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Whether you need a smartwatch for monitoring your heart health, tracking your activity while exploring nature, or keeping a library of handy apps a tap away, there are so many genuinely impressive options available in 2024 that it may be difficult to select the best model for your needs.
Prospective buyers should take note of a smartwatch’s operating system (OS) to ensure that it will effortlessly work with the devices you already own. Other important factors to consider are its price, available apps, and durability when comparing brands and models. This will help you narrow down the field of best smartwatches, but don’t forget to match your new high-tech timepiece to your unique style!
Whether you aren’t sure what sort of smartwatch you may need, or are having a difficult time choosing between a handful of attractive options, here are the most important points to consider to pick the best smartwatch for you:
Whether you need to track your fitness activity to the last calorie burned, a collection of high-tech productivity tools that are always within arm’s reach, or an advanced health monitoring device, it’s vital to compare each smartwatch’s list of key features to ensure that it will best suit your daily life.
If you’re considering a smartwatch to wear for trips to and from the office, the average wearable will likely be more than durable to survive your commute. However, adventurers, fitness enthusiasts, and athletes will need a much more durable smartwatch designed to shrug off impacts, moisture, dust, and extreme temperatures.
There are countless fitness, productivity, entertainment, and other handy apps designed for the on-wrist convenience of a smartwatch. If you absolutely need to listen to Spotify, track your location via GPS mapping, or call a Lyft ride from your wearable device, it’s worth the research to find smartwatches that utilize your favorite apps.
Simply put, some smartwatches work with both Android and iOS smartphones, but others are compatible with only one or the other. Always be certain that the smartwatch you have your eye on is designed to connect with your smartphone before you buy.
Since it’s going to sit on your wrist all day, every day, do yourself a huge favor and choose a smartwatch that fits your unique sense of style. Some smartwatches are offered in multiple face colors and feature swappable bands, so you can wear a sweatproof athletic band at the gym and a stylish metal band when you hit the town afterward.
We utilized comprehensive research and hands-on testing to determine the 13 best smartwatches you can buy in 2024:
Apple continues to innovate and impress with each iteration of the Apple Watch, and the Series 9 is no exception. The Series 9’s brilliantly bright display is easy to read in direct sunlight, and its premium ECG sensor, blood oxygen monitoring, and heart rate monitoring features are worth the baseline $399 investment for those of us who need precise records of their health stats. Sporting a water resistance of 50 meters and crack-resistant display, as well as eight tasteful case finishes and endless band combinations (including some carbon neutral options,) Apple Watch Series 9 smartwatches are as rugged as they are fashionable, making these adaptable, environmentally friendly, and stylish wearables a must-have for dedicated Apple fans.
Best smartwatch for iPhone
apple
$399.00
buy on amazon
Although many of 2024’s best smartwatches are built around Google’s Wear OS, the Pixel Watch is the very first smartwatch designed and released directly from Google itself. The Google Pixel Watch perfectly integrates with the Pixel ecosystem of Android-based devices, utilizes acclaimed Fitbit health tracking technology, and gives wearers the ability to control their smart home’s collection of devices. The Pixel’s design is similar to the Apple Watch, but unlike its competitors, the Pixel only comes in one size.
Best smartwatches for Android phones
Walmart
$349.99
amazon
$329.99
$249.99
Although Garmin’s Instinct 2 Solar Surf Edition should be on the radar of anyone who spends a considerable amount of time in the great outdoors, due to its exceptionally rugged design and precise GPS tracking across land and sea, the ability to get unlimited battery life via solar charging is a game-changer. Whether you’re shopping for a smartwatch to monitor your health while surfing, hiking, climbing, or windsurfing, you’ll never have to worry about recharging this innovative device as long as you spend a lot of time outside. Sure, this smartwatch and its unlimited battery is priced at $399.99, but accessing up-to-the-second surf data, a huge collection of workout trackers, and heart rate monitoring on your wrist is worth the investment for dedicated fitness enthusiasts.
Best smartwatch for battery life
buy on walmart
buy on amazon
Not only does Samsung make some of the best wireless earbuds and smartphones out there, their Galaxy Watch6 Classic is impressively adept at keeping close tabs on your health as you go about your day. Some of its best health-focused features include a skin temperature sensor that’s surprisingly helpful at noticing when something is “off” with your body, as well as a comprehensive ECG, blood pressure, and blood oxygen level measuring health app. With the ability to track over 90 unique exercises while keeping tabs on your overall sleep quality, the Galaxy6 Classic is no slouch when it comes to tracking your fitness levels, too.
Best smartwatch for health tracking
samsung
$399.00
amazon
$429.99
$369.99
Withings released their Scanwatch in 2022, and while its wealth of slick customization options and timeless style are appealing, its advanced health-tracking functionality sets it apart from the pack. Few smartwatches include an FDA-approved ECG sensor to watch for atrial fibrillation and record blood oxygen levels. Very few do so at the meager price point of $279, making the Scanwatch a top pick for anyone actively managing a health condition. The Scanwatch also excels at automatic activity tracking for a variety of sports and exercises, it features an impressive 30-day battery life and a stainless steel case with scratch-resistant sapphire glass. It’s a design that’s built to last.
Best hybrid smartwatch
Withings
$299.95
$239.95
buy on amazon
The Apple Watch Ultra is hands-down the must-own Apple Watch for Apple fans who won’t settle for anything less than the best of the best. Although Apple’s best smartwatch starts at $799, buyers can rest easy knowing that their Ultra’s incredibly rugged titanium shell will easily endure the worst bumps and drops your daily life will put it through. In addition to its unmatched durability, the Ultra sports the biggest and brightest display to date, a maximum battery life of 60 hours, and a unique Action button that’s easily customized to perform a huge array of actions with a single press. With its pixel-perfect compass, extreme temperature resistance, and range of specialized bands for diving, hiking, and mountain climbing, the Ultra is without a doubt the best Apple Watch for exploring nature.
What we like:
Best premium Apple Watch
Apple
$799.00
amazon
$779.99
The Fitbit Sense 2’s innovative cEDA sensor for monitoring a wearer’s stress levels is turning heads. Stress levels, sleep, heart health, and fitness activity are the four core areas the Sense 2 tracks with pinpoint precision. Featuring easy to read graphs, the Sense 2 is an essential tool for steadily improving your day-to-day health. The $299.95 Sense 2’s advanced sensors, library of Google apps, and stress managing features will be a game changer in the months and years ahead.
Best smartwatch for fitness
Walmart
$299.95
$249.95
amazon
$299.95
$249.95
If you’re searching for a stylish smartwatch to match every outfit in your wardrobe, Fossil’s Gen 6 Smartwatches should be on your radar. It is no surprise that Fossil would develop a range of tastefully designed smartwatches, but the advanced tech specs–the ability to charge up to 80% of its battery in half an hour, swimproof durability, and a blazing-fast processor–prove that these devices are far more than a pretty face. This classy Google-powered smartwatch is a chic option for Android fans who need high-end heart, health, and sleep tracking wrapped up in a slick package.
Those who feel nostalgia for the days where everyone had an MP3 player in their pocket will fall in love with the Garmin Venu Sq Music Edition smartwatch. Not only does this $249.99 smartwatch sport a variety of precise health, fitness, and wellness tracking features, as well as a host of useful apps, the Music Edition lets users download their favorite tracks from Spotify, Amazon Music, and Deezer for seamless offline listening. The Garmin Venu Sq pairs well with premium earbuds for workouts and long walks, but it’s hard to take your eyes off of its bright, crisp, and colorful AMOLED display.
Best budget smartwatch
buy on garmin
amazon
$244.00
Although the Apple Watch SE is an attractive pick for those of us seeking an affordable way to instantly connect with the most important seniors in our lives, the SE has a lot to offer seniors beyond its budget-friendly price of $249. The SE sports an extremely bright display that the vision-impaired will appreciate, a rugged and swimproof design, and is able to take and receive crystal-clear calls and texts. The Apple Watch SE is also the best option for watching over a senior’s day-to-day wellness, as this smartwatch features active heart rate monitoring, an emergency SOS feature that activates after a sharp, sudden fall, as well as continuous activity and fitness tracking.
Best smartwatch for seniors
apple
$249.00
buy on amazon
With 11 days of battery life, a bright display, and reliable GPS tracking, Garmin’s fēnix 7S is the most stylish outdoor smartwatch of 2024. Active wearers will enjoy this model’s collection of specialized fitness tracking modes, which range from daily workouts and bodybuilding, to surfing and skiing. Between its collection of 42,000 golf course maps, pulse oxygen sensor, variety of music apps, and extreme durability, the Garmin fēnix 7S feels like it was made to handle anything you throw at it.
Best outdoor smartwatch
Garmin US
$649.99
amazon
$699.99
What the ASUS VivoWatch 5 lacks in before-you-buy customization options, it makes up for with its impressive health-tracking features, sturdy stainless steel case, and convenient smart assistant functionality. The VivoWatch 5 includes a wealth of health and fitness tech, such as blood oxygen tracking, skin temperature monitoring, GPS, and an aerobic heart-rate indicator, all wrapped up in a ruggedly designed $349 smartwatch. The VivoWatch 5 also sports a customizable watch face, compatibility with NFC-enabled tech, and a water-resistant design, making this versatile smartwatch difficult to overlook.
Most stylish health tracking smartwatch
ASUS
$349.00
amazon
$408.03
The Fitbit Ace 3 is hands-down the best smartwatch for kids, and anyone who needs to motivate a youngster to get out and move in 2024. The adorable Minions Yellow design and engaging animated watch faces will hold the attention of any kid over six years old, but parents will appreciate the Ace 3’s wealth of activity tracking stats, eight days of battery life, and the relatively affordable price range of $69-80 as of this writing. Between its durable and swim proof design, variety of cool swappable bands, and child-motivating family challenges mode, it’s easy to see why Fitbit’s Ace 3 is a hit with kids.
Best smartwatch for kids
Walmart
$79.95
$48.72
amazon
$79.00
$54.95
Our exhaustive research of smartwatch manufacturers and each one’s range of models, extensive daily testing, and previous experience with wearable tech helped us to pick the best models on the market. Some of the most important factors we considered to identify the best smartwatches available include:
There are many reasons to invest in a smartwatch, such as monitoring your core health stats, keeping tabs on your training regimen, and instantly accessing many of your favorite mobile apps without pulling out your smartphone.
With that said, the best smartwatches of 2024 outperform their competitors by offering advanced features that make them worthwhile on their own merits. ECG sensors will keep close tabs on your heart activity and other health metrics, you get access to advanced maps and tracking, and NFC (near-field communication) technology makes contactless payments frictionless. On top of it all, the best smartwatches of 2024 are incredibly durable and beautiful personal accessories.
Someone monitoring a heart condition will appreciate a quality smartwatch with a suite of health features, but anyone interested in their personal fitness will appreciate following their day to day progress to see what’s working for their exercise or training routine and what isn’t.
Note that most smartwatches are designed to pair with a companion smartphone, and while the functionality of both devices may overlap, an iPhone or Android phone simply will never be able to deliver the beneficial health stats or near-instant smart assistant convenience that the best smartwatches on the market provide.
While most smartwatches may seem to have similar base features, such as sleep tracking, phone notifications, and some of your favorite apps, it’s worth taking the time to find the best smartwatch for you and your needs.
The best place to begin comparing smartwatches is by looking at your smartwatch. Some devices are designed to pair exclusively with an iPhone or Android phone, and others will effortlessly connect to either platform. This is a quick and easy method for whittling down your list of potential purchases.
What does your average day look like? Your current (or aspirational) lifestyle is another important factor to consider when shopping for a smartwatch, as some prefer a lightweight wearable for answering calls in the office, while others need a bulkier smartwatch to easily survive their adventures in the great outdoors.
Some universal concerns to keep in mind include battery life, comfort, and customizability. No one wants a smartwatch that runs out of battery before the end of your work day, or one that doesn’t let you swap out the included band for a more stylish option. Remember, it isn’t necessarily about finding the best smartwatch of them all, but the best smartwatch to suit your daily life.
A hybrid smartwatch fuses traditional timepiece style with the advanced sensors and technology found in a smartwatch. Some people prefer a hybrid watch because they appreciate the classic appearance of mechanical hands moving across the watch face, an analog dial, and the added perk of not needing to charge it as often as the average smartwatch.
The best hybrid watches available are the Withings Scanwatch, for its comprehensive heart monitoring features and slick combination of mechanical and digital faces, and the Fossil Neutra Gen 6 Hybrid Smartwatch, for its long battery life and quality wellness tracking app.
Apple fans have two top choices to choose from: The Apple Watch Series 9 is loaded with impressive heart, activity, and fitness monitoring technology, and is Apple’s most durable, versatile, and visually impressive smartwatch to date.
However, the Apple Watch Series 3 is a far more affordable option, which despite being an older smartwatch, is just as useful for keeping a capable smart assistant, reliable sleep and heart health tracking, and your favorite apps on your wrist.
There are plenty of attractive smartwatches available for anyone who prefers an Android device in 2024, such as the inexpensive Samsung Galaxy Watch5 and stylish Fossil Gen 6 Smartwatch.
Dedicated Android fans should keep an eye out for the Fitbit Sense 2 and Google Pixel Watch, as these are the most advanced and feature-rich Google-based smartwatches to date.
When it comes to smartwatches that were specifically designed for camping, boating, snowboarding, and hiking, Garmin’s extremely rugged Instinct 2S Solar and versatile fēnix 7S smartwatches are easily 2024’s best picks.
The Instinct 2S Solar is especially attractive to cyclists, climbers, golfers, and anyone else who regularly enjoys outdoor activities, as this incredibly durable smartwatch has up to 51 days of battery life, thanks to the way it constantly replenishes its energy via an innovative solar charging lens.
There are many standout smartwatches available for gathering and closely maintaining your heart, sleep, and overall health. Some of the best include the Apple Watch Series 9, Withings Scanwatch, and ASUS VivoWatch 5.
Both the Series 9 and Scanwatch include an ECG sensor that takes an electrocardiogram to check your heart’s rhythm, rate, and electrical activity, followed by a series of easy-to-read stats detailing the wearer’s current heart health. This incredible feature is well worth the investment for someone managing high blood pressure, diabetes, or heart disease.
If you need a smartwatch that accurately monitors your activity as you swim, lift weights, or get your daily steps in, the comprehensive fitness tracking capabilities of the Garmin fēnix 7S, Garmin Instinct 2S Solar, and upcoming Fitbit Sense 2 makes them the top smartwatches for exercise in 2024.
Between its user-friendly design, constant activity tracking, adorable colors, and how its collected health data is wirelessly sent to its linked parent account for effortless device monitoring, the Fitbit Ace 3 is easily 2’s best smartwatch for kids.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch5 sports quality sleep and activity tracking, a suite of Google apps, and plenty of attractive designs for just $114 for the base model, but the $199.99 AppleWatch Series 3 and $99 Fitbit Ace 3 are also excellent, yet affordable smartwatches.
Although there is no definitive “best” smartwatch brand, Apple, Samsung, Garmin, Fitbit, and Google are the most innovative, popular, and highest rated smartwatch developers on the market. Although these five tech giants are known for their premium smartwatches, there are still excellent models offered by lesser-known brands as well.
Yes, but only certain smartwatches have a texting feature. Some of 2024’s best smartwatches that allow their wearers to send and receive texts include the Samsung Galaxy Watch6 Classic, Apple Watch Series 9, and Google Pixel Watch.
Yes, but this feature is limited to specific smartphones. For example, the Samsung Galaxy Watch6 Classic can be used to monitor your blood pressure levels, however this can only be done if you pair it with a Samsung smartphone and the official Samsung Health Monitor App.
Maybe–only specific models are able to connect to an iPhone via Bluetooth, and even then, you may not have access to the Samsung Watch’s entire list of features.
Some of the Samsung Galaxy watches that are compatible with iPhones include the Galaxy Watch3, Galaxy Fit, and Gear Sport, however most modern Galaxy watches, such as the Galaxy6 Classic and Galaxy Watch5 Pro, are incompatible with devices running iOS.
Tech companies continue to incorporate eye-catching innovations with each new generation of smartwatches, and 2’s lineup is no different. Some of the standouts include:
Apple Watch Series 9, SE, and Ultra wearers can allow their smartwatch to automatically contact emergency services if the device detects what it believes to be a severe car crash.
Sometimes bigger is better, and Samsung’s Galaxy Watch6 Classic smartwatch sports a huge display that makes it easier to see at a glance, while making navigating its apps a snap without needing to pull out your glasses.
Brands such as Fitbit and Apple are starting to incorporate skin temperature sensors into their latest smartwatches to help wearers monitor their overall health. For example, a temperature sensor may help you identify symptoms of an illness far earlier than you normally would have.
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Smartwatches do everything from sending text, call, app, and email notifications to tracking activities and monitoring health markers. The most important things to consider when choosing a new smartwatch are the features you'll use most, as well as the smartphone operating system you use.
Our top pick is the Apple Watch Series 9. Although it's only compatible with iOS, it's easy to navigate and offers robust health and fitness tracking tools. For Android users, we recommend the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro. It has a durable, rugged design and multi-day battery life.
While most smartwatches track activities, they're not all full-fledged fitness trackers. Dedicated fitness trackers provide a variety of trackable activities and often provide in-depth progress-tracking data, monitor rest and recovery, and create workout recommendations. For information on these, check out our guide on the best fitness trackers.
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Best overall: Apple Watch Series 9 - See at Amazon
Best budget: Fitbit Versa 3 - See at Walmart
Best for Android: Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro - See at Amazon
Best for Pixel users: Google Pixel Watch - See at Amazon
Best for fitness: Garmin Epix Pro - See at Garmin
Best premium Apple Watch: Apple Watch Ultra 2 - See at Amazon
Best Fitbit: Fitbit Sense 2 - See at Amazon
Best with bezel: Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic - See at Amazon
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The Apple Watch has been one of the best smartwatches you can buy for several years and the Series 9 is yet another high-quality, full-featured wearable that's a must-own for iPhone users. This deal price is the best we've seen so far on this model. Clip the coupon at Amazon for the full discount.
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The Apple Watch Series 9 remains atop the smartwatch pack thanks to its excellent blend of health and fitness tools, smartwatch functionality, and overall effectiveness. For iOS users, there's no better wearable to buy and it's so good that it may even sway those who don't have an iOS device to get one.
When the Series 9 was released in September of 2023, it didn't represent a massive generational leap over the prior year's release, the Apple Watch Series 8. However, it did introduce a few new features that improved its accessibility and it also debuted a fast new processor chip.
The new additions include faster on-device Siri access, updated Smart Stack functionality, a brighter display, and, perhaps the most notable new feature, the Double Tap Gesture. The Double Tap Gesture allows users to tap their index finger and thumb together twice to interact with the primary button of any app. For instance, it can answer or hang up a phone call, start or stop a timer, and snooze an alarm.
The Apple Watch Series 9 offers the perfect blend of smartwatch features and health and fitness tracking capability, and may even sway some people to buy an iPhone in order to use it.
Rick Stella/Insider
While this new gesture is great for when you have your hands full yet still need to interact with your Apple Watch, it's a huge advancement in its accessibility. Now, users who may not be able to easily use the touchscreen can still make use of the watch's apps. This coupled with the Series 9's on-device Siri access completely changes how the watch can be used.
Beyond those updates, the Series 9 is still a powerful health and fitness tracker, offering several tools like blood oxygen sensing, sleep tracking, and stress management. There are also new mental health tools available within its Mindfulness app that allow users to log how they feel at certain times throughout the day.
The Apple Watch has long been a quality wearable and the Series 9 continues that trend, offering something for every type of user. It delivers a premium smartwatch experience, has powerful health and fitness tracking tools, and is not only the best Apple Watch you can buy but the best smartwatch, too.
Read our full review of the Apple Watch Series 9.
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A quality smartwatch doesn't have to cost a fortune and Fitbit's Versa 3 is the best example of why. It offers a robust smartwatch experience with a variety of health and fitness tracking, third-party app support, and a long-lasting battery.
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Although the Versa 4 is Fitbit's latest model, the Versa 3 remains the better option of the two. For starters, its compatibility with third-party apps gives it a massive leg up over the Versa 4, and it's also a much more accurate tracker in terms of GPS tracking and syncing.
The third-party app support is probably the most important aspect of why the Versa 3 is a standout. Since Fitbit decided to end third-party app support on the Versa 4, the Versa 3 remains the last Fitbit smartwatch that offers that functionality.
Fitbit's Versa 3 may be a last-generation wearable but with third-party app support, it's a far better smartwatch than the current-gen Versa 4.
Mark Knapp/Insider
This translates into a much better smartwatch experience because you don't have to solely rely on whatever apps come pre-installed. Having the option to customize what you use is one of the best features of any smartwatch.
The Versa 3 excels beyond the app support and fitness tracking, too. It also acts as a fluid extension of your smartphone, offering text, email, call, and app notifications that are easy to read, especially on the watch's big, bright watch face. Having such a large screen is also good for quickly viewing any workout stats or navigating through an app.
It also offers health-tracking features like menstrual cycle tracking, in-depth sleep monitoring, and an always-on heart rate monitor. Fitbit may be more well-known for its no-frills activity trackers but the Versa 3 is an excellent full-featured smartwatch.
Read our full review of the Versa 3.
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Samsung's Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is the best fitness tracker for Android users thanks to its multi-day battery life, an intuitive operating system in WearOS, and a wide variety of advanced health and fitness tracking.
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The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro continued the Galaxy Watch line's reign as the best Android smartwatch you can buy, and it did so via a few key upgrades over the existing line.
First, it houses a larger battery that allows it to go several days before a recharge. It also has a ruggedly durable design that caters to the active user. And when paired with one of the best Samsung Galaxy Watch bands, you can easily tailor it to function however you prefer to wear it.
These new features represent an extremely similar innovation cycle to the Apple Watch Ultra 2. The Watch 5 Pro has all the hallmarks of its non-Pro kin, the Watch 5, albeit with a few add-ons that make it especially useful for fitness-focused folks and outdoor enthusiasts.
It's also a powerful smartwatch. Call, text, email, and app alerts are easy to interact with on the large, bright watch face and it uses the latest iteration of Wear OS which is fluid and intuitive to navigate. It allows for deep customization, too, including several different watch faces that can display certain relevant information. I found this to be one of its best features as I could tailor what data or fitness stats it always showed on the home screen.
Samsung's Watch 5 Pro was the brand's answer to the Apple Watch Ultra, and it delivered. It has multi-day battery life, can track a variety of activities, and offers a suite of health features. It's the best for Android users by far.
Rick Stella/Insider
Health-focused users will also appreciate its variety of wellness features, including in-depth sleep tracking, as well as a unique body composition scanner that can inform you of your body fat percentage, water weight, and BMI. This isn't as accurate as a reading you may get at the doctor but it's still a handy tool.
For the fitness crowd, the Watch 5 Pro is stellar. Not only is there a wide range of trackable workouts, like cycling, running, and weight lifting, but there are plenty of niche activities including skiing and hiking. There's also a handy track-back option that functions like a breadcrumb feature to track your exact hiking routes. However, this only works for hiking and cycling but hopefully, future updates make it available for things like trail running, too.
The Watch 5 Pro isn't without its drawbacks, though as the experience is a bit better when using a Samsung phone compared to something like the Google Pixel. It's not a major red flag but is something to keep in mind. Some features, like the ECG function which tracks heart rhythms, are only accessible via an app exclusive to Samsung phones.
Even with those issues, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is the best Android smartwatch you can buy. It's a quality health and fitness tracker and an exceptional smartwatch. For Android users, it doesn't get better than this.
Read our full review of the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro.
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Google's Pixel Watch is an excellent smartwatch that's lightweight, fluid and intuitive to use, and has a sleek, classic design.
Shop at AmazonHighlights
Google's Pixel Watch is one of the most polarizing wearables I've tested. For as good of a smartwatch as it is, it's a frustratingly terrible fitness tracker, which is especially strange considering Google owns Fitbit.
But the main reason it gets the nod here, and why it's one of the best smartwatches for Android, is that it is a truly great smartwatch. Wear OS is intuitive to use, making the interface easy to navigate, plus it's compatible with several apps and extremely easy to interact with calls, texts, emails, and app notifications. As an effective extension of your smartphone, it shines.
However, those looking for a smartwatch that also does well in the fitness department should take heed: it's a very inaccurate watch in terms of GPS tracking and syncing. I had the most trouble when trying to get an accurate reading of my pace while running or cycling.
Perhaps the best feature of the original Pixel Watch is its ability to function exactly the same on any Android phone, regardless of brand or model. Not even the Galaxy Watch can say that.
Rick Stella/Insider
I found the watch to be off by as much as a minute and a half to two minutes on my normal mile time while running, which created a significant discrepancy. I always end up around the same spot during a 30-minute run, yet the Pixel Watch would tell me I ran far shorter than I typically do. That kind of info is useless to anyone training for a specific race or event.
Aside from those discrepancies, though, the Google Pixel Watch remains an excellent smartwatch. Not every smartwatch wearer needs something accurate down to .01 miles and instead wants a reliable smartwatch capable of displaying notifications and being the stand-in to their smartphone when they need it. That's exactly what you get with the Pixel Watch.
Read our full review of the Google Pixel Watch.
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The Epix Pro from Garmin does it all: it tracks a variety of activities, has a week-long battery life, and offers highly accurate GPS. It's not discounted often, so being able to save $200 during is an excellent deal.
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There aren't many things the Garmin Epix Pro can't do. From its endless number of trackable activities and week-long battery to its accurate GPS tracking, no-frills but useful notification system, and a suite of health-tracking features, it's more than just a quality fitness tracker, it's the best fitness tracker. Period.
But since we're talking about smartwatches, it's worth pointing out it excels at that, too. Its call, text, and app notifications are on the basic end of the smartwatch spectrum but they're still easy to interact with and the watch still serves as a reliable extension of your smartphone. It may not have all the bells and whistles of something like the Series 9 or Watch 5 Pro but it gets the job done.
Plus, the amount of extras that come with it makes it an especially great pick for fitness-focused folks or anyone who enjoys spending time outside. It offers in-depth activity tracking for things like running, cycling, weight training, and snowboarding, and does more than just track heart rate and time. It can log actual workout reps and track actual ground you cover via GPS, while also providing a detailed map of your route.
Garmin's Epix Pro is the best fitness tracker thanks to a wide variety of trackable activities, battery life that lasts up to a week, and one of the most accurate GPS we've tested.
Rick Stella/Insider
It's also a comprehensive health tracker with in-depth sleep and stress monitoring and a handy recovery tool that adjusts how much rest it recommends you need based on your daily activity.
I found the recovery feature quite useful, especially when I wanted to push myself but decided to take it easy based on the watch's recommendation, knowing I wouldn't be at my best. This input ultimately changed the way I worked out each week and I started to feel far better on a week-to-week basis in terms of soreness and what my overall recovery timeline was like.
This only scratches the surface of what the Epix Pro can do, too, as the watch literally learns your day-to-day behavior and adapts to suit you best. This includes the workout recommendations but it also helps manage stress levels, when to go to bed and wake up, and how often you should have a rigorous workout.
The fact it does all this while also being a reliable smartwatch makes it one of the premier wearables you can buy.
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The Apple Watch Ultra 2 offers a near-similar smartwatch experience to the Series 9 but at a much steeper price tag. While it may not be the preferred choice for casual users, it's worth the extra investment for advanced athletes or those who spend time outdoors.
This is mainly due to the features and internal hardware tailored to tracking activities like cycling, diving, and climbing. These features include a brighter screen that can be more easily seen in high-lighting conditions, tracking compatibility for freediving, scuba diving, and wakeboarding, and improved altitude readings.
The Ultra 2 also features a bulkier, more durable design than the Series 9, as well as a battery that lasts upwards of two full days, instead of needing to be recharged daily. The increased battery life is a huge improvement compared to the Series 9 (and other smartwatches in this guide) since less time on the charger means more time using it for how it's intended.
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is the best option for outdoor enthusiasts and those who want longer battery life.
Rick Stella/Insider
However, my favorite feature of the Ultra 2 is its Action Button, which can be programmed to open several different apps including the fitness-tracking app, the stopwatch, or the shortcuts app. The Action Button is especially helpful for activities because instead of starting after a short three-second countdown, like on the Series 9, it allows you to press the button once you're situated and ready to go. This also helps wait for the GPS to sync.
Other notable features include the new Double Tap Gesture, which also debuted on the Series 9, and faster on-device Siri access. It also has the new S9 processor chip, as well as the updated ultra-wideband chip that improves its location accuracy.
Although the Ultra 2 offers many features geared toward the advanced athlete, it's still a quality wearable for the casual user. It has the same health and fitness tracking tools as the Series 9 while offering similar smartwatch functionality.
Read our full review of the Apple Watch Ultra 2.
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Fitbit's Sense 2 combines the brand's advanced health and fitness features with decent smartwatch capability, unique sleep tracking, and a clean design reminiscent of the Apple Watch.
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For a smartwatch that excels as a reliable sleep tracker, Fitbit's Sense 2 is at the front of the pack. It not only tracks your sleep each night and provides in-depth data but it also offers unique recommendations on how to improve your rest via several metrics. There are plenty of wearables that try to offer this level of insight but the Sense 2 does it best.
What sets the Sense 2 apart is how comprehensive the data it provides is. For example, after a night of sleep, the Fitbit app displays metrics showing how well I rested. These include time spent in REM, deep, and light sleep, as well as other factors like time spent awake, how restless I might have been, and what my heart rate was.
The Fitbit app can then recommend ways to improve my sleep to better my nightly score. This may include certain workouts, when to work out, or how to keep a consistent sleep schedule. Once I got the hang of using the recommendations, they made a noticeable difference.
The Fitbit Sense 2 is Fitbit's best wearable overall as it offers premium smartwatch capability and a suite of health and fitness tracking tools.
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It's worth noting that one major hurdle to having all the sleep data available is to have Fitbit Premium, the subscription part of the Fitbit app. Memberships run for $10 per month or $80 per year, and are worth the investment, especially for those intent on using the extra data.
Fitbit Premium also provides a unique Daily Readiness Score that analyzes your prior day's activity and rest and creates a numbered score to represent how hard to push yourself. There are in-depth health insights, like heart rate variability, available to subscribers, as well.
Aside from its capability as a sleep tracker, the Sense 2 is also an excellent fitness tracker. It offers tracking for a variety of activities like running, cycling, and strength training and also uses a skin temperature sensor, has heart rhythm (ECG) readings, and debuted Fitbit's real-time stress tracker. The stress tracker is especially useful for the feedback it provides on how to lower stress throughout the day.
And while the Fitbit Sense 2 is one of the best smartwatches, its actual smartwatch experience leaves a little to be desired. Yes, it gets notifications like calls, texts, and app updates, but the fact Fitbit removed third-party app support and Google Assistant access is disappointing. There's also no way to store or play music via the watch.
But I wouldn't view these as reasons to not buy a Sense 2, especially if you're looking for a smartwatch with premium sleep tracking. It's one of the best Fitbits you can buy and while it is a so-so smartwatch, it gets the job done when needed while offering a suite of advanced health and wellness features.
Read our full review of the Fitbit Sense 2.
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Samsung's latest smartwatch, the Watch 6 Classic, brings back the rotating bezel from the Watch 4 line, and it makes navigating the excellent Wear OS 4 operating system that much smoother and easier. Right now it’s on sale for the first time — just clip the on-page coupon to bring it down to only $300.
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Samsung's Galaxy Watch line of smartwatches has stood as the best Android smartwatch you can buy for years. With the recent release of the Watch 6 Classic, it looks to stay that way for at least another generation.
One of the best additions Samsung introduced on the Watch 6 Classic was to bring back the rotating bezel last seen in the Watch 4. With the rotating bezel, navigating the watch's interface and menus is fluid and easy, especially during workouts or when wearing gloves. This isn't to say the touchscreen is hard to navigate but sometimes I'd find it took a little longer to respond to a screen swipe than it would if I just simply spun the dial.
The watch's improved battery life is also a welcome update. Outside of the Watch 5 Pro, most Galaxy Watches would need to find their way to a charger at least once a day to recharge. This wasn't ever a deal breaker as even our top pick, the Apple Watch Series 8, requires the same daily charging.
Samsung's latest Galaxy Watch, the Watch 6 Classic, sees the return of a rotating bezel that some may find easier to use than the touchscreen native to the Watch 5 Pro and Watch 6.
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However, having a watch with a battery that lasts more than one day ensures you can squeeze all the functionality out of it. You can use it as a smartwatch and fitness tracker during the day while also using it as a sleep tracker at night. The Watch 6 Classic's longer battery allowed me to do exactly that during my time with it.
Of course, not all Watch 6 users will make use of every bell and whistle but even casual wearers will find plenty to utilize. Outside of the available activities and sleep tracking, there's also a stress tracker, a heart rhythm reader (ECG), a body composition analyzer, a temperature sensor, and a cycle tracker.
The highlight of these is the body composition analyzer, which I used to chart my body fat percentage and muscle mass, as well as the stress tracker, which tracked my specific stress levels at different times throughout the day and suggested methods for trying to lower it.
I also just really enjoyed wearing the Watch 6 Classic. It has a comfortable, lightweight design that felt equally as good to wear while working out and sleeping as it did while sitting at my desk.
The watch looks good on the wrist, too, featuring a classic round watch face design that looks and feels premium. I could see it being slightly too big for folks with smaller wrists, though it was the perfect size on my arm (and I like larger watch faces). But do keep this in mind if you don't like big watch faces.
My lone nitpick with the Watch 6 Classic is that it's not all that different from the previous generation of Watch 5. It does use the latest Wear OS, though that can also be downloaded on the Watch 5. What this means, though, is that upgrading to the Watch 6 Classic is best done by those wearing the Watch 4 or older — and Watch 5 users can take a beat and wait for the release of next year's Watch 7.
Read our full review of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic.
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It's important to know how you intend to use a smartwatch before you start shopping for one. Maybe you want a wearable with a smaller watch face or prefer a certain strap material. You may even want one that offers robust health and fitness tracking capabilities.
Here's what to consider before purchasing:
Use case: While all smartwatches offer similar functionality of telling time and displaying various call, text, email, and app notifications, some are better suited to certain uses than others. For example, the Fitbit Sense 2 excels as a sleep tracker in addition to being a reliable smartwatch. If you don't need sleep tracking, the Sense 2 may not be a good fit.
Sizing: Smartwatches come in a variety of sizing options, both in terms of the actual watch face and the watch strap it comes with. While some folks may benefit from a larger watch face and prefer the amount of data they can see on it, others may find big watches to be too cumbersome and may prefer something smaller and sleeker. This is especially true for those with smaller wrists.
Compatibility: While iPhone users shouldn't buy an Android smartwatch, and vice versa, there are other compatibilities to keep in mind when shopping. For instance, some wearables, like Samsung's Watch 5 Pro and Watch 6 Classic, function better on a Samsung-branded phone than they do on a different Android device like the Google Pixel. Some features aren't available while the overall experience is slightly different.
Battery life: Battery life is one of the most important considerations when shopping for a smartwatch and directly impacts how you use it. For instance, the Apple Watch Series 9, our pick as the best smartwatch overall, requires daily charging. This is fine for folks who can put it on the charger each night but may not suffice for those who travel frequently, or who may not have access to a portable charger.
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Each of the smartwatches included in this guide went through a variety of tests to determine how well they performed across these four categories: Features, fit & comfort, ease of use, and value.
Here's how each category specifically factored into the decision process:
Features: This is one of the most important considerations for any smartwatch, and is what separates something like the Apple Watch Series 8 from something that didn't make our guide, like the Fitbit Versa 4. A wearable with features like third-party app support, the ability to play or store music, and others like sleep tracking or an always-on display truly fits the bill of being a quality smartwatch.
Fit & comfort: If a smartwatch is uncomfortable to wear, then you'll be far less likely to want to wear it very often. And since a smartwatch is supposed to be a suitable extension of your phone, track your daily activity, and monitor your sleep, you need to wear it a lot. We took into consideration how the watch band feels, how lightweight it is while wearing at night, and whether it stays comfortable while commuting, working out, etc.
Ease of use: Learning curve is another important factor since knowing how to get the most out of your smartwatch without fumbling through menus is a vital part of the experience. There will be a learning period with any new smartwatch but the ones that are intuitive and easy to navigate from the jump are the ones that stick out. The Apple Watch Series 9 is one of the easiest watches to navigate, hence the reason why it's our top overall pick.
Value: Value can often be subjective and is influenced entirely by how a user utilizes a certain smartwatch. For instance, not everyone needs the Apple Watch Ultra 2. Athletes or those who spend a lot of time outside who also need a powerful smartwatch will get a lot of value out of it while someone who is just casually active may not need all the bells and whistles. But value is still an important aspect we considered because smartwatches aren't cheap and you want to ensure that your investment is a wise one.
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This largely hinges on two things: how you intend to use the smartwatch and, perhaps most importantly, what smartphone you have. For instance, the best Apple Watches only work on iOS devices while the best Android smartwatches only work on Android devices.
So, while we think the Apple Watch Series 9 is the best overall smartwatch, regardless of smartphone operating system, it's still only usable by one group of users: those with an iOS device.
Consider how you intend to use the smartwatch, too. If you want something that accurately tracks activities and has several health-tracking tools, a pure smartwatch likely isn't going to be the "best" for you. Similarly, if you want the best pure smartwatch experience, a dedicated fitness tracker won't be the best fit.
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No. Some smartwatches work exclusively on a certain operating system. For instance, the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 only work on iOS devices while wearables such as the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro and Google Pixel Watch only work on Android devices.
However, many wearables work on iOS and Android, including the Garmin Epix, the Fitbit Sense 2, and the Fitbit Versa 3. Always cross-reference which operating system a certain smartwatch requires with the operating system of your smartphone before purchasing.
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No, the Apple Watch is only compatible with devices running iOS. While you can still wear an Apple Watch if you own an Android phone, you won't be able to get anywhere near the full functionality out of it like accessing any tracked data or downloading apps.
Unlike smartwatches from Garmin and Fitbit, which work with iOS and Android devices, the Apple Watch only works with iOS devices.
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No, Android smartwatches, such as the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic and Watch 5 Pro, as well as the Google Pixel, are only compatible with devices running the Android operating system. Folks with iOS devices should avoid purchasing these watches if they want to ensure the full functionality of their smartwatch.
If you want a device-agnostic smartwatch, opt for the Garmin Epix or Fitbit Sense 2.