Apple Watch Series 2 fully deserves the Wearable of the Year crown

It was a tough decision, but here's why we gave the big one to Series 2
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Some might see our decision to pick the Apple Watch Series 2 as Wearable of the Year at the first Wareable Tech Awards as a predictable one, I can tell you it most definitely wasn't. Of all the categories, this was the most hotly contested and debated category within the team and with our panel of judges.

And rightly so. It's been a huge year for wearable tech. From standout fitness trackers that weren't all from Fitbit to Oculus Rift rivals, we weren't just talking about the usual suspects here. That tells us that the industry is in a really great place right now and we're expecting even bigger things for 2017.

Essential reading: Wareable Tech Awards 2016 winners revealed

So why did the Series 2 get our vote? It's not simply because it righted so many of the wrongs with the first Apple Watch (And there was definitely a few of those). It wasn't just about Apple understanding what people want from a smartwatch, which we spoke about in our extensive review. The consensus was that this is now a smartwatch that people will want to own.

At a time when some are questioning whether the smartwatch even has a future, the Series 2 arrived and proved that like the iPhone, the iPod and the iPad, Apple does get it right, eventually. The bigger emphasis on fitness, the vastly improved notification support, all wrapped up in a rectangular design that continues to divide, but we think looks great on the wrist. This is what we wanted from the first one.

The Apple Watch Series 2 is not perfect and we openly admit that, but unlike the original, we've all been happy to spend more time with the Series 2 because it feels a more complete package than what we've seen from Google and its Android Wear watches or even Pebble. It's starting to live up to those lofty expectations that we place on any new Apple product.

Apple will have to raise its game next year for the 2017 Wareable Tech Awards that's for sure. With more Android Wear 2.0 packing smartwatches on the way, Google and Levi's Project Jacquard just to name a couple, we're already thinking about the debating that will happen when we have to pick out the next Wearable of the Year winner.




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Michael Sawh

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Michael Sawh has been covering the wearable tech industry since the very first Fitbit landed back in 2011. Previously the resident wearable tech expert at Trusted Reviews, he also marshaled the features section of T3.com.

He also regularly contributed to T3 magazine when they needed someone to talk about fitness trackers, running watches, headphones, tablets, and phones.

Michael writes for GQ, Wired, Coach Mag, Metro, MSN, BBC Focus, Stuff, TechRadar and has made several appearances on the BBC Travel Show to talk all things tech. 

Michael is a lover of all things sports and fitness-tech related, clocking up over 15 marathons and has put in serious hours in the pool all in the name of testing every fitness wearable going. Expect to see him with a minimum of two wearables at any given time.


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