One of the best smartwatches for 2025

Smartwatches do extra than simply monitor your steps and ship telephone alerts to your wrist. One of the best smartwatches go even additional, providing you with the power to pay for a cup of espresso, take calls and connect with apps like Spotify all with out whipping out your smartphone.

Chances are high, in the event you’re studying this, you already know all the advantages of a smartwatch. You’re prepared to take a position, or improve from an ageing accent, however we wouldn’t blame you in the event you in the event you didn’t know the place to begin. There are dozens of smartwatches accessible now, together with GPS running watches, fitness trackers that appear to be smartwatches and multi-purpose units. Plus, you’ll wish to take into account components 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 accessible right now and these are our high picks.

Desk of contents

Greatest smartwatches of 2025

Apple

Learn our full Apple Watch Series 10 review

Whereas the Series 10 is one more iterative replace to the Apple Watch, this wearable stays on the high 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 slightly 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 completely 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 remains 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 wish to benefit from the brand new sleep apnea monitoring function that the Collection 10 has in watchOS 11. This new function 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, this can be a welcomed addition.

In any other case, the Collection 10 does every little thing proper that the Collection 9 did. It stays a superb health monitoring watch and a good way to obtain all the most vital alerts out of your iPhone in a extra discreet manner. Anybody with a Collection 9 or 8 is perhaps disillusioned by the Collection 10 as a result of it’s not reinventing the wheel, and due to this fact could not really feel like an enormous improve. However these coming from an older Apple Watch mannequin, or a completely completely different wearable, will discover an enormous distinction in efficiency, options and charging pace.

$300 at Target

Google / Engadget

Learn our full Google Pixel Watch 3 review

It solely took three iterations, however Google lastly bought it proper with the Pixel Watch 3. It’s essentially the most totally 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 charge. It may possibly additionally drop down to simply 1 nit of brightness once you’re carrying it to sleep, which not solely makes for a greater expertise general, but in addition contributes to its longer battery life. You’ll stand up to 24 hours out of the Pixel Watch 3, which is an enormous enchancment over the earlier technology and extra consistent with competing units from Apple and Samsung.

The Pixel Watch 3 can be an amazing exercise monitoring gadget, with options like auto exercise detection and customized working 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 lined on the subject of each day exercises, steps, sleep and extra. The one draw back to that is that in the event you’re curious 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 examine on issues like climate forecasts, calendar alerts, map instructions and extra. We additionally recognize the addition of quicker charging on the Pixel Watch 3, so you possibly can go from 0 to 100 in a bit much less time than earlier than. That’ll come in useful in the event 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 high decide for Android customers searching for their subsequent wearable.

$350 at Amazon

Photograph by Valentina Palladino / Engadget

Garmin is understood for its prowess on this planet of health watches and the Garmin Forerunner 165 is the watch I examined that I needed to put on essentially the most once I went out for a run. The experience of the Forerunner line is within the identify, and Garmin really excels at making complete but pleasant GPS running watches in flavors that can swimsuit every kind of athletes, from newbie to knowledgeable. The Forerunner 165 stands out with its light-weight design, vibrant AMOLED touchscreen, easy button controls, correct built-in GPS and its means to trace exercise stats simply in addition to all-day exercise knowledge.

Beginning a run with the Forerunner 165 is as simple 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 possibly can select the train you wish to monitor. Run is the primary possibility, however you have got greater than 25 profiles to select from together with monitor run, treadmill, stroll, power, swim and extra. When working outdoors, the GPS took a median 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 significantly from the continual enchancment of the Garmin Join cell app. The beforehand clunky, complicated app has been nicely refined in an effort 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 info and extra. It’s simple to dive into your most not too long ago 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 largely correct even with a handful of GPS-tracked runs thrown in. The corporate claims you’ll stand up to 19 hours of battery life with steady GPS use, which needs to be sufficient for many runners and athletes competing in long-haul races. You may as well get the 165 with music storage inbuilt or not, with the previous permitting you to retailer music regionally on the watch so you possibly can hear 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 working watches; you may simply spend $500 or extra in the event you’re not sure about what you want and what’s simply further fluff. Whereas Garmin does have just a few cheaper units, the Forerunner 165 strikes the precise stability of function set and value that can attraction to seasoned runners and those that are simply diving right into a extra regimented working routine.

$250 at Garmin

Trendy smartwatches: Fossil and extra

Michael Kors Access Gen 5e MKGO at CES 2021 — Fossil

Sure, there are nonetheless corporations on the market attempting to make “trendy” hybrid smartwatches. Again when wearables have been novel and usually ugly, manufacturers like Fossil, Michael Kors and Skagen discovered their area of interest in fashionable smartwatches that took cues from analog timepieces. You even have the choice to select up a “hybrid” smartwatch from corporations like Withings and Garmin – these units appear to be basic wrist watches however incorporate some restricted performance like exercise monitoring and coronary heart charge monitoring. They continue to be good choices in the event you desire that look, however fortunately, wearables made by Apple, Samsung, Fitbit and others have gotten rather more engaging over the previous few years.

Finally, the one factor you possibly can’t change after you purchase a smartwatch is its case design. In the event you’re not into the Apple Watch’s squared-off corners, all of Samsung’s smartwatches have spherical instances that look slightly extra like a standard watch. Most wearables are provided in a alternative of colours and you’ll pay further for premium supplies like chrome steel for further sturdiness. When you resolve on a case, your band choices are infinite – there are dozens of first- and third-party watch straps accessible 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 units play good with each iOS and Android telephones. Smartwatches made by Samsung, Garmin, Fitbit and others are additionally suitable 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

One of the best smartwatches usually value between $300 and $400. In comparison with funds smartwatches, which value between $100 and $250, these pricier units have superior working programs, communications, music and health options. In addition they usually embrace perks like onboard GPS monitoring, music storage and NFC, AMOLED shows, and lengthy battery life, issues that funds units usually don’t have.

Some corporations 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 may also attain sky-high costs, however we wouldn’t endorse any of them. These units 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 one among our greatest complaints about smartwatches, however there’s hope as of late. You’ll be able to anticipate two full days from Apple Watches and most Put on OS units. Watches utilizing the Snapdragon Put on 3100 processor help prolonged battery modes that promise as much as 5 days of battery life on a cost — in the event you’re prepared to close off most options other than, you recognize, 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, take into account 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 gadget close by. So far as app alerts go, getting them delivered to your wrist will allow you to look all the way down to the watch face and see in the event you completely have to examine your telephone proper now.

Health monitoring

Exercise monitoring is an enormous purpose why folks flip to smartwatches. An all-purpose timepiece ought to operate as a health tracker, logging your steps, energy and exercises, and most of right now’s wearables have a coronary heart charge monitor as nicely.

Many smartwatches’ health options embrace a built-in GPS, which is helpful for monitoring distance for runs and bike rides. Swimmers will need one thing water-proof, and fortunately most all-purpose units now can stand up to at the least a dunk within the pool. Some smartwatches from corporations like Garmin are more fitness focused 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 through the years. Each Apple and Fitbit units can estimate blood oxygen ranges and measure ECGs. However the extra inexpensive the smartwatch, the much less seemingly it’s that it has these sorts of superior well being monitoring options; if amassing these sorts of wellness metrics is vital to you, you’ll must pay for the privilege.

Music

Your watch can’t solely monitor your morning runs but in addition play music when you’re exercising. Many smartwatches allow you to save your music regionally, so you possibly can join wi-fi earbuds through Bluetooth and take heed to tunes with out bringing your telephone. Those who don’t have onboard storage for music normally have on-watch music controls, so you possibly can management playback with out whipping out your telephone. And in case your watch has LTE, native saving isn’t required — you’ll be capable to stream music straight 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 received’t see vital beneficial properties with the latter, although, as a result of the additional battery primarily will get used up when these units have always-on shows, as most flagship wearables do right now. Some smartwatches have this function on by default whereas others allow you to allow it through tweaked settings. This sensible function means that you can look down at your watch to examine the time, well being stats or another info you’ve set it to indicate on its watchface with out lifting your wrist. This can little doubt have an effect on your gadget’s battery life, however fortunately most always-on modes dim the show’s brightness so it’s not working at its peak unnecessarily. Cheaper units received’t have this function; as a substitute, their touchscreens will mechanically flip off to preserve battery life and also you’ll must deliberately examine 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 info, you possibly can maintain your smartwatch as much as an NFC reader to pay for a cup of espresso in your manner residence from a run. Take into account that completely different watches use completely different cost programs: Apple Watches use Apple Pay, Put on OS units use Google Pay, Samsung units use Samsung Pay and so forth.

Apple Pay is among the hottest NFC cost programs, with help for multiple banks and credit cards in 72 completely different nations, whereas Samsung and Google Pay work in fewer areas. It’s additionally vital to notice that each NFC cost help varies by gadget as nicely for each Samsung and Google’s programs.

Different smartwatches our consultants examined

Apple Watch Extremely 2

The Apple Watch Ultra 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 up to now. Apple designed it for essentially the most rugged amongst us, however in your common particular person, it seemingly has extra options than they’d ever want. In the event you’re significantly clumsy, nevertheless, its excessive degree of sturdiness might be an amazing 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 can in all probability suffice for most individuals. We really regard the Watch SE as the most effective smartwatch possibility for first-time patrons, or folks 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 must 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 typically may be nice choices for essentially the most energetic amongst us. The Garmin Forerunner 745 is a wonderful GPS running watch for critical athletes or those that prize battery life above all else. Once we examined it, we discovered it to offer correct distance monitoring, a killer 16-hour battery life with GPS turned on (as much as seven days with out it) and help for onboard music storage and Garmin Pay.

Amazfit Bip 6

The Amazfit Bip 6, an $80 smartwatch from Zepp Well being, didn’t fairly make the lower. As a health tracker, it’s respectable, but it surely’s a irritating smartwatch. For exercises, the built-in GPS tracks runs and rides with out your telephone and, mixed with the center charge and blood oxygen sensors, collects quantity of knowledge to create correct photos of your exertion ranges, cadence and tempo. It’s remarkably light-weight however doesn’t really feel low cost and the AMOLED display is vibrant and sharp. It’s not an always-on show, however lifting your wrist wakes it reliably.

The sleep monitoring knowledge is on par with what we measured on different smartwatches and there’s even a each day readiness rating that compares your sleep high quality and the day gone by’s exertion to estimate how bodily ready you’re for the day forward — much like what Pixel Watches, Fitbit units and Garmin watches supply. And for the reason that watch battery lasts for over per week on a cost, chances are you’ll be much more apt to put on it to mattress than a watch it’s a must to cost each day.

We weren’t anticipating an $80 gadget to be a critical Apple Watch challenger, however the Bip 6’s glitches and overly difficult interface (each on the app and on the watch itself) have been disappointing. Throughout per week of testing, I bought a number of repeated notifications, even after they have been deleted, together with strategies to face once I was actively doing chores round the home. The watch faces are usually not customizable, so it was exhausting to get the data I wanted at a look (the Zepp app has plenty of paid watch faces which will have what I needed, however I didn’t wish to pay $3 for one thing that’s free elsewhere).

Advertising and marketing particulars state that the Bip 6 can auto-detect exercises, together with strolling and bike driving. Throughout testing, I walked a few times per day for over one mile and went on two bike rides, however no exercise was ever detected. The watch integrates with Apple Well being, so I used to be in a position to see the way it compares to the information my Apple Watch gathers. After per week of carrying the Bip 6, with no modifications to my each day routine, I averaged 400 fewer energy burned and a pair of.4 fewer miles tracked every day. That was probably the most important disappointment of all. — Amy Skorheim, Senior Reporter

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 completely different functions.

A health tracker is primarily targeted on well being and exercise monitoring. It retains tabs in your steps, coronary heart charge, sleep and exercises, and a few even supply superior metrics like blood oxygen ranges and stress monitoring. Health trackers are usually extra compact, have longer battery life and are constructed with exercise in thoughts.

A smartwatch, then again, is sort of a mini smartphone in your wrist. It affords health monitoring options, but in addition allows you to do issues like reply to texts, take calls, use apps and management sensible residence units. Many smartwatches help voice assistants, cell funds and even LTE connectivity, so you possibly can depart your telephone behind in some instances.

In the event you primarily need well being and exercise monitoring with lengthy battery life, a health tracker is the way in which to go. If you’d like a extra linked expertise with further options, a smartwatch is the higher alternative.

How lengthy do smartwatches final?

How lengthy a smartwatch lasts largely will depend on two issues: battery life and general sturdiness.

Smartwatch battery life varies loads relying on the model, options and the way you utilize it. Fundamental 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 on daily basis or two. In the event you’re utilizing options like always-on show, GPS monitoring or LTE connectivity, anticipate the battery to empty quicker.

Bodily, smartwatch ought to final a number of years earlier than it’s essential to improve. Premium fashions with scratch-resistant glass, water resistance and powerful construct supplies have a tendency to carry up nicely over time. Nonetheless, software program help issues too — manufacturers like Apple and Samsung sometimes present updates for at the least just a few years, whereas some funds smartwatches could not get long-term software program help.

You’ll be able to anticipate to cost most smartwatches each day or each few days, and in the event you deal with them, they need to final 3-5 years earlier than an improve is important.

How a lot do you have to spend on a smartwatch?

How a lot you must spend on a smartwatch will depend on what options you want and the way usually you intend to make use of it.

In the event you simply need the fundamentals — step monitoring, notifications, coronary heart charge monitoring and fundamental health monitoring — yow will discover some strong budget-friendly choices from manufacturers like Amazfit, Fitbit and a few Put on OS fashions. These normally have respectable battery life however could lack premium options like LTE, superior well being monitoring or third-party apps.

Within the mid-range smartwatch value bracket, you’ll discover widespread fashions just like the Apple Watch SE and Fitbit Versa collection. These supply mixture of health monitoring, sensible options and design high quality. You’ll get higher construct supplies, extra correct sensors and app help, 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 supply superior well being monitoring, rugged designs, LTE connectivity and longer software program help. These are nice for critical athletes, outside adventurers, or anybody who needs the newest and best options.

In the event you simply need a easy smartwatch for notifications and health monitoring, a funds or mid-range mannequin will do the job. However in order for you 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 most effective stability 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 monitor your runs, walks, bike rides and hikes with no need to be linked to your telephone. It’s vital for critical athletes or anybody who needs correct location monitoring with out carrying a telephone.

Some funds and mid-range smartwatches (like some Fitbit and Amazfit fashions) don’t have built-in GPS however can use your telephone’s GPS when linked through Bluetooth. This works effective in the event you normally carry your telephone whereas figuring out, but it surely’s much less handy in the event you desire to go away it behind.

Some very fundamental or funds smartwatches skip GPS totally and rely solely on step monitoring or movement sensors. These are effective 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 wish to do with out your telephone.

In case your smartwatch has LTE or mobile connectivity , you may make calls, ship texts, stream music, use maps and even entry apps with out your telephone close by. Nonetheless, you’ll want a separate knowledge plan out of your service, which normally comes with an additional month-to-month value.

Even with out LTE, some smartwatches can nonetheless do a lot on their very own, together with monitor exercises and GPS routes (if they’ve built-in GPS), play music offline (in the event that they help downloads from Spotify or Apple Music), could contactless funds with options like Apple Pay and Google Pockets and management sensible residence units.

If going phone-free is vital to you, search for a smartwatch with LTE and built-in GPS for the most effective expertise.

Can a smartwatch make calls with no telephone?

Sure, a smartwatch could make calls with no telephone — however provided that it has the precise options.

Some smartwatches have built-in LTE connectivity, which 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 have got a cell knowledge plan for the watch. Nonetheless, you’ll have to 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 linked to your telephone through Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. It primarily acts as a distant speaker and microphone in 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 linked to Wi-Fi, calling received’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 largest distinction between Android and Apple smartwatches comes all the way down to compatibility, options and ecosystem integration.

Apple smartwatches (Apple Watch) solely work with iPhones. You probably have an Android telephone, you possibly can’t use an Apple Watch in any respect. Android smartwatches (Put on OS, Samsung Galaxy, Garmin and so on.) largely work with Android telephones, however some additionally help iPhones with restricted options. You probably have an iPhone, the Apple Watch is the only option. You probably have an Android telephone, go for a Put on OS or Samsung Galaxy Watch.

Apple Watch (watchOS) has the most effective app help with seamless integration into Apple’s ecosystem (iMessage, FaceTime, Apple Pay, Apple Health+, Siri and so on.). Android smartwatches supply extra selection, with entry to Google companies (Google Assistant, Google Pockets and Google Maps), and a few help Amazon Alexa or Samsung’s Bixby.

By way of design, Apple Watch has a single design however is available in completely different sizes and supplies. It’s smooth, however your solely actual customization comes from bands and watch faces. Android smartwatches, then again, are available tons of kinds and types (Samsung, Google Pixel Watch, Garmin, Fossil and so on.), which means you possibly can decide a spherical watch, a rugged design or a luxury-looking mannequin.

If battery life is vital to you, the Apple Watch lasts a few 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.

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