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Best Smartwatches for Note 10 in 2020 – Buyer’s Guide

Samsung has been steadily releasing a set of new high-end devices that offer a stellar experience for its users, among which are the Samsung Galaxy Note 10, Note 10+ & Note 10 Lite. In line with that incomparable experience, many users seek a smartwatch that will serve as a companion for their Samsung Galaxy Note 10 and complement the ordeal.

However, since technology evolves at an exceedingly rapid speed that’s not exactly easy to keep up to speed with, not all smartwatches are capable of pairing with the recently introduced devices, despite the numerous smartwatches on the market.

Since we know this particular search process can be exhausting and puzzling, we’ve looked at the best smartwatches for Samsung Galaxy Note 10 to give you recommendations you can trust to make a safe purchase.

List of the Best Smartwatches for Note 10:

  1. Samsung Galaxy Active 2 – Best Overall Smartwatch for Note 10
  2. Samsung Galaxy Watch – Runner-up
  3. Garmin Vivoactive 3 Music – Multisport Smartwatch
  4. Fitbit Versa 2 – Best Hybrid Smartwatch Fitness Tracker
  5. Samsung Gear S3 – Feature-Rich Smartwatch
  6. Mobvoi TicWatch E2 – Best Budget Smartwatch
  7. Fossil Gen 5 – Best Wear-OS Smartwatch

Our Top Picks

Smartwatch Operating SystemBuilt-in GPSWater-ResistanceBattery Life
Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2Tizen-based wearable OS 4.0Yes50m3-4 days
Samsung Galaxy WatchTizen-based wearable OS 4.0Yes50m3-4 days
Garmin Vivoactive Smart 3 MusicGarmin OSYes5 ATM1 week
Fitbit Versa 2Fitbit OSNo50m6 days
Samsung Gear S3Tizen-based wearable OS 4.0Yes1.5m3 days
Mobvoi TicWatch E2Wear OSYes5 ATM2 days
Fossil Gen 5Wear OSYes3 ATM1-2 days

The 7 Best Smartwatches for Note 10 in 2020

1. Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 – Best Overall Smartwatch for Note 10

Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2

Boasting the ultimate combination of smart and fitness features, along with being a practical smartwatch in a neat, lightweight design, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 is well-equipped to earn the title of the top smartwatch for Note 10 since it ticks all the boxes one might look for. 

The smartwatch is offered in two sizes, 40mm and 44mm, and 5 colors, the smartwatch further provides you with several options for construction that are dust and water-resistant, including sturdy stainless steel and lightweight aluminum, allowing you to personalize the watch and make it yours, while also featuring changeable straps. The end result is that you will be able to wear this smartwatch no matter the occasion.

Adding to the customization options, the watch faces can be changed too among various different themes.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 is equipped with an AMOLED touch display with a thin border, leaving more than sufficient room for notifications, even if you’re in a group that’s active all-day. Also featuring Samsung Bixby, you can use voice commands to perform tasks on the watch. If you prefer Alexa, you can download it instead.

On the note of apps, the Samsung app store is a wide-ranged one with endless applications for downloading, including Spotify, Twitter, Strava, to name a few. 

Furthermore, for smooth transactions, the Samsung Pay app is available on this smartwatch, so you’ll just need to swipe your card and voila, payment is made!

As for the fitness features array, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 offers heart monitoring, pace coaching, calorie tracking, step tracking, sleep tracking, has a built-in GPS, and swim tracking. Moreover, through advanced sensors, the smartwatch can track up to 39 types of distinct activities.

It even goes the extra mile of tracking your stress levels and reminds of you of breathing exercises to release your tense and reach mental stability. 

Battery-wise, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 lasts for around 3-4 days and is recharged via a wireless charger.

Pros:

  • Lightweight
  • Diverse customization options
  • Alexa and Samsung Bixby support
  • Third-party app support
  • Excellent health-tracking features
  • Heart-rate monitoring
  • Dust and water-resistant

Cons:

  • Inaccurate calorie count 
  • Lacks rotating bezel
  • LTE only available in LTE models

Bottom Line

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 is the prime smartwatch for Note 10 for the fitness-focused individuals that are seeking the top of the range smartwatch with a higher than average set of both fitness and activity tracking elements, along with the most vital smart features.


2. Samsung Galaxy Watch – Runner-up

Samsung Galaxy Watch

The Samsung Galaxy Watch plays on the design aspect, which it significantly excels at. It’s for the Note 10 holders that are looking for the smartwatch features yet admire the traditional design of regular watches. 

The Samsung Galaxy Watch is subtle-looking yet with style and comes in three colors and two dial sizes, 46mm and 42mm diameter. Plus, you can choose from a collection of interchangeable watch bands. 

It features a 1.3-inch AMOLED screen with Corning Gorilla Glass DX+ for durability and protection against scratches, and it’s also dust and water-resistant up to 50 meters. Hence, it’s likely to last for quite a while before you need to make another purchase. 

Now for the functioning and features of the watch, they’re here to impress. Starting with the user navigation experience, the Samsung Galaxy Watch incorporates a rotating bezel that lets you smoothly explore the menu options and apps speedily and responsively.

For the smart features part, you can play songs for up to 9 hours, make calls through an integrated speaker and voice mic, and respond to texts. In addition, there’s a ‘My Day’ feature that gives you a 10-hour summary of your schedule along with reminders and alarms. If you want to make payments on the go, that’s possible, too, through the NFC technology.

Now, for the maximum technological experience, you can get on a smartwatch, the IoT (Internet of Things) technology gives you the opportunity to control your home appliances ‘smartly’! To illustrate, you can warm up your room before you get home, for example.

On the fitness front, the Samsung Galaxy Watch recognizes 6 different types of exercises and workouts automatically, and it features a built-in GPS that can track your paths and distances. In addition, it incorporates a heart-rate monitor, and it can track your sleep in all four stages. 

Because your mental health matters too and the balance between mind and body is essential, the Samsung Galaxy Watch sends you reminders of breathing exercises for stress management and offers guided meditation options. There is also a barometer, a gyro sensor, and an accelerometer.

Last but not least, the battery life lasts for around 3-4 days. 

Pros:

  • Traditional design
  • Excellent battery life
  • Dust and water-resistant
  • IoT feature
  • Versatile fitness tracking features
  • Rotating bezel
  • Heart-rate tracking

Cons:

  • Takes a long time to charge
  • Lacks social media platforms

Bottom Line

The Samsung Galaxy Watch is among the top contenders among the best smartwatches for Note 10, incorporating a streamlined set of features packed in a minimalistic traditional design, yet with capabilities that are far from traditional. 


3. Garmin Vivoactive 3 Music – Multisport Smartwatch

Garmin Vivoactive Smart 3 Music

The Garmin Vivoactive Smart 3 Music, as implied by the name, is for the music-fanatics and sport-enthusiasts! Its main distinguishing factor is its ability to store up to 500 songs. In other words, you’re no longer limited to having your Note 11 nearby to listen to songs, even when you’re working out! That’s not even all that the Garmin Vivoactive Smart 3 Music can do. 

Featuring the Garmin Chroma Display in a traditional round-faced design, you’ll be seeing the screen as bright as possible during the day and night time equally. Even if you’re sitting under the bright sunlight, it will still be easy to see the screen. Also, it has a Side Swipe interface, which makes navigation swift by offering quick scrolling among the menu and different widgets.

For those who care about the personalization aspect, the Garmin Vivoactive Smart 3 Music offers thousands of watch faces that will enable you to tailor the watch to your preferences.

The smartwatch comes, including a built-in GPS along with more than 15 different sports applications, which make tracking your workouts possible, even the ones that won’t cross your mind, like yoga! You can also create your custom workouts and download them if you prefer, and the smartwatch will keep track of your distance, pace, reps, sets, and rest time.

For the swimmers, the smartwatch is water-resistant up to 5 ATM, so you can both swim and shower with the watch since it can withstand the pressure at that depth. Plus, the smartwatch is secured with extra-durable Corning Gorilla Glass. 

On a different note, it also offers stress-tracking and heart-rate monitoring through Garmin Vivoactive 3’s VO2 max and fitness made estimates.

On the smart-features level, the Garmin Vivoactive Smart 3 Music allows Android users to set alarms, check the weather, receive smart notifications, and reply to texts directly through their wrists. It also offers contactless payment solutions through the Garmin Pay app so that you can pay for purchases. 

When it comes to battery life, you’ll be surprised. The battery life is like no other, lasting up to a week in smartwatch mode and up to 13 hours if the GPS is active, which is above expectations considering the dense features, including the GPS tracking, Bluetooth, WiFi, data storage for music, and activity tracking.

Pros:

  • Built-in GPS
  • Swift navigation
  • Durable
  • Water-resistant
  • Customizable watch faces
  • Long battery life
  • 15 sports apps
  • Music storage up to 500 songs
  • Heart-rate tracking
  • Contactless payments

Cons:

  • Inaccurate sleep-tracking
  • Relatively limited access to third-party apps

Bottom Line

Expectedly, the Garmin Vivoactive Smart 3 Music is for the music lovers! However, that’s not the only target group for this smartwatch. It’s also for the fitness enthusiasts who want a fitness-focused smartwatch for their Note 10 to stay connected while staying fit.


4. Fitbit Versa 2 – Best Hybrid Smartwatch Fitness Tracker

Fitbit Versa 2

The Fitbit Versa 2 is one of the unique ones, setting itself apart by providing an optimal mix between smartwatches and entry-level fitness trackers. It’s a hybrid option that meets the needs of most Note 10 users at an affordable price.

Coming with a lightweight, waterproof, sweatproof build and a gender-neutral design, the Fitbit Versa 2 is a suitable pick for both genders and mostly all ages, even children. Design-wise, it’s equipped with an AMOLED display that’s rich in color and is always-on for time-checking. 

Concerning fitness tracking, the Fitbit Versa 2 provides numerous metrics along with tips and suggestions that are customized based on your fitness level and workout exercises. Among the highlights of the fitness features are the sleep-tracking, step counter, heart-rate monitoring, and exercise monitoring.

Knowing that not all users are fitness-enthusiasts, the statistics are presented in a straightforward manner to encourage improvements. 

As for smartphone features, the Fitbit Versa 2 grants you access to your Note 10’s notifications as well as a range of third party applications. To add, it can also store and play 300+ songs from Spotify and Pandora, as well as access to an app store.

With the special edition model, you can also get support for contactless payments with Fitbit Pay.

When it comes to battery life, the Fitbit Versa 2 excels, providing up to 5-6 days of battery life on a single charge.

Unfortunately, the main downside of the watch is the lack of built-in GPS, so you can’t depend on it for navigation.

Pros:

  • Attractive price point
  • Lightweight
  • Easy to use
  • Excellent battery life
  • Third-party apps support
  • Amazon Alexa and Spotify support
  • Color touchscreen
  • Music storage

Cons:

  • Lacks offline Spotify playback
  • Lacks built-in GPS
  • Small display

Bottom Line

The Fitbit Versa 2 is for the Note 10 holders that can’t decide on whether they desire a fitness tracker or a smartwatch. In fact, they want a bit of both! If that’s your case, then the Fitbit Versa 2 is the one you should opt to. With its smartwatch-like features at a much lower price point than actual smartwatches and its fitness tracking features, this is a value for money purchase.


5. Samsung Gear S3 – Feature-Rich Smartwatch

Samsung Gear S3

The Samsung Gear S3 is especially common among those who carry high-end Samsung devices, including the Samsung Galaxy Note 10, Note 9, S10, S9, and S20. More than anything else, the Samsung Gear S3 brings about several convenient features that contribute to a plain-sailing experience.

For starters, it’s a circle-shaped, classical looking smartwatch with a distinctive rotatable steel bezel for easy access to apps and notifications. The display is a 1.3-inch AMOLED touchscreen, typical to Samsung’s best screens, which is bright enough for both day and night and provides a resolution of 360 x 360. 

Also, the Samsung Gear S3 features the Always On Display technology so that the screen is partially lit all day, and you won’t have to raise the smartwatch to see the time.

From its build, it’s quite evident that it’s a robust smartwatch, consisting of a steel body that’s water-resistant, dust-resistant, and can handle temperature fluctuations. This is in addition to the display being protected by Gorilla Glass, which makes the Samsung Gear S3 withstand drops of about 5 feet.

Adding to its solid build, the smartwatch includes a 380 mAh battery, which lasts for approximately 3 days on a single charge and can be recharged through a wireless charging dock.

On the smart features side, through the Samsung Gear S3, you can receive calls, text messages, and notifications via Bluetooth.

Through Samsung’s incorporated voice search services, you can also set reminders and alarms, send messages, or take phone calls with voice commands. 

In addition, for the music fanatics, the smartwatch includes built-in speakers and 4GB of storage, so that you can take pleasure in your favorite tracks. 

Featuring the Samsung Pay app, the Samsung Gear S3 allows you to make payments from where you’re standing, wherever that is, by tapping or swiping your card.

On a different front, the smartwatch also includes a health and fitness tracking app, S Health, which tracks your steps through a built-in GPS and provides heart-rate monitoring throughout the day. For more fitness features, you can set your workout goals and update your daily routine accordingly to achieve those goals.

Last but not least, the Samsung Gear S3 is compatible with a majority of Bluetooth supported smartphones that use the Android 4.4 operating system or above and have a minimum of 1.5 GB RAM. In addition, it supports iPhones running on iOS 9.0 and higher.

Pros:

  • Rotating bezel
  • Dust and water-resistant
  • Heart-rate monitoring
  • Built-in GPS 
  • Voice control
  • Always On Display technology
  • Decent battery life

Cons:

  • Relatively heavy
  • Inferior third-party app support
  • Bugs often with iOS 

Bottom Line

The Samsung Gear S3 is a well-constructed smartwatch for Note 10 with a bold yet classic design that comes with a well-rounded set of features that make the user experience a smooth and hassle-free, while guaranteeing a smartwatch that will last for long due to being dust and water-resistant and withstanding falls up to 5 feet.


6. Mobvoi TicWatch E2 – Best Budget Smartwatch

Mobvoi TicWatch E2

The Mobvoi TicWatch E2 is the best compatible smartwatch with Samsung Note 10 you’ll come across, with effortless integration between Wear OS and Google Play that will deliver your smart-life right to your wrist.

Display-wise, the minimalist-designed and lightweight TicWatch E2 features a 1.39-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 400 x 400 pixels, so you’ll be thrilled with the color vividness and the rich details of your notifications.

In terms of smart features, the TicWatch E2 includes built-in Google Assistance, which instantly notifies you of your phone’s notifications and calls as they happen, without having to take your phone out. 

You can also download apps from the Google Play Store very easily since the watch runs on Google’s Wear OS. One recommended app from our end would be the Mobvoi app so that you unleash the TicWatch E2’s full potential.

It’s also strong on the health-side, which is supported by two apps: Google Fit and TicMotion. Together, they oversee your health through a 24-hour heart-rate monitor that tracks not only your heart-rate but also your workouts and exercise activities. 

In addition, the smartwatch has a built-in GPS with a 3 satellite system, which means every move you make will accurately be tracked, going as far as steps, distance, speed, calories burned, and more. 

Noting that the TicWatch E2 is also water-resistant up to 5 ATM, the GPS can monitor your swimming, too, keeping track of your style, lap count, stroke count, pace, and duration.

Lastly, while the battery life is not ideal, it’s still average, lasting for up to 2 days on a single charge. It’s also worth mentioning that the TicWatch E2 is compatible with both iPhone and Android phones.

Pros:

  • Affordable
  • Lightweight
  • Built-in GPS
  • Heart-rate monitoring
  • Water-resistant up to 5 meters
  • Built-in Google Assistant
  • Access to Google Play
  • Different battery modes

Cons:

  • Average battery life
  • Lacks NFC payment solutions

Bottom Line

The Mobvoi TicWatch E2 is a budget smartwatch for Galaxy Note 10 that will not disappoint when it comes to functionality, whether on the smart features or health features fronts. As a plus, it’s also appealing with its minimalistic design, so lightweight that you won’t feel it on your wrist! 


7. Fossil Gen 5 – Best Wear-OS Smartwatch

Fossil Gen 5

Fossil has been building its position bit by bit to now become one of the most prominent names in the smartwatches world, and the Fossil Gen 5 leads by example to why that is. Even upon first glance, its elegant, high-end design already makes an impression and puts a high level of expectations, which it does live up to!

For starters, the Fossil Gen 5 boasts a 328 pixel,1.28-inch always-on AMOLED screen, which means you’ll be seeing colors coming to life. It comes in two variants, Carlyle HR and Julianna HR, as well as different colors and strap designs, all comfortably fitting on different wrist-sizes.

Furthermore, if you love to have customization options, Fossil provides various customizable watch faces on the Fossil Gen 5 itself, as well as many others on the Google Play Store.

In terms of smart features, the smartwatch supports NFC (near-field communication) through Google Pay, so you’ll be able to make payments on the go. Since it runs on Wear OS, you’ll have access to a wide range of third-party apps of your choice.

In addition, the Fossil Gen 5 includes a built-in swim-proof speaker that enables you to use Google Assistant to issue voice commands, listen to music, and take calls.

As far as health tracking goes, the Fossil Gen 5 includes Google Fit along with a built-in GPS, offers heart-rate monitoring, and sleep-monitoring. It’s also water-resistant up to 3 meters. One unique aspect of it is the Cardiogram app, which checks for diabetes, hypertension, and sleep apnea.

Unfortunately, the one aspect that the Fossil Gen 5 is lacking in is the battery life, which can last between 1-2 days at a maximum, especially if the battery’s ‘daily-mode’ is activated that keeps all features on, and accordingly drains the battery rapidly.

However, it does feature an ‘extended’ battery mode that minimizes power consumption through switching off features such as the always-on display. Alternatively, you can also activate a ‘time-only’ mode that switches the watch to purely tell time only, or choose a ‘custom-mode’ that allows you to tweak features to suit you.

Pros:

  • High-end design
  • Water-resistant
  • Google Assistant
  • AMOLED always-on display
  • Built-GPS
  • Speedy

Cons:

  • Inferior battery life
  • Relatively heavy
  • Lacks ECG for detecting heart issues

Bottom Line

The Fossil Gen 5 stands its ground as one of the best Wear OS smartwatches on the market for Note 10, perfect for general all-purpose use, whether smart or fitness, wrapped in a stylishly subtle design that’s customizable through various watch faces that blend comfortably with all personalities. 


How to Pick a Smartwatch for Galaxy Note 10

1. Compatibility

Compatibility is of the utmost importance when it comes to choosing a smartwatch for Note 10. Most smartwatches are designed to supplement your smartphone, which is why you need to make sure that you’re not wasting your money on a device that can’t integrate smoothly with your device.

Not all smartwatches support all operating systems, as is the case with the Apple Watch, for instance, that only supports iOS. The watches we’ve mentioned on this list are all compatible for Note 10, but if for any reason, you decide to look further, make sure to check the compatibility.

2. Design

Smartwatches are meant to be worn regularly, almost daily, so you need to purchase a smartwatch that’s physically appealing to you. In addition, to prevent boredom and if you tend to be present in different settings (formal, casual, athletic, etc.), check that a choice of straps is available and that you can change watch faces.

Tip: Consider comfort along with design! Make sure your wrist is relaxed by trying on different sizes and choose the appropriate material and finish.

3. Features

The choice of smartwatch also depends on what you’re looking for in terms of features. Mainly, you should determine whether you’re more concerned with fitness features versus smart features. In many instances, it’s possible that you would want as many as possible of each.

Nowadays, almost all smartwatches have at least a few fitness-tracking features, such as GPS tracking, heart-rate monitoring, water-resistance for underwater tracking, and the like.  

However, if you’re buying the smartwatch only for the fitness features, then maybe you should be looking for a fitness tracker instead, which will have more fitness features than smart ones.  

If you want to download apps, listen to music, take and make calls, receive notifications, set reminders, connect to your social media accounts, and so on, you’re on the right track!

4. Battery Life

The battery lives of smartwatches tend to vary across the different models, due to factors like Bluetooth, built-in GPS, Always-On-Display technology, and more. Accordingly, keep in mind that sometimes a longer battery life means compromising other features. On the positive side, most of the smartwatches are charged wirelessly and don’t take long to charge fully. 

5. Connectivity

A smartwatch with built-in LTE allows you to enjoy the full smartwatch experience without necessarily having your phone by your side; you can even make calls without it. With LTE, both your Note 10 and smartwatch will use the same phone number, so you’ll be able to walk phone-free when you please.

Take note that not all smartwatches come with built-in LTE by default; the majority are either Bluetooth or WiFi connected, so if the LTE matters to you, you need to double-check its inclusion.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Do Samsung Watches Work with Other Phones?

Yes, the Samsung Galaxy Watches work with a diverse set of phones that aren’t necessarily manufactured by Samsung. You can check the list here.

Which Phones are Compatible with the Samsung Galaxy Watch?

The Samsung Galaxy Watch is most compatible with Samsung devices, but it can still be connected to other phones operating on Android or iOS. Check this page.

Are Apple Watches Compatible with Samsung Phones?

No. Apple Watches and Samsung phones can’t be paired together; they’re only compatible with iOS phones.

Does the Galaxy Watch Work with Note 10?

Yes! Galaxy Watches run on the Tizen Operating System, which Samsung developed for its devices, including the Note 10.

Is the Galaxy Watch Active 2 Better Than the Galaxy Watch? 

The features of the Galaxy Watch and the Galaxy Watch Active 2 resemble each other to a large extent. However, the Galaxy Watch Active 2 goes the extra mile when it comes to health and fitness tracking. It’s a matter of preference and priorities.

Final Thoughts

As you have seen, our list of the best smartwatches for the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 is a quite diversified one, in an attempt to provide the ideal smartwatch for the different individual preferences, knowing that the one-size-fits-all model is no longer in play.

When it comes to making the final call, the choice certainly has to be made in line with your expectations from the smartwatch.

Still, if it were for us, we would opt for either the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 or Samsung Galaxy Watch, not only because of their first-class features but also because they are guaranteed to be 100% compatible with Samsung devices and meet the standards of the Samsung Galaxy Note 10, which have raised the bar high.

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