What Is The Best Smartwatch To Get?

the best smartwatches in 2026: options for every budget

smartwatches are now extremely versatile and powerful tools. the best options can track exercise, deliver advanced health insights, and act as a handy second screen to your smartphone.

as such, we grade withings scanwatch light as one of the best overall smartwatches available, with apple watch ultra 3 and series 11 slotting in as the best premium options for most iphone users.

if you’re an android user in need of an alternative, we currently recommend google pixel watch 4, samsung galaxy watch 8, and samsung galaxy watch ultra.

yet, if none of these sound appealing to you, we also cover the best smartwatch for sport—garmin venu x1—along with two more affordable options: huawei watch fit 4 and apple watch se 3.

how we tested these smartwatches

• trying to rank the top smartwatches is a complex task; no two devices are the same, nor are the people using them.
• ultimately, this buyer’s guide builds upon our full, in-depth reviews, which involve testing a device over several weeks (and often longer).
• we rigorously analyze the design, features, health monitoring, activity tracking, and manufacturer claims during this time.

best smartwatch 2026: overview

• withings scanwatch light
• apple watch ultra 3
• apple watch series 11
• google pixel watch 4
• samsung galaxy watch 8

apple watch series 11

longer battery life than its predecessorseries 10watchos 26, the series 11 has workout buddy to offer encouraging words as you exercise, a new sleep score metric that encapsulates your overnight data into a single value, and hypertension notifications to let you know if it senses high blood pressure. with these upgrades, the apple watch series 11 remains the best iphone-compatible smartwatch for most buyers.

• apple fans: the apple watch series 11 combines all of the company's best wearable features into an attractive package that helps you stay connected, monitor your health, and track your fitness. unless you require extra durability for diving adventures, this model will meet all your expectations from an apple watch. the series 11 is the goldilocks of apple smartwatches.
• people who need encouragement: apple's workout buddy is an ai-generated voice that will talk to you as you exercise. its positive tone will help motivate you to keep moving as it updates you on your stats and milestones.
• fashion lovers: the series 11 offers the widest selection of finishes and compatible bands of any apple watch, including some premium hermes options. with the series 11, you can tailor your look to fit the occasion, even if that occasion is a fancy night out.
• fitness features heart rate monitor, ecg, blood oxygen monitor, temperature sensor, pedometer, gyroscope, pulse oximeter, accelerometer, gps, barometer

samsung galaxy watch 8

its predecessorsmart scale. it's also durable with an ip68 resistance rating, mil-std-810h certification, and 5atm of water resistance.

• android users: if you're looking for the best wear os smartwatch for fitness and sleep tracking, opt for the galaxy watch 8. it offers galaxy ai wellness assessments and has a large, bright screen. it comes in small (40mm) or large (44mm) sizes in silver or graphite with two connectivity options (with or without lte), accommodating a wide range of buyers.
• samsung fans: while the galaxy watch 8 is compatible with any android phone, some of its features are exclusive to samsung handsets, including the running coach, irregular heart rhythm notifications, phone separation alerts, gesture controls, and snoring detection.
• running novices: if you want to be a serious runner, but you need some guidance, the galaxy watch 8 can help. it's running coach is likely unnecessary if you already know what you're doing, but its detailed guidance will be quite handy if you want to develop a routine and work toward a goal, such as a 5k.
• fitness features accelerometer, heart rate monitor, gps, blood oxygen monitor, pedometer, barometer, temperature sensor, gyroscope, ecg, light sensor

samsung galaxy watch fe

best affordable android watch

samsung galaxy watch fe

ip68 weather-resistance rating, a 5atm waterproof rating, and mil-std-810h certification.

• budget shoppers: if you want to save money while still enjoying a range of smart features and health tracking capabilities, the galaxy watch fe is the best budget-friendly wear os smartwatch. it boasts most of the same lifestyle features as the company's flagship smartwatches and is highly capable in tracking activity, exercise, and sleep.
• samsung fans: like other galaxy watches, the galaxy watch fe reserves some features, such as snore detection, for samsung phones specifically. that said, it is compatible with other android phones with at least 2gb of ram. it's only available in one small 40mm size, with either bluetooth and wi-fi, or with added lte connectivity for an additional $50.
• fitness features accelerometer, gps, heart rate monitor, gyroscope, pedometer, light sensor, barometer, blood oxygen monitor

apple watch se 3

the apple watch se 3 is the least expensive and smallest watch in apple's lineup. the third-generation model introduces several significant enhancements to the line, including an always-on display, on-device siri processing, wrist temperature sensing, and the same s10 chip used in the flagship series 11.

safety features include emergency sos, fall detection, sleep apnea detection, and notifications for irregular heart rate and rhythm. the se 3 now has 5g for faster downloads when you're away from your phone. the se 3 launches with watchos 26, featuring all of apple's latest software updates, including gesture controls, workout buddy, and sleep score.

• older or younger users: the apple watch se 3 supports apple's family setup feature, which enables you to manage the watch for a family member who doesn't have an iphone. for school-age children, the watch supports emergency calling and parental location tracking and can serve as a stopgap if you don't want to buy your child a phone yet.
• first-time buyers: if you're new to smartwatches and have an iphone, save some money with the apple watch se 3, as it has the same processor and better battery life than the series 11. yes, it's missing a couple of features, but unless you know what to look for, you're unlikely to notice their absence.
• casual apple fans: like other apple smartwatches, the apple watch se 3 is only compatible with iphones, and despite the lower price, this value model still gives you access to apple's latest smartwatch software, watchos 26.
• fitness features heart rate monitor, pedometer, gyroscope, accelerometer, gps, barometer

apple watch ultra 3

the ultra 3 is the most rugged and battery-rich apple watch, offering exclusive outdoor adventuring features that can help you stay safe when you veer off the beaten path. that includes the ability to send a text or emergency sos message via satellite when out of cell signal range, as well as a bright orange customizable action button, a nubby crown that can be operated with gloved hands, and a durable titanium case.

it also boasts a diving-friendly en13319 certification, a built-in 86db emergency siren that is audible from up to 600 feet away, and a dual-frequency gps for tracking your location in cities and the woods. the ultra 3 comes with 5g cellular support and offers excellent call quality, thanks to its dual-speaker system and three-microphone array. powered by apple's s10 chip, the ultra 3 has enough battery life to power through a weekend and offers all the features of watchos 26, including hypertension notifications and workout buddy.

• outdoor adventurers: the apple watch ultra 3 is best for endurance athletes, ocean enthusiasts, and anyone else who spends a lot of time in the great outdoors. the emergency satellite connectivity will offer extra peace of mind if you are blazing a trail off the beaten path and out of the range of normal cell service.
• other watchesultra models are the only smartwatches we've tested that are suitable for high-speed water sports and recreational diving. like its predecessors, the third-generation ultra has a wr100 water-resistance rating and is suitable for recreational diving at depths of up to 40 meters. it can even function as a dive computer with the oceanic+ app.
• on-the-go apple fans: even if you don't need a watch for a rugged, outdoor excursion, if you're looking for the apple watch with the best battery life, this is it. in testing, the ultra 3 lasted for 63 hours on a single charge with the always-on display enabled, outlasting the other apple watches by almost a full day. like the rest, the ultra 3 is only compatible with apple's iphones.
• fitness features blood oxygen monitor, ecg, heart rate monitor, accelerometer, gps, temperature sensor, pedometer, gyroscope, light sensor, barometer

fitbit versa 4

the fitbit versa 4 is an excellent fitness-focused smartwatch. with 40 exercise modes, it covers a wide range of activities, including kayaking, golf, strength training, skiing, and yoga. we appreciate its attractive yet comfortable design, responsive touch screen, and long battery life.

in testing, it lasted four days between charges with the always-on display enabled and the screen brightness set to max. in addition to its robust fitness and health capabilities, it has a small but useful selection of lifestyle features, including amazon alexa, google maps, and google pay. on the downside, the versa 4 doesn't support third-party app downloads, except for watch faces.

• fitbit fans: the versa 4 gives you access to fitbit's reliable fitness and health tracking at an affordable price. it can monitor up to 40 different types of activities and supports customizable goals, such as calories burned, distance, or time. the versa 4 will also automatically record several types of exercises, accurately measuring heart rate and tracking your location using gps.
• budget shoppers: the versa 4 costs less than most other smartwatches on this list, and you can readily find it on sale now for a fraction of its launch price. if you're looking for a capable tracker with fitbit credentials that doubles as a stylish smartwatch, the versa 4 is your most affordable option.
• people who prioritize long battery life: the versa 4 lasted for six days in our testing on a single charge, surpassing the batterycapacity of smartwatches from smartphone makers. go with the versa 4 if you only want to think about plugging in your watch once a week.
• android and apple phone users: if you like fitbit's health tracking, the versa 4 is compatible with both iphones and android phones.
• fitness features accelerometer, gps, heart rate monitor, blood oxygen monitor

garmin venu sq 2

in the crowded fitness smartwatch market, garmin's venu sq 2 stands out for its practicality and user-friendly features. it features a large amoled color touch screen with a squarish design that offers better text legibility compared with round models. battery life is also a strong suit: in testing, the venu sq 2 ran for up to nine days between charges with light use.the second-generation sq is a fitness-first wearable with a robust suite of workout- and health-tracking tools, but it also offers some useful lifestyle features, including calendar and weather apps, vibrating alarms, smartphone notifications, and garmin pay mobile payment support.

• fitness fanatics: the garmin venu sq 2 offers a comprehensive list of activity profiles for tracking exercise. if you need help getting started, it comes with preloaded workout guidance for cardio, strength training, yoga, hiit, and pilates. for longer-term planning, you can use it to prepare for running or biking events.
• travelers and endurance athletes: the garmin venu sq 2 lasted 9 days on a single charge in our testing, exceeding the battery life of most other smartwatches on this list. it can track your activity, exercise, and sleep, and you don't have to take it off to plug it in very often.
• fitness features accelerometer, gps, heart rate monitor, blood oxygen monitor, temperature sensor, light sensor

google pixel watch 4

the google pixel watch 4 has a striking design, featuring a curved display housed under a domed glass enclosure. it supports key lifestyle features, including calling, texting, mobile payments, and smart home controls, and you can customize the watch with a wide range of third-party apps. you can also control the watch with voice commands and ask a variety of questions through google's gemini ai.

for fitness and health tracking, we appreciate its readiness score, cardio load, and target load metrics that together paint a picture of your overall well-being and indicate whether you're heading toward fitness progress or potential burnout. plus, the pixel watch 4 lasted an impressive 56 hours in our battery rundown test with the always-on display enabled.

• style gurus: the pixel watch 4's eye-catching curved screen makes it a top smartwatch if design is your top priority. it boasts a striking design that sets it apart from other smartwatches.
• health coach, which provides a personalized fitness plan tailored to your individual needs.
• pixel fans: while its best features work on android phones of any brand, the pixel watch 4 does offer some useful exclusives when paired with pixel handsets, such as camera controls and phone call screening. it also has access to google's gemini ai for conversational assistance when searching the web or controlling your device.
• processor snapdragon w5 gen 2 processor with a cortex-m55 co-processor
• fitness features accelerometer, heart rate monitor, gps, blood oxygen monitor, temperature sensor, pedometer, gyroscope, barometer, ecg, light sensor

oneplus watch 3

the third-generation oneplus watch features a classy design, standout battery life, and useful safety and wellness features, including ai-powered health insights, fall detection, and wrist temperature sensing. in our testing, it powered through four whole days on a charge with its always-on amoled display enabled, outperforming its wear os and watchos peers.

the oneplus watch 3 achieves its impressive battery life by utilizing two distinct operating systems to conserve power. it uses wear os 5 to run third-party apps and other battery-intensive tasks, while a proprietary real-time operating system (rtos) handles low-power operations, such as sending notifications and running background tasks.

• people who want long battery life: the oneplus watch 3 lasted for 98 hours on a single charge with its always-on display enabled in our testing, more than double the time of current flagship smartwatches from other companies.
• android fans: like other wear os devices, the oneplus watch 3 requires an android phone for use. if you have a oneplus phone, you can use the watch to take pictures or hit play on a youtube video on your phone, but it otherwise functions the same on any handset running android 9.0 or later.
• fitness features accelerometer, heart rate monitor, gps, blood oxygen monitor, temperature sensor, gyroscope, light sensor, pulse oximeter, barometer

fitbit ace lte

the fitbit ace lte features fitness, gaming, and safety options tailored for kids aged 7 to 11. a built-in arcade forms a central part of the watch's experience, and each game is meant to limit screen time and encourage activity between short rounds of play. the watch tracks the number of floors climbed, light activity, moderate activity, and steps as the child goes about their day, and offers daily quests and a customizable avatar to encourage active play.

for parents, the watch features built-in location tracking through gps and google maps, which is included as part of the monthly subscription that also unlocks lte service. kids can use the watch to send texts and make calls, but only to trusted contacts added by the parent through a google family link account.

• parents: the fitbit ace lte offers enough fun features for kids to want to wear it, and features built-in tracking with gps and google maps, allowing parents to check their child's location. the ace lte offers excellent safety features. parents have to add trusted contacts their child is allowed to text and call, and can also set up hours where games are disabled so kids can focus at school.
• children between the ages of 7 and 11: the games and characters on this watch are specifically designed for children within this age range. we were entertained testing it as adults, but it's best suited for those particular ages.
• easily bored kids: in addition to its safety features, everything else about the ace lte is designed to keep kids engaged. it features games designed to encourage movement and a character called an eejie, which kids can dress up with digital prizes they earn.
• fitness features accelerometer, gps, heart rate monitor, gyroscope, light sensor, pedometer