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.

Chances are high, in the event you’re studying this, you already know all the advantages of a smartwatch. You’re prepared to take a position, or improve from an growing old accent, however we wouldn’t blame you in the event you in the event you didn’t know the place to start out. There are dozens of smartwatches accessible now, together with GPS running watches, fitness trackers that seem like smartwatches and multi-purpose units. Plus, you’ll need to contemplate elements 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 accessible right this moment and these are our high picks.

Desk of contents

Greatest smartwatches of 2025

Google / Engadget

Tracks: Sleep, exercise, energy, stress | Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Mobile (non-obligatory) | GPS: Sure, in-built | Water-resistant: 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 obtained 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 number of use out of. The newest 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 charge. It could possibly additionally drop down to simply 1 nit of brightness once you’re carrying it to sleep, which not solely makes for a greater expertise total, but in addition contributes to its longer battery life. You’ll rise up to 24 hours out of the Pixel Watch 3, which is a giant enchancment over the earlier technology and extra in step with competing units from Apple and Samsung.

The Pixel Watch 3 can also be a terrific exercise monitoring system, with options like auto exercise detection and customized working 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 relation to each day exercises, steps, sleep and extra. The one draw back to that is that in the event you’re all for 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 verify on issues like climate forecasts, calendar alerts, map instructions and extra. We additionally admire 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 turn out to be useful in the event you’re actually eager on utilizing the watch as a sleep tracker. General, 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 high decide for Android customers searching 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, in-built | Water-resistant: Sure | Assistant assist: None | Show: 1.2-inch AMOLED with non-obligatory 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 this planet of health watches and the Garmin Forerunner 165 is the watch I examined that I wished 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 all types of athletes, from newbie to professional. The Forerunner 165 stands out with its light-weight design, vivid AMOLED touchscreen, easy button controls, correct built-in GPS and its potential to trace exercise stats simply in addition to all-day exercise information.

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 could have greater than 25 profiles to select from together with monitor run, treadmill, stroll, energy, swim and extra. When working 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 vastly from the continual enchancment of the Garmin Join cellular app. The beforehand clunky, complicated app has been effectively refined with the intention 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 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 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 too can get the 165 with music storage in-built or not, with the previous permitting you to retailer music regionally 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 in-built. 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 not sure about what you want and what’s simply further fluff. Whereas Garmin does have a number of cheaper units, the Forerunner 165 strikes the proper steadiness of characteristic set and value 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 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 select up a “hybrid” smartwatch from firms like Withings and Garmin – these units seem like basic wrist watches however incorporate some restricted performance like exercise monitoring and coronary heart charge monitoring. They continue to be good choices in the event you desire that look, however fortunately, wearables made by Apple, Samsung, Fitbit and others have gotten way more enticing 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. For those who’re not into the Apple Watch’s squared-off corners, all of Samsung’s smartwatches have spherical circumstances that look somewhat extra like a conventional watch. Most wearables are provided in a selection of colours and you may pay further for premium supplies like chrome steel for further sturdiness. When you resolve on a case, your band choices are countless – there are dozens of first- and third-party watch straps accessible for many main smartwatches, and for each bigger and smaller wrists, permitting you to alter up your look everytime you please.

Elements 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 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.

Worth

The perfect smartwatches usually value between $300 and $400. In comparison with finances smartwatches, which value between $100 and $250, these pricier units have superior working programs, communications, music and health options. In addition they usually embody 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 value greater than $1,000, and also you’re often paying for little greater than a model identify and a few needlessly unique number of construct supplies.

Battery life

Battery life stays one in all our greatest complaints about smartwatches, however there’s hope as of late. You possibly can 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 apart from, 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 testing 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, contemplate 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 system close by. So far as app alerts go, getting them delivered to your wrist will allow you to look all the way down to the watch face and see in the event you completely have to verify your cellphone proper now.

Health monitoring

Exercise monitoring is a giant cause 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 charge monitor as effectively.

Many smartwatches’ health options embody a built-in GPS, which is beneficial 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 a minimum of 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 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 should pay for the privilege.

Music

Your watch cannot solely monitor your morning runs but in addition play music whilst you’re exercising. Many smartwatches allow you to save your music regionally, so you’ll be able to join wi-fi earbuds by way of Bluetooth and take heed to tunes with out bringing your cellphone. 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 cellphone. And in case your watch has LTE, native saving isn’t required — you’ll be capable of stream music instantly 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 circumstances, longer battery lives.

You received’t see important positive aspects 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 by way of tweaked settings. This good characteristic permits you to look down at your watch to verify the time, well being stats or every other data you’ve set it to indicate on its watchface with out lifting your wrist. This may 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 received’t have this characteristic; as a substitute, their touchscreens will routinely flip off to preserve battery life and also you’ll should deliberately verify 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 house from a run. Remember the fact that completely different watches use completely different fee 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 fee 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 fee assist varies by system as effectively for each Samsung and Google’s programs.

Different smartwatches our specialists examined

Apple Watch Extremely 2

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 might be overkill for most individuals, but it surely has a ton of additional options like further 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 to your common individual, it seemingly has extra options than they’d ever want. For those who’re significantly clumsy, nonetheless, its excessive degree of sturdiness might be a terrific cause 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 should most likely suffice for most individuals. We really regard the Watch SE as the very best smartwatch choice for first-time patrons, 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 should 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 on the whole could be nice choices for probably the most energetic amongst us. The Garmin Forerunner 745 is a wonderful GPS running watch for severe 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 reduce. As a health tracker, it’s respectable, but it surely’s a irritating smartwatch. For exercises, the built-in GPS tracks runs and rides with out your cellphone and, mixed with the guts charge and blood oxygen sensors, collects a superb quantity of knowledge to create correct footage 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 vivid 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 past’s exertion to estimate how bodily ready you might be for the day forward — much like what Pixel Watches, Fitbit units and Garmin watches provide. And because the watch battery lasts for over per week on a cost, you might be much more apt to put on it to mattress than a watch you must cost each day.

We weren’t anticipating an $80 system 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 per week of testing, I obtained a number of repeated notifications, even after they have been deleted, together with solutions to face after I was actively doing chores round the home. The watch faces will not be customizable, so it was arduous to get the data I wanted at a look (the Zepp app has numerous paid watch faces that will have what I wished, 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 per week of carrying the Bip 6, with no adjustments to my each day routine, I averaged 400 fewer energy burned and a couple of.4 fewer miles tracked every day. That was probably 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 centered on well being and exercise monitoring. It retains tabs in your steps, coronary heart charge, sleep and exercises, and a few even provide 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 provides health monitoring options, but in addition permits you to do issues like reply to texts, take calls, use apps and management good house units. Many smartwatches assist voice assistants, cellular funds and even LTE connectivity, so you’ll be able to depart your cellphone behind in some circumstances.

For those who primarily need well being and exercise monitoring with lengthy battery life, a health tracker is the way in which to go. In order for you a extra related expertise with further options, a smartwatch is the higher selection.

How lengthy do smartwatches final?

How lengthy a smartwatch lasts principally depends upon two issues: battery life and total sturdiness.

Smartwatch battery life varies so much relying on the model, options and the way you employ it. Fundamental fashions with e-ink shows or monochrome screens can final per week or extra, whereas full-featured smartwatches just like the Apple Watch or Samsung Galaxy Watch often want a cost on daily basis or two. For those who’re utilizing options like always-on show, GPS monitoring or LTE connectivity, anticipate the battery to empty quicker.

Bodily, a superb smartwatch ought to final a number of years earlier than it is advisable improve. Premium fashions with scratch-resistant glass, water resistance and powerful construct supplies have a tendency to carry up effectively over time. Nevertheless, software program assist issues too — manufacturers like Apple and Samsung sometimes present updates for a minimum of a number of years, whereas some finances smartwatches might not get long-term software program assist.

You possibly can anticipate to cost most smartwatches each day or each few days, and in the event 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 it is best to spend on a smartwatch depends upon what options you want and the way usually you propose to make use of it.

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

Within the mid-range smartwatch value bracket, you’ll discover common fashions just like the Apple Watch SE and Fitbit Versa collection. These provide a superb 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 may 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 collection provide 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.

For those who simply need a easy smartwatch for notifications and health monitoring, a finances or mid-range mannequin will do the job. However if you’d like 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 steadiness 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 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 monitor your runs, walks, bike rides and hikes without having to be related to your cellphone. It’s a must have 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 by way of Bluetooth. This works fantastic in the event you often carry your cellphone whereas figuring out, but it surely’s much less handy in the event you desire to depart it behind.

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

Can you permit your cellphone at house and nonetheless use a smartwatch?

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

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 cellphone close by. Nevertheless, you’ll want a separate information plan out of your service, 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 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 good house 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 and not using a cellphone?

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

Some smartwatches have built-in LTE connectivity, that means they’ll work independently out of your cellphone. You can also make and obtain calls, ship texts, stream music and use apps so long as you could have a cellular information 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 may nonetheless make calls, however solely when related to your cellphone by way of 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 received’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, 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 all the way down to compatibility, options and ecosystem integration.

Apple smartwatches (Apple Watch) solely work with iPhones. When you’ve got 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.) principally work with Android telephones, however some additionally assist iPhones with restricted options. When you’ve got an iPhone, the Apple Watch is your best option. When you’ve got an Android cellphone, 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 many others.). Android smartwatches provide extra selection, with entry to Google companies (Google Assistant, Google Pockets and Google Maps), and a few assist Amazon Alexa or Samsung’s Bixby.

By way of 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 tons of kinds and types (Samsung, Google Pixel Watch, Garmin, Fossil and many others.), that 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 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.