The Best Smartwatches for 2025

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With everything from app support to smartphone notifications to heart rate monitoring, the best smartwatches do much more than tell time. If you're assessing your options, you've come to the right place. We've been reviewing smartwatches since the days of Pebble more than a decade ago, and we test options from brands big and small with a variety of prices and features to help you find a model that fits your budget and needs. The Apple Watch Series 10 is the best smartwatch for iPhone users thanks to its sleek design, unbeatable selection of third-party apps, and accurate fitness tracking performance. If you're looking for something less expensive or have an Android phone, we have you covered with our list of the best smartwatches below. Read on for our top picks and buying advice to find the right watch for you.

Pick a Watch That Works With Your Phone

Naturally, the first thing you should consider before you buy a smartwatch is compatibility. We include these details in our reviews of each product.

All Apple Watch models run watchOS, Apple's smartwatch operating system, and work only with iOS devices. Apple's latest wearables—the Series 10, the Ultra 2, and the Watch SE— require an iPhone XS or later with iOS 18 or later and do not work with Android handsets.

The Galaxy Watch 7 and the Galaxy Watch Ultra run Wear OS 5 with Samsung's One UI 6 interface. They require a smartphone running Android 11 or later. Note that although you can pair the Watch 7 with non-Samsung Android phones, some features work only with Samsung handsets, including the AI-generated Energy Score, irregular heart rhythm notifications, phone separation alerts, gesture controls, and the Camera Controller app.

Google's Pixel Watch 3 runs Wear OS 5 and works with most phones running Android 10.0 or newer via the Google Pixel Watch app, which requires a Google Account to log in. It's not exclusive to Pixel phones and should pair just fine with devices from any other Android phone maker, including Samsung. Like Samsung's watches, Google does save some features for Pixel phones like snapping pictures from your watch, setting up automatic call screening, and having your watch hold a call for you while you find a quiet place to pick up.

Most of the other smartwatches on this list are compatible with both Android and iOS smartphones.

Which Platform Offers the Best Smartwatch Apps?

What separates a smartwatch from a dumb watch? Lots of things, but as smartphones have taught us, apps might be the most important.

Most of the watches we like feature full-fledged app stores that bring everything from Spotify, Yelp, and Strava to your wrist. Much like smartphones, app availability is a good way to determine which product to get, so make sure to check out the app selection for each watch before you make a final decision.

If you're looking for apps, Apple is your best bet. The App Store lets you browse and download third-party watchOS apps directly on the watch, including popular favorites like AllTrails, Calm, Pandora, Peloton, Shazam, Spotify, Starbucks, and Strava.

The Apple Watch still has the largest number of high-quality apps and big-name developers, but Google's Wear OS platform is catching up.

Samsung's latest smartwatches feature popular Google apps like Assistant, Maps, and the Play Store, alongside Samsung's Bixby, Buds Controller, Pay, and more. The Pixel Watch features all the Google standbys, including Assistant, Gmail, Home, Maps, the Play Store, and Wallet.

Other popular apps available for download via the Google Play Store on Wear OS smartwatches include Amazon Music, Calm, Deezer, Easy Voice Recorder, KakaoTalk, Samsung Internet Browser, SmartThings, Spotify, Stocard, Todoist, and WhatsApp.

How Are Smartwatches and Fitness Trackers Different?

Unless you want a gadget on both of your wrists (not the best look), you should pick a smartwatch that also works as a fitness tracker. Most smartwatches are capable of tracking basic activity, like steps, but you need to pay close attention to additional features.

Most of the smartwatches on our list feature GPS connectivity, which means they can record your runs without the help of a companion device. Most modern smartwatches also have an optical heart rate sensor that can take continuous and on-demand heart rate measurements.

Fitbit Versa devices are fairly affordable and track plenty of fitness and sleep metrics. However, they have fewer third-party apps, so there are some trade-offs. Look closely and choose a watch that tracks the activities and health metrics you want to monitor. Some smartwatches offer advanced health-tracking features, including the ability to take an ECG and measure your SpO2 level.

Which Smartwatches Have Cellular and Are They Worth the Money?

A cellular connection allows you to make calls, send texts, stream music, download apps, and do anything else that requires an internet connection—all without your phone. The cellular Apple Watch Series 10 carries a $100 premium over the base model (Bluetooth and Wi-Fi only). Then, you also have to pay for a separate data plan—most carriers charge an additional $10 per month per smartwatch. The Galaxy Watch FE, Galaxy Watch 7, and Google Pixel Watch 3 are also available with cellular connectivity.

Whether this convenience is worth it for you depends on how you plan to use your watch. If you want to stream music while you exercise and leave your phone at home or in the locker room, a cellular connection can certainly come in handy. If you always have your phone on you, however, you can probably save money and skip it.

How Long Do Smartwatches Last?

You don't want a smartwatch with good battery life, right? Good, because you're not going to get it. Features like an always-on display and GPS tracking are nice, but they drain battery life quickly. Watches with full-color, smartphone-like displays, like the Apple Watch and Wear OS watches, generally only last about a day on a charge.

There are a few exceptions, including the OnePlus Watch 3 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2, which offer multi-day battery life. In general, you get much better battery life with a Fitbit or Garmin watch. They typically last around six days on a single charge.

How Much Should You Spend on a Smartwatch?

Smartwatches can be very expensive, but that doesn't mean you need to spend a lot of money to get a good one. Yes, the $1,000+ Apple Watch Hermès is sure to draw a lot of attention, but for that price, you could buy five Fitbits. If you're a first-time smartwatch buyer, consider the less-expensive route first in case you wind up not wearing it all that much.

What's the Best Android Watch?

As mentioned, all of the models on this list work with Android phones except for the Apple Watch.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch FE is our current favorite for its streamlined design, excellent health and safety features, useful calling and texting capabilities, and overall value for the money. The Galaxy Watch 7 offers additional size options and AI-powered wellness insights. Outdoor adventurers might prefer the Galaxy Watch Ultra, which offers a more durable titanium case, an even stronger sapphire crystal glass display, longer battery life, and a few outdoor-specific navigation features.

What's the Best-Looking Smartwatch?

Let's not forget: You're also going to wear this thing. And unlike your Timex, it's probably not going to remain in style for years. Smartwatch design is rapidly changing, so hold out until you find something you actually want to wear. And keep in mind that smartwatches are still gadgets. The coming year is sure to bring new iterations of pretty much every watch on this list, not to mention completely new ones.

The battle for wrist real estate is quickly heating up. That's good news for consumers because this pace of innovation is likely to result in more capable—and more stylish—devices. I wouldn't be surprised if this list reads completely differently the next time you see it. But if you're looking for the best smartwatch available today, the options here are the finest we've tested.

For more, check out our roundups of the best Android watches and the best Samsung watches.