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Put something nice on Dad's wrist

Father's Day is as good a time as any to get a smartwatch or fitness tracker to make your pop a little more active.

Scott Stein
I started with CNET reviewing laptops in 2009. Now I explore wearable tech, VR/AR, tablets, gaming and future/emerging trends in our changing world. Other obsessions include magic, immersive theater, puzzles, board games, cooking, improv and the New York Jets. My background includes an MFA in theater which I apply to thinking about immersive experiences of the future.
Scott Stein
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1 of 8 Sarah Tew/CNET

Apple Watch Series 2

The reason to pay up for Apple's second-generation smartwatch is built-in GPS and swim-ready water resistance. Dad can hop in the pool, go for a jog, use Apple Pay, and never have an excuse for missing your phone call.

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2 of 8 Sarah Tew/CNET

Apple Watch Series 1

Less expensive, but nearly as good: The Series 1 is a more budget-friendly pick for the dad who has an iPhone but no watch. It can't be worn swimming and it lacks GPS, but it's got all the other features.

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Fitbit Alta HR

The best Fitbit just arrived for the summer, and it includes heart rate tracking on a really small band plus good battery life. It just lacks GPS and swimproofing.

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Fitbit Charge 2

Slightly larger than the Fitbit Alta HR, the Charge 2 was our favorite pick until recently. It also has more manual controls for running and workouts, plus a breath-tracking mindfulness feature for stressed-out dads.

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5 of 8 Andrew Hoyle/CNET

Huawei Watch 2

Does your dad have an Android phone? Android Wear 2 watches have gotten a lot better, and the Huawei Watch 2 might be the best of the bunch. It has GPS, tracks fitness and has decent battery life, plus Android Pay for wrist payments.

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Garmin Forerunner 235

Our favorite casual running and fitness watch has a longer battery life (one to two weeks), is waterproof, has GPS and does a solid job tracking runs if dad's more of a jogger.

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7 of 8 Sarah Tew/CNET

Withings Steel HR

An analog watchface gives the Steel HR a more casual-dressy look, but it still tracks heart rate, steps and sleep, plus can be worn swimming. Its battery lasts nearly three weeks, too, and the Withings app is a good pick for weight-loss goal setting.

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Samsung Gear S3

Last but not least, Samsung's intriguing Gear S3 watch is feature-packed and looks slick. It's big, but its larger battery and extra phone-enabled mode in the Frontier model give it lots of clever advantages. One drawback: The Gear S3 runs its own set of apps that aren't as diverse as Android Wear or Apple Watch.

See more from CNET's Father's Day Gift Guide

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