The best…smartwatches
Samsung Galaxy Gear, Pebble, and more
Samsung Galaxy Gear
This newcomer is the first smartwatch that can “legitimately claim to be a 21st-century version of Dick Tracy’s two-way wrist radio”: It makes and receives calls, takes photos and video, and supports various useful apps. Due to ship in October, it hasn’t been thoroughly test-driven. Also, it works only in concert with a Galaxy Note phone or tablet.
$300, bestbuy.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Source: Slate.com
Pebble
A recent Kickstarter sensation, Pebble performs one key task well: It provides convenient notification of incoming calls, texts, and emails. In our touch-screen age, its button controls “feel like a step back,” but this contender bears watching: It’s compatible with both iPhones and Androids, and app developers are quickly extending its capabilities.
$150, bestbuy.com
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Source: Gizmag.com
Sony SmartWatch 2
Sony’s update of its “extremely svelte” smartwatch corrects the original’s one major failing: The touch screen was “practically impossible to read” in sunlight. This edition can be used to monitor incoming texts and calls, but you still can’t conduct a conversation on it. Still, Sony’s entry might be the “sexiest-looking” choice, and it’s compatible with many Android phones.
$240 (est.), sonymobile.com
Source: CNET.com
Cookoo
So you prefer the look of a conventional watch? “Cookoo has you covered”—if you don’t mind sacrificing capabilities. This iPhone-compatible choice provides no notifications of incoming emails or texts. But it does monitor calls, Twitter mentions, and Facebook posts, and offers calendar reminders as well.
$130, cookoowatch.com
Source: CSMonitor.com
-
Trump uses tariffs to upend Brazil's domestic politics
IN THE SPOTLIGHT By slapping a 50% tariff on Brazil for its criminal investigation into Bolsonaro, the Trump administration is brazenly putting its fingers on the scales of a key foreign election
-
3 questions to ask when deciding whether to repair or replace your broken appliance
the explainer There may be merit to fixing what you already have, but sometimes buying new is even more cost-effective
-
'Trump's authoritarian manipulation of language'
Instant Opinion Vienna has become a 'convenient target for populists' | Opinion, comment and editorials of the day