The 10 Top Wearable Tech Devices Of 2018 (So Far)

World Of Wearables

The shift away from simple fitness bands -- and toward fully featured smartwatches -- was on full display during the first six months of 2018. While some basic activity trackers did hit the market, such as Garmin's Vivofit 4, many wearable makers released smartwatches with features such as apps, music, notifications and guided workouts. Among the notable smartwatches that have debuted so far this year include the Fitbit Versa, the Huawei Watch 2 and the Garmin Forerunner 645 Music.

What follows are the 10 wearable devices that most caught our attention during the first half of 2018.

(For more on the biggest news of 2018, check out "CRN's Tech Midyear In Review.").

Casio G-Shock Rangeman GPR B-1000

Casio has designed an array of high-end G-Shock Rangeman watches aimed for outdoor lovers. The G-Shock Rangeman GPR B-1000 comes fully equipped for the great outdoors, with a built-in GPS system and solar charging capabilities. The wearable is water-resistant and can withstand temperatures as low as negative-4 degrees Fahrenheit. The Casio G-Shock Rangeman GPR B-1000 is available for $960 on Amazon.

Fitbit Ionic: Adidas Edition

Last year, Fitbit introduced its first true smartwatch with the Ionic, which continued Fitbit's emphasis on health and fitness with capabilities such as GPS, heart-rate tracking, guided workouts and sleep tracking. For the recently introduced Adidas Edition of the Ionic, Fitbit is adding new coaching capabilities through the inclusion of the Adidas Train app. The app was developed with Adidas performance experts, and offers six workouts that guide users on how to improve their form, power and speed. The smartwatch also features an Adidas-designed clock face, and is offered in four colors. The Fitbit Ionic: Adidas Edition is priced at $329.95.

Fitbit Versa

Fitbit is aiming to reach a broad audience with the features and pricing for its one its latest smartwatches, the Versa. The company calls the Versa -- which has an aluminum case and weighs just 38 grams -- the "lightest metal smartwatch in the U.S. market." Key features include a simplified dashboard for viewing health and fitness data; sleep and heart-rate tracking; connectivity to a music library and Pandora stations; and notifications. Fitbit also promises up to four days worth of battery life for the Versa. The Fitbit Versa is priced at $199.95.

Garmin Forerunner 645 Music

Focused on meeting the needs of runners, the Garmin Forerunner 645 Music brings together built-in GPS tracking with integrated music features. Music options include transferring music from a PC to the wearable and downloading playlists from streaming services such as iHeartRadio and Deezer. The device pairs with wireless headphones over Bluetooth, and offers up to five hours of battery life while using GPS and music. The Garmin Forerunner 645 Music is priced at $449.99.

Garmin Vivofit 4

The biggest draw for the Vivofit 4 activity tracker may be its battery life: Garmin says the tracker can go for an entire year on its battery (the device uses a replaceable watch battery that users can swap out once it's drained). But even with that long battery life, the Vivofit 4 still is able to offer a color display. It's also rated as shower- and swim-safe, and can automatically detect and capture activities such as walking, running, biking, swimming and using an elliptical. The Garmin Vivofit 4 is priced at $79.99.

Huawei Watch 2

The Huawei Watch 2 is aiming to be one of the most-capable Android smartwatches for fitness enthusiasts. The smartwatch offers GPS and heart-rate tracking; access to Google Play Music; water resistance; selectable watch faces; and even a built-in running coach. The smartwatch also boasts up to 10 hours of battery life in GPS mode. The Huawei Watch 2 is currently available on Amazon for $269.90.

LIZN Hearpieces

LIZN is seeking to help consumers better understand speech, particularly amid noisy environments and bad acoustics. The company's hearpieces use sound processing and directional sound technology to provide speech amplification, enhancing the sound of the person standing in front of someone over background noise. The Bluetooth-connected product also connects to phones so users can answer or decline phone calls. The LIZN Hearpieces are available for preorder for $149.

Matrix PowerWatch X

The Matrix PowerWatch X stands out with the ability to charge up using a person's body heat as the energy source (thanks to technical advances such as the development of new thermoelectric generators). That means users will never need to plug in the device, according to the company. In terms of features, the PowerWatch X offers push notifications, water resistance and a lightweight but rugged aluminum body. The Matrix PowerWatch X is priced at $279.

Misfit Path

As a hybrid smartwatch, the Misfit Path aims to bring together classic watch aesthetics with connected device capabilities. Those connected features include activity and sleep tracking, notifications, alarms and goal-setting. The smartwatch also includes a non-charging battery that lasts up to six months before needing to be replaced. The Misfit Path is priced at $149.99.

Skagen Falster

The Skagen Falster is a stylish Android Wear 2.0 smartwatch -- inspired by Danish minimalistic aesthetics -- that is in fact the first touch-screen smartwatch from Skagen. Key features include voice control via an integrated Google Assistant; activity tracking and notifications; and access to apps such as Google Maps, Pandora and Uber. The Skagen Falster has a starting price of $275.