Most expensive smartwatches in South Africa

Wealthy South Africans have various premium smartwatches to choose from, with prices reaching as high as R80,999 for the 2nd-generation Garmin Marq Commander Fused Carbon Fibre edition.

MyBroadband looked for the most expensive smartwatches you can buy in South Africa and compared them on pricing, battery life, and other features.

Garmin sells the most expensive smartwatch in the country, with the top-tier edition of the 2nd-generation Marq setting buyers back R80,999.

Pricing for the smartwatch starts at R47,499 for the standard model. There are several other editions available for between R47,499 and R80,999.

Regarding specs, Garmin only lists a 46mm option for the second-generation Marq. Depending on the selected edition, the watch’s case will be made from titanium or fused carbon fibre.

The smartwatch features Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and ANT+. ANT+ is a wireless technology that enables monitoring devices to communicate with one another. The Garmin Marq (2nd-gen) has a battery life of up to 21 days in energy-saving mode.

The next most expensive smartwatch you can buy in South Africa is the Connected Calibre E4 from Tag Heuer. Like the Garmin Marq, it is available in several variations, each with different pricing.

Pricing ranges from R29,700 for the standard model to R48,800 for the top-tier Carbon Golf Edition. The smartwatch is available in 42mm or 45mm sizes, with a steel case and sapphire crystal screen.

Regarding battery life, Tag Heuer doesn’t specify a number of days or hours but said it provides a “A full day including multiple hours of sport sessions”.

In addition to the Marq, Garmin sells several expensive smartwatches for between R18,499 and R40,999. These include the Tactix 7 series, Decent Mk2S, and 2nd-generation Epix Pro.

The former is only available in a 47mm size, with prices ranging from R27,499 to R40,999. The wearable will last up to 37 days in smartwatch mode and 139 days in expedition mode.

The Gamin Descent Mk2S is priced between R27,999 and R35,499, depending on the chosen model. It is available in a choice of 43mm or 52mm sizes and offers up to 21 days of battery life on a single charge.

Garmin’s second-generation Epix Pro offers customers the greatest choice when it comes to size, with 42mm, 47mm, and 51mm models.

Regarding design, the Gamin Tactix 7 series, Descent Mk2S, and second-generation Epix Pro all feature titanium, fibre-reinforced polymer, and sapphire crystal.

It offers up to 41 days’ battery life on a single charge, and prices range from R18,499 to R29,499.

Two Apple smartwatches made the list — the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Watch Series 9.

The former only comes in one size, 49mm, and offers up to 72 hours of battery life on a single charge for R21,099.

On the other hand, the lower-specced Watch Series 9 comes in two sizes — 41mm and 45mm — and offers a battery life of up to 36 hours on a single charge.

Prices for the Apple Watch Series 9 range from R10,499 to R13,999.

Finally, one Huawei smartwatch made the list. The Huawei Watch Ultimate measures in at 48.5mm and will last up to 14 days on a single charge.

Priced at R17,999, its design features zirconium-based liquid metal, nanocrystalline ceramic, and sapphire crystal.

The table below compares the basic specifications and pricing of the most expensive smartwatches in South Africa. We provided price ranges for products available in a variety of editions and styles.