We've been testing the best smartwatches for over a decade, and have seen the evolution of the watch from a useful notification device to the fully-fledged health and fitness trackers you can pick up today.
Leading the pack is the Apple Watch 10, our top smartwatch for iPhone owners. It might only be a minor upgrade to the Watch 9, with a larger display and thinner design, but it's the most feature-packed, easy-to-use smartwatch around right now.
For Android owners, the best smartwatch is the Google Pixel Watch 3, which includes more of Fitbit's fitness tracking features alongside menstrual health tracking, Loss of Pulse detection and improved rest and recovery insights.
But these are not your only choices. If you spend time outdoors, love running or need something more budget-friendly, we've rounded up the best smartwatches available right now, with models from brands like Garmin and Samsung.
The quick list
Here's a quick overview of the best smartwatches you can buy right now based on our testing and reviews. In-depth analysis can be found further down this page.
The newest Apple Watch is thinner and lighter than its predecessor making it one of Apple's comfiest wearables yet. It also features a new and improved display and faster charging. Plus, a familiar user interface, reliable wellness tech and loads of useful apps add up to the Apple Watch 10 being the best smartwatch for iPhone users.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 is one of the lightest and comfiest full-feature smartwatches you can buy today. Starting at under $300, it also boasts reliable and detailed sleep-tracking reports, and can even monitor for sleep apnea. In addition to rest, the latest Galaxy Watches provide useful AI-backed insights into workout training and recovery.
The Google Pixel Watch 3 in 45mm is the best Android smartwatch overall boasting up to 48 hours of battery life per charge, a comfortable and relatively elegant design, and plenty of wellness monitoring tools. It's not quite as sleek as the Galaxy Watch 7 but it still looks pretty stylish on the wrist and offers a similar level of smart features, too.
The Apple Watch SE (2022) is an incredible value and the best affordable smartwatch out there today, offering many of the best Apple Watch features at a fraction of the price. It even comes with LTE, making it a solid low-cost device for safety and connectivity. Plus, the 40mm version is great for folks with smaller wrists. Of course, you'll need an iPhone to use it.
The Garmin Venu 3 boasts many of the brand's best fitness tracking and training tools, wellness insights and sleep data. It also sports a bright and easy-to-view screen, outstanding battery life, rock-solid GPS and compatibility with both Apple and Android devices. Toss in a stylish and comfortable design and you've got the best smartwatch for fitness. However, you won't find much by way of third-party apps.
When it comes to full-featured smartwatches, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is the longevity king and the best smartwatch for battery life offering up to 36 hours in normal mode and 72 hours in low-power mode. Built for adventure, it also boasts loads of safety features, a customizable 'Action' button, accurate GPS tracking and a tough-built, titanium case. However, at 49mm, the Ultra 2 is not small nor is it particularly light.
The Garmin Forerunner 265 is the best smartwatch for runners of all experience levels. It has a bright and colorful screen that's easy to see in daylight, accurate GPS tracking, advanced training metrics, detailed workout insights and helpful recovery tips. Available in two case sizes, the Forerunner 265 is also pretty darn sporty-looking and plenty comfy.
When it comes to keeping tabs on your well-being, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is the best smartwatch for health monitoring. Though it offers a similar set of holistic sensors and tools as the Galaxy Watch 7, the Ultra's battery lasts twice as long and it's also tougher built. But, like the Apple Watch Ultra 2, this premium Android wearable is a bit beastly on the wrist.
The best smartwatches you can buy today
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Best smartwatch for iPhone
The Apple Watch 10 is the best Apple Watch yet, and a smartwatch many of us at Tom's Guide use daily. It’s not a major upgrade over the Apple Watch Series 9 but there are some noteworthy changes. The case is now 10% thinner and the screen is 10% larger compared to the Series 9. It's also easier to view at odd angles thanks to Apple's use of wide-angle OLED display technology. Here's a closer look at the Apple Watch 10 vs. Apple Watch 9.
Gone are the 41mm and 45mm case sizes, replaced by new 42mm and 46mm cases. By the way, the larger of the two models boasts even more screen real estate than the Ultra series. There are also new case finishes and materials, too, including lightweight titanium options.
Just weeks after the launch of the Apple Watch Series 10, the hallmark health feature, sleep apnea detection, has received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
During testing, we found the Apple Watch 10's design changes lead to significant usability improvements. From tracking workouts to messaging friends to navigating cities to monitoring sleep, the Series 10 is extremely easy to use and interact with. Speaking of sleep, this is one of the first Apple Watch models with sleep apnea detection.
The device ships running watchOS 11. This latest software delivers a new Vitals app, the ability to translate languages on your wrist, and — finally — the option to disable your Apple Watch rings when you need a rest day.
The Series 10 also boasts faster charging and the ability to play audio through the watch's speaker, not just phone calls. It also inherits the Ultra's water Depth app for swimmers and snorkelers, along with a new water temperature sensor. All of this adds up to the best Apple Watch for most people, and also the best smartwatch for iPhone users overall.
- Read our full Apple Watch 10 review
Best smartwatch for sleep tracking
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 is the best smartwatch for sleep tracking and also our top pick for Android users on a budget thanks to impressive AI-underpinned wellness insights, a lightweight and comfortable design, loads of useful apps and a $299 starting price. While it's not an enormous upgrade over its predecessor — here's how the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 vs. Galaxy Watch 6 compare — the new sleep features set it apart.
Sleep insights are provided after only one night of use, unlike the competition, and we found them to be detailed yet digestible. However, our favorite feature on the Galaxy Watch 7 has to be Samsung's near Energy Score metric, which is updated daily and takes into account sleep quality, recent workouts and more to help keep you motivated.
Available in 40 and 44mm, the design of the device remains unchanged from the Galaxy Watch 6. However, under the hood, the Watch 7 boasts an upgraded GPS antenna — which proved impressively accurate in our testing — double the storage capacity of its predecessor, and a faster, more power-efficient processor.
Battery life is good for roughly 24 hours using the always-on display and 40 hours in power-save mode, which is par for the course.
- Read our full Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 review
Best Android smartwatch
The Google Pixel Watch 3 comes in both a 41mm and 45mm variant and you'll want to opt for the larger model to get the most out of this easy-wearing and fairly sleek-looking device. It's not quite as thin as the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 nor is it as light, but the 45mm Pixel Watch 3 offers nearly double the battery life of its Samsung rival, making it the best Android smartwatch overall.
The 41mm Pixel Watch 3, on the other hand, lasts for closer to 24 hours (like the Galaxy Watch 7). However, both Pixel Watch models benefit from a thinner bezel compared to the Pixel Watch 2, and an upgraded screen that's easier to see in bright sunlight. Here are even more details on how the Pixel Watch 3 vs. Pixel Watch 2 stack up.
Google's health and fitness tools are largely on par with Samsung's with details into sleep quality and exercise, insights into workout recovery, menstrual health tracking and more. Google also unveiled a first-of-its-kind loss of pulse detection feature that works similarly to fall/crash detection, alerting help when triggered. It isn't yet available in the U.S., however, Pixel Watch 3 users in the UK and Europe should have access to it.
The Pixel Watch 3 additionally inherits some of Fitbit's best training metrics to help users better understand their day-to-day wellness and heart health, while avoiding overtraining. These include Fitbit's Readiness score, Cardio Load metric and Target Load score. There are also new metrics for hardcore runners to help improve form.
- Read our full Google Pixel Watch 3
Best affordable smartwatch
The Apple Watch SE (2022) represents an exceptional value and is the best affordable smartwatch you can buy right now. The $249 device doesn't have all the latest bells and whistles found in the Ultra 2 or Series 10 but it still stands out for its great fitness tracking and safety features. It also comes with optional LTE for on-the-go connectivity without the need to carry a paired smartphone.
Best of all, the Apple Watch SE is compatible with the latest watchOS 11 software, which unlocks a host of new features including Apple's useful Check In safety tool, a new Vitals app for monitoring core health data and on-wrist translations for 20 languages.
Unlike the Series 10 and Ultra 2, the SE doesn't offer as bright or large a display or an always-on option. Users also miss out on an ECG monitor and skin temperature sensor.
However, if those features aren't deal-breakers for you, the SE is a highly capable option for iPhone users. It's also Cupertino's smallest and easiest-wearing Apple Watch, particularly the 40mm option, something folks with petite wrists can surely appreciate.
- Read our full Apple Watch SE (2022) review
Best smartwatch for fitness
The Garmin Venu 3 is one of the best Garmin watches because it's both a capable workout companion and a stylish lifestyle device.
The combo also makes it the best smartwatch for fitness enthusiasts. Maintaining Garmin’s reputation for thorough workout tracking and accurate GPS, the Venu 3 also offers the smarts of mirrored notifications and an on-wrist voice assistant.
And even though Garmin still lacks a large third-party app store and continues to steer clear of LTE support, the Venu 3 has other smart features up its sleeve, like Garmin Pay for contactless payments and onboard storage capacity for music. You can also make and receive calls from the wrist, assuming your paired phone is near.
While tracking workouts, Incident Detection works similarly to Apple's Fall Detection for safety. And, an abundance of sports profiles, helpful recovery time suggestions and on-watch interval creation keep you tuned into your activity, too.
The device additionally features nap-tracking and a nifty sleep coach feature to keep tabs on your rest while daily summaries offer behavioral insights. What's more with a 26-hour battery life in GPS mode and 15 days in smartwatch mode, you rarely need to stress about keeping the Garmin Venu 3 charged. It also comes in two easy-wearing sizes.
- Read our full Garmin Venu 3 review
Best smartwatch for battery life
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is the best smartwatch for battery life if it's a full-featured smartwatch that you want. While fitness-focused sports watches like the Garmin Forerunner 265 can last for weeks at a time when not using GPS, the vast majority of smartwatches get closer to 24 hours of battery life.
The Apple Watch Ultra 2, meanwhile, gets 36 hours of power in standard operating mode and up to 72 hours in low-power mode. (For the Android crowd, consider the Galaxy Watch Ultra, which lasted for up to 48 hours in our testing).
Another thing we like about the Ultra 2 is the abundance of safety features, like Crash and Fall Detection, which can be set to alert loved ones or emergency rescue folks in the event of an accident.
The Ultra also has a customizable third button — the 'Action Button,' which comes in handy for starting and stopping workouts but also serves as a quick way to access safety features, such as the Emergency SOS and the Apple Watch Ultra's Siren.
At 49mm, the device is quite large which is great if you appreciate a big bright display but less so if you have a more slender wrist. Built for adventures, the bezel is made from titanium, with a lip around the screen to add more protection. The display is covered by sapphire glass, and the watch boasts 100 meters of water resistance making it suitable for most extreme water-based activities, like diving, water skiing and more.
Like the Apple Watch 10 and SE, the Ultra 2 benefits from all the best Apple Watch features released with watchOS 11, including a new Vitals app and improved women's health tracking.
- Read our full Apple Watch Ultra 2 review
Best smartwatch for runners
Our pick for the best running smartwatch is the Garmin Forerunner 265. This lightweight wearable gives you everything you’d want in a running watch, from accurate tracking to music controls to the ability to create custom workouts, for about the price of an Apple Watch Series 10. The device also offers access to Garmin’s wide range of training metrics, which help you not only plan workouts but also calculate recovery time.
During testing, we found the Garmin Forerunner 265's beautiful AMOLED display to be bright and easy to read, even in direct sunlight. The display is also touch-sensitive, which makes it easy to navigate. However, there are plenty of buttons along the side of the case if you prefer physical controls. The battery is long enough to last through a few workouts, even with music playing.
The Forerunner 265 has inherited some of the more advanced health features usually reserved for Garmin’s more expensive running watches. It can also track complex multisport training sessions in the triathlon mode and features Garmin's extremely useful Training Readiness Score.
- Read our Garmin Forerunner 265 review
Best smartwatch for health monitoring
The Galaxy Watch Ultra is Samsung's take on a sporty, premium smartwatch model, like the Apple Watch Ultra series.
The ultimate Android wearable for outdoor adventures, the Galaxy Watch Ultra is also the best smartwatch for health tracking. It sports the same competent BioActive sensor found in the Galaxy Watch 7 but in a longer-lasting and better-built package.
Fitness, rest and recovery metrics are accompanied by AI-backed explainers and insights, which help make the dizzying array of data points recorded by the Ultra easy to parse at a glance but dig into as desired. The Galaxy Watch Ultra additionally monitors for health anomalies like sleep apnea and irregular heartbeats.
This is the longest-lasting Android smartwatch currently available, with up to 48 hours of battery life. It also features an eye-catching titanium finish, a customizable 'Quick' button and a bright, easy-to-view AMOLED screen that reaches 3,000 nits — the same as the Apple Watch Ultra 2 — making it easy to read even in direct sunlight.
The only downsides to the Galaxy Watch Ultra are the steep $650 price and the fact that it's not meant to be worn while scuba diving or for other extreme watersports, despite 100 meters of water resistance. Oh, and it's just as hulking on the wrist as the Ultra 2.
- Read our full Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra review
Also tested
We test a lot of smartwatches to make sure that we're genuinely recommending the best options available right now. But if you're after a bit more choice, these are the watches that didn't quite make the cut.
Best smartwatch specs compared
| Header Cell - Column 0 | Starting price | Case Size | Weight | Display size | Display type, brightness | Waterproof rating | Battery life (tested) | LTE? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Watch 10 | $399 | 42mm, 46mm | 30 g (42mm), 36 g (46mm) | 1.6 in (42mm), 1.8 in (46mm) | Wide-angle OLED, 2,000 nits max brightness | 50 meters | 18 hours, 36 hours in low-power mode | Optional |
| Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 | $299 | 40mm, 44mm | 29 g (40mm), 34 g (44mm) | 1.3 in (40mm), 1.5 in (44mm) | AMOLED, 2,000 nits max brightness | 50 meters | 24 hours, 40 hours in low-power mode | Optional |
| Google Pixel Watch 3 | $349 | 41mm, 45mm | 31 g (41mm), 37 g (45mm) | 1.27 in (41mm) , 1.46 in (45mm) | AMOLED, 2,000 nits max brightness | 50 meters | Up to 24 hours (41mm); Up to 48 hours (45mm) | Optional |
| Apple Watch SE | $249 | 40mm, 44mm | 26 - 28 g (40mm), 33 g (44mm) | 1.57 in (40mm), 1.78 in (44mm) | OLED, 1,000 nits max brightness | 50 meters | 18 hours, 24 hours in low-power mode | Optional |
| Garmin Venu 3 | $449 | 41mm, 45mm | 27 g (41mm), 30 g (45mm) | 1.2 in (41mm), 1.4 in (45mm) | OLED, 1,000 nits max screen brightness | 50 meters | 12 days (41mm), 14 days (45mm) | No |
| Apple Watch Ultra 2 | $799 | 49mm | 61 g | 1.93 in | OLED, 3,000 nits max brightness | 100 meters | 36 hours, 72 hours in low-power mode | Yes |
| Garmin Forerunner 265 | $449 | 42mm, 46mm | 39 g (42mm), 47 g (46mm) | 1.1 in (42mm), 1.3 in (46mm) | AMOLED, 1,000 nits max screen brightness | 50 meters | 13 days / 20 hours with GPS (42mm), 15 days / 24 hours with GPS (46mm) | No |
| Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra | $649 | 47mm | 61 g | 1.5 in | AMOLED, 3,000 nits max brightness | 100 meters | Up to 48 hours | Yes |
How we test the best smartwatches
At Tom's Guide, we've been assessing smartwatches since the debut of the very first Apple Watch a decade ago. Over the years, as devices have gotten more advanced, particularly regarding fitness and wellness features, our testing has become more rigorous.
It all starts with setting up the smartwatch just like we would any other shiny new piece of tech. Once properly fitted and secured, the fun begins: that smartwatch follows us everywhere we go, from early-morning workouts to late nights on the town and everything in between.
All the while, we're measuring how its battery life claims stack up in real-world use. We're also assessing comfort, usability, build quality and any new apps or features. Sometimes this means going for an ocean swim with the latest Apple Watch or climbing a literal mountain with three popular smartwatches in tow. Other times it means hitting the slopes with our favorite Polar watch or biking up the steepest hill in town wearing a Garmin.
To test fitness-tracking accuracy, we also frequently pit the best smartwatch models against one another while taking on workout challenges like runs, hikes, bike rides and more, because who doesn't love a showdown of the Pixel Watch 3 vs. Galaxy Watch 7 or Apple Watch SE vs. Garmin Forerunner 165?
These challenges help us understand things like which models excel at GPS precision, measuring a user's rapidly changing heart rate, counting your steps and calculating elevation changes.
In addition to testing fitness features, we also try any onboard safety features, including tools that monitor for sleep apnea and irregular heartbeats. If there's an app store, we'll install the most popular third-party apps to see how that changes the experience of the watch.
Finally, we consider how a device stacks up against the competition in terms of cost, features, tech and design. All of this then gets distilled into a product review and ultimately, this buying guide.
How to choose the best smartwatch for you
Choosing the right smartwatch for you all comes down to what you want the device to do. If you're looking for a wearable that can function as an extension of your smartphone, then options from Apple — if you're an iOS person — and Google or Samsung — if you're an Android person — are going to suit you best.
Samsung's smartwatches are some of the most versatile for Android owners, as they'll work with most Android phones, although certain features are locked exclusively to the latest Samsung smartphones. Similarly, some of the newest Apple Watch features, like AI-generated message summaries, require the latest/greatest handsets.
Whichever full-featured smartwatch model you choose, springing for the latest version will likely mean you're getting the brightest display, fastest processor, and newest health tech.
The other main type of smartwatch is fitness-focused models from brands like Garmin, Polar and Coros. These devices don't offer the hearty buffet of third-party apps found on the aforementioned, nor do they come with loads of built-in smart features, but that's by design.
Instead, you tend to get comparably more advanced training tools, metrics and insights than what you'll find on the latest Apple, Google or Samsung watch. And while you won't be able to answer a phone call or order a pizza, many of the best Garmin watches will mirror your smartphone notifications while supporting lifestyle features including tap-to-pay and wrist-based music control for a connected device.
Once you've narrowed your best smartwatch choice down to either a full-featured or fitness-focused option and have selected the perfect model, you still may have to decide on a size and whether it sports a cellular antenna, which costs more and requires a monthly subscription (but means you can leave your smartphone at home).
Not all smartwatches come with LTE support, nor do all come in more than one size. However, every model listed here is available in a range of styles and colors to suit your taste.
FAQs
Are smartwatches worth it?
Smartwatches have come a long way since the first Apple Watch debuted more than a decade ago.
More than a means to view phone notifications from the wrist, these high-tech wearables are now full-blown wellness devices with 24/7 health monitoring, workout training tools, advanced sleep-tracking analysis, women’s health tracking features and more. Some can even alert you to possible health conditions, like sleep apnea and atrial fibrillation (AFib).
Of course, on-the-go connectivity is still core to the appeal of the smartwatch and in addition to bringing handy apps along with notifications and alerts to the wrist, most models also offer useful safety features, like fall and crash detection, for added peace of mind. These tools can alert loved ones or emergency responders if such an incident is triggered.
Which is the best smartwatch brand?
The best smartwatch brand is going to vary from person to person. Factors like the type of smartphone you own and what you want out of your smartwatch will help determine which smartwatch brand is right for you.
If you want your smartwatch to operate like a wrist-based smartphone with the ability to mirror not just notifications but all your favorite apps, features and more, then the best smartwatch brand will likely be the same one that manufactured your handset.
Devices from Apple, Google and Samsung also provide the widest selection of apps and wrist-based smart tools.
On the flip side, Garmin is the best smartwatch brand for subscription-free workout training tools, GPS reliability and battery longevity. Garmin models also play nicely with both Androids and iPhones but offer far fewer smart features and apps.
Can a smartwatch replace my phone?
To truly leave your phone at home, you’ll want to opt for a smartwatch model with cellular LTE connectivity, which comes with a monthly fee. The tradeoff is that you can make calls, stream music and videos, pay for items, use maps and more, all without your handset nearby.
That said, many non-LTE smartwatches come with onboard storage to download music so that you can jam out to tunes without your phone. This includes some of the best Garmin sports watches, like the Forerunner 265 and Venu 3.
Most smartwatch models in 2024 sport an onboard GPS antenna for location tracking which means that you won’t need to lug your phone on a run or hike to view a post-workout route map and insights into metrics like speed, cadence, elevation gain and more.
Do smartwatches require a monthly subscription?
Most smartwatch models do not require a monthly subscription. The exception is if you want cellular connectivity, in which case, you’ll need to pay a monthly carrier fee. Not all smartwatch models work with LTE, though.
Cellular connectivity is optional and costs an extra $50 on models like the Apple Watch SE and Samsung Galaxy Watch 7. Having a cellular model doesn’t mean you need to sign up for a smartwatch data plan, it just means that it’s compatible with one, should you choose to add it.
Higher-end models like the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Galaxy Watch Ultra come with cellular compatibility baked in, there is no GPS/WiFi-only version.
Some smartwatch models offer additional health and workout training features for a monthly fee. While Apple, Garmin and Samsung offer free wellness and fitness metrics and tools — for now — Google paywalls advanced training features and insights via Fitbit Premium ($10/month or $80/year).
