The 9 Best Smartwatches for Men 2026, Tested by Style and Fitness Editors

The 9 Best Smartwatches for Men 2026, Tested by Style and Fitness EditorsWhat to ConsiderFitness and health tracking

Look for devices that track key metrics like heart rate, sleep, and recovery. The best trackers go even deeper with metrics like VO₂ max, stress management scores, and even antioxidant or hydration indexes for those who love diving into the numbers. At the core of every great fitness tracker is heart rate accuracy. That’s the foundation for nearly every other stat you see – calorie burn, sleep quality, recovery, and beyond.

If you’re after the best-in-class options, a few models stand out. Our fitness team says the Whoop 5.0 Band remains an industry leader for recovery and strength tracking, thanks to its advanced sensors and continuous monitoring system. Meanwhile, the Google Pixel Watch 4 (powered by Fitbit’s heart-rate algorithm) has become one of the most precise wrist-based trackers for everyday wear, blending accuracy with approachable, easy-to-digest health insights. Together, they set the standard for how a smartwatch should measure – and make sense of – your fitness data.

Battery life

Battery life varies depending on the type of smartwatch, how you use it, and which features are active. Most full-featured models, like Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 8, last about one to two days on a single charge under normal use. However, using power-hungry features like GPS tracking, continuous heart-rate monitoring, or Always-On Display can significantly reduce that runtime. Fitness-focused watches from brands like Garmin can stretch anywhere from five to 20+ days. Hybrid watches, which combine analog design with limited smart features, can last up to a month.

BraceletsMetal Bands (Stainless Steel, Titanium, or Aluminium)

Metal bands are best for work, formal occasions, and everyday wear. They give your smartwatch a more polished, traditional-watch look – great for dressing up or blending your tech into a sleek outfit. Stainless steel feels classic and weighty, while titanium offers a lighter, more premium feel with added durability. Aluminium links are affordable and comfortable for all-day wear. However, metal can feel heavy during workouts and may trap sweat, so they’re better for the office than the gym.

Fabric Bands (Nylon, Recycled Yarn, or Elastic Weave)

Fabric bands are great for casual wear, fitness tracking, and comfort-first users. The straps are lightweight, breathable, and soft against the skin, making them great for long wear or sweaty workouts. Woven nylon or elastic options adjust easily, dry quickly, and don’t dig into your wrist mid-run. Fabric bands can hold onto odour or discolour over time, so they’ll need a wash if you’re wearing them to the gym often.

Leather Bands (Full-Grain, Suede, or Vegan Alternatives)

Leather bands work for everyday and office wear, dressed-up casual looks. This material instantly elevates a smartwatch – ideal if you want tech that doesn’t scream ‘tech’. A good leather strap moulds to your wrist over time and works seamlessly from the office to dinner. Though, leather doesn’t love sweat or water, so it can warp or stain after a tough workout or shower.

StyleLifestyle / Hybrid Smartwatch

Sleek, modern design that can transition from workouts to everyday life and even casual business settings. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 is a prime example. It has a round case, thinner and lighter than previous Galaxy models. This watch works well with casual, sporty, and business-casual outfits. Less ideal for tuxedos and it’s slightly bulkier than the Apple Watch, which might not be great for smaller wrists.

Adventure / Outdoor Performance Smartwatch

Rugged, functional design; built for sports, hiking, and outdoor activities. Large, durable cases and breathable straps. The Suunto Race 2 falls in this category. This kind of watch features silicone straps for high-intensity activities. Ideal for trail running, hiking, or multi-sport training, but not quite suitable for formal or dress settings.

Rugged / Sport-Focused Smartwatch

Extremely durable, often shock-resistant, water-resistant, and built for extreme conditions. Less emphasis on sleek aesthetics, more on functionality. Enter the Casio G-Shock Move GBD-H2000. Perfect for outdoor sports, training, and tough environments, but overly bulky for office or formal wear.

Luxury / High-End Smartwatch

Premium materials, refined aesthetics, and sophisticated design. Often bridges performance tracking with dress watch styling. For instance, the TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E5 features a stainless steel case, a sapphire crystal display, and finely brushed surfaces that highlight its craftsmanship. It looks great worn with business, casual, or semi-formal attire.

Smart features

When you’re shopping for a smartwatch, the difference between a good one and a great one comes down to its smarts. Beyond basics like notifications and step counts, the best models feel like genuine performance and lifestyle tools—helping you train harder and recover better.

Real-time music control

Play, pause, or skip songs right from your wrist without digging for your phone.

Voice assistance / on-device commands

Hands-free control for texts, calls, or starting workouts via Siri, Google Assistant, or Bixby. Google’s new Gemini assistant onboard, the Watch 8 can summarise your schedule, recommend workouts, or manage your day.

Advanced health metrics

Beyond heart rate and steps, look for deep data like HRV, recovery scores, and stress tracking. New features like antioxidant or vascular load tracking in Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 show how your system’s performing, not just what you did. Inside the TAG Connected Calibre E5, it tracks heart rate variability (HRV), peripheral capillary oxygen, and even includes performance training plans tailored for running and golf.

Performance coaching & training plans

Built-in programs that adapt to your progress over time. The Samsung Galaxy 8 has a Running Coach that runs a 12-minute test to build a personalised training plan.

Navigation & GPS accuracy

Dual-band GPS and offline maps for outdoor workouts and adventures so you don’t have to bring your phone to navigate. The Suunto Race 2 leans more adventure with dual-band GNSS (L1+L5) positioning ensures pinpoint accuracy whether you’re running through city streets or navigating alpine trails. The Casio G-Shock Move packs six sensors and built-in GPS to track multiple sports—from running and cycling to swimming – while offering advanced metrics like cardio load, VO₂ max, and even energy source breakdowns that show how your body shifts between burning fats and carbs.

Sleep, recovery, and stress insights

The best smartwatches help you form habits, not just track them. For example, the Vascular Load in the Galaxy 8, monitors blood-flow stress during rest and sleep.

How We Selected

To pick the best smartwatches, we didn’t just look at specs—we put them to the test in real life. Our contributing editor and watch expert Ted Stafford, who styles every Men’s Health cover shoot, weighed in on how they feel on the wrist and how versatile they are for everyday wear. Ryan Brower, MH US tech and gear editor, tested the watches’ performance, accuracy, and tech features over weeks of workouts and training sessions. Our fitness editors logged miles, tracked recovery, monitored sleep, and pushed each watch through tough workouts to see which ones could actually keep up. After combining all their hands-on notes, we narrowed the list to the models that deliver on style, durability, comfort, battery life, smart features, and reliable health and fitness tracking.

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Joe Lingeman

Best Overall

Samsung Galaxy Watch8ConsOnly comes in two colourways

After testing every major smartwatch on the market, our fitness and style editors say the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 is the best in its class for performance tracking, everyday usability, and refined design. Sleeker, thinner, and brighter than the previous model, Samsung doubled down on AI-powered health metrics, so you’re getting twice the data and smarter insights than before. One of these new features is the Antioxidant Index, which uses the sensor on the back to give a rough measure of your carotenoid levels, a possible indicator of how well-balanced your diet is. Pair it with your phone and the Vascular Load feature can track your stress levels as you sleep – just wear it for three nights to get the full picture. And when it’s time to hit the pavement, the Running Coach feature builds custom training plans and gives real-time feedback to help you pace smarter and recover faster.

Compared with the Apple Watch Series 9, the Galaxy Watch 8’s design leans more traditional in its round case design, which gives it a classic watch silhouette rather than the rectangular look of the Apple Watch. That makes it easier to pair with business or dressier outfits – you could comfortably wear it with a suit or blazer without it feeling out of place. The lighter case and contoured band also make it practical for casual and workout fits alike. That said, the Galaxy Watch 8 is slightly bulkier than the Apple Watch on smaller wrists, and while it’s perfect for casual, sporty, or business-casual looks, it may feel oversized with a tuxedo or suit.

Unlike previous smartwatches, this one comes with Google Gemini, a new AI personal assistant built to handle everyday tasks: creating reminders, sending text messages, pulling up maps, digging through emails, even generating images and video or summarising info across apps. The fit’s been refined too: the case is lighter, the band hugs closer to your wrist, and the screen’s easier to read in direct sunlight. It comes in two sizes (40mm and 44mm) and two colourways (Graphite and Silver) for a clean, elevated look. Battery life lasts more than a full day on the 44mm model, and last up to 30 hours for 40mm. Either way you go, that’s a fair deal.

Read More: Best Fitness Trackers for Men

Features at a GlanceStyleLifestyle/HybridBraceletSiliconeSmart FeaturesRunning Coach, Advanced Sleep Coaching, Google Gemini, Antioxidant Index, Vascular LoadBattery LifeMore than a full day on the 44mm, and up to 30 hours for 40mmFitness and Health Tracking?Yes

Most Stylish Running Smartwatch

Suunto Race 2

When it comes to premium running watches, the latest Suunto Race (the Race 2) packs a serious punch at £429 – or £529 for the Titanium Trail version. The display is larger and brighter than the Race 1 while being thinner. That said, at 49mm, the Race 2 isn’t a small watch. Men’s Health US tech and gear editor Ryan Brower put it to the test, noting: ‘While I’ve enjoyed testing it, the Race 2 would be nice to have in a smaller size.’

That bigger size, though, makes room for a faster processor and an impressive 55 hours of battery life in GPS mode (or up to 30 days with daily use and no training). ‘The battery claims really hold,’ Brower says. ‘I’ve only had to charge it a couple of times throughout months of testing. To be fair, I don’t wear it every day, but I did for a few stretches to get a sense of it.’ Another big improvement is the redesigned charging clip, which Brower found far more effective and reliable than previous Suunto models that didn’t always connect easily.

Performance-wise, the Race 2 delivers more than 115 sport modes. Brower put many of those programs through their paces – treadmill running, running, trail running, strength training, hiking, climbing, rowing (technically paddling), and even surfing – and each one worked smoothly, serving up plenty of useful metrics. GPS tracking proved fairly accurate, and features like training load and recovery provided deeper insights when synced with the Suunto Coach or other training apps. Building a regimen and letting the watch help implement it, Brower says, ‘can be a great tool for runners.’

The Race 2 leans into a rugged aesthetic with its large round case and durable polymer or titanium build. Its style clearly favours sport and outdoor fits, so the 49mm case can feel oversized or out of place in formal or office clothes. The standard strap is a breathable silicone, perfect for sweaty workouts or trail runs, and the Titanium Trail model adds a premium case finish for those who want a more elevated look in casual settings.

Features at a GlanceStyleAdventure / Outdoor PerformanceBraceletSiliconeSmart featuresAdvanced touchscreen, offline maps with turn-by-turn navigation, and 115+ sport modesBattery lifePerformance GPS mode: 55 hours; Tour mode with lower GPS accuracy and HRM off: up to 200 hoursFitness and health trackingYes

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Best Luxury Smartwatch

TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E5ConsPricier than others on the list, but worth the investment

Contributing editor and watch expert Ted Stafford, who styles every Men’s Health US cover, was seriously impressed by the TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E5. ‘I was impressed by how well the E5 straddles the line between traditional style and modern innovation,’ he says. ‘It wears beautifully on the wrist, with a sleek, stylish design and a comfort-first build. Its intuitive interface also makes it refreshingly simple to navigate, even on the move or during high-intensity activities.’

In fact, Stafford recently met with Tag Heuer’s team in Boston to test the Connected Calibre E5. During his 5K-run, he appreciated how easy it was to glance at messages, check his heart rate, and accurately track his activity – all without slowing down. He also noted that the stainless bracelet stayed comfortable and secure the whole time. Another standout feature is the ability to customise the watch face. ‘Whether you’re in the mood for a sporty Carrera or a bold Formula 1 look, the E5 lets you effortlessly switch styles to match your day,’ he says. ‘This and all the other unique tech offerings make having a connected watch a win-win for me.’

What really makes the E5 shine, though, is how much it packs under the hood. You get dual-band GPS for pinpoint tracking, heart-rate and blood-oxygen sensors, and full sleep and stress tracking that rivals top fitness-focused wearables. The new TAG Heuer OS runs smoother than ever, with cleaner visuals and tighter iPhone integration for those in the Apple ecosystem. Plus, it’s built like a tank with 50 meters of water resistance, a sapphire crystal display, and your choice of steel or titanium cases. Battery life clocks in at about two days of regular use, and fast charging gets you back to full in around 30 minutes.

Features at a GlanceStyleLuxury / High-EndBraceletSteelSmart FeaturesRunning Focus, Integrated GPS and Altimeter, advanced wellness trackingBattery Life2 days for the 45mm model, 1.5 days for the 40mm modelFitness and Health TrackingYes

Other Smartwatches We Love

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Best Value Smartwatch for iPhone

Apple Watch SE 3ProsComes with Crash and Fall Detection with Emergency SOSVitals appWorks for swimmingConsWorks for swimming

The Apple Watch SE 3 keeps everything essential – fitness tracking, seamless iPhone integration, and safety features – while cutting the extras that most people barely use. It runs on Apple’s snappy S9 chipset, the same processor that powers the Series 9, so it feels fast and responsive whether you’re tracking a run, answering a call, or checking a text mid-workout. You still get Crash and Fall Detection with Emergency SOS, heart-rate tracking, and all the latest software updates through watchOS 11, including the improved Smart Stack and new workout interface.

What you don’t get: an always-on display or premium sensors like ECG and skin-temperature tracking. But unless you’re deep into advanced health analytics, you probably won’t miss them. The display is still bright and crisp enough to read on the go, and the battery comfortably lasts a full day (or more with Low Power Mode). The design feels classic Apple – clean, lightweight, and easy to wear all day, from the gym to the office.

Read More: Apple Watch SE3 Review

Features at a GlanceStyleLifestyle/HybridBraceletSiliconeSmart featuresHealth and safety monitoring Crash Detection, Fall Detection, Sleep ScoreBattery lifeUp to 18 hoursFitness and health trackingYes

Best for Safety Measures

Google Pixel Watch 4

Women’s Health US fitness editor Nicolette Accardi put the new Google Pixel Watch 4 through its paces – and she says it’s one of the few fitness trackers that goes beyond counting steps. ‘Every fitness tracker can measure heart rate, calories, and steps, but few have standout safety features,’ she says. ‘The Pixel 4 Watch can actually detect a loss of pulse, which could be lifesaving for anyone with cardiac issues – it automatically calls 911 within 20 seconds of detection.’

Accardi also noted that this new generation adds ‘a more detailed look at sleep stages, which is especially helpful if you’re a runner like me.’ She appreciated that it tracks stress levels, too – ‘something I struggle with – so I know when to take a moment to decompress.’ When it comes to design, she describes the Pixel 4 Watch as ‘basic but sleek’, making it easy to wear with any outfit. ‘It’s a bit large on me, but I accidentally ordered the wrong size,’ she admits. ‘If you have petite wrists, definitely go for the 41mm.’

As for battery life, Accardi found it slightly overpromised: ‘Google says it lasts up to 40 hours, but I had to charge it every day.’

Features at a GlanceStyleLifestyle/HybridBraceletSiliconeSmart featuresGemini AI Assistant, Health Tracking InsightsBattery lifeUp to 30 hours, or up to 48 hours in Battery Saver modeFitness and health trackingYes

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Best Apple Smartwatch

Apple Watch Ultra 3

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 builds on what already made the Ultra line a favourite for serious exercisers and outdoor adventurers. The rugged titanium case and big 49mm face are still here, but the new model slims down the display borders for more screen space. Men’s Health US fitness editor Brett Williams took it for a spin. ‘The Ultra 2, which is usually my go-to smartwatch, looks marginally smaller when compared side-by-side,’ he says.

What stood out most to him was the improved readability. ‘The large, bright display and straightforward layout make it easy for me to get the information I need at a glance,’ he says. ‘With other brands’ devices, it sometimes takes me an extra moment to register what’s on the screen – and in the middle of a tough interval split, those moments add up.’ Because of that, Brett says there’s ‘a good chance’ he’ll keep using the Ultra 3 as his main fitness tracker.

Battery life also got a noticeable bump – from a reported 36 to 42 hours. In testing, Brett got ‘closer to 45 hours before I needed to juice up’. Fast charging came in clutch, too: ‘I was set to embark on a 10-mile interval run when I realised I was at only 18 percent battery,’ he says. ‘I popped the Ultra 3 on the charger while I got dressed and filled up my water pack, stretched, then took the device off power 15 minutes later at 36 percent.’ Even after tracking his run for over an hour, he only burned through 12 percent of the battery.

For adventurers, the new satellite communication feature adds extra peace of mind. You can send messages via satellite if you have a cellular plan – or trigger Emergency SOS even without one. Brett saw the demo firsthand at Apple Park: ‘It was all a bit complicated,’ he says. ‘The Ultra 3 required a clear view of the horizon and took some time to actually connect to the satellite – but the distress signal was able to go through eventually.’

Overall, Brett found the Ultra 3 to be a strong upgrade – bright, powerful, and reliable, even if it’s not the emergency device you’d fully depend on.

Features at a GlanceStyleLifestyle/HybridBraceletSilicone/ Woven textileSmart FeaturesActivity Tracker, Always On Display, Cycle Tracking, GPS, Heart Rate MonitorBattery LifeUp to 42 hours of normal use and up to 72 hours in Low Power ModeFitness and Health TrackingYes

Best Midrange Smartwatch

Ticwatch Pro 5

TicWatch flies relatively under the radar compared to brand-name smartwatches from Apple and Samsung. Still, its flagship Pro 5 GPS Smart Watch is just as handsome, fast, and feature-rich. The latest watch runs on Wear OS atop the Qualcomm Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1 wearable platform. Translation: It’s lightning-fast. Thanks to a sizeable battery and a clever dual-layer display, it’ll run for up to 80 hours.

Built-in sensors track every major health metric, and there are more than 100 built-in workout modes. Plus, the IP68 waterproof rating means that it includes underwater activities too. Plus, everything is bright, crisp, and easy to read on the 1.4-inch AMOLED display. The screen is almost infinitely customisable, with 1000’s of downloadable screens and interfaces that you can swap out on the fly. This is also one of the few smartwatches we reviewed recently with a built-in rotating crown. It adds a greater degree of usability and a dash of nostalgia that our reviewers loved.

‘I think TicWatch is a brand many smartwatch buyers haven’t yet heard of. But they will,’ says reviewer Mike Richard. ‘The Pro 5 is a solid buy for anyone looking for a midrange smartwatch that’s long on features and short on price.’

Features at a GlanceStyleLifestyle/HybridBraceletSiliconeSmart FeaturesSnapdragon W5+ Gen 1 processor, heart rate monitoring, SpO2, sleep tracking with snoring detection, and over 110 sports modesBattery LifeUp to 80 hoursFitness and Health TrackingYes

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Best Budget Smartwatch with Sleep Tracking

Fitbit Versa 4ConsOnly one face size available

Fitbit’s full-featured, budget-friendly smartwatches have garnered legions of fans. The Fitbit Versa 3 guarantees everything most users want out of a smart watch without the sky-high price tag.

It tracks all the essentials, including 24/7 heart rate monitoring, stress levels (with an EDA sensor), skin temperature, and, yes, even sleep. It’s also Alexa/ Google Assistant compatible, features a built-in GPS, and is even swimproof down to 50 meters. That’s not bad for a well-designed, brand-name watch that lists for just under $200 (though it’s on sale closer to $160 at the time of this writing). The screen on this latest model is also larger, curvier, and crisper too than its predecessor. We also love the 6-plus-day battery life.

Not surprisingly, it’s one of the best-reviewed budget smartwatches on Amazon, with more than 8,000 overwhelmingly positive reviews. There’s little to dislike here. The one-size-fits-all face and band size could be a disqualifier for some, although Fitbit has always done a great job ensuring that OSFA really does mean ‘one size fits all’. Some reviewers also complain of a sometimes frustrating setup process. Still, for under £200, this is a solid midrange smartwatch that almost stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the best Apple has to offer.

Features at a GlanceStyleLifestyle/HybridBraceletSiliconeSmart features24/7 heart rate monitoring, stress levels (with an EDA sensor), skin temperature, sleep trackingBattery lifeUp to 6+ daysFitness and health trackingYesIs It Worth Buying a Smartwatch?

Smartwatches won’t replace your smartphone, but they can be a great complementary accessory. Most of today’s smartwatches can provide alerts for calls, texts, emails, calendar notifications, and more. The best smartwatches also add outdoor-centric features like GPS-enabled maps with route-tracking. Plus, many people like smartwatches for advanced health and fitness tracking, as many premium options can monitor sleep patterns, track stress levels and heart rate throughout the day, and even provide accident or emergency warnings (as with Apple’s Crash Detection feature).

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What Is the Life Expectancy of a Smart Watch?

Depending on the make and model, most smartwatches last about two to four years – but it’s entirely possible for yours to last longer or much shorter depending on use. Today’s models are durable enough to handle years of daily wear, so longevity isn’t usually the issue. What tends to make your smartwatch feel outdated is old software that can’t keep up with the latest updates or app integrations.

If you wear your smartwatch every day and rely on it for calls, texts and fitness tracking, you’ll likely want to upgrade every couple of years to stay current with the newest software and performance features. If you wear your smartwatch a couple of days a week or just for fitness purposes, then you’ll be ok with sticking to the watch you have for a longer period of time. After all, you’re still getting the same high-quality performance tracking metrics regardless of the software you’re running.

Christian is the Style and Reviews Director at Men’s Health and Women’s Health, where he oversees shopping and style content for both brands. He started his magazine career as an accessories assistant at Vogue, and has since held editorial roles at Tatler Asia and The Manual. When he’s not online shopping, you can find him on long walks with his two corgis.

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