The 10 Coolest Wearables Of 2017

World Of Wearables

While simpler fitness-tracking devices continue to appear, wearables vendors focused in on providing fully featured smartwatches in 2017. Fitbit introduced the Ionic smartwatch, for instance, while vendors such as Apple (with the Apple Watch Series 3), Samsung and Garmin put a major emphasis on the smartwatch space this year. In a report on the wearables market, IDC senior research analyst Jitesh Ubrani said that "the transition toward more intelligent and feature-filled wearables is in full swing." Basic fitness trackers, Ubrani said, "have acted as a gateway to smartwatches and now we're at a point where brands and consumers are graduating to a more sophisticated device."

What follows are the 10 wearable devices that most caught our attention during 2017.

Get more of CRN's 2017 tech year in review.

Apple Watch Series 3

The third generation of the Apple Watch goes beyond its predecessors -- and catches up with leading smartwatches from rivals such as Samsung -- with the addition of cellular connectivity. That means the smartwatch won't need proximity to an iPhone any longer, including for uses such as making phone calls and using Siri. Other changes with the third-gen Apple Watch include a new dual-core processor that offers a 70 percent improvement in performance. Plus, along with being "swim-proof" like the previous generation, the Series 3 case is not any larger than the second-gen model. The Apple Watch Series 3 with cellular is available for $399 (a separate data plan is also needed to use cellular). A non-cellular version of the device is available for $329.

Casio WSD-F20

During the start of this year at CES, Casio revealed the WSD-F20, a smartwatch developed for outdoor enthusiasts. The smartwatch features a MIL-STD-801G rating for durability and waterproof capabilities of up to 50 meters. The Android Wear-powered wearable also contains a low-power GPS sensor along with support for color maps, and can operate both online and offline. The Casio WSD-F20 is available for $500.

Fitbit Alta HR

In March, Fitbit unveiled its new Alta HR, a wearable that touts features like continuous heart-rate tracking and exercise recognition. Fitbit also added new software features including Sleep Stages and Sleep Insights to help consumers better understand their sleeping habits. Fitbit Alta HR, which promises battery life of up to 10 days, is available for $149 with a classic band.

Fitbit Ionic

The first true smartwatch from Fitbit, the Fitbit Ionic runs Fitbit OS, an operating system based in part on Pebble (which Fitbit acquired a year ago). The smartwatch continues Fitbit's emphasis on health and fitness with capabilities such as GPS, heart-rate tracking, guided workouts and sleep tracking. The Ionic also offers smartwatch features including apps, music, notifications and payments. In addition, the Fitbit Ionic, which is available for $300, promises up to five days worth of battery life on a charge.

Fossil Q Venture

With the Q Venture, Fossil brings together fitness tracking and notifications with a full 360-degree screen (42mm case size). The Q Venture runs Android Wear 2.0, and includes an activity tracker (steps, miles, calories burned) along with notifications (text, email, social media) and customization options (interchangeable straps, personalized dial). The Fossil Q Venture (Gen 3) is available starting at $255.

Garmin Vivomove HR

Garmin says the Vivomove HR is its first hybrid smartwatch, meaning that it combines a touch-screen display and key smartwatch functions with a more traditional watch style. The wearable is designed so that it shows clock hands when not in use, and only shows the smart display when a user turns his or her wrist. Features include activity tracking, heart-rate tracking and notifications. The Vivomove HR includes several options for its straps and case, and is available in two editions — Sport ($199.99) and Premium ($299.99).

Garmin Vivoactive 3

Among the key features of Garmin's Vivoactive 3, a GPS smartwatch that was unveiled in August, is the integration of the Garmin Pay contactless payment solution. The smartwatch also includes wrist-based heart-rate tracking, 15 indoor and outdoor sports apps that are built in (featuring new profiles for cardio, yoga and elliptical), and up to seven days of battery life. The Vivoactive 3 is available in three colors for a starting price of $300.

Nokia Steel HR

Featuring a stainless steel case and silicone straps, the Nokia Steel HR is aimed at offering style along with activity tracking functionality. The smartwatch provides automatic heart-rate monitoring and connection to the Nokia Health Mate, which gives users insight such as heart-rate summaries and personalized health advice. The Steel HR's screen (36mm or 40mm), meanwhile, displays smartphone notifications along with health data. The Nokia Steel HR is available starting at $179.

Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro

For a price significantly below that of the third-gen Apple Watch, Samsung is offering the Gear Fit2 Pro, with GPS tracking and swim-proof capabilities. The smartwatch specializes in letting a user download songs from Spotify -- with storage for up to 500 songs -- to listen to during a workout. The Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro is available for $200.

Samsung Gear Sport

The Samsung Gear Sport aims to stand out with its 1.2-inch Super AMOLED display and military-grade durability, along with water resistance and swim tracking. Additional features include heart-rate monitoring, automatic activity detection, and access to Spotify's offline mode. The Samsung Gear Sport, available for $300, also offers a choice of custom watch bands.