Smartwatches and wearables of fall 2014

A wellspring of wearables exploded onto store shelves this year, with everyone from Motorola to Samsung, Sony, LG, and Asus all throwing contenders into the ring.

Check out our top wearable picks for this year, but keep checking back!

At the rate they're emerging now, you'll want to stay on top of the news.

See all the most anticipated products in our Fall Tech Preview.

Although I'm not exactly convinced that anyone needs to be able to shout into their wristband to make a phone call, the Smartband Talk still has a few neat features to be excited about. The e-ink screen shows fitness activity (which its screenless predecessor wasn't able to do), while its waterproof design means you can happily shower with it on. It's not dirt-cheap, but it may be worth a look if you're after a fitness gadget that doesn't require you to sync it to a phone to find out how much exercise you've done.

See all the most anticipated products in our Fall Tech Preview.

With its waterproof body, interchangeable straps, and Android Wear operating system, the SmartWatch 3 is a big step forward from its uninspiring predecessor. Its design and specs put it roughly in line with the existing lineup of Android Wear watches we've already seen from the likes of LG and Samsung -- particularly as their interfaces are identical.

See all the most anticipated products in our Fall Tech Preview.

The ZenWatch feels like a capable smartwatch that doesn't lag behind in any significant way, but doesn't particularly push the category forward either. But Asus's first stab at a smartwatch -- which is slated to hit later this fall -- is expected to cost less than the Android Wear competition.

See all the most anticipated products in our Fall Tech Preview.

LG's G Watch R aims for a higher, more sophisticated level of style that its predecessor didn't quite achieve -- especially when you consider that it's going more upscale, with leather and steel construction. It also has a 1.3-inch (33mm) plastic OLED display with a 320x320-pixel resolution. The device is powered by a 1.2GHz Snapdragon 400 processor and a 410mAh battery. Indeed, this stylish Android Wear watch could take some of the wind out of the Moto 360's sails.

See all the most anticipated products in our Fall Tech Preview.

A 3G-connected smartwatch might be a bridge too far for a lot of people, unless Samsung shows how this device can be affordably linked into the average person's phone plan. Still, the Gear S shows that Samsung isn't giving up -- on design tweaking, software, or Tizen.

See all the most anticipated products in our Fall Tech Preview.

Samsung also announced the Gear VR headset this week that uses the company's new Galaxy Note 4 as its main display. It looks a little like an Oculus Rift, and a "powered by Oculus" logo appears on the side. But it reminded me most of Google's Cardboard VR headset: open the front, slide the phone in, snap it shut, and you have a VR experience you strap to your head.

See all the most anticipated products in our Fall Tech Preview.

Of course, smartwatches that don't debut in Berlin are still relevant. The Meta M1 is notable for not being an Android Wear watch -- which makes it compatible with both Android phones and iPhones. It's available soon for $250.

See all the most anticipated products in our Fall Tech Preview.

The Moto 360 is the first round Android Wear smartwatch. Others will come, including the LG G Watch R, but this is the first you can buy. At $250 in the US (it'll arrive in other countries later this year), it's $30 more than the original LG G Watch, and $50 more than the Samsung Gear Live.

It has a look that definitely feels premium: everything about the Moto 360 looks clean and well-made: polished steel, a thin watchband that tucks underneath, and a beautiful set of specially-designed software watch faces.

See all the most anticipated products in our Fall Tech Preview.

Officially unveiled at Apple's fall media event in Cupertino, Calif., alongside the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, the Apple Watch (not iWatch) may well be one of the most anticipated products of recent years. It will be available in "early 2015" starting at $349 in the US, with prices elsewhere yet to be announced (a rough conversion would be £220 or AU$380).

See all the most anticipated products in our Fall Tech Preview.