Best smartwatches in 2026 from Apple and Android reviewed

If you’re reading this, it means you’re on the lookout for the best smartwatch you can buy. Maybe your trusty Apple Watch has finally reached the end of its life, or perhaps your Android Wear OS timepiece met an unfortunate end after a not-so-graceful tumble off the table (thanks to your mischievous cat, no doubt).

Whatever the reason, smartwatches have come a long way. Whether you’re a fitness fanatic tracking every step, a busy professional managing notifications on the go, or simply someone who loves tech-packed accessories, there’s a perfect smartwatch for you. But with so many models offering different features, it can feel like a lot to sift through. That’s why we’ve curated this guide.

We’ve gathered the top smartwatches on the market right now to help you make your decision easier, whether you’re an iOS or Android user looking for an upgrade or a first-time buyer.

Why you can trust Stuff: Our team of experts rigorously test each product and provide honest, unbiased reviews to help you make informed decisions. For more details, read how we test and rate products.

Quick list: what’s the best smartwatch?

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What to consider when buying a smartwatch

If you’re stuck trying to pick a smartwatch, don’t worry – Stuff’s wearable experts have broken it down so you can find the right one.

Smartphone compatibility

The first thing to think about is how it’ll work with your phone. iPhone owners have it easy: the best match is an Apple Watch. It plugs straight into iOS, plays nicely with iMessage, Apple Pay, and other built-in apps, and feels completely at home in Apple’s ecosystem. Whether you go for the Series, SE, or Ultra, you’ll get smooth performance, strong health features, and a polished design. The only catch? They don’t work with Android.

If you’re on Android, things are more open. Watches running Google’s Wear OS are your main option, with Samsung, Google, and even high-end names like TAG Heuer making models. Wear OS brings Google Assistant, a big app library, and an interface that feels familiar. That said, some extras – like Samsung’s advanced fitness tracking or Samsung Pay – only work if you’re using a Samsung phone, so it’s worth checking before you buy.

Not into Wear OS? Garmin, Huawei, and Fitbit all make solid alternatives. These tend to lean more towards sports and health than apps. Garmin is brilliant for serious training and multisport use, while Fitbit shines when it comes to sleep and activity tracking. Garmin models also usually last far longer between charges than most Wear OS rivals, which is handy if you spend a lot of time outdoors.

Display

When weighing up options, focus on the basics you’ll notice every day. A clear, bright screen is essential if you’re often outside. Battery life is another big one. No watch lasts forever, but some can manage several days. The Apple Watch Ultra and Garmin watches are great for longer trips, while most Wear OS models will want charging each night. Fitness bands are a lighter alternative if you value endurance over extras.

Health tracking

Health tracking is a big selling point too. Many watches now include ECG, blood oxygen, and even sleep apnea detection. The Apple Watch nails ECG accuracy, while the Pixel Watch (with Fitbit smarts built in) is more about fitness. But not all brands perform equally well, so real-world testing matters.

Durability

Water resistance and durability also differ. The Apple Watch Ultra can take on deep-water dives, while cheaper options like the CMF Watch only cope with splashes. Rugged designs suit hikers and outdoor types, while budget watches stick to everyday fitness.

Other things to consider

Don’t forget about extras. Some affordable models don’t have app stores, which limits what they can do. Others may skip features like NFC payments. Strap compatibility also varies – some brands lock you into their own bands. A few smartwatches even support 4G LTE, so you can make calls without your phone, but that means paying for a data plan.

In the end, it comes down to how you’ll use it. Apple Watch and Wear OS devices are best for all-round use and strong ecosystem support. Garmin, Huawei, and Fitbit are ideal if sports performance and long battery life matter more.

Finally, if you’re buying a smartwatch for your child, read Stuff’s guide to the best smartwatch for kids.

The best smartwatches you can buy today:

1. Apple Watch 11

The Apple Watch Series 11 is the best smartwatch you can buy right now. We’ve tested dozens of rivals, and nothing comes close. We love the design, which comes in 42mm and 46mm sizes, with aluminium and titanium finishes. There’s a shade for everyone, from classic silver to the striking new space gray.

The health features are genuinely impressive. Hypertension notifications, sleep score tracking, ECG, and blood oxygen monitoring are all on board. Battery lasts a full 24 hours, and a 15-minute charge buys you eight more. The new ceramic-coated display is noticeably tougher, and shouldn’t develop scratches over years of use.

5G cellular means calls and streaming work without your iPhone nearby. Workout Buddy, powered by Apple Intelligence, coached us through runs with real-time spoken feedback. It felt like having a personal trainer on your wrist.

Why we chose it

This smartwatch does things no competitor can match, and it’s just so polished. The hypertension notifications stand out as a potential lifesaver, validated across 100,000 participants, it seems like serious science.

Sleep scoring gave us genuinely useful nightly feedback. We actually changed our bedtime routine because of it. The Liquid Glass interface on watchOS 26 looks beautiful too – a small detail, but one that matters daily. If you own an iPhone, this is simply the one to buy.

• Read more: Apple Watch 11

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2. Google Pixel Watch 4

The Pixel Watch 4 is the best smartwatch for Android users. It has a gorgeous circular design, milled from recycled aluminium, that feels more like jewellery than tech. The domed Actua 360 AMOLED display is stunning – 3000 nits bright and perfectly readable in direct sunlight.

Wear OS 6.0 is smooth and intuitive, with Gemini AI just a wrist-raise away. Fitbit health tracking covers everything from sleep to stress to GPS runs.

Battery life on the 45mm model easily exceeded Google’s 40-hour claim during testing, regularly hitting 50–60 hours. Fast charging takes it from zero to 50% in just 15 minutes.

Oh, and Emergency satellite SOS adds genuine peace of mind for outdoor adventures.

Why we chose it

We wore the Pixel Watch 4 for two full weeks, day and night, and came away genuinely impressed. The design is premium. The software is mature. The health tracking is accurate and genuinely useful – not just a pile of data.

Google has finally delivered a complete smartwatch. It’s the first Android wearable that truly competes with the Apple Watch. If you own an Android phone, this is the one to buy.

• Read more: Google Pixel Watch 4 review

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3. Apple Watch Ultra 3

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is the ultimate smartwatch for iPhone users who love the outdoors. It has the largest display ever on an Apple Watch, powered by LTPO3 and wide-angle OLED technology. It’s bright, sharp, and easy to read at any angle.

Battery life hits 42 hours, stretching to 72 hours in Low Power Mode, and satellite communications let you text emergency services and share your location with no phone signal needed.

GPS accuracy is best-in-class for a sports watch. The titanium case is tough, repairable, and made with 100% recycled materials.

Oh, and like the Apple Watch 11 above, hypertension notifications monitor your blood pressure passively in the background, and Sleep Score helps you understand and improve your rest.

Why we chose it

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is the most impressive smartwatch around. Satellite SOS, hypertension alerts, and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence make it genuinely life-changing for active users.

The battery lasts long enough for multi-day adventures, and fast charging gives you 12 hours of life in just 15 minutes.

Whether you’re trail running, diving, or cycling, it has a dedicated feature set for your sport. If you own an iPhone and spend time outdoors, this is the watch to buy, but if you’re not interested in sports, then the Apple Watch 11 is the better bet.

• Read more: Apple Watch Ultra 3

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4. CMF Watch Pro 3

The CMF Watch 3 Pro is the best budget smartwatch you can buy right now. For not very much money at all, it punches well above its price.

The 1.42-inch AMOLED display is sharp, vivid, and easy to read indoors. Battery life is exceptional, lasting up to 13 days on a single charge. Dual-band GPS locks on in around five seconds and tracks routes accurately, and heart rate monitoring is reliable enough for casual exercisers, matching results from watches costing three times the price.

A built-in running coach helps you train toward goals like a first 5K or marathon. Best of all, the interface is clean, simple, and responsive throughout.

Why we chose it

We wore the CMF Watch 3 Pro for several weeks, tracking runs, sleep, and daily health metrics. We think the value is almost unbeatable. GPS is fast and accurate. Battery life regularly hit 10 to 11 days in real-world testing.

It handles all the smartwatch essentials without fuss. Yes, it lacks swappable bezels and isn’t suited for swimming. But if you want a reliable, long-lasting fitness watch without spending a fortune, this is the one to get.

• Read more: CMF Watch Pro 3 review

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5. Samsung Galaxy Watch 8

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is the best smartwatch for Samsung users who want premium style and serious health features. The iconic rotating bezel returns, letting you scroll through menus with a satisfying click – no need to tap tiny screen targets mid-run.

The squircle design is bold and distinctive (although won’t be to everyone’s tastes), borrowing its look from the flagship Galaxy Watch Ultra. The 3000-nit AMOLED display is stunning in any light.

Health tracking is comprehensive, covering ECG, sleep apnea detection, skin temperature, and vascular load monitoring. A new running assessment tool creates personalised training plans across 150 options.

Gemini AI sits on your wrist, ready to control workouts and your smart home.

Why we chose it

We wore the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic for several weeks and found almost nothing to fault. The rotating bezel is genuinely the best input method on any smartwatch – especially during workouts. Health and fitness tracking is among the most comprehensive on Android.

The display is razor-sharp and blindingly bright outdoors. Battery life won’t wow you at around 30 to 40 hours, but it’s consistent. If you’re in the Samsung ecosystem and want a watch that feels truly premium, the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is worth every penny.

• Read more: Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 review

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6. OnePlus Watch Lite

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The OnePlus Watch Lite is one of the best smartwatches for battery life. It looks like a proper watch, slim at just 8.9mm thick, with a circular 1.46-inch AMOLED display that hits 3,000 nits and is protected by sapphire crystal glass. It’s genuinely beautiful for the price.

Battery life lasts around four days with always-on display enabled, stretching close to a week with it off. GPS locks in under ten seconds. Heart rate tracking stays within a few beats per minute of a chest strap. It’s rated IP68 and 5ATM, so swimming is no problem.

At this price, it massively undercuts true smartwatch rivals without feeling cheap.

Why we chose it

The OnePlus Watch Lite is not pretending to be a mini smartphone on your wrist – it just focuses on looking good, great battery life, and tracking your health really well. We wore it for weeks and came away impressed by how refined it feels for the money.

The screen is gorgeous. The build feels premium. And the battery easily outlasts most Wear OS rivals. There’s no contactless payments and no app store, which will put some people off. But if you want a stylish, reliable fitness companion that stays charged all week, this is a fantastic choice.

• Read more: OnePlus Watch Lite review

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7. Garmin Fenix 8 Pro

The latest incarnation of Garmin’s do-it-all rugged multisport and adventure watch is getting smarter. It now packs a killer-sharp smartwatch-style AMOLED screen, better battery life, and a built-in mic and speaker to power some basic voice-activation and memo tools.

All that new firepower adds to Garmin’s latest sensors to unlock the most comprehensive suite of tracking, training, recovery, health and general smarts that you’ll find on a Garmin sports watch.

The three sizes (43mm, 47mm and 51mm) all sit big on the wrist, and it’s built to withstand adventures with premium materials such as toughened sapphire glass and titanium.

It goes big on navigation, with offline maps and the excellent ClimbPro feature that lets you preview the lumps and bumps up in your route ahead. The dive watch credentials have also been improved, allowing you to explore 40m depths, and the smartwatch skills are top-tier too, with offline Spotify music, contactless payments, and the new Garmin Messenger app.

The Garmin Fenix has always been one of the best multisports watches, but this generation is a whole lot better. It’s tough and talented, offering reliable GPS and heart-rate accuracy along with excellent battery life. The AMOLED display really lifts the whole experience without sacrificing too much stamina.

All the training essentials are here, including adaptive coaching, workout recommendations… and others that most people will surely never need.

• Read more: Garmin Fenix 8 Pro review

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8. TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E5

The TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E5 is our top pick if you’re after something that looks and feels like a real luxury watch. From across the room, you’d never guess it was a smartwatch thanks to the chamfered edges, ceramic bezel, and Swiss design.

The 45mm titanium model is large but surprisingly light, staying comfortable through workouts and long days at a desk. The AMOLED display is bright, vivid, and packed with beautiful heritage watch faces inspired by the Carrera and Aquaracer.

Crucially, it’s the first non-Apple watch to earn Made for iPhone certification. Dual-band GPS, heart rate, blood oxygen, and New Balance guided workouts round out a seriously impressive fitness package.

Why we chose it

After two weeks on the wrist, what struck us most was how convincingly the Calibre E5 bridges two worlds. It genuinely feels like wearing a proper TAG Heuer, not a gadget dressed up as one. The new TAG Heuer OS is clean and fast, and iPhone compatibility is a genuine game-changer for luxury watch fans reluctant to switch to Apple.

Battery life comfortably hit two days in testing, and the guided New Balance workouts are far more useful than you’d expect. Yes, there’s no tap-to-pay and the software is still maturing. But if you want Swiss craftsmanship with real smart credentials, nothing else comes close.

• Read more: TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E5 review

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Smartwatch specification comparison

Frequently asked questions

Upcoming smartwatch trends

The smartwatch scene hasn’t seen huge leaps lately, but some clear trends are shaping up.

Health and fitness tracking will keep getting smarter. Expect watches with more advanced sensors to monitor heart health, stress, and potentially even blood glucose. Sleep tracking is also moving forward, with better tools to flag issues like sleep apnea and give more useful feedback on rest quality.

Battery life is another big focus. Adventure and sports watches in particular are starting to stretch further, with solar charging and more efficient batteries helping some models last several days without a top-up. For outdoor users, that shift could be just as important as new health features.