

Display Size and Quality

There are 3 main displays for smartwatches in Malaysia: LCD, AMOLED and OLED. LCD or AMOLED produce colourful, richer and brighter colour at the expense of higher battery usage. Higher end smartwatches often feature OLED display to create slimmer displays.

Display size on the other hand, often ranges between 1.2” to 1.5” inches, in either round or square shape. Obviously, you’d want a big display if you plan to perform many actions from your wrist but bigger isn’t necessarily better because weight is also important.

Weight, Comfort & Style

When choosing a smartwatch, comfort is the one thing that’s quite difficult to judge since there is no one size fits all smartwatch.

Weight may not be something people consider a lot but if your smartwatch feels too ‘heavy’ for your wrist, it may cause discomfort after prolong use. Check also if the wristband or buckle is easy to swap in case you’d like to customize its style.

Material

When in doubt, get a smartwatch from a reputable brand as they likely have a strict QAQC procedure to ensure the quality and durability is as advertised.

Battery Life

Having to constantly charge your smartwatch is a bit annoying. Think about what apps you’ll use often and how fast they drain the battery, and cross check with the battery life to get an estimate.

Most smartwatches can last up to 2 weeks if you don’t use the resource-intensive features.

Water or Dust Resistant

It’s always a good idea to get a smartwatch that’s water or dust resistant. The level of resistance is usually denoted with the code IPXX. Check out our guide on the IP waterproof standards to know more.

Modes & Features

If you’re a sports & fitness junkie, this is important. You want to buy a smartwatch that provides a variety of fitness and sleep tracking functions that suit your needs. Most current smartwatches already have a built-in heart rate monitor and pedometer for step counting and tracking. If you often exercise outdoor, get one with a GPS too.

Note that some fitness trackers may actually be more reliable than a smartwatch. Note also that GPS or some other features may drain the battery faster than others.

Connectivity

Most smartwatches come with Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity. A select few offer cellular LTE connectivity such as the Apple Watch Series 3. You likely will need to subscribe to an additional mobile plan such as the Digi AirSIM which allows you to share the same phone number with your phone and smartwatch.

Price & Budget

Smartwatches in Malaysia can be divided into 3 categories: high end, mid-range, and budget. High-end smartwatches like the Apply Watch Series 7, go for north of RM800 to RM1700. Mid-range smartwatches can be found priced at lower than RM800 but above RM400, whereas budget smartwatches cost typically RM200 to RM400, some even under RM200.

Taking Care of Your Smartwatch

Most smartwatches likely will last somewhere between 1-2 years. So, here are some tips on how to keep your smartwatch in tip-top condition:

• Wipe the display screen with clean, dry microfibre cloth.
• Maximize battery life by adjusting brightness, screen timeout and by minimizing apps in the background.
• Keep your smartwatch away from water if possible. Check your smartwatch water resistant level.
• Keep your smartwatch away from intense heat.
• Apply a screen protector if possible.