Although smartwatches have been around for ages, we’ve seen the industry evolve from a niche product for a handful of smartphone users into a device for the masses, one that can do a bit of everything. Annualised updates are now standard, too, but with so many choices available, it can be tough to know which ones are worth buying – that’s exactly where this guide comes in, pairing you with the best smartwatch for your needs.
Compared to when the smartwatch market was in its infancy, it is now possible to get a great smartwatch for a reasonable price. In fact, if you want to shop exclusively in a more affordable bracket, then we have an entirely separate guide that focuses on the best cheap smartwatches, ready for your perusal.
Going back to the broader market, it’s quite impressive to see how manufacturers have adapted to serve most use cases. If you want an app-filled ecosystem on your wrist that can, in a lot of scenarios, replace your smartphone – you’ve got it. If you’d rather lock into a fitness routine and use AI to help you train for a marathon – you’ve got that too. There is no shortage of options available, and our team knows as much through their involved testing process.
Every smartwatch that turns up at our offices, regardless of price, is subjected to the same series of tests to assess how well it performs across the board. These watches are worn by one of our tech experts for at least a week, during which we document the user experience, battery drain and any other aspects we deem noteworthy to potential buyers. All this information means you can shop with confidence, as any wearable featured on this list has passed those tests with flying colours.
Just be aware that ecosystems can play a big role in which smartwatches are available to you. Apple Watches will only connect with iPhones, while Wear OS watches have a similar degree of exclusivity but for Android, but anything toting a different operating system will usually work with all phones.
Keep on reading to see which smartwatches we currently rave about, or check out our separate guides to the best running watches or the best fitness trackers for something different.
Best Smartwatches at a glance
- Best overall: Samsung Galaxy Watch 8
- Best Wear OS smartwatch: Google Pixel Watch 4
- Best rugged smartwatch: Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2
- Best for serious athletes: Garmin Fenix 8 Pro
- Best budget smartwatch: Huawei Watch Fit 5 Pro
- Best hybrid smartwatch: Withings ScanWatch Nova
- Best for battery life: Garmin Enduro 3
- Best slim watch: Garmin Venu X1
- Best for GPS accuracy: Huawei Watch GT Runner 2
- Best diving watch: Huawei Watch Ultimate 2
- Best Wear OS watch for battery life: Xiaomi Watch 5
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Learn more about how we test smartwatches
Every smartwatch we test is used by the reviewer for at least a week, or longer if the battery life lasts beyond that point or we need more time to trial its features.
During testing, we will check it for key metrics, including app support, usability and battery life. If the device offers fitness, location or health tracking features, we will also test these for accuracy and reliability.
For distance tracking, we record how accurately the device recorded runs on tracks we know the length of. We also record how much battery is lost using things like in-built or connected GPS per hour. To check heart rate accuracy, we compared the results recorded on the wearable to those of a dedicated HRM strap.
After recording the data, we then pair it with our general experience using the wearable day-to-day, letting you know if it’s comfortable to wear or if we encountered unexpected bugs during use over the review period.
FAQs
This depends on what you want to do with it. If you want a brilliant smartwatch that can do everything from local music to reliable, in-depth wellness and fitness tracking, you’ll likely have to spend over $400/£400. If you just want a basic wearable to count your steps and push incoming notifications from your phone, there are plenty of good options that retail for less than $200/£200.
LTE is useful if you use your watch a lot while away from your phone. But for most people, it’s not an essential purchase. Most users will always have their phones nearby, and smartwatches can easily tether to them and share their data.
Apple is the biggest smartwatch maker in the world, but there are plenty of other smartwatch platforms. Google develops a competing Wear OS platform that’s used by most mainstream watchmakers, including the Fossil Group and Samsung. Fitness companies, like Garmin and Polar, also develop their own proprietary smartwatch software.
This depends on the smartphone you use. Remember, Apple Watches are iOS-only, while Wear OS watches like the Samsung Galaxy Watch and Google Pixel Watches are exclusively Android, with some features being locked to certain handsets. Fitbit and Garmin work with both Android and iOS, but you’ll want to check the feature set compatibility before buying.
Again, this depends on the smartwatch. Most Apple and Wear OS watches traditionally only last a day or two. Fitbit, Garmin, Amazfit, and a few other brands can last more than a week. We test the battery durability in all our reviews, so do check those out if you’re interested in particular watches.
It depends on what you want to use your watch for. It’s essential if you want to track outdoor activities like running, cycling, hiking, etc without carrying your phone. With GPS, your watch can map your route, measure distance and calculate pace – all without your phone. However, if you always have your phone with you or you mostly work out indoors, you don’t need GPS.
We’d recommend measuring the size of your wrist. If you’re under 16cm, we’d recommend 38- 42mm case sizes. If you’re over 16cm, 44-49mm case sizes would be better for you.
Fitness trackers focus on helping you track steps, heart rate, sleep and workouts. They typically last 5-7 days and provide basic phone notifications. Smartwatches do a lot more thanks to their larger touchscreens – they allow you to track your health stats, as well as allow you to install apps, reply to messages, take calls, listen to music, and much more.
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