What has your wrist done for you lately? If you said, “Tell time,” I’ll tell you what time it is: upgrade time. The best smartwatches do a lot more than report the hour; they can display incoming text messages, unlock your front door, monitor your heart rate, track steps and exercise, control music and much more. Some double as miniature smartphones, able to make and take calls (paging Dick Tracy — if you’re old enough). And while prices range from below $100 up to $800 or more, you can get a pretty great wrist-smartener without spending a fortune.
Now, I’ll be the first to admit that replacing your “dumb” watch does mean dealing with a few new hassles. For example, many smartwatches need to be charged every day or two. Some can last longer — five days, 10 days or even a couple weeks — but it’s something to keep in mind.
There’s also the learning curve. Smartwatches have small screens that require a lot of swiping to find what you’re looking for, whether it’s apps, information or settings. I’m not saying you can’t learn your way around, simply that it can get confusing: when to tap, when to swipe (and which direction), when to press a button (and which one), etc.
But I think the benefits definitely outweigh the challenges. User-interface gripes aside, I find my watch incredibly useful. Let me note, however, that I’m primarily an iPhone guy, so for the more Android-centric products I’m leaning on the expertise of my colleagues, including Amy Skorheim and Cherlynn Low at Engadget. They’ve helped widen the scope of the buying advice here, having tested more of the Android-friendly products than I have. Their recommendations are marked accordingly.
Read on for our top smartwatch picks, then keep reading for answers to frequently asked questions and the models that didn’t quite make the cut.
Update, Nov. 17, 2025: We checked all product prices and availability, and overhauled our top picks to reflect the latest 2025 models in many cases. The Apple Watch SE 3, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 and Google Pixel Watch 4 are all new to the list, the first two of which replace their previous incarnations.
The best smartwatches for 2025
Rick Broida/Yahoo
Available sizes: 40mm, 44mm | Connectivity: Bluetooth, GPS, Wi-Fi, cellular (optional) | Health monitors: Exercise detection, heart rate (including Afib), sleep, steps | Rated battery life: 18 hours | Water resistance: 50 meters
You don’t often hear “bargain” and “Apple” in the same sentence, but the Apple Watch SE 3 is an undeniable bargain for iPhone users. Priced at $249 (but already seeing some nice discounts), the 3rd-generation SE straps an abundance of features to your wrist — and outperforms all third-party watches when it comes to iPhone integration.
That means, for example, you can not only read incoming text messages, emails and the like, but respond to them as well. You can invoke Siri just by raising your wrist; use Apple Wallet to pay for things or show a boarding pass; and access a wealth of native and third-party iPhone apps. It really is a wearable extension of your phone.
Indeed, I use mine primarily for reading and responding to texts and finding my misplaced iPhone. (One tap makes the phone beep, as long as it’s within Bluetooth and/or Wi-Fi range.)Â
I also like that it automatically detects and logs things like walks, runs and bike rides (and can manually log most other exercises); monitors my heart rate (and would alert me of an irregular heartbeat); and can detect falls and car accidents, optionally notifying family and/or emergency responders. Those are some pretty impressive capabilities for a $250 watch.
There’s a learning curve, though, and certain aspects of the interface can be overwhelming. The Watch app does include several helpful tutorials, but take note you need Apple’s Tips app in order to access most of them.
But that, along with a few other nitpicks, doesn’t change my overall opinion: The Apple Watch SE 3 is the best option for most iPhone users, full stop.
For a deeper dive, check out my full Apple Watch SE 3 review.
ProsMany improvements over SE 2, same $249 starting priceSame chip as the pricier Series 11The cellular model now works with 5G networksSupports gesturesAlways-on displayConsOnly two color optionsSlow to detect walksNot compatible with Android phones$200 at Amazon
Cherlynn Low/Engadget
Available sizes: 41mm, 45mm | Connectivity: Bluetooth, GPS, Wi-Fi, cellular (optional) | Health monitors: Exercise detection, heart rate, sleep, steps | Rated battery life: 30 hours | Water resistance: 50 meters
With its Google and Fitbit heritage, the Pixel Watch 4 is a well-rounded smartwatch with solid health features. This model is the fourth generation, and has some new tricks up its sleeve, including built-in Gemini AI and satellite communications for emergency situations. One surprising advantage it has over the competition is its incredibly fast charging. In mere minutes, the Pixel Watch 4 can go from barely any power to ready for half a day of work.
We loved its repairable design — meaning you can replace the display or battery in future if needed — which makes this a much more futureproof device than any other smartwatch on the market. Plus, Google added a raise-to-talk to Gemini gesture that makes hands-free use of the Pixel Watch 4 much easier.
With the emergency satellite communication capabilities, you’ll have some added peace of mind when going off the grid. Throw in an attractive design, bright curved display, highly customizable watch faces and good battery life and the Pixel Watch 4 is easily the best Android smartwatch you can get, especially if you have a Pixel phone.
Read Engadget’s complete Google Pixel Watch 4 review to learn more. —Cherlynn Low, Engadget
ProsSuper fast rechargingComprehensive health and fitness trackingBig, beautiful displayRepairable designConsGemini wake feature is finickyMust be connected to internet for Gemini to work$350 at Amazon
Amy Skorheim/Engadget
Available sizes: 40mm, 44mm | Connectivity: Bluetooth, GPS, Wi-Fi, cellular (optional) | Health monitors: Exercise detection, heart rate, sleep, steps, vascular load, antioxidant levels | Rated battery life: 30 hours | Water resistance: 5 feet
The previous generation of Samsung’s Galaxy Watch was… fine. It had some delightful features (a fun health app, for one) but also some major drawbacks (poor battery life and an uncomfortable fit). Now, with the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8, the problems are gone, the good stuff is better and the added AI features are actually worthwhile.
The Watch 8 integrates seamlessly with a Galaxy phone, keeping you up to date with notifications right on your wrist. It can control your music, make calls, pay for purchases and let you use a slew of apps. But some of the more impressive features have to do with fitness and health tracking.
Advanced sensors will track your daily movement, sleep, heart rate and exercise time — just like any other smartwatch. But unique to the Galaxy Watch 8 is the ability to track your antioxidant levels. Samsung’s Health app also includes a running coach that got me to run my first 5K. I also appreciated the sleep metrics offered, complete with a sleep animal and a readiness score.
This is the most comfortable smartwatch I’ve tested, and the battery life is solid: I measured just under Samsung’s promised 30 hours of use, which got me through a very activity-filled day and a full night’s sleep.
I found Google’s AI-powered assistant, Gemini, surprisingly useful. It was able to answer the random questions my son posed to me on a given day, recommend a place for lunch, and handle multi-step tasks (such as looking up the date and time of a local ball game and adding it to your calendar).
Overall, the Galaxy Watch 8 is a dramatic improvement over its predecessor and the ideal watch for any Galaxy smartphone user. Read Engadget’s full review of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 to learn more. —Amy Skorheim, Engadget
ProsRemarkably comfortable fitTiles interface is snappyNew antioxidant level and vascular load health metrics may help users keep an eye on their healthThe running coach can be inspiring for beginnersGood Gemini integrationImproved battery makes the always-on display more viableConsThe raised glass screen can be easily damagedAI-running coach could be more personalizedNotifications easy to miss$280 at Amazon
Rick Broida/Yahoo
Available sizes: 44mm | Connectivity: Bluetooth, GPS | Health monitors: Exercise detection, blood oxygen, heart rate, sleep, steps | Rated battery life: 10 days | Water resistance: 50 meters
You don’t have to spend a lot to strap a really good smartwatch to your wrist. The Amazfit Active 2 is an amazing value — and a beauty to boot — with tons of features, and it works equally well with Android phones and iPhones. (Well, almost; iPhone users can read text messages but not respond to them.)
This is a watch designed with activity in mind. It can track over 160 exercises and automatically detect 25 of them. Along the way, it’ll keep tabs on your heart rate and blood-oxygen levels, with GPS running in the background for distance monitoring and even positioning on downloaded maps.
There’s also onboard AI, which no one will mistake for ChatGPT but is useful for controlling various watch functions and settings via voice commands. I especially love the huge library of available watch faces, which run the gamut from formal to fun.
Of course, you’d expect a few quirks from a $100 smartwatch, and the Active 2 definitely has some. Certain aspects of the interface can be confusing, and the only instruction available is a text-heavy online manual. Meanwhile, the aforementioned exercise-detection features are hard on battery life and not always accurate.
Annoyances aside, I can’t help being impressed by this watch. Its battery should last you 5-10 days depending on usage, meaning you can use it as a sleep tracker without it dying in the middle of the night. And I think it’s way prettier than the plasticky Pixel Watch 3.
Read my complete Amazfit Active 2 review to learn more.
ProsStarts under $100Attractive design, beautiful AMOLED displayPacked with useful featuresOnboard AI is useful, especially for adjusting watch settingsSolid sleep tracking and heart-rate monitoringGreat selection of free faces availableConsNo printed operating instructions, anemic online manualSome features can be confusingiPhone users can’t reply to textsVery slow firmware updates, map downloadsStruggles with exercise detection$80 at Amazon
Rick Broida/Yahoo
Available sizes: 46mm | Connectivity: Bluetooth, GPS | Health monitors: Exercise detection, blood oxygen, heart rate, sleep, steps | Rated battery life: 14 days | Water resistance: 50 meters
With a feature set that closely rivals the Amazfit Active 2’s but a price tag that’s $20 lower, the Bip 6 is an undeniably compelling choice — especially if you prefer a square watchface to a round one.
Either way, you get a big, bright, colorful AMOLED screen, a beautiful aluminum casing, oodles of health- and workout-tracking features and a surprisingly robust battery. In fact, Amazfit promises up to 14 days of operation with “normal” use (which can be hard to quantify), whereas the Active 2 is good for just 10 days.
Alas, both models share the same usability flaws, most of which are attributable to the user interface and companion app. But you can learn to live with them; they’re certainly not dealbreakers.
In fact, I consider the Bip 6 one of the most attractive and capable alternatives to pricier Apple and Samsung watches. At the ridiculously low price of $80, this watch is suitable for anyone who has a wrist.
Read my complete Amazfit Bip 6 review to learn more.
ProsJust $80Attractive aluminum-alloy designBig, bright AMOLED display with always-on optionAt least a week of battery life, even with heavy useCan track sleep, heart rate, exercise and moreConsTries to do too much, resulting in some confusing featuresInterface and AI assistant need improvementiPhone users can’t reply to textsAwkward charging dock$65 at AmazonOther smartwatches we’ve tested
There are plenty of other options out there, many of them very good. Here are the ones that, for one reason or another, didn’t earn a spot on our best list.
Apple Watch Series 11: It’s ironic, but the Apple Watch SE 3 (see above) is so good, it left barely any room for improvement. The Series 11 has slightly larger screens (42mm and 46mm), a slightly thinner design and a few extra features like ECG, blood-oxygen monitoring and better battery life. These are nice to have, no question, and if your budget can stretch to $399, the Series 11 is a superb smartwatch. And it, too, gets discounted fairly regularly, so you should be able to score a better deal.
Apple Watch Ultra 3: Starting at $799 (cellular communication capabilities included; there’s no GPS-only option), Apple‘s splurge-watch has the largest screen to date (49mm) and the best battery life: up to 42 hours of regular use. It’s also a decidedly chonky addition to your wrist, all ruggedized to better withstand the rigors of outdoor activities. (Scuba divers, for example, can use it in depths up to 100 meters.) This is also the only current model in Apple’s wristwatch line to offer satellite communications, which could be a literal lifesaver for hikers and campers who often venture outside mobile coverage areas. My big design complaint: Its Action button — similar to the one found on current iPhones — is far too easy to press by accident when you press a button on the opposite side. Mostly, though, it’s the price: This is for only the most well-heeled (well-wristed?) buyers. I’ll stick with the Apple Watch SE, thank you.
The previous-gen Pixel Watch still makes a great addition to your wrist, especially if you can scoop one up for $200. (Cherlynn Low/Engadget)
Google Pixel Watch 3: Our previous top pick for Android users, the Pixel Watch 3 is still available and still great. And with prices often dipping as low as $200, it’s much more affordable than the $449 Pixel Watch 4 (see above). Highlights include an attractive design, fast exercise-detection and a super-bright display. Read Engadget’s complete Google Pixel Watch 3 review to learn more.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7: Despite having been succeeded by the Watch 8 (see above), last year’s model is worth a look — especially if you can get a good deal. (At this writing, for example, starting prices were hovering around $175.) In addition to offering seamless compatibility with Samsung devices like, say, smart TV, the Galaxy Watch 7 offers a physical rotating bezel that’s a bit like a fidget spinner that allows you to scroll through apps and pages. Here’s our Galaxy Watch 7 review if you want to learn more. — Cherlynn Low, Engadget
The Garmin Forerunner 165 is an excellent option for runners. (Valentina Palladino/Engadget)
Garmin Forerunner 165: Garmin watches have a well-deserved reputation among runners. The Forerunner 165 delivers solid GPS route tracking, workout functionality and health tracking on both iPhones and Android phones for about the same price as an Apple Watch SE, or you can step up to more than a dozen other Garmin models with even more elaborate running-centric features. But — on the iPhone, at least — you’ll lose that tight integration with Apple text messaging and apps, if that’s important to you. On the other hand, the Forerunner can go more than 10 days without needing a recharge, which is an eternity compared to Apple’s one-day power cycles. Read our Forerunner 165 review to learn more. (And consider the Garmin Venu 3S as well; it was Yahoo’s top fitness tracker.) — John P. Falcone, Engadget
How we tested
At the risk of stating the obvious, we tested these watches by wearing them. We walked, worked out and slept with them. We checked their brightness under direct sun and their ability to hold a charge for at least as long as advertised.
On that battery front, however, we didn’t conduct any lab-style rundown tests. Here’s why: Total runtime can vary dramatically depending on how you use the watch. Something as basic as how many notifications you get in a day can impact battery life. It would be impossible to produce meaningful numbers that factor in all the variables.
What’s more, as a longtime Apple Watch user, I’m fully accustomed to dropping it on the charging dock every night, same as I do with my phone. As long as the battery can get me through the day, I’m fine. Of course, I don’t use the watch for sleep-tracking, as I don’t find that data particularly useful and don’t like the feel of something strapped to my wrist all night. That kind of battery consideration is what we noted (where applicable) in the above reviews.
We also paid close attention to usability, and the results weren’t always great: As mentioned earlier, a smartwatch can be surprisingly complex — at least until you learn your way around. And if you need help figuring things out, you’re almost always consigned to an electronic instruction guide. (Bonus points to those watches that made it readily available within their companion apps.)
As noted above, at least four of the watches above were fully tested by my colleagues at Engadget. Read the linked reviews for details on how they tested those models,
FAQCan a smartwatch make phone calls?
Yes, but where and how depend on a few things. Smartwatches that have speakers and microphones built in (which is most of them these days) let you make and take calls via the Bluetooth connection to your phone; as long as you have the latter close by and it has a signal, you can talk into your wrist. (Honestly this is less glamorous than it seems; it’s not fun holding your arm in that position for long.)
But what if you’ve left your phone behind, like when you’re out for a run? Some smartwatches — including select models from Apple, Garmin, Google and Samsung — have cellular capabilities, meaning they’re phones in their own right. You’ll need a separate service plan for the watch, but usually these are inexpensive — maybe $10-$15 a month on top of your existing plan. Just make sure your current phone carrier also supports watches; many smaller carriers do not.
An emerging smartwatch technology is satellite communications, which — while usually limited to texting or emergency services — can be critical for those who often travel outside cellular coverage zones (if their phones are not similarly equipped). So far, this feature is offered on the Pixel Watch 4, Apple Watch Ultra 3 and some newer Garmin models.
Is there a difference between a smartwatch and a fitness tracker?
Well, they’re both worn on your wrist! Other than that, it really comes down to a difference in features. When I think of a smartwatch, I think of traditional-looking watch that’s also an extension of your phone, something that relays notifications, runs apps and so on. A fitness tracker more often has a small, slim screen and is used primarily for, well, fitness tracking. It may have some basic smartwatch features (clock, notifications, etc.), but won’t try to do too much.
Really, though, the lines have gotten pretty blurry. Fitbit, the big name in fitness trackers, was acquired by Google in 2021; there are now only two products remaining in the lineup, the Fitbit Inspire 3 and Charge 6.
How long do smartwatches last?
Whereas traditional mechanical watches can run for decades, a smartwatch isn’t likely to last you more than three to four years. That’s primarily because their batteries (which aren’t replaceable) will lose capacity, as all rechargeable batteries do over time. When it can no longer last a single day on a charge, that’s when you should start shopping for a replacement. There’s also the matter of software support and updates; the older a smartwatch gets, the less likely it is to be able to run the latest operating system.
Do all smartwatches have GPS?
The vast majority do, yes. That means, at a minimum, the watch can keep tabs on things like speed and distance if you’re out running or biking. Some watches also let you download maps for offline viewing; the GPS can show your live position on the map, which is helpful for navigation.
How much should you spend on a smartwatch?
As with anything else, it depends primarily on your needs and budget. Models like the Amazfit Active 2 prove that for as little was $100, you can get something very versatile (and attractive). I’m also very partial to the $250 Apple Watch SE, especially when it’s discounted to $200 or less.