Which Smartwatch Is Right for You?

A smartwatch isn’t going to replace your smartphone. In fact, it’s more of a smartphone accessory these days. They have tiny screens and many of the apps you use every day — Instagram, Twitter, Facebook — don’t have smartwatch apps. Most smartwatches don’t have LTE (or you have to pay a lot extra for it), meaning they can’t receive calls or texts when your smartphone isn’t nearby.

But there are many advantages to having a smartwatch. They show you who’s calling, texting or emailing you without forcing you to look at your phone. They replace your need for a dedicated fitness tracker — because most smartwatches these days are souped-up fitness trackers. And some smartwatches look pretty cool. Whatever your lifestyle and which smartphone you use, you’re bound to find something that suits you.

Not all smartwatches are the same, however. Most fall between a fitness tracker and something that relays smartphone notifications to your wrist. Some smartwatches can work untethered, completely autonomously from a smartphone — you can make calls, send texts and navigate directions, all while your smartphone is miles away. There are also hybrid smartwatches, made by mechanical watch manufacturers like Tag Heuer, Fossil and Withings, that have sensors to track fitness and traditional watch battery that lasts months.

Before pulling the trigger on the latest Apple Watch (the Series 8) or a smartwatch by Samsung, Google or Fitbit— do some research. Make sure it’s a smartwatch that’ll work to its full potential with your current smartphone and matches your budget and how you want to use it. If you work out a lot, get a fitness-focused smartwatch. If you go off the grid, get an LTE-connected one. Whatever your case, make sure you know the basics.

Things to Consider Before You Buy

Compatibility: Not every smartwatch is compatible with every smartphone. Pretty much every smartphone manufacturer today makes a smartwatch (or several) that’s designed to work in the same ecosystem as their smartphones. They pair beautifully together and work with the same apps and services. This is why it makes a lot of sense for iPhone users to get an Apple Watch, Samsung Galaxy owners to get a Galaxy Watch, and Google Pixel owners to get a Pixel Watch. There are third-party manufacturers, such as Garmin, who make smartwatches for specific activities (like golf, hiking or running), but you really have to want that for those options to make sense.

GPS or LTE model: Most smartwatches are available in either GPS-only or LTE (cellular) models. The main advantage of an LTE-connected smartwatch is that it can work completely untethered from a smartphone, so you can make calls and texts and stream music independently of your phone. The main downside to going with an LTE model is that it’ll cost more upfront, plus you’ll have to pay a monthly fee to add the smartwatch to your cellular plan. For most people, the “GPS only” models just make more sense.

Built-in GPS. A few years ago it was rare for a wearable or smartwatch to have built-in GPS — but that’s changed. As these wearables have become more fitness-focused, a built-in GPS has become vital. It allows the smartwatch to track speed, distance and location, all of which can help calculate calories burned and determine the overall success of a workout. It can also help give you more accurate weather reports and navigation instructions if your smartphone isn’t nearby (and it won’t kill a lot of data). It’s mainly a tool to gauge fitness, however; like heart-rate sensors, it’s mainly for people into fitness.

Heart rate sensor: Knowing your heart rate is the most important fitness metric — experts agree. The data, taken both during and after your workout, will help you achieve certain fitness goals. If you’re serious about working out or just improving your cardiovascular health, you want a smartwatch with a heart rate sensor.

Battery life: The main complaint with smartwatches is battery life. There are very few on the market that can last longer than 24 hours, so manage expectations. Most of today’s high-end smartwatches have bright LCD screens or AMOLED displays, which are beautiful to look at but tend to kill the battery. Basically, expect to take it off at night to charge.

Design: At the end of the day, a smartwatch isn’t just another device — it’s part of your wardrobe. You’re not going to put it away when you want, like your smartphone, so you should like the way it looks. Also, smartwatches come in various sizes, colors and materials, and sometimes even in more refined or rugged options.

Why You Should Trust Us

We’ve been writing about and reviewing tech and fitness gadgets — including speakers, headphones, earbuds and other audio components that run the gamut from consumer to hi-fi — for near-on a decade. We also work with major brands and talk to experts within the industry. The below selections of smartwatches are a combination of products that we either own, have had hands-on experience with, or are made by brands we trust.

Apple

Most High-End Apple Watch

Apple Watch Ultra

• $799.00 at Amazon

• Operating system: watchOS
• Sizes: 49mm
• Models available: LTE only
• Battery life: up to 36 hours (not low power mode)

The Apple Watch Ultra is the biggest, brightest, most rugged, most capable, longest-lasting and most expensive smartwatch that Apple has ever been released. It’s specifically designed for extreme athletes and adventurers — including recreational scuba divers — as well as people who just want the best and biggest smartwatch that Apple has to offer. It’s only available in 49mm cellular models.

Read our review of the Apple Watch Ultra.

Apple

Best Apple Watch for Most People

Apple Watch Series 8

• $289.00 at Amazon
  $399.00 (28% off)

• Operating system: watchOS
• Sizes: 41mm or 45mm
• Models available: GPS or LTE
• Battery life: up to 24 hours (not low power mode)

The Series 8 is the best Apple Watch for most people with an iPhone. — mostly because it is smaller and half as expensive as the new Ultra. The Series 8 is very similar to last year’s Series 7, as it has the same look and feel, the same display, same battery life and costs the same amount. The main difference, other than a newer and faster processor, is that the Series 8 has a few more health and safety features. It has a new body temperature sensor that is really designed to help women track their cycles. And it has a new car crash detector feature that’s powered by upgraded sensors (specifically accelerometers and gyroscopes).

Read our review of the Apple Watch Series 8.

Apple

Best Budget Apple Watch

Apple Watch SE (Second Generation)

• $199.00 at Amazon
  $249.00 (20% off)

• Operating system: watchOS
• Sizes: 40mm or 44mm
• Models available: GPS or LTE
• Battery life: up to 24 hours (not low power mode)

Released in late 2022, the second-generation Apple Watch SE is essentially a more budget-friendly alternative to the Series 8. It looks basically identical and has most of the same features and abilities. The difference is that it lacks some of the Series 8’s more advanced features (like an always-on display) and wellness sensors (specifically the electrical heart-rate and blood oxygen sensors), which are ultimately things that the vast majority of people are probably perfectly fine living without.

Google

Best Smartwatch for Google Pixel

Google Pixel Watch

• $239.00 at Amazon
  $350.00 (32% off)

• Operating system: Wear OS
• Sizes: 41mm
• Models available: GPS or LTE
• Battery life: up to 24 hours

Released in late 2022, the Pixel Watch is Google’s first-ever smartwatch and it’s designed to specifically work with Pixel smartphones. It runs Wear OS and is integrated with all Google’s apps and services (such as Google Assistant, Google Maps, Google Calendar and Google Home). And thanks to Google acquisition of Fitbit several years back, the Pixel Watch is fully integrated with Fitbit’s health-tracking. The Pixel Watch starts at $350 for the GPS-only model, while LTE models cost an extra $50.

Walmart

Best Smartwatch for Most Samsung Galaxy Owners

Samsung Galaxy Watch 5

• $310.00 at Walmart

• Operating system: Wear OS
• Sizes: 40mm or 44mm
• Models available: GPS or LTE
• Battery life: up to 50 hours

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 is the perfect smartwatch for anybody with one of Samsung’s Galaxy smartphones. It’s a new and improved version of 2021’s Galaxy Watch 4; as it has a more durable and scratch-resistant design, faster charging, improved sleep tracking and a new temperature sensor (which, amongst other things, can help tell if you’re sick). It also is has a deeper integrated with Google services, so you can get voice navigation with Google Maps or download music from YouTube Music. The Galaxy Watch 5 starts at $280, or $330 for the LTE model, and is available in 40mm or 44mm sizes.

Amazon

Best Upgrade Smartwatch for Samsung Galaxy Owners

Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro

• $330.00 at Amazon
  $450.00 (27% off)

• Operating system: Wear OS
• Sizes: 45mm
• Models available: GPS or LTE
• Battery life: up to 80 hours

The Galaxy Watch 5 “Pro” is a larger and more ruggedized version of the Galaxy Watch 5. It has a titanium casing and comes with an all-new D-Buckle Sport Band, both of which add durability. Maybe most significantly, the Watch 5 Pro has the largest battery that Samsung has ever put in a smartwatch — it’s 60 percent larger than the battery in last year’s Galaxy Watch 4. And it has exclusive features for cycling, hiking and running — specifically, you can download routes and there’s a “track back” feature to help you get home. The Galaxy Watch 5 Pro starts at $450 for a GPS-only model, with the LTE model costing an extra $50. It’s only available in the 45mm size.

Fitbit

Best Fitbit Smartwatch

Fitbit Sense 2

• $199.00 at Walmart

• Operating system: Fitbit OS
• Sizes: 40mm
• Models available: GPS or LTE
• Battery life: up to six days

The Fitbit Sense 2 is the company’s most high-end smartwatch. It looks almost identical to the company’s Versa 4, but the Sense 2 just a bit more sensors and health tracking features; specifically, it has a superior heart-rate sensor (thank to an ECG) and a dedicated skin temperature sensor for stress detection. Overall, the Sense 2 is a solid third-party smartwatch for people who want a lot of wellness data, but it’s also kind of expensive considering how similar it is to the Versa 4.

Fitbit

Best Budget Fitbit Smartwatch

Fitbit Versa 4

• $160.00 at Target
  $230.00 (30% off)

• Operating system: Fitbit OS
• Sizes: 40mm
• Models available: GPS or LTE
• Battery life: up to six days

The Fitbit Versa 4 is a more affordable version of the company’s Sense 2. It’s good for tracking fitness and general health, thanks to its built-in GPS and heart-rate sensor (but no ECG). Overall, it’s a decent option for people who want an entry-level smartwatch from a third-party maker.

Amazon

Best Budget Running Watch

Coros Pace 2

• $179.00 at Amazon
  $199.00 (10% off)

• Operating system: Wear OS
• Sizes: 42mm
• Models available: GPS
• Battery life: up to 20 days

The Coros Pace 2 is an excellent, lightweight and relatively affordable smartwatch for runners and other endurance athletes. It has all the necessary sensors to track general fitness, but it also has running-specific features such as interval training (pace, power, cadence, heart rate) and programs to help you get in shape for various races. The other nice thing is that the Pace 2 is compatible with a wide variety of third-party accessories, such as chest straps and power meters, so it doesn’t limit what other devices you want to use to help you train. It also has a three-week battery life, which is pretty epic.

Amazon

Best Garmin Smartwatch for Outdoor Adventurers

Garmin Fenix 7

• $850.00 at Amazon
  $900.00 (6% off)

• Operating system: GarminOS
• Sizes: 42mm, 47mm or 51mm
• Models available: GPS
• Battery life: up to two weeks

Garmin’s Fenix line of smartwatches is designed for elite-level adventurers — or for people who just want basically the best smartwatch that Garmin has to offer. The Fenix 7 is super rugged and packed with features. It has all the health and fitness tracking capabilities you’d want and supports workouts for most activities. It has a big, beautiful and super responsive touchscreen display (which is one of its biggest upgrades over its predecessor, the Fenix 6). Other than its price, the only downside is that this is quite a large smartwatch and might not be a good fit for those with small wrists.

Amazon

Best Garmin Smartwatch for Runners

Garmin Forerunner 955

• $500.00 at Amazon

• Operating system: GarminOS
• Sizes: 46mm
• Models available: GPS
• Battery life: up to 15 days

Garmin’s Forerunner 955 is a serious smartwatch for serious endurance athletes (and it offers most of the same fitness-focused features as the company’s even higher-end Fenix line of smartwatches). It lets you train for specific events, like a triathlon, where it can show your interval and transition times. It also works with most of the popular third-party products and apps, such as Final Surge and TrainingPeaks. Compared to its predecessor, the Forerunner 945, Garmin’s new running smartwatch has a bigger battery, more built-in storage for music, and a touchscreen display.

(For those looking for a cheaper and more entry-level Garmin running smartwatch, check out the Forerunner 55. )

Amazon

Best Budget Garmin Smartwatch

Garmin Vivoactive 4

• $310.00 at Amazon
  $330.00 (6% off)

• Operating system: GarminOS
• Sizes: 40mm or 45mm
• Models available: GPS
• Battery life: up to 8 days

The Garmin Vivoactive 4 is a great all-around smartwatch. It is very comparable to the latest Apple Watch or Galaxy Watch, as it’s priced similarly and has pretty much the same fitness- and health-tracking abilities. The difference is that the Vivoactive 4 has a significantly better battery life and a different look and feel.

Amazon

Best Garmin Smartwatch for Golfers

Garmin Approach S62

• $420.00 at Amazon
  $500.00 (16% off)

• Operating system: GarminOS
• Sizes: 47mm
• Models available: GPS
• Battery life: up to two weeks

The Garmin Approach S62 is smartwatch specifically designed for serious golfers. It has a lot of the same fitness and activity tracking capabilities as Garmin’s other smartwatches, but it has a ton of built-in features specifically designed for golfers. It’s compatible with over 40,000 courses all over the world. And once on the course, the Approach S62 can give you detailed information about each holes and accurate distance readings for each shot. Maybe its most unique is a virtual caddie, which takes information about your golf game and then will recommend club and swing recommendations throughout your round.

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