It’s easy to get excited about the best smartwatches out there, only to be overwhelmed by all the choices. Whether it’s the latest and greatest from Apple or the high-powered Samsung Galaxy Watch, there are just so many different options out there. There are even premium-tier smartwatches, like the TAG Heuer Connected, that just screams style and luxury.
Finding the best smartwatch is more than just getting the most popular or the priciest. The Google Pixel Watch offers a lot of smart functionality for a premium price, while Fitbit smartwatches have a less impressive feature arsenal but sell for cheaper. There is also Huawei, a brand that rides the fine line of offering premium wearables for little money.
Below, we listed the best smartwatch options for every budget from every manufacturer worth knowing about right now. For more wearable options, check out T3's roundups of the best Apple Watches, best fitness trackers, best multisport watches and best outdoor watches.
The best smartwatches you can buy right now
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The Apple Watch is so popular for a number of reasons, one of them being its big focus on health and fitness. The Apple Watch Series 8 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.
The latest Apple Watch iteration gained a temperature sensor which can be used for menstrual cycle tracking and a low-power mode which can extend the battery life whilst maintaining core smartwatch functions. 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. The Pixel Watch is no slouch regarding health and fitness, thanks to its deep integration with Fitbit, a company well-known for its wellness and fitness offerings. You get automatic exercise tracking, sleep monitoring, heart rate tracking and ECG readings, all of which can be viewed in the Fitbit app on your phone.
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 watch's display is a bit on the small side, which can sometimes make using the Pixel Watch feel a little awkward. The battery life is much shorter than most of its rivals, and that's a big disappointment. Overall, it's easy to look past these first gen foibles and fall in love with the Pixel Watch. It's useful, comfortable and endearing - you won't want to take it off.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 is a modern, stylish take on a smartwatch - it’s slim, and we found it very comfortable. It's made from tough armour aluminium, so it’ll be able to withstand knocks and bumps, oh, and it’s waterproof too.
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, you can 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, which 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.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 review
Be sure to check our Samsung discount codes to get a great deal.
TAG's latest attempt at a smartwatch, the TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4, is handsome looking wearable, mimicking a traditional mechanical watch, with its fully circular display and sporty-looking case. The new model improved on previous generations by offering two sizes, 45mm and 42mm, longer battery life, 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.
Read our full TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4 review
If you've got an iPhone and don't want to spend lots of money on the Apple Watch Series 8, then the Apple Watch SE is a great alternative. Despite being 'the affordable' smartwatch from Apple, we think the SE is a truly excellent smartwatch. You won't notice where Apple has made cutbacks in general use, making it feel like a full Apple Watch experience, with all the advantages that bring in convenience, fitness tracking, and health and safety features.
From screen to design to sensors to being more future-proofed thanks to its faster processor, the latest Apple Watch SE is an excellent update over previous iterations of the wearable. These translate into better health features, including more accurate heart sensing (important for detecting irregularities) and fall detection.
Read our full Apple Watch SE review
If the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 is a little on the pricey side for you, then the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active2 is the next best thing. It boasts a similarly sleek design and powerful hardware. The circular screen is certainly on par with the Apple Watch, and so too is the gorgeous, streamlined design. It comes packing some neat abilities as well, such as Blood Pressure monitoring, the ability to take ECG readings and water resistance.
A collection of new, information-filled watch faces give it a modern edge, and while it lacks quality third-party apps, we think you'll find the built-in apps sufficient. Overall, it's a very compelling package and one we would definitely recommend.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 review
As a stylish lifestyle smartwatch, the Garmin Venu can't really compete with the market's more established smartwatches, like the Apple Watch, but it excels where these devices don’t – through some impressively detailed fitness and health tracking features, performance and battery life. 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. In our Garmin Venu 2 review, we called it a 'stunning fitness watch with amazing battery life and a beautiful AMOLED screen'.
Read our full Garmin Venu 2 review
The Watch GT 3 is a brilliant update over the Watch GT 2, and considering the modest retail price, you would be a fool not to get one today. The Huawei Watch GT 3 surprised us with a set of robust fitness features, and it's simply mind-blowing how long the battery lasts, considering a watch with such a huge and bright AMOLED display.
We thoroughly enjoyed testing the Huawei Watch GT 3, and we can wholeheartedly recommend it to people who aren't keen on getting a diehard running watch but would like to have the option to track their physical activities accurately nevertheless.
Read our full Huawei Watch GT 3 review
The Fitbit Sense 2 is an excellent health smartwatch, even better than its predecessor. It has a better stress tracking system, a more user-friendly interface, a physical button, and the same handsome design we all admire. Better still, the watch didn’t change the features that worked well, including passive activity tracking, sleep tracking, etc.
Sadly, some of the changes aren’t as welcome as others. The exclusion of WiFi support is a big no-no, not just because it makes music listening on the watch impossible, but because it also takes longer to update the watch. The fact that the WiFi integration is in the watch but cannot be turned on is nothing short of infuriating.
That said, it’s hard not to recommend the Fitbit Sense 2 as it’s just so pretty and user-friendly. Sure, it might be slower than the most cutting-edge wearables nowadays, and it certainly won’t replace the Garmin Forerunner 255 as anyone’s go-to training partner, but as a health-forward smartwatch, it’d be hard to find a better and more handsome option as the Fitbit Sense 2.
Read our full Fitbit Sense 2 review
While the MARQ boasts all the features that make the best Garmin watches so desirable, its large price tag might be too much to swallow for most. There’s no denying that this is a luxurious watch packing some damn right gorgeous, high-quality materials, but we just don't think that’s enough to justify its price given what else is available.
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).
Read our full Garmin MARQ review
How we test the best smartwatches
We spend a lot of time reviewing the latest smartwatches, so when it comes to recommending what smartwatch to buy, you can be safe in the knowledge that we'll recommend the best options for you.
We'll usually spend a week or longer testing the latest smartwatches. We try out the very latest features to see if they work and if they're useful. This might be a new health monitoring tool, a new fitness tracking mode, or how comfortable a new strap is. We test everything in-depth, so if it's a new fitness feature, for example, we'll get our fitness editor to review it thoroughly.
All of these new features also get tested alongside everything a smartwatch should be classically good at, such as how bright and clear the display is, how reliable the smartphone connection is, how long the battery lasts, and how comfortable it is to wear every day.
Once the initial review period is complete, we'll publish a full review, give the smartwatch a star rating, and add an abridged review to this guide. If the smartwatch is then substantially updated after our initial review, we might choose to revisit that model to see if we need to change our verdict.
How to choose the best smartwatch for you
If you're struggling to choose a smartwatch, here are a few things to consider. In terms of compatibility, Apple Watches only work with iPhones, but smartwatches running Wear OS, Garmin and Fitbit are compatible with both Android and iPhone.
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 also varies from model to model, with the Apple Watch lagging behind the competition. If a maximum of 36 hours of battery life isn't good enough for you, then opt for Huawei, Fitbit or Garmin, which offer battery customisation options and often month-long battery life.
All smartwatches will do some level of fitness tracking these days, but if you're training for a marathon or triathlon then you'll want a more serious running watch from Garmin or Polar. Most smartwatches have at least a heart rate sensor, and some of them can measure ECG, blood oxygen, EDA (stress), monitor sleep etc. The Huawei Watch D can measure blood pressure on the wrist.
All smartwatches have Bluetooth and a few even boast built-in WiFi – that's how they connect to your smartphone. Some have a 4G/Cellular connection as well, which means you can stream music, and receive messages and calls, even if you've left your phone at home. It costs extra and probably isn't worth it for most.
If you're looking to buy a smartwatch for your child, then check out T3's guide to the best smartwatch for kids, because while an Apple Watch or Samsung might be okay for teenagers, they certainly aren't ideal for younger children.
And finally, while most of these smartwatches will count your steps, track your workouts, and measure your heart rate if you're really serious about exercise (like training for a marathon serious), then we suggest you take a look at the best running watches, best fitness trackers or best outdoor watches.
