Smartwatches do extra than simply observe your steps and ship telephone alerts to your wrist. The very best smartwatches go even additional, supplying you with the power to pay for a cup of espresso, take calls and hook up with apps like Spotify all with out whipping out your smartphone.
Likelihood is, in case you’re studying this, you already know all the advantages of a smartwatch. You’re prepared to speculate, or improve from an ageing accent, however we wouldn’t blame you in case you in case you didn’t know the place to begin. There are dozens of smartwatches obtainable now, together with GPS operating watches, health trackers that appear to be smartwatches and multi-purpose gadgets. Plus, you’ll need to think about elements like sturdiness, battery life and working system earlier than you spend some huge cash on a brand new wearable. We’ve examined and reviewed most main smartwatches obtainable at present and these are our prime picks.
Desk of contents
Finest smartwatches of 2025
Apple
Tracks: Sleep, exercise, energy, stress | Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Mobile (non-compulsory) | GPS: Sure, inbuilt | Water-proof: Sure | Assistant assist: Siri | Show: All the time-on, wide-angle OLED touchscreen | Weight: 36.4 grams | Battery life: 18 hours
Learn our full Apple Watch Collection 10 evaluate
Whereas the Collection 10 is one more iterative replace to the Apple Watch, this wearable stays on the prime of our listing as a result of Apple is aware of methods to add small however helpful options over time with out fixing what isn’t damaged. The Collection 10 is barely thinner and lighter than its predecessor, and it has a touch bigger display that makes use of a wide-angle OLED panel for higher viewing angles. Each of these issues, certainly, make it simpler to see and work together with textual content and graphics on the display from all totally different positions.
Apple additionally elevated the effectivity of the Watch’s battery with this newest mannequin, so most customers ought to see a slight improve in battery life. The Watch continues to be technically rated for 18 hours of battery life, however you’ll seemingly get extra juice out of it even with a GPS-tracked run thrown in throughout the day. Whereas we nonetheless want the Apple Watch had a multi-day battery life like rivals from Garmin and Fitbit do, any battery beneficial properties are a plus — particularly for many who need to benefit from the brand new sleep apnea monitoring characteristic that the Collection 10 has in watchOS 11. This new characteristic permits the Watch to trace respiratory throughout sleep and notice any disturbances in a 30-day interval. Contemplating the Watch has had comparatively fundamental sleep monitoring options till now, it is a welcomed addition.
In any other case, the Collection 10 does the whole lot proper that the Collection 9 did. It stays a wonderful health monitoring watch and an effective way to obtain all the most vital alerts out of your iPhone in a extra discreet manner. Anybody with a Collection 9 or 8 may be disenchanted by the Collection 10 as a result of it’s not reinventing the wheel, and subsequently might not really feel like an enormous improve. However these coming from an older Apple Watch mannequin, or a wholly totally different wearable, will discover a giant distinction in efficiency, options and charging pace.
Google / Engadget
Tracks: Sleep, exercise, energy, stress | Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Mobile (non-compulsory) | GPS: Sure, inbuilt | Water-proof: Sure | Assistant assist: Google Assistant | Show: All the time-on Actua touchscreen | Weight: 31 grams | Battery life: 24 hours
Learn our full Google Pixel Watch 3 evaluate
It solely took three iterations, however Google lastly bought it proper with the Pixel Watch 3. It’s essentially the most absolutely realized Pixel Watch but, and one which any Android fan would get lots of use out of. The newest mannequin, which now is available in 41mm and 45mm sizes, has a barely bigger round show that’s brighter than ever and might attain as much as a 60Hz refresh fee. It may possibly additionally drop down to only 1 nit of brightness whenever you’re sporting it to sleep, which not solely makes for a greater expertise total, but additionally contributes to its longer battery life. You’ll rise up to 24 hours out of the Pixel Watch 3, which is a giant enchancment over the earlier technology and extra according to competing gadgets from Apple and Samsung.
The Pixel Watch 3 can be a terrific exercise monitoring system, with options like auto exercise detection and customized operating plans, plus the power to trace metrics like Cardio Load. There’s Fitbit smarts in right here, identical to in earlier Pixel Watches, so that you’re coated in the case of each day exercises, steps, sleep and extra. The one draw back to that is that in case you’re desirous about extra in-depth teaching, these options are hidden behind the Fitbit Premium paywall.
Whereas Put on OS 5 might use a bit extra polish, the combination with the Google Assistant on the Pixel Watch 3 is helpful so you need to use voice instructions to test on issues like climate forecasts, calendar alerts, map instructions and extra. We additionally respect the addition of quicker charging on the Pixel Watch 3, so you’ll be able to go from 0 to 100 in a bit much less time than earlier than. That’ll come in useful in case you’re actually eager on utilizing the watch as a sleep tracker. General, the enhancements Google made on this version of the Pixel Watch helped push it over the sting as a worthy competitor to the Apple Watch and a prime choose for Android customers searching for their subsequent wearable.
Picture by Valentina Palladino / Engadget
Tracks: Sleep, exercise, energy, stress, dozens of exercises | Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, ANT+ | GPS: Sure, inbuilt | Water-proof: Sure | Assistant assist: None | Show: 1.2-inch AMOLED with non-compulsory always-on mode | Weight: 39 grams | Battery life: 11 days in smartwatch mode, 19 hours in GPS mode
Garmin is understood for its prowess on the earth of health watches and the Garmin Forerunner 165 is the watch I examined that I needed to put on essentially the most after I went out for a run. The experience of the Forerunner line is within the identify, and Garmin actually excels at making complete but pleasant GPS operating watches in flavors that can go well with every kind of athletes, from newbie to skilled. The Forerunner 165 stands out with its light-weight design, vibrant AMOLED touchscreen, simple button controls, correct built-in GPS and its skill to trace exercise stats simply in addition to all-day exercise information.
Beginning a run with the Forerunner 165 is as straightforward as urgent a single button — the top-right button on the case actually has “run” embossed onto it, and it takes you to the exercise profile menu the place you’ll be able to select the train you need to observe. Run is the primary choice, however you might have greater than 25 profiles to select from together with observe run, treadmill, stroll, power, swim and extra. When operating exterior, the GPS took a mean of 15-20 seconds to lock onto my location, however you don’t have to attend for it to take action — press the run button once more to start and the GPS will catch up by itself.
The Forerunner expertise has benefited enormously from the continual enchancment of the Garmin Join cell app. The beforehand clunky, complicated app has been properly refined with the intention to customise its homepage the exercise and exercise stats you care about essentially the most, together with issues like Physique Battery, Sleep Rating, menstrual cycle data and extra. It’s straightforward to dive into your most lately tracked exercise and get within the weeds with tempo, cadence, coaching impact (cardio or anaerobic), energy and stamina stats.
Garmin places the battery lifetime of the Forerunner 165 at 11 days in smartwatch mode, and I discovered that to be principally correct even with a handful of GPS-tracked runs thrown in. The corporate claims you’ll rise up to 19 hours of battery life with steady GPS use, which ought to be sufficient for many runners and athletes competing in long-haul races. You can even get the 165 with music storage inbuilt or not, with the previous permitting you to retailer music regionally on the watch so you’ll be able to pay attention with a pair of Bluetooth headphones.
The Garmin Forerunner 165 will set you again $250 with out music storage, or $300 for the mannequin with music storage inbuilt. That’s on the decrease finish of the value spectrum for GPS operating watches; you possibly can simply spend $500 or extra in case you’re uncertain about what you want and what’s simply further fluff. Whereas Garmin does have a couple of cheaper gadgets, the Forerunner 165 strikes the suitable steadiness of characteristic set and value that can enchantment to seasoned runners and people who are simply diving right into a extra regimented operating routine.
Fashionable smartwatches: Fossil and extra
Sure, there are nonetheless firms on the market making an attempt to make “modern” hybrid smartwatches. Again when wearables had been novel and usually ugly, manufacturers like Fossil, Michael Kors and Skagen discovered their area of interest in trendy smartwatches that took cues from analog timepieces. You even have the choice to choose up a “hybrid” smartwatch from firms like Withings and Garmin – these gadgets appear to be basic wrist watches however incorporate some restricted performance like exercise monitoring and coronary heart fee monitoring. They continue to be good choices in case you choose that look, however fortunately, wearables made by Apple, Samsung, Fitbit and others have gotten rather more enticing over the previous few years.
Finally, the one factor you’ll be able to’t change after you purchase a smartwatch is its case design. Should you’re not into the Apple Watch’s squared-off corners, all of Samsung’s smartwatches have spherical instances that look just a little extra like a conventional watch. Most wearables are provided in a alternative of colours and you may pay further for premium supplies like chrome steel for further sturdiness. When you determine on a case, your band choices are limitless – there are dozens of first- and third-party watch straps obtainable for many main smartwatches, and for each bigger and smaller wrists, permitting you to alter up your look everytime you please.
Components to contemplate earlier than shopping for a smartwatch
Compatibility
Apple Watches solely work with iPhones, whereas Put on OS gadgets play good with each iOS and Android telephones. Smartwatches made by Samsung, Garmin, Fitbit and others are additionally appropriate with Android and iOS, however you’ll want to put in a companion app in your smartphone.
The smartwatch OS may also dictate the kind and variety of third-party apps you’ll have entry to. Many of those aren’t helpful, although, making this issue a reasonably minor one within the grand scheme of issues.
Value
The very best smartwatches typically value between $300 and $400. In comparison with price range smartwatches, which value between $100 and $250, these pricier gadgets have superior working methods, communications, music and health options. In addition they typically embrace perks like onboard GPS monitoring, music storage and NFC, AMOLED shows, and lengthy battery life, issues that price range gadgets typically don’t have.
Some firms make specialised health watches: These can simply run north of $500, and we’d solely advocate them to critical athletes. Luxurious smartwatches from manufacturers like TAG Heuer and Hublot can even attain sky-high costs, however we wouldn’t endorse any of them. These gadgets can value greater than $1,000, and also you’re normally paying for little greater than a model identify and a few needlessly unique choice of construct supplies.
Battery life
Battery life stays certainly one of our largest complaints about smartwatches, however there’s hope as of late. You may count on two full days from Apple Watches and most Put on OS gadgets. Watches utilizing the Snapdragon Put on 3100 processor assist prolonged battery modes that promise as much as 5 days of battery life on a cost — in case you’re keen to close off most options apart from, , displaying the time. Different fashions can final 5 to seven days, however they normally have fewer options and lower-quality shows. In the meantime, some health watches can final weeks on a single cost. If lengthy battery life is a precedence for you, it’s value trying out the watch’s specs beforehand to see what the producer estimates.
Communication
Any smartwatch value contemplating delivers name, textual content and app notifications to your wrist. Name and textual content alerts are self explanatory, but when these imply loads to you, think about a watch with LTE. They’re costlier than their WiFi-only counterparts, however mobile connectivity permits the smartwatch to take and obtain telephone calls, and do the identical with textual content messages, with out your system close by. So far as app alerts go, getting them delivered to your wrist will allow you to look right down to the watch face and see in case you completely must test your telephone proper now.
Health monitoring
Exercise monitoring is a giant purpose why individuals flip to smartwatches. An all-purpose timepiece ought to perform as a health tracker, logging your steps, energy and exercises, and most of at present’s wearables have a coronary heart fee monitor as properly.
Many smartwatches’ health options embrace a built-in GPS, which is beneficial for monitoring distance for runs and bike rides. Swimmers will need one thing waterproof, and fortunately most all-purpose gadgets now can face up to not less than a dunk within the pool. Some smartwatches from firms like Garmin are extra health centered than others and have a tendency to supply extra superior options like heart-rate-variance monitoring, restoration time estimation, onboard maps and extra.
Well being monitoring on smartwatches has additionally seen advances over time. Each Apple and Fitbit gadgets can estimate blood oxygen ranges and measure ECGs. However the extra reasonably priced the smartwatch, the much less seemingly it’s that it has these sorts of superior well being monitoring options; if gathering these sorts of wellness metrics is essential to you, you’ll need to pay for the privilege.
Music
Your watch can’t solely observe your morning runs but additionally play music when you’re exercising. Many smartwatches allow you to save your music regionally, so you’ll be able to join wi-fi earbuds through Bluetooth and take heed to tunes with out bringing your telephone. People who don’t have onboard storage for music normally have on-watch music controls, so you’ll be able to management playback with out whipping out your telephone. And in case your watch has LTE, native saving isn’t required — you’ll have the ability to stream music instantly from the watch to your paired earbuds.
Shows
Most wearables have touchscreens and we advocate getting one which has a full-color touchscreen. Some flagships just like the Apple Watch have LTPO shows, which stands for low-temperature polycrystalline oxide. These panels have quicker response occasions and are extra energy environment friendly, leading to a smoother expertise when one interacts with the touchscreen and, in some instances, longer battery lives.
You gained’t see vital beneficial properties with the latter, although, as a result of the additional battery basically will get used up when these gadgets have always-on shows, as most flagship wearables do at present. Some smartwatches have this characteristic on by default whereas others allow you to allow it through tweaked settings. This sensible characteristic lets you look down at your watch to test the time, well being stats or every other data you’ve set it to point out on its watchface with out lifting your wrist. It will little question have an effect on your system’s battery life, however fortunately most always-on modes dim the show’s brightness so it’s not operating at its peak unnecessarily. Cheaper gadgets gained’t have this characteristic; as a substitute, their touchscreens will mechanically flip off to preserve battery life and also you’ll need to deliberately test your watch to activate the show once more.
NFC
Many new smartwatches have NFC, letting you pay for issues with out your pockets utilizing contactless funds. After saving your credit score or debit card data, you’ll be able to maintain your smartwatch as much as an NFC reader to pay for a cup of espresso in your manner residence from a run. Remember the fact that totally different watches use totally different cost methods: Apple Watches use Apple Pay, Put on OS gadgets use Google Pay, Samsung gadgets use Samsung Pay and so forth.
Apple Pay is without doubt one of the hottest NFC cost methods, with assist for a number of banks and bank cards in 72 totally different international locations, whereas Samsung and Google Pay work in fewer areas. It’s additionally essential to notice that each NFC cost assist varies by system as properly for each Samsung and Google’s methods.
Different smartwatches our consultants examined
Apple Watch Extremely 2
The Apple Watch Extremely 2 might be overkill for most individuals, but it surely has a ton of additional options like further waterproofing to trace diving, an much more correct GPS and the most important battery of any Apple Watch thus far. Apple designed it for essentially the most rugged amongst us, however on your common particular person, it seemingly has extra options than they’d ever want. Should you’re significantly clumsy, nonetheless, its excessive degree of sturdiness may very well be a terrific purpose to contemplate the Apple Watch Extremely 2.
Apple Watch SE
The Apple Watch SE is much less feature-rich than the flagship mannequin, however it should most likely suffice for most individuals. We truly regard the Watch SE as the perfect smartwatch choice for first-time consumers, or individuals on stricter budgets. You’ll get all of the core Apple Watch options in addition to issues like fall and crash detection, noise monitoring and Emergency SOS, however you’ll need to do with out extra superior {hardware} perks like an always-on show, a blood oxygen sensor, an ECG monitor and a pores and skin temperature sensor.
Garmin Forerunner 745
Garmin watches generally may be nice choices for essentially the most lively amongst us. The Garmin Forerunner 745 is a superb GPS operating watch for critical athletes or those that prize battery life above all else. Once we examined it, we discovered it to supply correct distance monitoring, a killer 16-hour battery life with GPS turned on (as much as seven days with out it) and assist for onboard music storage and Garmin Pay.
Smartwatch FAQs
Is there a distinction between a smartwatch and a health tracker?
Whereas smartwatches and health trackers share some similarities, they’re designed for barely totally different functions.
A health tracker is primarily centered on well being and exercise monitoring. It retains tabs in your steps, coronary heart fee, sleep and exercises, and a few even provide superior metrics like blood oxygen ranges and stress monitoring. Health trackers are typically extra compact, have longer battery life and are constructed with exercise in thoughts.
A smartwatch, however, is sort of a mini smartphone in your wrist. It presents health monitoring options, but additionally enables you to do issues like reply to texts, take calls, use apps and management sensible residence gadgets. Many smartwatches assist voice assistants, cell funds and even LTE connectivity, so you’ll be able to depart your telephone behind in some instances.
Should you primarily need well being and exercise monitoring with lengthy battery life, a health tracker is the way in which to go. If you would like a extra related expertise with further options, a smartwatch is the higher alternative.
How lengthy do smartwatches final?
How lengthy a smartwatch lasts principally will depend on two issues: battery life and total sturdiness.
Smartwatch battery life varies loads relying on the model, options and the way you employ it. Primary fashions with e-ink shows or monochrome screens can final per week or extra, whereas full-featured smartwatches just like the Apple Watch or Samsung Galaxy Watch normally want a cost every single day or two. Should you’re utilizing options like always-on show, GPS monitoring or LTE connectivity, count on the battery to empty quicker.
Bodily, smartwatch ought to final a number of years earlier than you might want to improve. Premium fashions with scratch-resistant glass, water resistance and powerful construct supplies have a tendency to carry up properly over time. Nonetheless, software program assist issues too — manufacturers like Apple and Samsung sometimes present updates for not less than a couple of years, whereas some price range smartwatches might not get long-term software program assist.
You may count on to cost most smartwatches each day or each few days, and in case you deal with them, they need to final 3-5 years earlier than an improve is critical.
How a lot must you spend on a smartwatch?
How a lot it is best to spend on a smartwatch will depend on what options you want and the way typically you propose to make use of it.
Should you simply need the fundamentals — step monitoring, notifications, coronary heart fee monitoring and fundamental health monitoring — you will discover some stable budget-friendly choices from manufacturers like Amazfit, Fitbit and a few Put on OS fashions. These normally have respectable battery life however might lack premium options like LTE, superior well being monitoring or third-party apps.
Within the mid-range smartwatch value bracket, you’ll discover fashionable fashions just like the Apple Watch SE and Fitbit Versa collection. These provide mixture of health monitoring, sensible options and design high quality. You’ll get higher construct supplies, extra correct sensors and app assist, however battery life would possibly nonetheless be restricted to a day or two.
Excessive-end smartwatches just like the Apple Watch Extremely, Samsung Galaxy Watch Extremely and Garmin Fenix/Epix collection provide superior well being monitoring, rugged designs, LTE connectivity and longer software program assist. These are nice for critical athletes, outside adventurers, or anybody who needs the newest and biggest options.
Should you simply need a easy smartwatch for notifications and health monitoring, a price range or mid-range mannequin will do the job. However if you would like a premium really feel, superior well being monitoring or LTE connectivity, it’s value spending a bit extra. For most individuals, $200 – $350 hits the perfect steadiness of options and worth.
Do all smartwatches have GPS?
Not all smartwatches have built-in GPS. Some depend on your telephone’s GPS, whereas others have it built-in for unbiased monitoring.
Excessive-end and fitness-focused smartwatches, just like the Apple Watch, Samsung Galaxy Watch and Garmin fashions have their very own built-in GPS. This implies they’ll observe your runs, walks, bike rides and hikes without having to be related to your telephone. It’s vital for critical athletes or anybody who needs correct location monitoring with out carrying a telephone.
Some price range and mid-range smartwatches (like some Fitbit and Amazfit fashions) don’t have built-in GPS however can use your telephone’s GPS when related through Bluetooth. This works positive in case you normally carry your telephone whereas understanding, but it surely’s much less handy in case you choose to depart it behind.
Some very fundamental or price range smartwatches skip GPS totally and rely solely on step monitoring or movement sensors. These are positive for informal customers who don’t want location monitoring.
Can you permit your telephone at residence and nonetheless use a smartwatch?
Sure, but it surely will depend on the smartwatch and what you need to do with out your telephone.
In case your smartwatch has LTE or mobile connectivity , you can also make calls, ship texts, stream music, use maps and even entry apps with out your telephone close by. Nonetheless, you’ll want a separate information plan out of your provider, which normally comes with an additional month-to-month value.
Even with out LTE, some smartwatches can nonetheless do loads on their very own, together with observe exercises and GPS routes (if they’ve built-in GPS), play music offline (in the event that they assist downloads from Spotify or Apple Music), might contactless funds with options like Apple Pay and Google Pockets and management sensible residence gadgets.
If going phone-free is essential to you, search for a smartwatch with LTE and built-in GPS for the perfect expertise.
Can a smartwatch make calls with no telephone?
Sure, a smartwatch could make calls with no telephone — however provided that it has the suitable options.
Some smartwatches have built-in LTE connectivity, that means they’ll work independently out of your telephone. You may make and obtain calls, ship texts, stream music and use apps so long as you might have a cell information plan for the watch. Nonetheless, you’ll must pay for a separate mobile plan and battery life drains quicker when utilizing LTE.
In case your smartwatch doesn’t have LTE, it will possibly nonetheless make calls, however solely when related to your telephone through Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. It basically acts as a distant speaker and microphone on your telephone’s calls. Watches like the usual Apple Watch or Samsung Galaxy Watch (Wi-Fi variations) can do that. Nonetheless, in case your telephone isn’t close by or related to Wi-Fi, calling gained’t work.
Some fitness-focused smartwatches (like sure Garmin, Fitbit and Amazfit fashions) don’t have a built-in speaker or microphone, to allow them to’t make or obtain calls in any respect — solely present notifications.
If calling with no telephone is a should, ensure to decide on an LTE mannequin with a built-in mic and speaker.
What is the distinction between an Android and Apple smartwatch?
The most important distinction between Android and Apple smartwatches comes right down to compatibility, options and ecosystem integration.
Apple smartwatches (Apple Watch) solely work with iPhones. When you’ve got an Android telephone, you’ll be able to’t use an Apple Watch in any respect. Android smartwatches (Put on OS, Samsung Galaxy, Garmin and so forth.) principally work with Android telephones, however some additionally assist iPhones with restricted options. When you’ve got an iPhone, the Apple Watch is your best option. When you’ve got an Android telephone, go for a Put on OS or Samsung Galaxy Watch.
Apple Watch (watchOS) has the perfect app assist with seamless integration into Apple’s ecosystem (iMessage, FaceTime, Apple Pay, Apple Health+, Siri and so forth.). Android smartwatches provide extra selection, with entry to Google companies (Google Assistant, Google Pockets and Google Maps), and a few assist Amazon Alexa or Samsung’s Bixby.
By way of design, Apple Watch has a single design however is available in totally different sizes and supplies. It’s smooth, however your solely actual customization comes from bands and watch faces. Android smartwatches, however, are available tons of kinds and types (Samsung, Google Pixel Watch, Garmin, Fossil and so forth.), that means you’ll be able to choose a spherical watch, a rugged design or a luxury-looking mannequin.
If battery life is essential to you, the Apple Watch lasts a couple of day or two per cost, relying on utilization and mannequin. Many Android smartwatches (particularly Garmin, Amazfit or Mobvoi TicWatch) final a number of days and even weeks on a single cost.
Georgie Peru contributed to this report.
