The perfect smartwatches for 2025

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

Chances are high, in the event you’re studying this, you already know the entire advantages of a smartwatch. You’re prepared to speculate, or improve from an getting old accent, however we wouldn’t blame you in the event you in the event you didn’t know the place to begin. There are dozens of smartwatches out there now, together with GPS running watches, fitness trackers that appear to be smartwatches and multi-purpose units. Plus, you’ll wish to take into account 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 at the 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 (optionally available) | GPS: Sure, inbuilt | Water-resistant: Sure | Assistant assist: Google Assistant | Show: All the time-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 bought it proper with the Pixel Watch 3. It’s probably the most absolutely realized Pixel Watch but, and one which any Android fan would get a variety 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 may attain as much as a 60Hz refresh fee. It could 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 era and extra in keeping with competing units from Apple and Samsung.

The Pixel Watch 3 can also be an incredible exercise monitoring system, with options like auto exercise detection and customized working plans, plus the flexibility to trace metrics like Cardio Load. There’s Fitbit smarts in right here, identical to in earlier Pixel Watches, so that you’re coated in relation to each day exercises, steps, sleep and extra. The one draw back to that is that in the event you’re fascinated with 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 mixing with the Google Assistant on the Pixel Watch 3 is useful so you should utilize voice instructions to test 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 the event 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 decide for Android customers on the lookout for their subsequent wearable.

$350 at Amazon

Picture by Valentina Palladino / Engadget

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

Garmin is understood for its prowess on the planet of health watches and the Garmin Forerunner 165 is the watch I examined that I wished to put on probably the most once I went out for a run. The experience of the Forerunner line is within the title, and Garmin actually excels at making complete but pleasant GPS running watches in flavors that can swimsuit all types of athletes, from newbie to skilled. The Forerunner 165 stands out with its light-weight design, shiny AMOLED touchscreen, easy button controls, correct built-in GPS and its skill to trace exercise stats simply in addition to all-day exercise information.

Beginning a run with the Forerunner 165 is as straightforward 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 wish to observe. Run is the primary possibility, however you may have greater than 25 profiles to select from together with observe run, treadmill, stroll, energy, swim and extra. When working outdoors, the GPS took a median 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 enormously from the continual enchancment of the Garmin Join cell app. The beforehand clunky, complicated app has been properly refined as a way 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 data and extra. It’s straightforward to dive into your most not too long ago 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 principally 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. You can even 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 hear 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 working watches; you could possibly simply spend $500 or extra in the event you’re uncertain about what you want and what’s simply additional fluff. Whereas Garmin does have a couple of cheaper units, the Forerunner 165 strikes the proper stability of function set and worth that can enchantment to seasoned runners and people who are simply diving right into a extra regimented working routine.

$250 at Garmin

Trendy smartwatches: Fossil and extra

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

Finally, the one factor you’ll be able to’t change after you purchase a smartwatch is its case design. Should you’re not into the Apple Watch’s squared-off corners, all of Samsung’s smartwatches have spherical instances that look somewhat extra like a standard watch. Most wearables are provided in a alternative of colours and you’ll pay additional for premium supplies like stainless-steel for additional sturdiness. When you resolve on a case, your band choices are infinite – 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 vary up your look everytime you please.

Components to contemplate 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 appropriate with Android and iOS, however you’ll want to put in a companion app in your smartphone.

The smartwatch OS will even 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 value between $300 and $400. In comparison with price range smartwatches, which value between $100 and $250, these pricier units have superior working programs, communications, music and health options. In addition they typically embrace perks like onboard GPS monitoring, music storage and NFC, AMOLED shows, and lengthy battery life, issues that price range 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 critical athletes. Luxurious smartwatches from manufacturers like TAG Heuer and Hublot may attain sky-high costs, however we wouldn’t endorse any of them. These units can value greater than $1,000, and also you’re often paying for little greater than a model title and a few needlessly unique choice of construct supplies.

Battery life

Battery life stays one in all our greatest complaints about smartwatches, however there’s hope as of late. You may 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 the event you’re prepared to close off most options except for, you recognize, displaying the time. Different fashions can final 5 to seven days, however they often 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 price trying out the watch’s specs beforehand to see what the producer estimates.

Communication

Any smartwatch price contemplating delivers name, textual content and app notifications to your wrist. Name and textual content alerts are self explanatory, but when these imply so much to you, take into account a watch with LTE. They’re costlier than their WiFi-only counterparts, however mobile connectivity permits the smartwatch to take and obtain telephone calls, and do the identical with textual content messages, with out your system 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 the event you completely have to test your telephone proper now.

Health monitoring

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

Many smartwatches’ health options embrace a built-in GPS, which is beneficial for monitoring distance for runs and bike rides. Swimmers will need one thing water-resistant, 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 over time. Each Apple and Fitbit units can estimate blood oxygen ranges and measure ECGs. However the extra inexpensive the smartwatch, the much less possible it’s that it has these sorts of superior well being monitoring options; if gathering these sorts of wellness metrics is vital to you, you’ll need to pay for the privilege.

Music

Your watch can’t solely observe your morning runs but additionally play music whilst 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 take heed to tunes with out bringing your telephone. Those who don’t have onboard storage for music often have on-watch music controls, so you’ll be able to management playback with out whipping out your telephone. And in case your watch has LTE, native saving isn’t required — you’ll be capable of 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 occasions 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 important positive aspects with the latter, although, as a result of the additional battery primarily will get used up when these units have always-on shows, as most flagship wearables do at the moment. Some smartwatches have this function on by default whereas others allow you to allow it through tweaked settings. This good function lets you look down at your watch to test the time, well being stats or every other data you’ve set it to indicate on its watchface with out lifting your wrist. It will little doubt have an effect on your system’s battery life, however fortunately most always-on modes dim the show’s brightness so it’s not working at its peak unnecessarily. Cheaper units gained’t have this function; as a substitute, their touchscreens will routinely flip off to preserve battery life and also you’ll need to deliberately test 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 data, 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 that completely different watches use completely different cost programs: Apple Watches use Apple Pay, Put on OS units use Google Pay, Samsung units use Samsung Pay and so forth.

Apple Pay is among the hottest NFC cost programs, 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 cost assist varies by system as properly for each Samsung and Google’s programs.

Different smartwatches our consultants 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 largest battery of any Apple Watch to this point. Apple designed it for probably the most rugged amongst us, however on your common particular person, it possible has extra options than they’d ever want. Should you’re significantly clumsy, nonetheless, its excessive degree of sturdiness may very well be an incredible purpose to contemplate the Apple Watch Extremely 2.

Apple Watch SE

The Apple Watch SE is much less feature-rich than the flagship mannequin, however it’ll in all probability suffice for most individuals. We truly regard the Watch SE as the very best smartwatch possibility for first-time patrons, or individuals 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 might be nice choices for probably the most energetic amongst us. The Garmin Forerunner 745 is a wonderful GPS running watch for critical athletes or those that prize battery life above all else. Once we examined it, we discovered it to supply 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 telephone and, mixed with the guts 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 shiny and sharp. It’s not an always-on show, however lifting your wrist wakes it reliably.

The sleep monitoring information 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 gone by’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 because the 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 it’s a must to cost each day.

We weren’t anticipating an $80 system to be a critical Apple Watch challenger, however the Bip 6’s glitches and overly difficult interface (each on the app and on the watch itself) have been disappointing. Throughout every week of testing, I bought a number of repeated notifications, even after they have been deleted, together with strategies to face once I was actively doing chores round the home. The watch faces will not be customizable, so it was onerous to get the information I wanted at a look (the Zepp app has plenty of paid watch faces which will have what I wished, however I didn’t wish to pay $3 for one thing that’s free elsewhere).

Advertising particulars state that the Bip 6 can auto-detect exercises, together with strolling and bike using. 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 in a position to see the way it compares to the info my Apple Watch gathers. After every week of carrying the Bip 6, with no modifications to my each day routine, I averaged 400 fewer energy burned and a couple of.4 fewer miles tracked every day. That was presumably the largest 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 targeted 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, then again, is sort of a mini smartphone in your wrist. It presents health monitoring options, but additionally allows you to do issues like reply to texts, take calls, use apps and management good residence units. Many smartwatches assist voice assistants, cell funds and even LTE connectivity, so you’ll be able to go away your telephone behind in some instances.

Should you primarily need well being and exercise monitoring with lengthy battery life, a health tracker is the way in which to go. If you need a extra related expertise with additional options, a smartwatch is the higher alternative.

How lengthy do smartwatches final?

How lengthy a smartwatch lasts principally is dependent upon two issues: battery life and general sturdiness.

Smartwatch battery life varies so much relying on the model, options and the way you utilize it. Primary 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 often want a cost each day or two. Should you’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 it’s essential improve. Premium fashions with scratch-resistant glass, water resistance and powerful construct supplies have a tendency to carry up properly over time. Nonetheless, software program assist issues too — manufacturers like Apple and Samsung sometimes present updates for not less than a couple of years, whereas some price range smartwatches could not get long-term software program assist.

You may anticipate to cost most smartwatches each day or each few days, and in the event you maintain them, they need to final 3-5 years earlier than an improve is important.

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

How a lot you need to spend on a smartwatch is dependent upon what options you want and the way typically you propose to make use of it.

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

Within the mid-range smartwatch worth bracket, you’ll discover common fashions just like the Apple Watch SE and Fitbit Versa sequence. These supply mixture of health monitoring, good 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 critical athletes, outside adventurers, or anybody who desires the most recent and biggest options.

Should you simply need a easy smartwatch for notifications and health monitoring, a price range 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 price spending a bit extra. For most individuals, $200 – $350 hits the very best stability of options and worth.

Do all smartwatches have GPS?

Not all smartwatches have built-in GPS. Some depend on your telephone’s GPS, whereas others have it built-in for unbiased 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 observe your runs, walks, bike rides and hikes while not having to be related to your telephone. It’s vital for critical athletes or anybody who desires correct location monitoring with out carrying a telephone.

Some price range and mid-range smartwatches (like some Fitbit and Amazfit fashions) don’t have built-in GPS however can use your telephone’s GPS when related through Bluetooth. This works tremendous in the event you often carry your telephone whereas understanding, however it’s much less handy in the event you want to depart it behind.

Some very primary or price range smartwatches skip GPS solely and rely solely on step monitoring or movement sensors. These are tremendous for informal customers who don’t want location monitoring.

Can you permit your telephone at residence and nonetheless use a smartwatch?

Sure, however it is dependent upon the smartwatch and what you wish to do with out your telephone.

In case your smartwatch has LTE or mobile connectivity , you can also make calls, ship texts, stream music, use maps and even entry apps with out your telephone close by. Nonetheless, you’ll want a separate information plan out of your provider, which often comes with an additional month-to-month value.

Even with out LTE, some smartwatches can nonetheless do lots on their very own, together with observe 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), could contactless funds with options like Apple Pay and Google Pockets and management good residence units.

If going phone-free is vital to you, search for a smartwatch with LTE and built-in GPS for the very best expertise.

Can a smartwatch make calls with no telephone?

Sure, a smartwatch could make calls with no telephone — however provided that it has the proper options.

Some smartwatches have built-in LTE connectivity, which means they’ll work independently out of your telephone. You may make and obtain calls, ship texts, stream music and use apps so long as you may have a cell information plan for the watch. Nonetheless, 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 might probably nonetheless make calls, however solely when related to your telephone through Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. It primarily acts as a distant speaker and microphone on your telephone’s calls. Watches like the usual Apple Watch or Samsung Galaxy Watch (Wi-Fi variations) can do that. Nonetheless, in case your telephone 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 with no telephone is a should, be certain 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 largest 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 telephone, you’ll be able to’t use an Apple Watch in any respect. Android smartwatches (Put on OS, Samsung Galaxy, Garmin and so forth.) principally work with Android telephones, however some additionally assist iPhones with restricted options. You probably have an iPhone, the Apple Watch is the only option. You probably have an Android telephone, go for a Put on OS or Samsung Galaxy Watch.

Apple Watch (watchOS) has the very best app assist with seamless integration into Apple’s ecosystem (iMessage, FaceTime, Apple Pay, Apple Health+, Siri and so forth.). Android smartwatches supply extra selection, with entry to Google companies (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 smooth, however your solely actual customization comes from bands and watch faces. Android smartwatches, then again, are available in tons of types and types (Samsung, Google Pixel Watch, Garmin, Fossil and so forth.), which means you’ll be able to decide a spherical watch, a rugged design or a luxury-looking mannequin.

If battery life is vital to you, the Apple Watch lasts a couple of 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.