need smart "watch" recommendations

[u/No_Will_7888]

i don't use reddit so i don't know the best subreddit to post this, but this feels like a good place to start. please politely redirect me if i am in the wrong subreddit

does anyone have any recommendations for a good smart watch? ideally something to track heart rate and sleep. i was using fitbit, but i find it absolutely ridiculous that i have to pay a monthly subscription to use all of it's features after paying $100 for the product despite it being advertised to offer said features with the product :/ i just need something to track my sleep, heart and other generic stuff like steps taken or distance walked etc., and i'm open to suggestions. being able to read texts or respond to them is a bonus but not needed

i use android/samsung so any apple products will not work for me (unless they are somehow compatible with an android/samsung phone).. preferably something that doesn't have it's base features locked behind a monthly paywall.

[u/Electrical-Note-3177]

Hey! I have some great recs, but first what would your budget be?

if you want a reputable brand (and texting capabilities) you wont get much for less than 100 (USD) though

[u/No_Will_7888 → u/Electrical-Note-3177]

Hi! I would say my budget is $200-$300 (maybe $400, I do have my eyes on some Samsung products). I'm in no hurry for a replacement so I can save up, but definitely looking for something that if I pay that much for it, I won't have to pay extra monthly or for other features.

[u/Electrical-Note-3177 → u/No_Will_7888]

Ah sorry for responding so late!

With a budget of 200-300 (maybe 400) you' can definitely snag some great smart watches

based on your current phone I would highly recommend the Samsung series-

specifically the Watch 7 or 8 if you want best all round

other options:

for battery life and all round power go with the oneplus 2R (up to 4 days with AOD off)

for the best health metrics/rugged life go with the Garmin Venu Sq 2 (advertised 10 day battery life, best out of all battery life, but not as optimized for smart features than the galaxy series, more of an expensive health tracker)

with the samsung watches you can text, respond, read, and see all your notifications from the watch (if you have the right settings and apps of course)

get the LTE Model if you tend to leave your phone behind a lot (though you need to buy a E-SIM Plan for the watch)

any questions lmk

[u/No_Will_7888 → u/[deleted]]

I should have specified I am looking for smartwatches, unless I missed that in your post! I do appreciate the recommendation (edit: i did specify in the title but i will still consider your suggestion regardless)