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, should you’re studying this, you already know all the advantages of a smartwatch. You’re prepared to speculate, or improve from an ageing accent, however we wouldn’t blame you should you should you didn’t know the place to begin. There are dozens of smartwatches obtainable now, together with GPS running watches, fitness trackers that appear to be smartwatches and multi-purpose units. Plus, you’ll wish to think about 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 obtainable right now and these are our high picks.

Desk of contents

Greatest smartwatches of 2025

Cherlynn Low for Engadget

Tracks: Sleep, exercise, energy, stress | Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Mobile (non-obligatory) | GPS: Sure, in-built | Water-resistant: Sure | Assistant help: Google Assistant | Show: All the time-on Actua touchscreen | Weight: 31 grams | Battery life: As much as 30 hours

Learn our full Google Pixel Watch 4 review

With its Google and Fitbit heritage, the Pixel Watch 4 continues in its predecessor’s footsteps of being a well-rounded smartwatch with strong well being options. Nevertheless it has some new methods up its sleeve, and one stunning benefit it has over the competitors is its extremely quick charging. In mere minutes, the Pixel Watch 4 can go from barely any energy to prepared for half a day of labor.

We additionally love that its repairable design means you’ll be able to exchange the show or battery in future if wanted, which makes this a way more futureproof system than some other smartwatch available on the market. Plus, Google added a raise-to-talk to Gemini gesture that makes hands-free use of the Pixel Watch 4 a lot simpler.

It additionally comes with emergency satellite tv for pc communication capabilities so that you’ll have some added peace of thoughts when going off the grid. Throw in a gorgeous design, brilliant curved show, extremely customizable watch faces and good battery life and the Pixel Watch 4 is definitely the very best Android smartwatch you will get, particularly when you’ve got a Pixel cellphone.

Professionals

• Tremendous quick recharging
• Complete well being and health monitoring
• Brilliant, lovely show
• Repairable design

Cons

• Gemini wake gesture is finicky
• Should be related to web for Gemini to work

$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 help: 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 thought for its prowess on the earth 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 title, and Garmin actually excels at making complete but pleasant GPS running watches in flavors that may swimsuit every kind of athletes, from newbie to knowledgeable. The Forerunner 165 stands out with its light-weight design, brilliant AMOLED touchscreen, simple button controls, correct built-in GPS and its capacity to trace exercise stats simply in addition to all-day exercise knowledge.

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 monitor. Run is the primary choice, however you’ve greater than 25 profiles to select from together with monitor run, treadmill, stroll, energy, swim and extra. When working exterior, 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 drastically from the continual enchancment of the Garmin Join cell app. The beforehand clunky, complicated app has been effectively refined to be able 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 straightforward to dive into your most 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 must be sufficient for many runners and athletes competing in long-haul races. You may also 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 worth spectrum for GPS working watches; you may simply spend $500 or extra should you’re not sure 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 characteristic set and worth that may enchantment to seasoned runners and people who are simply diving right into a extra regimented working routine.

$250 at Garmin

Amy Skorheim for Engadget

Tracks: Sleep, exercise, energy, dozens of exercises, antioxidant ranges, vascular load | Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, LTE (non-obligatory) | GPS: Sure, in-built | Water-resistant: Sure, 5 ATM + IP68 | Show: All the time-on, 3000 nits peak brightness | Battery life: 30+ hours

Learn our full Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 review

Samsung fully redesigned its wearable for 2025. The Galaxy Watch 8 seems to be cleaner and extra subtle — however extra importantly, it’s way more comfy. One other {hardware} enchancment bumps up the battery measurement, fixing one of many Galaxy Watch 7’s greatest flaws. With that watch, the always-on show tanked the battery, however now you will get a full day after which some whereas sporting it.

With Put on OS 6, the watch positive factors a brand new tiles-based interface that makes navigating fast and straightforward. It additionally provides the help of Gemini, which will help you management capabilities and full duties in your watch simply by saying, “Hey Google” (simply notice that you just’ll want a Gemini-compatible cellphone close by).

Well being and health additions embody an antioxidant ranges metric and vascular load, which can assist some folks preserve higher tabs on their well being. An AI-fueled working steering “coach” takes an evaluation of your jogging talents and tailors a program that can assist you run additional and quicker. We expect this may in all probability profit newbie runners probably the most — these accustomed to teaching might not discover it as helpful.

After all, that is solely a sensible choice for Samsung cellphone customers. And one other disadvantage is the raised glass display, which appears destined for harm. However we’ll notice that you would be able to keep away from that danger (and rating some severe heritage-watch model factors) by going with the Basic variant of the watch. — Amy Skorheim, Senior Reporter

Professionals

• Remarkably comfy match
• Tiles interface is snappy
• New antioxidant stage and vascular load well being metrics might assist customers control their well being
• The working coach will be inspiring for rookies
• Good Gemini integration
• Improved battery makes the AOD extra viable

Cons

• The raised glass display will be simply broken
• AI-running coach may very well be extra customized
• Notifications are straightforward to overlook

$315 at Amazon

Trendy smartwatches: Fossil and extra

Sure, there are nonetheless firms on the market attempting 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 choose 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 charge monitoring. They continue to be good choices should you want that look, however fortunately, wearables made by Apple, Samsung, Fitbit and others have gotten far 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. When 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 chrome steel for additional sturdiness. When you determine on a case, your band choices are infinite – there are dozens of first- and third-party watch straps obtainable for many main smartwatches, and for each bigger and smaller wrists, permitting you to vary 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 kind 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 typically price between $300 and $400. In comparison with funds smartwatches, which price between $100 and $250, these pricier units have superior working programs, communications, music and health options. Additionally they usually embody perks like onboard GPS monitoring, music storage and NFC, AMOLED shows, and lengthy battery life, issues that funds units typically 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 can even 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 title and a few needlessly unique number of construct supplies.

Battery life

Battery life stays one in every of 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 help prolonged battery modes that promise as much as 5 days of battery life on a cost — should you’re keen to close off most options other than, you already know, 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 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 loads to you, think about a watch with LTE. They’re dearer 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 right down to the watch face and see should you completely must verify your cellphone proper now.

Health monitoring

Exercise monitoring is an enormous purpose why folks flip to smartwatches. An all-purpose timepiece ought to operate as a health tracker, logging your steps, energy and exercises, and most of right now’s wearables have a coronary heart charge monitor as effectively.

Many smartwatches’ health options embody 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 no 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 reasonably priced the smartwatch, the much less seemingly 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 cannot solely monitor your morning runs but additionally play music when 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 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 be capable to 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 instances, longer battery lives.

You received’t see important positive factors 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 now. Some smartwatches have this characteristic on by default whereas others allow you to allow it by way of tweaked settings. This good characteristic lets you look down at your watch to verify the time, well being stats or some other info you’ve set it to point out on its watchface with out lifting your wrist. This can 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 an alternative, their touchscreens will robotically flip off to preserve battery life and also you’ll need to 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 info, you’ll be able to maintain your smartwatch as much as an NFC reader to pay for a cup of espresso in your means house from a run. Understand 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 without doubt one of the hottest NFC cost programs, with help 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 help varies by system as effectively for each Samsung and Google’s programs.

Different smartwatches our consultants examined

Apple Watch Extremely 3

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 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 to your common individual, it seemingly has extra options than they’d ever want. When you’re significantly clumsy, nonetheless, its excessive stage of sturdiness may very well be an awesome purpose to contemplate the Apple Watch Extremely 3.

Apple Watch SE 3

The Apple Watch SE 3 is much less feature-rich than the flagship mannequin, however it can in all probability suffice for most individuals. We really regard the Watch SE as the very best smartwatch choice for first-time consumers, or folks on stricter budgets. The hole has narrowed between the SE 3 and Apple’s fundamental flagship smartwatch, too, so you will not need to make as many compromises.

Garmin Forerunner 745

Garmin watches usually 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. Once 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 help 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, 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 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 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 day by 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 — just like what Pixel Watches, Fitbit units and Garmin watches supply. And because the watch battery lasts for over every week on a cost, you might be much more apt to put on it to mattress than a watch you need to cost day by 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 every week of testing, I obtained a number of repeated notifications, even after they have been deleted, together with recommendations to face after I was actively doing chores round the home. The watch faces should not customizable, so it was arduous to get the information I wanted at a look (the Zepp app has a lot 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 and marketing particulars state that the Bip 6 can auto-detect exercises, together with strolling and bike driving. Throughout testing, I walked a few 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 sporting the Bip 6, with no adjustments to my day by 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 charge, sleep and exercises, and a few even supply superior metrics like blood oxygen ranges and stress monitoring. Health trackers are typically extra compact, have longer battery life and are constructed with exercise in thoughts.

A smartwatch, however, is sort of a mini smartphone in your wrist. It affords health monitoring options, but additionally permits you to do issues like reply to texts, take calls, use apps and management good house units. Many smartwatches help voice assistants, cell funds and even LTE connectivity, so you’ll be able to go away your cellphone behind in some instances.

When you primarily need well being and exercise monitoring with lengthy battery life, a health tracker is the best way to go. In order for you a extra related expertise with additional options, a smartwatch is the higher alternative.

How lengthy do smartwatches final?

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

Smartwatch battery life varies loads 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 normally want a cost each day or two. When you’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 to improve. Premium fashions with scratch-resistant glass, water resistance and powerful construct supplies have a tendency to carry up effectively over time. Nonetheless, software program help issues too — manufacturers like Apple and Samsung usually present updates for no less than a couple of years, whereas some funds smartwatches might not get long-term software program help.

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

How a lot must you spend on a smartwatch?

How a lot it’s best to spend on a smartwatch depends upon what options you want and the way usually you propose to make use of it.

When you simply need the fundamentals — step monitoring, notifications, coronary heart charge monitoring and fundamental health monitoring — you’ll find some strong budget-friendly choices from manufacturers like Amazfit, Fitbit and a few Put on OS fashions. These normally have respectable 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 in style fashions just like the Apple Watch SE and Fitbit Versa collection. These supply a superb mixture of health monitoring, good options and design high quality. You’ll get higher construct supplies, extra correct sensors and app help, 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 supply superior well being monitoring, rugged designs, LTE connectivity and longer software program help. These are nice for severe athletes, outside adventurers, or anybody who needs the most recent and best options.

When you simply need a easy smartwatch for notifications and health monitoring, a funds or mid-range mannequin will do the job. However if you need 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 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 while not 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 funds 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 wonderful should you normally carry your cellphone whereas understanding, however it’s much less handy should you want to depart it behind.

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

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

Sure, however it depends upon the smartwatch and what you wish 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. Nonetheless, 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 help 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 with out a cellphone?

Sure, a smartwatch could make calls with out a cellphone — however provided that it has the proper options.

Some smartwatches have built-in LTE connectivity, which 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’ve a cell knowledge plan for the watch. Nonetheless, you’ll must pay for a separate mobile plan and battery life drains quicker when utilizing LTE.

In case your smartwatch doesn’t have LTE, it will possibly 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. Nonetheless, 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 with out a cellphone is a should, be sure 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. When you 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 so forth.) largely work with Android telephones, however some additionally help iPhones with restricted options. When you have an iPhone, the Apple Watch is the only option. When you have an Android cellphone, go for a Put on OS or Samsung Galaxy Watch.

Apple Watch (watchOS) has the very best app help 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 help 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, however, are available tons of kinds 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.