Buying a smartwatch can be an intense process. There are so many excellent options all fighting for that space on your wrist. Wading your way through the world of smartwatches, whether you’re a diehard Apple fan, or fancy yourself a Samsungite, is far from simple. We're here to help you through this process, hopefully opening you up to the world of possibilities available from a smartwatch.
Throughout this, it’s important to remember that the best smartwatch is more than just the most popular or the priciest – it’s the one that best fulfils your needs.
If you're after a rundown of the best smartwatches for iPhone users, then we'd suggest you read T3's guide to the best Apple Watch, because while Samsung and Wear OS smartwatches do work with iPhones, the Apple Watch plays much more nicely with iOS. If you’re looking for something that doesn’t fall from the Apple tree, and particularly if you need something that works with an Android phone, this list should help provide the answers to the smartwatch based questions you may have. For the budget-conscious, check out our list of the best cheap smartwatches.
If you're really serious about exercise, then we suggest you take a look at the best running watches, best fitness trackers and best Fitbits buying guides for razor-sharp analysis of how to best help your run times.
Helping you work out what to look for in a smartwatch, keep the following factors in mind:
- Compatibility: Apple Watches only work with iPhones. Smartwatches running Wear OS, Garmin and Fitbit are compatible with both Android and iPhone.
- Price: Smartwatch prices can range from very affordable to pretty expensive. Paying more will get you enhanced health and fitness tracking and build quality. Anything more expensive than an Apple Watch and you're paying for prestige branding and exclusivity.
- Battery life: Most smartwatches last around two days, if that's not enough for you, then opt for Huawei, Fitbit or Garmin, which offer slightly impaired functionality for vastly improved battery life.
- Fitness tracking: All smartwatches will do basic tracking, but if you're training for a marathon or triathlon then you'll want a more serious running watch from Garmin or Polar.
- Communication: All smartwatches have Bluetooth – that's how they connect to your smartphone. Some have a 4G/Cellular connection as well, which means you can stream music, receive messages and calls, even if you've left your phone at home. It costs extra, and probably isn't worth it for most.
- Size: Size is important. If you've got slender wrists you're going to want a smaller smartwatch, this is not due to looks, but due to comfort.
The best smartwatch you can buy today:
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There's no doubt Apple is king when it comes to smartwatches, but how has it achieved such meteoric success? Let's take a look…
First off, it's the only smartwatch which generates a tonne of interest, and not just from tech addicts, but from the general public. That interest hasn't exactly helped Apple's competitors, but it has helped Apple's smartwatch survive several generations.
Next is the big focus on health and fitness. The Apple Watch can monitor your heart rhythm and suggest you see a doctor if it detects something irregular, it can call the emergency services if you've fallen over, and it will keep you healthy by tracking your run. These potentially life-saving features are a major reason people are ditching their traditional watches for an Apple Watch.
Finally, the design is almost perfect. The two size options fit a majority of wrists, and they're also incredibly comfortable, it's the only device which has straddled the line between tech and fashion. It's simply the best-looking smartwatch available.
Every generation has seen minor improvements that have gone a long way to perfect the Watch. The Series 2 added waterproofing and adding GPS, and the Series 3 improved on that by adding Cellular, so it can use data without your iPhone present, but again, remaining loyal to the original design.
The Series 4 improved the design, with a stunning new screen which stretches to the edges of the device. The Series 5 has kept the excellent design of the Series 4, and added more customisation options (including a desirable titanium option) and an always-on display.
The Apple Watch Series 6 added a pulse oxygen sensor to its range of health systems, as well as a new S6 processor, and the Series 7 got five stars from us for its bigger and brighter screen, and new fast-charging capabilities.
With the Apple Watch Series 8, Apple has gifted its digital time teller a temperature sensor which can be used for cycle tracking, and a low power mode which can extend the battery life whilst maintaining core smartwatch functions.
The Apple Watch Series 6 (the smartwatch we're recommending here) adds a pulse oxygen sensor to its range of health systems, makes its always-on display 2.5 times brighter when its in its dimmed mode, tweaks some other aspects (such as adding an always-running altimeter), steps up to the new S6 processor, and throws in all the new features of watchOS 7.
Put simply, the Apple Watch Series 8 impresses us greatly. The design is well-considered and sleek, the larger screen is perfect, and the number of third-party apps and accessories is unrivalled.
Of course, it's iOS only, so if you have an Android phone, you're going to want to continue reading this guide…
The Google Pixel Watch is a beautiful piece of technology and probably the closest we've seen a brand come to creating a rival to the Apple Watch, not bad for Google's first foray into smartwatches. And because of this, I think the Pixel Watch is the best smartwatch you can buy if you're an Android user.
My admiration for the Pixel Watch is more than just skin deep, however, as I found this smartwatch to be genuinely useful, thanks to the inclusion of all the intelligent software features you'd expect from Google. Having Google Assistant on your wrist has proven to be incredibly convenient, for example.
The Pixel Watch certainly takes the fight to Apple in the health and fitness arena too, thanks to its deep integration of Fitbit. You can get all of the metric data you'd want from the Pixel Watch, from automatic exercise tracking to sleep monitoring, and heart rate tracking to ECG readings, all of which can be viewed in the Fitbit app on your phone. It's great to have a trusted brand like Fitbit powering this side of things.
The Pixel Watch isn't perfect, however. This is a first generation smartwatch and it shows in a few key areas.
For a start, this smartwatch's display is a bit on the small side, which can make using the Pixel Watch feel a little awkward at times. Also, the battery life is much shorter than most of its rivals, and that's a big disappointment.
Overall, though, it's easy to look past these first gen foibles and fall in love with the Pixel Watch. It's useful, comfortable and very endearing - you won't want to take it off.
Want something a little more extreme than the Series 8 or Pixel Watch? Enter the Apple Watch Ultra, a true flagship product for the range with advanced features aimed at adventure and extreme sports. For me, the larger, brighter screen and chunkier build is reason in itself to pick this over the Series 8, although admittedly, the chunky design might not be for everyone.
Of course, the added features, such as the superior GPS, three-microphone array, longer battery life, depth gauge and siren make it a serious choice for divers, climbers and endurance athletes.
Granted, most Apple Watch users won’t need these extra features and will be better served by the smaller and cheaper Series 8. Others, meanwhile, will find that the Ultra isn’t extreme enough, especially in terms of battery life. For anyone wanting the very best that Apple can offer in a smart watch, the Ultra excels.
This is a great looking and highly functional smartwatch. It does more than most people will ever need, which is no bad thing, and is priced no more than the former titanium Apple Watch. I can’t wait to see where this version goes in future models, as I’m sure it will only continue to improve. For now though, this is the ultimate Apple Watch.
Okay, so the Apple Watch Series 8 is the best smartwatch for iPhone, but if you have an Android phone – and don't fancy picking the Google Pixel Watch – then the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 is a great option for you.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 is a modern, stylish take on a smartwatch - it’s slim and we found it to be very comfortable on the wrist. It's made from tough armour aluminium so it’ll be able to withstand knocks and bumps, and it’s waterproof too, so will happily survive a splash or a swim.
The latest generation of Samsung's smartwatch impressed us with its new 'BioActive Sensor' which is able to track everything from your heart rate to blood pressure and ECG, and you can even use it to measure your rough body composition. It takes a matter of seconds and you’ll be able to see data about your skeletal muscle, BMI, body water and fat percentage.
The only downside here is battery life, we found at 40 hours it’s not the longest-lasting on this list, and that goes down a fair amount when you’re using the GPS or workout tracking features. It’s still good enough for most people though. Find out more in the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 review but long story short, this is one of the best smartwatches if you're an Android user.
If you spend a lot of time outdoors and you want a smartwatch to keep track of pretty much anything you can think of, look no further than the Garmin Fenix 7X. A tough and rugged beast, it can do it all, and it even has a built-in flashlight!
The inclusion of solar harvesting (which can be found on other Fenix models) is incredible and gives the 7X truly excellent battery life. In regular smartwatch mode you can expect up to 37 days with solar, but if you switch to battery saver mode you can see this increase to around a year or more.
It's not cheap, but when you consider it can do virtually anything you could possibly ever need a smartwatch to do, and then some, it should be expected. Put simply, this is the best multi-sports smartwatch you can currently buy.
TAG's latest attempt at a smartwatch, the TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4, is a handsome looking wearable, mimicking a traditional mechanical watch, with its fully circular display and sporty-looking case. The new model improves on previous generations by offering two sizes, 45mm and 42mm, longer battery life, a brighter screen, and more sports tracking options.
The Connected is undeniably a class above its Android Wear siblings, and aesthetically preferable to the most expensive Apple Watch variants, which are the only rivals in the 'luxe smartwatch' market. Out of all of the smartwatches we've tested, it feels the most 'watch-like'.
Basically, if you're looking for a luxury Android smartwatch – this is the one for you.
If you've got an iPhone and don't want to spend lots of money on the Apple Watch Series 8 or Ultra, then the Apple Watch SE is a great alternative. Despite being 'the affordable' smartwatch from Apple, we think the SE is still a truly excellent performer.
You won't notice where Apple has made cutbacks in general use, making you feel as though you're getting the full Apple Watch experience, with all the advantages that brings in terms of convenience, fitness tracking, and health and safety features.
With prices starting at AU$399, you do get a lot for your money, from screen to design to sensors to being more future-proofed thanks to its faster processor. It's also important to note that these translate into better health features, including more accurate heart sensing (important for detecting irregularities) and fall detection.
The Garmin Venu 2, in our opinion, doesn't quite do enough to worry the likes of Apple or Google in the looks department, but it excels when it comes to health and fitness tracking, performance and (perhaps most crucially) battery life.
Garmin says you can get up to 11 days in smartwatch mode (12 in battery saver mode) and GPS turned off. If you do turn GPS on then battery life does take an expected hit, but at 22 hours it's still one of the better performers.
This, coupled with a brilliant and vibrant display that no other Garmin watches have, makes it one of the best smartwatches you can get your hands on right now, especially if you're tracking multiple sports.
While the MARQ boasts all the features that make Garmin watches the most comprehensive fitness tracking devices out there, the large price tag might be too much to swallow for most.
Garmin has now released a second generation of MARQ smartwatches, although T3 Editor Matt Kollat has made it clear he won't be buying one anytime soon, due to the astronomical price.
But, if you do want something truly premium on your wrist, there’s no denying that this is a luxurious watch packing some damn gorgeous, high-quality materials. But we just don't think that’s enough to justify its price given what else is available.
Don’t get us wrong, there’s definitely nothing wrong with the MARQ, it’s just not a product many people are going to be genuinely interested in buying.
Still, most opinions about this watch will be split into two camps: you’ll either think it’s a ridiculous waste of money, or you think it’s a beautiful object that you just have to own. And to be honest, either is fair. If you’ve got the dosh and want to treat yourself, go ahead: you’re likely to be disappointed (well, maybe except for the display).
The Mobvoi TicWatch E3 leads the pack for cheap smartwatches, several important features that you’d normally expect to find on much more expensive models. It runs on Google’s Wear OS operating system, which allows you to make full use of tools like Google Fit and Google Assistant. Beyond that, the watch will integrate seamlessly with any of the thousands of Google Play apps to suit your specific needs and interests. The TicWatch E3’s health features include built-in GPS for all of your tracking needs, as well as 24/7 heart-rate monitoring. It’s also water-resistant to a depth of 50m, making it a great companion for swimmers alongside its specific swim tracking data metrics such as lap count, stroke count and swimming style.
With this watch you’re not getting the most stylish of options, but it's lightweight, comfortable and looks good enough on the wrist. If you prefer a chunkier and more rugged build,, then you may prefer the only slightly pricier TicWatch S2, which offers US military grade durability with much of the same function.
The biggest downsides to this watch are the two-day battery life, which is far from the most generous on the list, and the lack of NFC; so the one Google app you won’t be able to use is Google Pay. As long as those aren't deal-breakers though, we believe this watch offers exceptional value at such a low price. And that makes it our clear pick for the best cheap smartwatch overall.
The Garmin Vivoactive 4 is a step up on its predecessor when it comes to battery life, and adds even more features physically active users love.
You can keep an eye on your health 24/7 with Pulse Ox (blood oxygen levels) and Body Battery energy monitor features, as well as store music directly from streaming apps. If you subscribe to a premium service, you can download your tunes to the watch and listen without needing your phone nearby.
It comes with pre-loaded exercises and offers on-screen animated workouts, to guide you through your fitness journey. You can also create custom training plans in the Garmin Connect app, making it particularly useful for runners.
It boasts a great display and will give you up to eight days of battery in smartwatch mode – and around six hours in GPS and music mode.
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