The perfect smartwatches for 2025

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

Likelihood is, in case you’re studying this, you already know the entire advantages of a smartwatch. You’re prepared to take a position, or improve from an getting older accent, however we wouldn’t blame you in case you in case you didn’t know the place to start out. There are dozens of smartwatches out there now, together with GPS running watches, fitness trackers that appear like smartwatches and multi-purpose units. Plus, you’ll need to think about 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 out there right this moment and these are our prime picks.

Desk of contents

Greatest smartwatches of 2025

Google / Engadget

Tracks: Sleep, exercise, energy, stress | Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Mobile (elective) | GPS: Sure, inbuilt | Water-proof: Sure | Assistant assist: Google Assistant | Show: At all times-on Actua touchscreen | Weight: 31 grams | Battery life: 24 hours

Learn our full Google Pixel Watch 3 review

It solely took three iterations, however Google lastly acquired it proper with the Pixel Watch 3. It’s probably the most totally realized Pixel Watch but, and one which any Android fan would get loads of use out of. The most recent 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 fee. It may additionally drop down to simply 1 nit of brightness whenever you’re carrying it to sleep, which not solely makes for a greater expertise general, but additionally contributes to its longer battery life. You’ll rise up to 24 hours out of the Pixel Watch 3, which is an enormous enchancment over the earlier technology and extra in step with competing units from Apple and Samsung.

The Pixel Watch 3 can also be an important exercise monitoring machine, with options like auto exercise detection and customized operating plans, plus the power to trace metrics like Cardio Load. There’s Fitbit smarts in right here, similar to in earlier Pixel Watches, so that you’re lined in the case of each day exercises, steps, sleep and extra. The one draw back to that is that in case you’re fascinated about extra in-depth teaching, these options are hidden behind the Fitbit Premium paywall.

Whereas Put on OS 5 may use a bit extra polish, the combination with the Google Assistant on the Pixel Watch 3 is useful so you should utilize voice instructions to examine on issues like climate forecasts, calendar alerts, map instructions and extra. We additionally respect the addition of quicker charging on the Pixel Watch 3, so you’ll be able to go from 0 to 100 in a bit much less time than earlier than. That’ll come in useful in case you’re actually eager on utilizing the watch as a sleep tracker. Total, 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 prime choose for Android customers searching for their subsequent wearable.

$350 at Amazon

Photograph by Valentina Palladino / Engadget

Tracks: Sleep, exercise, energy, stress, dozens of exercises | Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, ANT+ | GPS: Sure, inbuilt | Water-proof: Sure | Assistant assist: None | Show: 1.2-inch AMOLED with elective always-on mode | Weight: 39 grams | Battery life: 11 days in smartwatch mode, 19 hours in GPS mode

Garmin is thought for its prowess on the earth of health watches and the Garmin Forerunner 165 is the watch I examined that I needed to put on probably the most after 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 skilled. The Forerunner 165 stands out with its light-weight design, brilliant AMOLED touchscreen, easy button controls, correct built-in GPS and its capability 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’ll be able to select the train you need to monitor. Run is the primary choice, however you might have greater than 25 profiles to select from together with monitor run, treadmill, stroll, energy, swim and extra. When operating outdoors, the GPS took a mean 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 tremendously from the continual enchancment of the Garmin Join cell app. The beforehand clunky, complicated app has been properly refined so to customise its homepage the exercise and exercise stats you care about probably the most, together with issues like Physique Battery, Sleep Rating, menstrual cycle info and extra. It’s simple to dive into your most just lately 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 rise 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. It’s also possible to get the 165 with music storage inbuilt or not, with the previous permitting you to retailer music domestically on the watch so you’ll be able to pay attention 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 operating watches; you can simply spend $500 or extra in case you’re not sure about what you want and what’s simply additional fluff. Whereas Garmin does have a number of cheaper units, the Forerunner 165 strikes the fitting stability of characteristic set and worth that can enchantment to seasoned runners and those that are simply diving right into a extra regimented operating routine.

$250 at Garmin

Trendy smartwatches: Fossil and extra

Sure, there are nonetheless firms on the market making an attempt to make “modern” hybrid smartwatches. Again when wearables have been novel and customarily 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 choose up a “hybrid” smartwatch from firms like Withings and Garmin – these units appear like basic wrist watches however incorporate some restricted performance like exercise monitoring and coronary heart fee monitoring. They continue to be good choices in case you choose that look, however fortunately, wearables made by Apple, Samsung, Fitbit and others have gotten way more engaging over the previous few years.

In the end, the one factor you’ll be able to’t change after you purchase a smartwatch is its case design. If you happen to’re not into the Apple Watch’s squared-off corners, all of Samsung’s smartwatches have spherical instances that look a bit extra like a conventional watch. Most wearables are provided in a selection of colours and you may pay additional for premium supplies like chrome steel for additional sturdiness. When you determine on a case, your band choices are limitless – there are dozens of first- and third-party watch straps out there for many main smartwatches, and for each bigger and smaller wrists, permitting you to alter up your look everytime you please.

Components to think about 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 sort 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

The perfect smartwatches usually price between $300 and $400. In comparison with finances smartwatches, which price between $100 and $250, these pricier units have superior working methods, communications, music and health options. Additionally they usually embrace perks like onboard GPS monitoring, music storage and NFC, AMOLED shows, and lengthy battery life, issues that finances units usually don’t have.

Some firms make specialised health watches: These can simply run north of $500, and we’d solely advocate them to severe athletes. Luxurious smartwatches from manufacturers like TAG Heuer and Hublot also can attain sky-high costs, however we wouldn’t endorse any of them. These units can price greater than $1,000, and also you’re normally paying for little greater than a model identify and a few needlessly unique collection of construct supplies.

Battery life

Battery life stays one in all our largest 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 assist prolonged battery modes that promise as much as 5 days of battery life on a cost — in case you’re keen to close off most options except for, you realize, 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 quite a bit to you, think about a watch with LTE. They’re costlier than their WiFi-only counterparts, however mobile connectivity permits the smartwatch to take and obtain cellphone calls, and do the identical with textual content messages, with out your machine close by. So far as app alerts go, getting them delivered to your wrist will allow you to look right down to the watch face and see in case you completely have to examine your cellphone proper now.

Health monitoring

Exercise monitoring is an enormous motive why folks flip to smartwatches. An all-purpose timepiece ought to perform as a health tracker, logging your steps, energy and exercises, and most of right this moment’s wearables have a coronary heart fee monitor as properly.

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 not less than a dunk within the pool. Some smartwatches from firms 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 reasonably priced 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 need to pay for the privilege.

Music

Your watch cannot solely monitor your morning runs but additionally play music when you’re exercising. Many smartwatches allow you to save your music domestically, so you’ll be able to join wi-fi earbuds through Bluetooth and hearken to tunes with out bringing your cellphone. People who don’t have onboard storage for music normally have on-watch music controls, so you’ll be able to management playback with out whipping out your cellphone. And in case your watch has LTE, native saving isn’t required — you’ll have the ability to stream music immediately 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 instances 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 gained’t see vital features with the latter, although, as a result of the additional battery basically will get used up when these units have always-on shows, as most flagship wearables do right this moment. Some smartwatches have this characteristic on by default whereas others allow you to allow it through tweaked settings. This sensible characteristic lets you look down at your watch to examine the time, well being stats or every other info you’ve set it to point out on its watchface with out lifting your wrist. This may little question have an effect on your machine’s battery life, however fortunately most always-on modes dim the show’s brightness so it’s not operating at its peak unnecessarily. Cheaper units gained’t have this characteristic; as a substitute, their touchscreens will mechanically flip off to preserve battery life and also you’ll need to 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’ll be able to maintain your smartwatch as much as an NFC reader to pay for a cup of espresso in your manner residence from a run. Remember the fact that completely different watches use completely different fee methods: Apple Watches use Apple Pay, Put on OS units use Google Pay, Samsung units use Samsung Pay and so forth.

Apple Pay is without doubt one of the hottest NFC fee methods, with assist 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 fee assist varies by machine as properly for each Samsung and Google’s methods.

Different smartwatches our specialists examined

Apple Watch Extremely 2

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 might be overkill for most individuals, however it has a ton of additional options like additional 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 probably the most rugged amongst us, however to your common particular person, it seemingly has extra options than they’d ever want. If you happen to’re notably clumsy, nonetheless, its excessive stage of sturdiness could possibly be an important motive to think about the Apple Watch Extremely 2.

Apple Watch SE

The Apple Watch SE is much less feature-rich than the flagship mannequin, however it is going to in all probability suffice for most individuals. We truly regard the Watch SE as the perfect smartwatch choice for first-time consumers, 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 need to 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 generally will be nice choices for probably the most energetic amongst us. The Garmin Forerunner 745 is a superb GPS running watch for severe athletes or those that prize battery life above all else. After 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 assist 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 first rate, however it’s a irritating smartwatch. For exercises, the built-in GPS tracks runs and rides with out your cellphone and, mixed with the center fee and blood oxygen sensors, collects quantity of information 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 screen is brilliant 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 before today’s exertion to estimate how bodily ready you might be 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 every week on a cost, you could be much more apt to put on it to mattress than a watch you need to cost each day.

We weren’t anticipating an $80 machine to be a severe Apple Watch challenger, however the Bip 6’s glitches and overly sophisticated interface (each on the app and on the watch itself) have been disappointing. Throughout every week of testing, I acquired a number of repeated notifications, even after they have been deleted, together with ideas to face after I was actively doing chores round the home. The watch faces should not customizable, so it was laborious to get the data I wanted at a look (the Zepp app has numerous paid watch faces that will have what I needed, however I didn’t need 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 couple of 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 capable of see the way it compares to the information my Apple Watch gathers. After every week of carrying the Bip 6, with no adjustments to my each day routine, I averaged 400 fewer energy burned and a pair of.4 fewer miles tracked every day. That was presumably 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 centered on well being and exercise monitoring. It retains tabs in your steps, coronary heart fee, 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, alternatively, is sort of a mini smartphone in your wrist. It presents health monitoring options, but additionally helps you to do issues like reply to texts, take calls, use apps and management sensible residence units. Many smartwatches assist voice assistants, cell funds and even LTE connectivity, so you’ll be able to depart your cellphone behind in some instances.

If you happen to 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 related expertise with additional options, a smartwatch is the higher selection.

How lengthy do smartwatches final?

How lengthy a smartwatch lasts largely depends upon two issues: battery life and general sturdiness.

Smartwatch battery life varies quite a bit relying on the model, options and the way you employ it. Fundamental fashions with e-ink shows or monochrome screens can final every week or extra, whereas full-featured smartwatches just like the Apple Watch or Samsung Galaxy Watch normally want a cost day-after-day or two. If you happen to’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 you could improve. Premium fashions with scratch-resistant glass, water resistance and powerful construct supplies have a tendency to carry up properly over time. Nevertheless, software program assist issues too — manufacturers like Apple and Samsung usually present updates for not less than a number of years, whereas some finances smartwatches might not get long-term software program assist.

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

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

How a lot you need to spend on a smartwatch depends upon what options you want and the way usually you intend to make use of it.

If you happen to simply need the fundamentals — step monitoring, notifications, coronary heart fee monitoring and fundamental health monitoring — you could find some strong budget-friendly choices from manufacturers like Amazfit, Fitbit and a few Put on OS fashions. These normally have first rate battery life however might lack premium options like LTE, superior well being monitoring or third-party apps.

Within the mid-range smartwatch worth bracket, you’ll discover standard fashions just like the Apple Watch SE and Fitbit Versa sequence. These supply mixture of health monitoring, sensible options and design high quality. You’ll get higher construct supplies, extra correct sensors and app assist, 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 sequence supply superior well being monitoring, rugged designs, LTE connectivity and longer software program assist. These are nice for severe athletes, out of doors adventurers, or anybody who needs the most recent and best options.

If you happen to simply need a easy smartwatch for notifications and health monitoring, a finances 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 perfect stability of options and worth.

Do all smartwatches have GPS?

Not all smartwatches have built-in GPS. Some depend on your cellphone’s GPS, whereas others have it built-in for impartial 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 without having to be related to your cellphone. It’s vital for severe athletes or anybody who needs correct location monitoring with out carrying a cellphone.

Some finances and mid-range smartwatches (like some Fitbit and Amazfit fashions) don’t have built-in GPS however can use your cellphone’s GPS when related through Bluetooth. This works high quality in case you normally carry your cellphone whereas understanding, however it’s much less handy in case you choose to depart it behind.

Some very fundamental or finances smartwatches skip GPS solely and rely solely on step monitoring or movement sensors. These are high quality for informal customers who don’t want location monitoring.

Can you allow your cellphone at residence and nonetheless use a smartwatch?

Sure, however it depends upon the smartwatch and what you need to do with out your cellphone.

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 cellphone close by. Nevertheless, you’ll want a separate knowledge plan out of your service, which normally comes with an additional month-to-month price.

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 assist downloads from Spotify or Apple Music), might 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 perfect expertise.

Can a smartwatch make calls and not using a cellphone?

Sure, a smartwatch could make calls and not using a cellphone — however provided that it has the fitting options.

Some smartwatches have built-in LTE connectivity, that means they’ll work independently out of your cellphone. You may make and obtain calls, ship texts, stream music and use apps so long as you might have a cell knowledge plan for the watch. Nevertheless, 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 could actually nonetheless make calls, however solely when related to your cellphone through Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. It basically acts as a distant speaker and microphone to your cellphone’s calls. Watches like the usual Apple Watch or Samsung Galaxy Watch (Wi-Fi variations) can do that. Nevertheless, in case your cellphone isn’t close by or related to Wi-Fi, calling gained’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 and not using a cellphone is a should, ensure that to decide on an LTE mannequin with a built-in mic and speaker.

What is the distinction between an Android and Apple smartwatch?

The most important distinction between Android and Apple smartwatches comes right down to compatibility, options and ecosystem integration.

Apple smartwatches (Apple Watch) solely work with iPhones. You probably have an Android cellphone, you’ll be able to’t use an Apple Watch in any respect. Android smartwatches (Put on OS, Samsung Galaxy, Garmin and many others.) largely work with Android telephones, however some additionally assist iPhones with restricted options. You probably have an iPhone, the Apple Watch is your best option. You probably have an Android cellphone, go for a Put on OS or Samsung Galaxy Watch.

Apple Watch (watchOS) has the perfect app assist with seamless integration into Apple’s ecosystem (iMessage, FaceTime, Apple Pay, Apple Health+, Siri and many others.). Android smartwatches supply extra selection, with entry to Google providers (Google Assistant, Google Pockets and Google Maps), and a few assist Amazon Alexa or Samsung’s Bixby.

When it comes to design, Apple Watch has a single design however is available in completely different sizes and supplies. It’s modern, however your solely actual customization comes from bands and watch faces. Android smartwatches, alternatively, are available in tons of kinds and types (Samsung, Google Pixel Watch, Garmin, Fossil and many others.), that means you’ll be able to choose 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.