Updated: Handpicked recommended smartwatches from our in-depth reviews
Smartwatches are now extremely versatile and powerful tools, with the very best options able to track exercise, monitor advanced health metrics, and provide a handy second screen to a smartphone.
We’ve thoroughly tested and reviewed every major smartwatch on the market here at Wareable, ranging from the latest Apple Watch Series 9 and Garmin Venu 3 down to the top Wear OS smartwatches.
Our entries below summarize the best smartwatches we’ve reviewed, including some key pros and cons.
How we ranked these smartwatches
Trying to rank the top smartwatches is a complex task; no two devices are the same, nor are the people using them. With this in mind, we use our expertise to provide our opinion on the watches that fit the categories listed in the quick summary below.
Ultimately, this buyer’s guide is an extension of our full, in-depth reviews, which see us test a device over several weeks – and, often, longer. During this time, we rigorously analyze the design, features, health monitoring, activity tracking, and, of course, the claims made by the manufacturer.
Apple Watch Series 9
Best overall smartwatch
The Apple Watch Series 9 is the best smartwatch to own – but it only works with iPhone.
It’s also one of the smallest upgrades in terms of new features in the nine generations of Apple Watch.
The OLED display has doubled in brightness, and the new features available through watchOS 10 continue to refine the experience. Low Power Mode can double the battery life to around 36 hours but also turn off a lot of cool features.
The Series 9 adds a new S9 chip, too, enabling a very slick new gesture called Double Tap that allows you to use your fingers to control apps on the Watch without using the touchscreen. It’s a minimal integration right now, but we love using it – and it’s one of the more genuinely exciting additions we’ve seen in recent years.
The Series 9 offers an experience with very few compromises. It’s our go-to workout partner, an excellent health monitor (thanks to ECG, Fall Detection, and high/low heart rate alerts), and a superb companion to your smartphone.
The bustling App Store supercharges the Apple Watch, as well. If the watch doesn’t do something for you out of the box, we’d wager you’ll find an app that does – and that’s rare in the smartwatch world.
However, single-day battery life is its major Achilles heel, and problematic if you want to use it for sleep tracking. It’s perhaps for this reason the Apple Watch feels like it lags behind the likes of Garmin and Whoop in terms of generating really personalized health and wellness insights.
However, Apple has addressed that with watchOS 11, which will land in September 2024.
- Read our Apple Watch Series 9 review
Google Pixel Watch 2
Best smartwatch for Android (Android only)
The Pixel Watch 2 rights many of the wrongs present in the debut device released in 2022, and, as such, just about edges out TicWatch and Samsung’s offerings to become our top recommendation for Android users.
The battery life improvements are the big story here, with Google’s smartwatch now able to actually make it through a full 24-hour period without needing to be recharged. And while it’s still not exactly a long-lasting or consistent battery, it is now enough to get by with.
The Fitbit integration packed into the Pixel Watch 2 makes it a particularly strong tracker, leaving the suite of tracking apps offered by TicWatch/Samsung in its wake. It’s a big reason why we can look past the average battery life.
It also uses Qualcomm’s impressive Snapdragon W5+ chip, and this move allows for both improved battery efficiency and the new features available through Wear OS 4.
And the new multi-path heart rate monitor is a triumph, too, with our testing showing that the Pixel Watch 2 can hold its own against even Garmin’s best sensors. It’s supremely accurate, while rivals are simply OK at best.
We still wish that Google would offer a bigger case size – and is something likely to land in the Pixel Watch 3 – and Fitbit Premium is still required to get the most out of this one. But it’s hard to argue that the Pixel Watch 2 is the most polished experience available for Android users.
- Read our Google Pixel Watch 2 review
Xiaomi Watch 2
Best budget Android watch (Android only)
Xiaomi Watch 2 key features
- Single-day battery life
- Wear OS 3.5
- HR, stress, sleep, and blood oxygen tracking
- Android only
If the $399/£349 Pixel Watch is beyond your budget, then the Xiaomi Watch 2 is the answer to your prayers. Wear OS has been devoid of budget options for years – but this one truly delivers.
The build quality and display are superb for a cheaper smartwatch, and Wear OS 3.5 (not the latest 4.0) was much slicker than we found when testing the pricier Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro.
As you would expect at this price, there are compromises – battery life is limited to a single day and there’s no room for features like LTE. Fitness and sports tracking was decent, too, but still not up to the standard of Fitbit on the Pixel Watch 2.
Yet, you simply can’t access the wealth of apps and features of Wear OS for less than this – and the Xiaomi Watch 2 offers a mix of usability and build quality we’d thought was impossible at this price point.
- Read our full Xiaomi Watch 2 review
Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic
Most stylish Android smartwatch (Android only)
Important: We’ve left the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic here for now, but it’s essential to know that on 10 July 2024, Samsung will revamp its line-up with a new Galaxy Watch 7 and Watch Ultra. So while the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic is good – it’s a terrible time to buy it.
Samsung has new watches in the works, but neither appears to match the Watch 6 Classic for looks. So if it’s a good fit for you – it’s still a legit option with that rotating bezel.
But the tactile control of the bezel really got under our skin, and it works perfectly with Wear OS. Scrolling through Tiles or notifications is a breeze, and it’s nice to avoid swiping the AMOLED display to move through menus.
There are two sizes: 43mm with a 1.3-inch AMOLED, and 47mm with a 1.5-inch display.
The bezel makes for a more refined look in our minds and emulates a proper watch. There’s a faux leather strap, too, which is good for getting sweaty and does a good job of looking like the real deal.
Fitness and heart rate data were pretty flawless for steady workouts, as was sleep tracking data, which has been revamped for One UI 5 Watch/Wear OS 4 (and will soon be One UI 6 Watch).
ECG, blood pressure, and body index tracking were also excellent, making for a good all-rounder.
The only thing that doesn’t make the Watch 6 Classic an automatic recommendation is battery life.
We got around 30 hours with the always-on display turned on, and an hour workout will deplete around 20%. So you could experience significant battery anxiety if you plan to use the new sleep-tracking features.
Apple Watch SE (2nd generation)
Best affordable Apple Watch (iOS only)
We were close to dropping the Apple Watch SE from our smartwatch recommendations list. It’s two years old now, and options such as the Huawei Watch Fit 3 are genuine alternatives at half the price.
But it will get watchOS 11 when it drops in September, and it’s still a fantastic sports-tracking smartwatch with some fab deals on it.
The design is now dated, with it significantly boxier with thicker bezels than the Series 7/8/9. There’s also no always-on display or ECG.
Yet, the core fitness and wellness monitoring, excellent workout tracking, GPS experience, bustling App Store, Apple Pay, and even Fall Detection are all identical to the latest, greatest Apple Watches. So it’s a superb choice for a wide mix of people.
Apple has included the S8 chip in this second-gen version of the SE, too, and it ensures the experience is just as zippy (and will likely continue to be) as some of the newer Series devices.
If you’re in the Apple ecosystem already and want to get started with a solid smartwatch, you can’t really go wrong with the SE.
Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro
Best Android smartwatch for battery life (Android Only)
Mobvoi’s TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro may offer an innovative dual display and reliable tracking, but it’s the battery life that cements its place as one of the top smartwatches for Android users.
Thanks to the pioneering Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1 and the overlaid, retro-styled LCD, you can achieve always-on power for far longer than you can from the current lot of Samsung and Google smartwatches.
Only really the OnePlus Watch 2 comes close to the Enduro (and the original TicWatch Pro 5, released last year) in terms of staying power, though we much prefer Mobvoi’s dual-screen approach for underpinning that battery efficiency.
The downside of this multi-day life is the hefty size required to house the 628mAh unit. The Enduro’s case dimensions come in at 50.15 x 48 x 11.95mm case, and this means it’s just not really a viable option – despite not being overly heavy – for those with smaller wrists.
The other major drawback of the Enduro is the software version. Despite Wear OS 5 being ready to debut this summer, this is a smartwatch still stuck on Wear OS 3.5. And with no word on whether the Enduro will make the leap to Wear OS 4 (let alone anything newer), there is an element of risk in picking up a Mobvoi smartwatch.
If you can make your peace with potentially spotty support in the future, and also don’t mind minor omissions like Google Assistant, we think the Enduro is a solid pick for those who want an alternative to the Wear OS big boys. But mostly because of that battery.
- Read our full TicWatch Pro 5 review
Garmin Venu 3
Best for wellness (iOS and Android)
The Garmin Venu 3 is a big improvement over the Venu 2, with a slicker design and improved UI – as well as a more intuitive set of health features.
It’s still a jack-of-all-trades sporty smartwatch – so, while there are loads of sports profiles, none offer the level of data you might expect from a Garmin.
Running, for example, shows basic metrics on pace, distance, and heart rate only.
But the daily suite of wellness metrics, displayed via widgets, is much more complete. Body Battery (tracking energy levels), stress, steps, HRV Status, activity minutes, breathing rate, sleep, sleep coach, and more, are all on display.
These widgets offer real-time feedback, that makes them all feel more intuitive. And Body Battery, in particular, has been overhauled, and it can now be recharged through the day and offers more nuanced insight.
We found heart rate and GPS accuracy to be top-notch, so while the Venu 3 isn’t a powerhouse of athletic performance analysis, it produces great data.
As a smartwatch, it does a good job of covering bases, with notifications, Garmin Pay (with patchy bank support), and offline Spotify syncing. It’s still not a patch on the smartwatch experience offered by Apple and Google, but, with two weeks of battery life, (7-10 days of heavy use in our testing) it’s a fantastic alternative.
The other downside is that the Venu 3 is pretty expensive – and the Vivoactive 5 offers most of its core features, at around half the price.
- Read our full Garmin Venu 3 review
Apple Watch Ultra 2
Best sporty smartwatch (iOS only)
We loved the original Apple Watch Ultra – and the second-gen makes gentle refinements to the overall proposition, including a boost in screen brightness, and a carbon-neutral design.
The 49mm Ultra is bold, full of attitude, and aimed at weekend warriors who want a superior Apple Watch to everyone else. It’s tough and suitable for diving and watersports, and runners will love the multi-band GPS, which aced our marathon testing.
The thing we love most is the 2-3 days of battery life, which finally means an end to the battery anxiety of the Series 9. Going back to a Series 9 is really tough – and the Ultra offers the peak Apple Watch experience.
You’ll probably need to hunt down some third-party apps to truly reach the ceiling of this experience, though, given that the native software needs some work, with mapping, navigation, and performance analysis undercooked compared to Garmin.
Still, it achieves the aim of becoming an Apple Watch on steroids – especially with that added battery life.
- Read our full Apple Watch Ultra 2 review
Huawei Watch GT 4/Huawei Watch Fit 3
Best for battery life (iOS/Android)
The Huawei Watch GT 4 is a quality all-rounder smartwatch, striking a balance between price, design, and fitness features. But battery life is its real standout feature. And if it’s not for you, the Huawei Watch Fit 3 (left) is a great budget alternative for just £135/$135.
Boasting two size options, the GT 4 not only embraces classic watch aesthetics with its 46mm variant and a redesigned 41mm option.
The display, a 1.43-inch 466 x 466 AMOLED touchscreen, offers vibrant colors and excellent viewing angles, ensuring visual clarity.
The Huawei Watch GT 4 offers generally good health and sports tracking, offering a broad spectrum of metrics and accurate data, from heart rate to GPS distance. Running is well handled, and the company has added Strava integration.
Sleep tracking is also fairly solid, and while we did find its sleep duration estimates a little generous, it’s consistent and helpful enough to get value from. And the new snoring and breathing monitoring features add another layer to its health metrics.
However, the lack of a robust ecosystem, especially in areas like apps and payments, is noticeable and stands out as a significant drawback to the Apple Watch SE.
But the tradeoff is much-improved battery life. If you want to get 14 days you will need to forego features like the always-on display – but you should get 6 days with all the bells and whistles turned on.
- Read our full Huawei Watch GT 4 review
- Read our full Huawei Watch Fit 3 review
Amazfit Active
Best affordable smartwatch (iOS/Android)
If you’re looking for a smartwatch that doesn’t cost the earth but delivers solid fitness, sleep, and activity tracking, the Amazfit Active is the one.
In terms of looks, it’s basic, plasticky, and lightweight, with a 42mm case that works for small wrists. There’s an AMOLED display, although the OS is pretty basic.
It packs in GPS and plenty of workout modes, and we found accuracy to be decent across a range of long runs. Heart rate accuracy also matched up against a chest strap, as long as you keep the Active tight during your workout.
Sleep tracking durations are too generous, as well, but consistent. And there’s loads of health data to sift through, including breathing quality.
All this is delivered in the Zepp Health app, which is a mature and detailed place to keep tabs on your fitness and health.
Battery life will go well over a week with heavy use. Of course, there are no apps or payments, though, and music support is limited to MP3s.
How to choose the right smartwatch
Case size
The fit, comfort, and wearability of a watch are largely down to case size – and a few millimeters can make a huge difference. Those with small wrists should look in the 38-42mm range, while those who like chunky, oversized watches or have big wrists should look at anything above 45mm.
iOS vs Android
It’s important to think about what smartphone you use. Apple Watch is iOS only, and Wear OS watches, such as the Samsung Galaxy Watch lineup and Pixel Watch 2, are exclusive to Android.
Older Wear watches work on both, but the iOS experience is diminished and it’s not recommended.
Huawei, Fitbit, and Garmin smartwatches work on both, but some advanced calling from the wrist features are usually Android only.
Check out our guides to the best smartwatches for iPhone and the top Android watches for more information.
Apps and extra features
Buying into Apple Watch and Wear OS watches means you can access bustling app stores full of options from big-name brands, such as Spotify or Strava, and expand on the core features.
If you opt for smartwatches from Garmin / Fitbit / Huawei, their platforms simply don’t have developer support for quality apps, so you’re limited to the advertised functionality of the watch.
Heath and fitness features
Smartwatches are increasingly becoming health and fitness tools, so make sure yours has the sensors you want.
You’ll be hard-pressed to find a smartwatch without a heart rate sensor these days, and most are adept at keeping tabs on 24/7 HR and resting heart rate.
However, the likes of Apple and Fitbit now include ECG, a powerful health tool – read our ECG explainer if you’re curious. Runners will want GPS on board to accurately track outdoor workouts, too.
Battery life
The Apple Watch and Wear OS smartwatches generally only last a day or two away from the charger, which is one of the biggest turn-offs for people. There have been moves to extend that to 2-3 days, with the Apple Watch Ultra 2, Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, and TicWatch Pro 5.
Luckily, a lot of other smartwatches now last more than a week, with Fitbit, Huawei, Amazfit, and Garmin all pushing longer runtimes.
Cellular connectivity
One more key consideration is whether you want your smartwatch to work away from your phone.
Many manufacturers, such as Apple and Samsung, offer LTE versions, which you’ll need to purchase a separate data plan to take advantage of. Most carriers and networks have plans for LTE smartwatches.
Check out our guide to the best LTE smartwatches, if this is important to you.
