Best smartwatches to look forward to in 2017

To hear watch without the word smart in front of it will soon be indicative of a heirloom description. Even luxury watch brands have embraced smartwatches.

In 2016, we saw Apple launch its second-generation smartwatch, Asus and Samsung their third and Fossil bring several fashion companies into the market, including Michael Kors and Skagen. So what else do we have to look forward to?

Here are all the best smartwatches thought to be coming or confirmed for 2017. We have included devices that have been announced but are not yet available to buy, as well as a few rumoured timepieces for good measure.

Pocket-lint

TAG Heuer Connected 2

The original TAG Heuer Connected smartwatch was teased at Baselworld 2015, followed by a proper launch at the end of 2015. It might have been the first smartwatch from the company, but it won't be the last.

CEO Jean-Claude Biver told German publication Neue Zürcher Zeitung that the successor will be released in May 2017. He said there wouldn't be many new features but that the new Connected smartwatch will offer a payment function, so NFC, along with better GPS, longer battery life and better reception - that's likely to mean it's Android Wear 2.0.

Additionally, the CEO told the publication that there would be a smaller model introduced, along with new colours and materials.

• TAG Heuer Connected 2 to launch in 2017

Techno Buffalo

LG Watch Sport and LG Watch Style

Rumour has it Google has plans to launch two Android Wear smartwatches, which have been codenamed Angelfish and Swordfish in the past but are now going by LG Watch Sport and LG Watch Style, according to leaker Evan Blass. It as been claimed that they will arrive on 9 February, which is when Android Wear 2.0 is expected.

Blass leaked their specs, claiming Watch Sport is 14.2mm thick, will be offered in titanium and dark blue, and features a 1.38-inch (480 x 480) face, 768MB of RAM, 4GB of storage, 430mAh battery, and a heart-rate sensor, GPS and NFC. Sport model will be available with cellular connectivity (both 3G and LTE data).

The Watch Style is 10.8mm thick and will be offered in titanium, silver, and rose gold. It has a 1.2-inch (360 x 360) face, 512MB of RAM, 4GB of storage, and a 240mAh battery. Both watches will have a circular, P-OLED touchscreen, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth connectivity.

• LG Watch Sport and LG Watch Style: Release date, rumours and specs

Pocket-lint

Huawei Watch 2

The existence of Huawei's plans for a new smartwatch have only recently surfaced, suggesting an update to the 2015 model might be launched at Mobile World Congress 2017. The company has confirmed plans for a launch event on 26 February.

The new Huawei Watch 2 is said to offer a cellular connection, so you don't need to have it connected to a smartphone as well as taking a design that's more sporty than the elegance of the original model. There's little detail at the moment, except that it exists.

• Huawei Watch 2 might arrive next month with built-in cellular data

Huawei

Swarovski Android Wear smartwatch

Swarovski is bringing out an Android Wear smartwatch of its own at Baselworld in March 2017. The device was confirmed at CES 2017 after Qualcomm announced it would have its chipset inside.

No details were revealed about the smartwatch itself other than the processor however so we will have to wait a few months before we find out what it will look like, but expect all the sparkles.

• Swarovski to launch its own Android Wear smartwatch in 2017

Misfit

Misfit Vapor

The Misfit Vapor is the activity tracking company's first touchscreen smartwatch and its most advanced device yet. It has all the usual activity and sleep tracking features, along with optical heart rate monitoring, built-in GPS and standalone music functionality.

Vapor has a 44mm stainless steel casing, is water resistant up to 50 metres and it has Qualcomm's Snapdragon Wear 2100 processor under the hood. It will be available sometime later in 2017 for $199.

• Misfit Vapor smartwatch brings heart rate monitoring, built-in GPS and waterproofing

Pocket-lint

Casio WSD-F20

Casio announced its second Android Wear watch at CES 2017 in the form of the WSD-F20. The new device sticks with the same styling as its predecessor and brings with it water resistance up to 50 metres, MIL-STD-810 certification, built-in GPS and support for offline mapping.

It runs on Android Wear 2.0, has a 1.32-inch dual-layer display that is designed for low power consumption and it will be available from 21 April 2017.

• Casio WSD-F20 preview: Rugged outdoor smartwatch shows Android Wear can be great

Pocket-lint

Garmin Fenix 5 Series

Garmin's Fenix 5 Series was announced at CES 2017, comprising three models: Fenix 5, Fenix 5S and Fenix 5X. The Fenix 5 has a 47mm casing, the Fenix 5S has a 42mm and is designed for females, and the Fenix 5X has a 51mm case, making it the beefiest of the bunch.

All the models have a 3-axis compass, gyroscope and barometric altimeter for measuring altitude and movement, as well as GPS and GLONASS for accurate location tracking. The Fenix 5 and 5S will cost $599, while the 5X will cost $600 and they will all be available sometime in Q1 of 2017.

• Garmin Fenix 5 preview: Mapping muscle added to outdoor adventurers' dream smartwatch

Hublot smartwatch

Hublot could be the next LVMH brand to launch a smartwatch, according to a Bloomberg interview with Jean-Claude Biver, CEO of TAG Heuer and Hublot. Although details were thin on the ground, Biver said a Hublot smartwatch would feature sports-related functions.

It is not clear whether Hublot will follow the same path as the TAG Heuer Connected by opting for Android Wear as the platform, but it's expected to arrive in 2017 or 2018.

Considering how well the TAG Heuer Connected is reported to be doing, it is not surprising to see other brands within the parent company wanting a slice of the pie. We will keep you updated as we hear more.

• Hublot smartwatch news

Pocket-lint

Tissot Smart-Touch

Tissot used Baselworld 2016 to reveal its Smart-Touch smartwatch. The device is a watch first but delivers a range of functions beyond the current T-Touch offering.

The design is based on the T-Touch Solar models, featuring a titanium case, ceramic bezel and sapphire crystal face with quartz movement inside. The battery can be charged by the sun and it features functions including a timer, alarms, compass, barometer and temperature.

When connected to your smartphone, the Smart-Touch will all you to sync the time, get weather updates, change settings and share experiences with friends. There are also connected accessories, including a Find-It tag to help you keep track of other items and a weather station that can give you humidity, air quality and temperature readings.

The Tissot Smart-Touch smartwatch was due to be available late-2016 for around CHF1000, which is roughly £710, but nothing has appeared as yet.

• Tissot unveils Smart-Touch

Apple

Apple Watch Series 3

It is likely Apple will launch another smartwatch at some point, but whether this will be in 2017 is not known. There have been a couple of patents filed by Apple, suggesting the new Apple Watch could be round.

The patent, titled "Electronic Device Having Display With Curved Edges", shows a circular watch face and drawings indicate tech elements that would drive a round screen. It works similarly to a normal display, and the tech would be hidden in a bezel around the edge much like the current rectangular Apple Watch or, indeed, the iPhone.

As with all rumours though, especially patents, this should be taken with a big pinch of salt for now.

• Your next Apple Watch could be round, according to leaked patent

Pocket-lint

Guess Connect (2016)

Guess announced the Guess Connect smartwatch at CES 2015. It looked like the traditional Guess Rigor watch but added a notification bar at the bottom of the face, powered by Martian. The company announced there would be several new designs of the Guess Connect appear in 2016, including a leopard print design and a new, smarter option, though nothing has appeared as yet.

In addition to the new colours and styles of the original Guess Connect however, the company is also planning to launch an entirely new model, which will again be powered by Martian. The new watch will focus more on looking like a normal watch, adding just an LED notifier light within the watch housing instead. We're expecting to see the new designs and new model appear soon.

• These are the new Guess Connect watches and they are amazing

Pocket-lint

Sony Wena

Sony announced the the Wena smartwatch in the run up to IFA 2015 under its First Flight crowdfunding platform, which is part of the Seed Acceleration Program that features other products such as last-years FES Watch.

The Sony Wena approaches things a little differently to the current smartwatch offering, integrating the smart features into the metal bracelet rather than the watch face. It looks every bit like a traditional analogue watch, but the Sony Wena smartwatch has three functions.

It monitors activity through a range of sensors, delivers notifications through a customisable seven-colour LED light and vibrations, and it can perform e-payments thanks to an NFC chip. The Sony Wena smartwatch went on sale in Japan in March 2016, but there is currently no confirmation for the rest of the world.

• Sony Wena hands-on