The Apple Watch Series 10 takes a winning formula and updates it for the Apple Watch's tenth birthday. It is slimmer and lighter than earlier Apple Watches, with two new case sizes: 42-millimeter or 46-millimeter. The wide-angle OLED screens make the watch brighter when looking at it off-axis. The LTPO3 technology also brings a ticking second hand to the always-on display. The Apple Watch Series 10 also comes with sleep apnea notifications, which can detect signs of this potentially dangerous condition over 30 days.

Battery life is still rated for 18 hours, though you can push it to a day and a half with lighter use. The Apple Watch Series 10 now has even faster charging though, which makes up for the battery life somewhat, able to charge to 80% in 30 minutes. Overall, it's an incredibly polished smartwatch and the best choice for most iPhone owners.

Why we like it

The Series 10 is a refined version of its predecessors both on the surface and under the hood. It’s lighter and slimmer than the Series 9, but has a larger, brighter screen that’s easier to read from every angle. It has the most powerful processor of the entire Apple Watch lineup and, as a result,longer shelf life when it comes to software updates. Plus it comes with additional perks, like the ability to play music through the speaker and background noise reduction during calls.

Who it’s best for

The Series 10 is ideal for most iPhone users upgrading from an existing Apple Watch, or anyone deeply invested in the Apple ecosystem who wants a premium smartwatch experience out of the box (including the latest health sensors). It brings enough upgrades to feel like a true step up, while retaining all the features that make the Apple Watch great.

Google's Pixel Watch 4 is available for preorders and promises to be even better than its predecessor, but until we get to test it out ourselves in October, we'll continue to recommend the Pixel Watch 3. It offers one of the most elegant round-screen designs you'll see on a smartwatch and comes in two sizes to suit more wrists. It also comes with a range of new tools, including AI-generated running workouts, the Morning Brief digest, and a potentially life-saving loss of pulse alert that's unique to the Pixel Watch.

With a recent update, the Pixel Watch 3 is also getting Gemini support; Google's AI voice assistant that raises the bar on what you can do hands-free on the wrist.

Why we like it

The Pixel Watch 3 stands out with its minimalist design, and seamless Wear OS experience. While it may lack some of the advanced health features found in other flagship smartwatches, like sleep apnea detection, it makes up for it with more intuitive and actionable fitness tracking via the Fitbit app and its loss of pulse detection feature. 

Who it’s best for

Google and Fitbit fans who want a polished Wear OS watch with smart features and sleek design. It’s ideal for anyone looking for solid fitness tracking without the guesswork, plus the option to understand their metrics further with coaching via the Fitbit app (with a Premium subscription). Anyone heavily invested in the Google ecosystem, will also appreciate the seamless integration with devices like Nest Cam or Google TV.

The $350 OnePlus Watch 3 is a standout smartwatch that outshines other Wear OS contenders with its five-day battery life, sleek design and solid health features. It covers all the essential smartwatch functions while improving on health and fitness tracking by adding more metrics, boosting accuracy, and offering deeper workout analysis. Its one-stop wellness check feature measures blood oxygen levels, sleep quality, cardiovascular health and stress levels.

The OnePlus Watch 3 is a great choice if your main priority is battery life and durability, but it’s not without a few drawbacks. While its bulky stainless steel design makes it look premium and polished, the 1.5-inch AMOLED screen can easily overpower smaller wrists, and there’s no smaller size available. It also lacks an LTE option, and the ECG feature is currently disabled in the US and Canada. Read our OnePlus Watch 3 review.

Why we like it

While the five-day battery life may have been what wowed us most, its stainless steel and aluminum exterior, combined with solid fitness features, sealed the deal making it a well-rounded option for Android users.

Who it’s best for

Android users looking for a premium smartwatch beyond Samsung and Pixel options, or anyone tired of having to charge their Wear OS watch every day. With its oversized frame and 46mm screen (and no smaller size option yet), it’s best suited for people with larger wrists (likely male) as it also lacks period tracking.

The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is one of the most elegant-looking smartwatches you can buy, with its polished stainless steel frame, rotating bezel and analog-inspired watch faces that blend timeless style with modern smarts. But it’s more than just good looks. It ships with Gemini AI on board, capable of handling complex tasks and making Bixby (Samsung's proprietary virtual assistant) feel like a distant memory. Under the hood, it’s packed with new biosensors for advanced health tracking including a first-of-its-kind skin analysis tool that measures antioxidant levels, an AI-powered running coach and a new heart health metric called Vascular Load. You’ll also get dual-band GPS, a customizable action button and a battery that doesn’t completely disappoint (it outlasts both the smaller Galaxy Watch 8 and the Pixel Watch 3 by a couple of hours).

Why we like it:

The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic combines refined hardware with powerful software. That rotating bezel isn’t just a visual statement; it’s one of the most satisfying ways to navigate a smartwatch. The Classic is also one of the few Android watches that nails the balance of premium design and holistic fitness features.

Who it’s best for:

Anyone who wants a smartwatch that turns heads and holds its own. Whether you're a Samsung fan or just an Android user willing to spend a bit more for polish, the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic delivers on elegance, health and fitness features and enough smarts to keep up with your day.

The Apple Watch SE retails for $250 but you can regularly find it discounted to $200 or less, which makes it an excellent choice for the budget-conscious buyer. Expect most of the same features found on more expensive Apple Watch models like the Series 9, including activity tracking, third-party apps and safety features like Emergency SOS. It does miss out on an always-on display and heart-health features like the ECG.

Why we like it

The second generation SE offers all the essential features you’d want from an Apple Watch for at least $150 less than what you’d pay for the cheapest model of the Series 10. It covers everything you need, including advanced health and fitness tracking, crash and fall detection, and seamless integration with your iPhone.

Who it’s best for 

This is a great option for first-time Apple Watch buyers or anyone upgrading from a much older model (Series 0–4), as it’ll still feel like an upgrade without making you feel like you’re missing out on newer features like the always-on display or advanced health sensors like ECG or temperature tracking which you never had in the first place. It’s also the best option for children (LTE model) as a way to stay connected with parents or caregivers without having to go all in on a smartphone.

The $80 Amazfit Bip 6 is the most affordable option on this list, and a rare standout in the budget smartwatch category because it delivers on all the basics (and more) without many compromises. The design and interface aren’t as refined as pricier models, but that feels like a fair trade-off considering how much the Bip 6 gets right. It offers accurate fitness tracking with customizable training tools like heart rate zones, plus advanced health features including SpO2 (blood oxygen), temperature and sleep tracking, and high and low heart-rate alerts.

Why we like it

While its low price might be its main draw, the Amazfit Bip 6 is one of the few sub-$100 smartwatches that’s actually worth your time. Beyond all the features mentioned above, we also like it for its week-long (or longer) battery life and compatibility with both iPhones and Android phones.

Who it’s best for

The Amazfit Bip 6 is ideal for anyone looking to try out a smartwatch without making a major investment. It’s a great fit for those willing to do a bit of customization on the back end to make the watch work for their specific needs.

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is Apple's best smartwatch, with a tough titanium construction and an Action button to quickly start workouts or launch apps. It has the brightest screen of any Apple Watch at a maximum of 3,000 nits which makes it incredibly easy to see when adventuring in the great outdoors. For adventurers and athletes, it also has a built-in siren for safety and a dual-band GPS for accurately tracking your route. LTE is also onboard so you can venture out without a phone and still stay connected.

Though it's designed to be an outdoor watch, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is still a fantastic all-around smartwatch. Inside is the same S9 chip as found on the Apple Watch Series 9 which supports gestures like Double Tap and allows the watch to process Siri commands on-device. This means you can use Siri without being online and later in the year you'll be able to ask the voice assistant for health data. Like earlier Apple Watches, the Ultra 2 also comes with a blood oxygen sensor, electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) app, fall detection and emergency SOS. The battery also lasts at least twice as long as all other Apple Watch models. It's only compatible with the iPhone, so if you have an Android phone, you'll want to look at another option on this list.

Why we like it

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is an all-terrain smartwatch that’s built to go the distance with nearly twice the battery life of other Apple Watches (three days on a charge), and a durable, titanium exterior. It has a larger screen than other models and an action button that can be programmed for easy access no matter what the conditions. Extras like dual-band GPS, a built-in siren, and LTE connectivity add another layer of safety when you're off the grid. 

Who it’s best for

Outdoor enthusiasts and serious athletes looking for a middle ground between a traditional Apple Watch and a full-fledged sport watch like a Garmin. The Ultra 2 is also a smart pick for current Apple Watch users who are frustrated with daily charging and willing to invest more for an extra day and a half of battery life.

The Garmin Venu 3’s stellar battery life, wide selection of health tracking features and workout types and comprehensive wellness metrics make it a top choice. The battery life alone is enough to make the Garmin Venu 3 stand out, with it lasting for about a week on a single charge according to CNET’s review. 

Of course, it isn’t perfect. It doesn’t feel as premium as some other watches of the same price, it doesn’t have as many apps as the Apple Watch, and the software may not feel as intuitive as alternative watches from Google, Samsung or Apple. But the Garmin Venu 3 makes up for that with useful wellness tools like the Body Battery, which tells you how “recharged” you are based on activity, sleep and other factors. And best of all, Garmin doesn’t require a subscription to access such features. Read our Garmin Venu 3 review.

Why we like it

The Venu 3 is one of our favorite Garmin watches thanks to its broad appeal and compatibility with both Android and iOS devices. It delivers on all the features we like about Garmin’s sport watches; durable design, physical action buttons, and advanced fitness metrics, minus the added bulk and higher price tag of other models like the Fenix or Tactix. Best of all, it’ll outlast most other smartwatches with a battery that can go up to a week on a charge.

Who it’s best for

Serious athletes or anyone seeking a fitness-first smartwatch that offers deeper insights and actionable coaching features, like Body Battery and Morning Report that can help you optimize your workouts. Its sleeker design and smaller 41mm option also make it a strong fit for women athletes.