We’ve tested the best smartwatches for over a decade, witnessing their evolution from simple smartphone companions to wrist-worn digital assistants that track health and offer comprehensive fitness monitoring.
Leading the pack is the Apple Watch 10, our top smartwatch pick for iPhone users. A modest upgrade from the Apple Watch 9, it features a larger display and a slimmer case. It’s also the most user-friendly and feature-packed smartwatch we’ve tested.
For Android users, the best smartwatch is the Google Pixel Watch 3, which combines Fitbit’s best all-around features with menstrual health tracking, a new Loss of Pulse detection tool, and impressive sleep insights.
Of course, these aren’t your only options. If you love spending time outdoors, enjoy running, or need something more budget-friendly, we’ve got smartwatches for you, including top picks from Garmin and Samsung.
1. Apple Watch Series 10
The Apple Watch 10 is the best Apple Watch yet and the smartwatch many of us at Tom’s Guide wear daily. It’s not a major upgrade over the Apple Watch Series 9, but there are some notable changes.
The case is now 10% thinner, and the display is 10% larger than the Series 9. It’s also easier to view from odd angles thanks to Apple’s wide-angle OLED display technology. Here’s a closer look at how the Apple Watch 10 compares to the Apple Watch 9.
The 41mm and 45mm case sizes are gone, replaced by new 42mm and 46mm options. By the way, the larger of the two even boasts a bigger screen area than the Ultra line. There are also new case finishes and materials, including lightweight titanium options.
During testing, we found the Apple Watch 10’s design changes led to significant usability improvements. From tracking workouts to texting friends, navigating cities, or monitoring sleep, the Series 10 is incredibly easy to use and interact with. Speaking of sleep, it’s one of the first Apple Watches to feature sleep apnea detection.
It comes preloaded with watchOS 11. This latest software introduces a new Vitals app, on-wrist language translation, and—finally—the option to silence your Apple Watch when you need a day off.
The Series 10 also boasts faster charging and the ability to play audio through the watch’s speaker, not just for phone calls. It inherits the Ultra’s Water Depth app for swimmers and snorkelers, along with a new water temperature sensor. All of this makes it the best Apple Watch for most people and the top smartwatch for iPhone users overall.
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2. Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 is the best smartwatch for sleep tracking and our top pick for budget-conscious Android users, thanks to its AI-powered impressive health insights, lightweight and comfortable design, plenty of useful apps, and a starting price of $299. While it’s not a huge upgrade from its predecessor—here’s how the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 compares to the Galaxy Watch 6—its new sleep tracking features set it apart.
Sleep insights are delivered after just one night of use, unlike competitors, and we found them detailed yet easy to understand. However, our favorite feature on the Galaxy Watch 7 has to be Samsung’s near-real-time Energy Score, updated daily and factoring in sleep quality, recent workouts, and more to keep you motivated.
Available in 40mm and 44mm sizes, the device’s design remains unchanged from the Galaxy Watch 6. Inside, though, the Watch 7 boasts an upgraded GPS antenna—proven remarkably accurate in our testing—double the storage of its predecessor, and a faster, more power-efficient processor.
Battery life is solid at around 24 hours with the always-on display enabled and 40 hours in power-saving mode, which is average.
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3. Google Pixel Watch 3
The Google Pixel Watch 3 comes in both 41mm and 45mm versions, and you’ll want the larger one to get the most out of this wearable, sleek-looking device. It’s not as thin as the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 or as light, but the 45mm Pixel Watch 3 offers nearly double the battery life of its Samsung rival, making it the best overall Android smartwatch.
In contrast, the 41mm Pixel Watch 3 has a battery life of around 24 hours (similar to the Galaxy Watch 7). However, both Pixel Watch models feature thinner bezels than the Pixel Watch 2 and an upgraded display that’s easier to see in sunlight. Here’s a deeper look at how the Pixel Watch 3 compares to the Pixel Watch 2.
Google’s health and fitness tools are largely on par with Samsung’s, offering sleep quality and workout insights, recovery data, menstrual health tracking, and more. Google also unveiled its first Loss of Pulse detection feature, which functions similarly to fall/crash detection, alerting help when triggered. This feature isn’t yet available in the U.S., but Pixel Watch 3 users in the UK and Europe will have access.
The Pixel Watch 3 also inherits some of Fitbit’s best training metrics to help users better understand their daily health and cardiovascular wellness while avoiding overtraining. These include Fitbit’s Readiness score, Cardio Load metric, and Target Load score. There are also new metrics for serious runners to improve their form.
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4. Apple Watch SE (2022)
The Apple Watch SE (2022) represents outstanding value and is the best affordable smartwatch you can buy right now. Priced at $249, this device doesn’t have all the latest features found in the Ultra 2 or Series 10, but it still stands out with excellent health and safety tracking capabilities. It also offers optional LTE for on-the-go connectivity without needing to carry a paired smartphone.
On top of that, the Apple Watch SE is compatible with the latest watchOS 11 software, unlocking a range of new features, including Apple’s handy Check In safety tool, the new Vitals app for tracking core health data, and on-wrist translation for 20 languages.
Unlike the Series 10 and Ultra 2, the SE doesn’t offer a bright or large display or an always-on option. Users also miss out on ECG and skin temperature sensors.
However, if those features aren’t dealbreakers for you, the SE is a highly capable choice for iPhone users. It’s also Cupertino’s smallest and most wearable Apple Watch, especially the 40mm version, which those with slim wrists will surely appreciate.
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5. Garmin Venu 3
The Garmin Venu 3 is one of the best Garmin watches because it’s both an effective workout companion and a stylish lifestyle device.
This combination also makes it the best smartwatch for fitness enthusiasts. Upholding Garmin’s reputation for comprehensive workout tracking and accurate GPS, the Venu 3 also offers notification mirroring and an on-wrist voice assistant.
While Garmin still lacks a robust third-party app store and continues to steer clear of LTE support, the Venu 3 still has other smart features, like Garmin Pay for contactless payments and onboard storage for music playback. You can also make and receive calls from your wrist, provided your paired phone is nearby.
During workout tracking, Incident Detection works similarly to Apple’s Fall Detection for safety. Plus, multiple sports profiles, helpful recovery time suggestions, and on-watch interval creation keep your activity in check.
The device also includes nap tracking and a handy sleep coach feature to monitor your rest, while daily summaries provide behavioral insights. Moreover, with a battery life of 26 hours in GPS mode and 15 days in smartwatch mode, you rarely have to worry about keeping the Garmin Venu 3 charged. It also comes in two wearable sizes.
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6. Apple Watch Ultra 2
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is the best smartwatch for battery life if you want a fully featured smartwatch. While fitness-focused sports watches like the Garmin Forerunner 265 can last weeks without GPS use, most smartwatches hover around 24 hours of battery life.
Meanwhile, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 offers 36 hours in standard mode and up to 72 hours in power-saving mode. (For Android users, consider the Galaxy Watch Ultra, which lasted up to 48 hours in our testing.)
Another thing we love about the Ultra 2 is its wealth of safety features, like Crash and Fall Detection, which can be set to alert loved ones or emergency responders in case of an accident.
The Ultra also has a customizable third button—the “Action Button”—handy for starting and stopping workouts but also a quick way to access safety features, like Emergency SOS and the Apple Watch Ultra’s Siren.
At 49mm, the device is fairly large, great if you like a big, bright display but not ideal if you have slender wrists. Built for adventure, the watch’s bezel is made of titanium, with a raised edge around the screen for added protection. The display is sapphire-coated, and the watch is water-resistant to 100 meters, suitable for most intense water activities like diving, waterskiing, and more.
Like the Apple Watch 10 and SE, the Ultra 2 benefits from all the best Apple Watch features released with watchOS 11, including the new Vitals app and improved women’s health tracking.
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7. Garmin Forerunner 265
Our pick for the best running smartwatch is the Garmin Forerunner 265. This lightweight wearable gives you everything you’d want in a running watch, from accurate tracking to music controls to custom workout creation, at a price close to an Apple Watch Series 10. It also provides access to Garmin’s extensive training metrics, helping you not only plan workouts but also calculate recovery time.
In testing, we found the Garmin Forerunner 265’s stunning AMOLED display bright and easy to read, even in direct sunlight. The screen is also touch-responsive, making navigation a breeze. However, there are plenty of buttons along the case’s edge if you prefer physical controls. The battery lasts long enough for several workouts, even while streaming music.
The Forerunner 265 has inherited some of the more advanced health features typically reserved for Garmin’s pricier running watches. It can also track complex multi-sport workouts in triathlon mode and features Garmin’s incredibly useful Training Readiness score.
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8. Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra
The Galaxy Watch Ultra is Samsung’s premium sports smartwatch, akin to the Apple Watch Ultra line.
As the ultimate Android wearable for outdoor adventures, the Galaxy Watch Ultra is also the best smartwatch for health tracking. It features the same capable BioActive sensor as the Galaxy Watch 7 but is more durable and better built.
Fitness, rest, and recovery metrics come with AI-powered explanations and insights, making it easy to parse the dizzying array of data the Ultra captures while still allowing you to dig deeper as desired. The Galaxy Watch Ultra also tracks health irregularities like sleep apnea and irregular heart rhythms.
It’s the longest-lasting Android smartwatch battery-wise, with up to 48 hours of life. It also boasts an eye-catching titanium finish, a customizable “Quick” button, and a bright, easy-to-see AMOLED display peaking at 3,000 nits—matching the Apple Watch Ultra 2—making it readable even in direct sunlight.
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The only downsides to the Galaxy Watch Ultra are its steep $650 price tag and the fact that it’s not designed for scuba diving or other high-risk water sports, despite its 100-meter water resistance. Oh, and it’s as bulky on the wrist as the Ultra 2.
