My phone pings constantly from where it’s plugged in across the room. But I’ve got my Galaxy Watch 4 on my wrist, so I can check to see who’s pinging me, which app the notifications are from, and whether it’s important enough to merit my standing up and walking the dozen or so steps to unplug my phone and look — or just respond on my smartwatch (or swipe the notification away).

If you know someone who needs this assist in their lives, the holidays are almost upon us, and it’s time to start thinking about what gifts to buy. It’s not too early to make your shopping list, especially now that the Black Friday sales are in full swing, and one essential tech device that would make an excellent gift for just about anyone is a new smartwatch.

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One of the best ways to buy a thoughtful tech gift without spending too much money? Choose a previous version of a current device, especially if the earlier model offers everything they need. So if you’re searching for a cool holiday gift, might I suggest my favorite smartwatch, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4?

Why I love the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4

Sure, it’s not the latest model of the Samsung Watch — that would be the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7. But it still has all the main features, including ECG, blood pressure monitoring, sleep monitoring, Google integration for most things and Samsung Health.

I’m not a fitness fanatic, so I don’t need all the latest tracking features or even the improved battery life and bigger screen size of the 40mm Watch 7, which has a list price of $300but is going for just un $240 right now if you do want the upgrade. The Galaxy Watch 4 has the fitness tracking I need without being overly complex. (Though it has advanced workout tracking for six modes including running, rowing and swimming, if you like those auto-detected tracking features.)

For everyday use, I can check all my notifications and respond, take hands-free calls, track sleep and skip between songs when listening in Spotify. Oh, and check the time.

If you’re looking for a wearable, it’s the one I’d recommend checking out before looking into the latest version of the Galaxy Watch series. One caveat: Some people have complained that their battery is depleting quickly lately. Samsung has advice on how to run a diagnostic on your watch and remedy the issue.

Why the Galaxy Watch 4 makes a fun gift

The Galaxy Watch 4 isn’t going to be a gift you give to the tech enthusiast in your family, or an Apple fan, but it’s perfect for anyone who wants a smartwatch but doesn’t want all the bells and whistles on offer — or someone who doesn’t know what they want in a smartwatch at all.

For more, here are our other favorite smartwatches — and if you’re looking to gift someone a new phone too, CNET has rounded up the best deals on the Samsung Galaxy S24 and the best Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 deals.