Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks

• Apple Watch Series 9

  Best Overall

  4.5 Excellent

  Why We Picked It 

  The Apple Watch Series 9 offers a broad suite of built-in lifestyle, fitness, health, and safety tools, plus the best selection of third-party apps for any smartwatch. The newest version features an impressively bright 2,000-nit display (up from 1,000 nits last generation) for improved outdoor visibility without an impact on battery life. Its new S9 SiC chip enables even more features, like on-device Siri processing, precise directional device finding with the iPhone 15 family, and a double-tap gesture for one-handed operation. With these upgrades, the Apple Watch Series 9 remains the best iPhone-compatible smartwatch for most buyers. 

  Who It's For

  If you're in search of a feature-rich smartwatch to stay connected, keep tabs on your health, and track your fitness, the Series 9 is our Editors' Choice winner. It's worth the premium over the Watch SE for its larger screen, always-on display option, and advanced health-tracking capabilities. Just be aware that Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 models sold in the US since Jan. 18, 2024 do not allow for blood oxygen saturation monitoring.

  With the Series 9, you can choose from a 41mm (small) or 45mm (large) case in aluminum or stainless steel with Bluetooth, GPS, and Wi-Fi support, or add cellular connectivity to the mix. Stainless steel and cellular models cost extra. All aluminum Series 9 models paired with a new Sport Loop band are carbon neutral, as denoted by a green leaf logo on the packaging.

  All three Apple smartwatches on this list require an iPhone Xs or later with iOS 17 or later and do not work with Android handsets.

  • Pros

    • Powerful processor
    • Bright display
    • Double-tap gesture for hands-free operation
    • On-device Siri
    • Precision Finding for iPhone 15 family
    • Carbon neutral build option

  • Cons

    • Familiar design
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• Samsung Galaxy Watch FE

  Best Affordable Android Watch

  4.0 Excellent

  Why We Picked It

  The Galaxy Watch FE offers almost all the same features and a similar design as the Galaxy Watch 7 for less money. It runs Wear OS, which gives you access to all the standard Google apps like Assistant, Maps, Messages, and the Play Store. On the wellness front, the Galaxy Watch FE can automatically or manually track a wide range of workouts and measure heart rate, pace, and VO2 Max, as well as advanced outdoor running metrics like asymmetry and vertical oscillation. It offers a few health features that are not available on the Apple Watch or the Pixel Watch, including overnight snore tracking and body composition measurements. It's surprisingly durable for the price, with an IP68 weather-resistance rating, a 5ATM waterproof rating, and MIL-STD-810H certification.

  Who It's For

  If you want to save money and still get loads of smarts and health tracking, the Galaxy Watch FE is a great value pick. It's compatible with phones running Android with at least 2GB of RAM. It's only available in one small 40mm size, and you can only buy the Bluetooth model for now, but an LTE version is slated to launch later this year for $50 more than the base model.

  • Pros

    • Responsive touch and gesture controls
    • Accurate heart rate monitoring
    • In-depth sleep metrics
    • Detailed exercise tracking
    • Measures ECG, SpO2, body fat percentage, and more
    • Large app selection

  • Cons

    • Small screen with big bezels
    • Dated processor
    • No AI health insights
  Learn MoreSamsung Galaxy Watch FE Review
• Fitbit Ace LTE

  Best Smartwatch for Kids

  4.0 Excellent

  Why We Picked It

  The Fitbit Ace LTE has fitness, gaming, and safety features tailored for kids ages 7 to 11. A built-in arcade forms a central part of the watch's experience, and each game is meant to limit screen time and encourage activity between short rounds of play. The watch tracks floors climbed, light activity, moderate activity, and steps as the child goes about their day, and offers daily quests and a customizable avatar to encourage active play. Even simple features like the activity ring is a customizable animal that celebrates reaching the daily goal with a variety of animations.

  For parents, the watch has built-in location tracking through GPS and Google Maps, included as part of the monthly subscription that also unlocks LTE service. Kids can use the watch to send texts and make calls, but only to trusted contacts added by the parent through a Google Family Link account.

  Who It's For

  The Fitbit Ace LTE is expensive and essentially requires a monthly subscription. It also doesn't have a camera or track sleep. Check out the Fitbit Ace 3 for simple, more affordable fitness tracking or the Verizon Gizmo Watch 3 for an experience closer to an adult's smartwatch with tracking and some token games. The Ace LTE, though, is unique enough in its offerings to be worth the splurge for parents want to give themselves peace of mind while keeping their child engaged.

  • Pros

    • Activity-focused games
    • Location tracking
    • Supports texting and calling trusted contacts
    • Robust parental controls
    • Works with Android or iOS

  • Cons

    • Expensive
    • Occasionally sluggish
    • No music app, sleep tracking, or selfie camera
    • Bloated rewards systems
  Learn MoreFitbit Ace LTE Review
• Garmin Venu Sq 2

  Best Fitness-Focused Smartwatch

  4.0 Excellent

  Why We Picked It 

  In the crowded fitness smartwatch market, Garmin's Venu Sq 2 stands out for its practicality. It features a large AMOLED color touch screen with a squarish design that offers better text legibility compared with round models. Battery life is also a strong suit: In testing, the Venu Sq 2 ran for up to nine days between charges with light use. As with the higher-end round Venu 2 series, the second-generation Sq model is a fitness-first wearable with a robust suite of workout- and health-tracking tools, but it also offers some useful lifestyle features, including calendar and weather apps, vibrating alarms, smartphone notifications, and Garmin Pay mobile payment support. 

  Who It's For

  If you're looking for a reasonably affordable smartwatch with a focus on fitness, the Garmin Venu Sq 2 is an Editors' Choice winner. It pairs with smartphones running at least iOS 15 or Android 7.0 via the Garmin Connect app, so compatibility shouldn't be an issue. In addition to the base model, Garmin sells a Music Edition for $50 extra that offers onboard storage for up to 500 songs. 

  • Pros

    • Large AMOLED touch screen
    • Weeklong battery life
    • Lightweight design
    • Plenty of health metrics
    • Contactless payments
    • Integrated GPS

  • Cons

    • Does not track floors climbed
    • Preloaded workouts are not animated
    • Limited lifestyle features
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• Samsung Galaxy Watch 7

  Best Android Watch for Advanced Health Tracking

  4.0 Excellent

  Why We Picked It

  The Galaxy Watch 7 brings some advanced wellness features to the line, including advanced glycation end products index tracking (AGEs, an indicator of metabolic health), FDA-approved sleep apnea detection, and holistic health insights courtesy of Galaxy AI. It also has an upgraded dual-frequency GPS and support for gestures that let you tap your fingers or turn your wrist to launch an app, take a picture, or silence an alarm. It features a touch bezel for quick scrolling and an aluminum case. It's also durable with an IP68 resistance rating, MIL-STD-810H certification, and 5ATM of water resistance.

  Who It's For

  If you want the best Wear OS smartwatch for fitness and sleep tracking, go with the Galaxy Watch 7. It offers Galaxy AI wellness assessments that aren't available on the more affordable Galaxy Watch FE, along with a larger screen and slimmer bezels. It comes in small (40mm) or large (44mm) sizes, with two color options for each (green or cream for the small version and green or silver for the bigger one) and two connectivity options (with or without LTE), thus accommodating a wide range of buyers. If you want a more durable version with a titanium body, check out the Galaxy Watch Ultra. The Galaxy Watch 7 series is exclusive to Android phones. Although you can pair it with non-Samsung Android phones, some features, including irregular heart rhythm notifications, phone separation alerts, gesture controls, and snoring detection, work only with Samsung handsets.

  • Pros

    • Accurate heart rate measurements
    • In-depth sleep monitoring
    • AI health insights
    • Responsive touch and gesture controls

  • Cons

    • One-day battery life
    • Slightly inaccurate running distance and sleep time measurements
  Learn MoreSamsung Galaxy Watch 7 Review
• Apple Watch SE (2022)

  Best Affordable Apple Watch

  4.0 Excellent

  Why We Picked It 

  The Watch SE is the least expensive and smallest smartwatch in Apple's lineup. The second-generation model isn't a massive update to the original, but Apple has lowered the price by $30, upgraded the processor, added a new motion sensor for Crash Detection, and changed to a more environmentally friendly back cover. You miss out on an always-on display and a few health sensors (ECG, SpO2, and temperature), but it otherwise offers almost all the other connectivity, safety, and fitness features of the Series 9 for $150 less. 

  Safety features include Emergency SOS, Fall Detection, and irregular heart rate and rhythm notifications. Cellular SE models also now support international emergency calling, so you can reach emergency services in more than 120 countries and regions without your phone while traveling. On the health front, we especially like the automatic 20-second handwashing timer.

  Who It's For

  The Apple Watch SE is a solid option for its target audience of first-time smartwatch buyers, children/teens, and older adults. It even supports Apple's Family Setup feature, which enables you to manage the watch for a family member who doesn't have an iPhone. The Apple Watch SE is an excellent budget-friendly pick, but the Series 9 retains our Editors' Choice award for its more robust health-tracking capabilities and always-on display option. That said, Apple has disabled blood oxygen saturation monitoring on Series 9 and Ultra 2 units currently being sold in the US, narrowing the gap between them and the Watch SE, which has always lacked that sensor.

  • Pros

    • Upgraded processor from previous model
    • New motion sensor with support for Crash Detection
    • Improved real-world battery life
    • Lightweight
    • Excellent app selection and safety features
    • Lower price than first-generation model

  • Cons

    • No always-on display
    • Lacks sensors for ECG, SpO2, or body temperature
    • No rating for dust resistance
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• Apple Watch Ultra 2

  Best for Outdoor Adventurers

  4.0 Excellent

  Why We Picked It 

  The Apple Watch Ultra 2 offers a more rugged build and longer battery life than its siblings, plus exclusive outdoor adventuring features that can help you stay safe when you veer off the beaten path. The Ultra series represents the most significant design departure for the Apple Watch yet, with a bright orange customizable Action button, a more tactile Digital Crown you can operate with gloved hands, and a completely flat (vs. domed) front crystal for increased durability. It includes Apple's S9 SiC chip, which enables features like on-device Siri processing, precise directional device tracking (with an iPhone 15), and a double-tap gesture.

  The Ultra comes with cellular connectivity by default and offers noticeably improved call quality thanks to a dual-speaker system and three-microphone array. Other upgrades include a brighter display, improved water resistance, a dual-frequency GPS for greater accuracy in cities and the woods, and a built-in 86dB emergency siren that is audible from up to 600 feet away. For underwater treks, the watch has an EN13319 certification and a depth gauge with a water temperature sensor.

  Who It's For

  The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is best for endurance athletes, ocean enthusiasts, and anyone else who spends a lot of time in the great outdoors. With a WR100 water-resistance rating, the Ultra 2 is the only Apple Watch suitable for high-speed water sports and recreational diving. It works for recreational dives at depths of up to 40 meters and can function as a dive computer with the Oceanic+ app. It's pricey, though, and people with smaller wrists might not like its bulky design.

  • Pros

    • 3,000-nit display
    • Powerful processor
    • Expanded operating altitude
    • Carbon-neutral build option
    • Excellent connectivity features

  • Cons

    • Expensive
    • Some map limitations
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• Fitbit Versa 4 Fitness Smartwatch (Black)

  Best Fitbit Smartwatch

  4.0 Excellent

  Why We Picked It 

  Though it has limited access to apps, the Fitbit Versa 4 is an excellent fitness-focused smartwatch. We appreciate its attractive, comfortable design which offers a few improvements over the last generation, including a slimmer case, a physical button, and a more responsive touch screen. The latest model offers 40 exercise modes, up from 20 last generation.

  Moreover, the Versa line continues to stand out for its affordability and long battery life. In testing, it lasted four days between charges with the always-on display enabled and the screen brightness set to max. In addition to its robust fitness and health capabilities, it has a small but useful selection of lifestyle features, including Amazon Alexa, Google Maps, and Google Pay. On the downside, the Versa 4 doesn't support third-party app downloads, with the exception of watch faces.

  Who It's For

  If you're looking for a smartwatch with support for cellular calling and third-party apps, this isn't it. Instead, the Versa 4 is a strong option for anyone in search of an attractive fitness-focused smartwatch that keeps things simple. If you want even more wellness-focused bells and whistles, including an ECG sensor for heart rhythm assessments and a cEDA sensor for a more robust stress management experience, the Fitbit Sense 2 is an excellent alternative.

  For activation and setup, Fitbit devices require the Fitbit app, which is compatible with smartphones running at least Android 9 or iOS 15. Fitbit is in the process of migrating its app to Google's authentication platform. At this point, all new users will need a Google account to log into the Fitbit app. Legacy Fitbit users will soon need to migrate their account over to Google's platform to log in, a fairly painless process we detail in our Versa 4 review. 

  • Pros

    • Attractive, comfortable design
    • Better touch-screen responsiveness than predecessor
    • Physical button improves usability
    • 40 exercise modes (up from 20)
    • Long battery life
    • Lots of watch faces
    • Tracks overnight skin temperature variation

  • Cons

    • No third-party app support
    • Some lifestyle apps from previous generation removed
    • Lacks ECG, stress sensors
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• Google Pixel Watch 2

  Best Design

  4.0 Excellent

  Why We Picked It 

  The Pixel Watch 2 is noteworthy because it's Google's own smartwatch line and it runs on the Android-friendly Wear OS smartwatch operating system. Aesthetically, it's a breath of fresh air, with a domed face that looks like a drop of water on your wrist. It offers all the preinstalled lifestyle features you expect from a premium smartwatch, including calling/texting, mobile payments, and smart home controls. Offering full Fitbit integration, it's also well equipped for health and fitness tracking, with sensors to monitor your skin temperature and stress responses. And with the Play Store on your wrist, you can customize the watch with a wide range of third-party apps. 

  Who It's For

  The Pixel Watch 2 works with most phones running Android via the Google Pixel Watch app, which requires a Google Account to log in. It is not compatible with iPhones. There are no limitations when you use the Pixel Watch 2 with a non-Pixel Android phone.

  • Pros

    • Improved battery life over previous version
    • More Fitbit health and fitness features
    • Responsive performance
    • IP68 rating
    • 100% recycled metal casing
    • Attractive and comfortable design

  • Cons

    • Pricey
    • Some health metrics require a premium membership
    • No preinstalled compass
    • Only comes in one size
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• OnePlus Watch 2

  Best Battery Life

  4.0 Excellent

  Why We Picked It

  While the Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 achieves impressive battery life thanks to its ultra-low-power (ULP) display, the OnePlus Watch 2 gets even better results by employing two different operating systems to save power. It uses Wear OS 4 to run third-party apps and other battery-intensive tasks and a proprietary real-time operating system (RTOS) for low-power operations like sending notifications or running background tasks. It lasted an impressive 103 hours in testing in its default smart mode and 69 hours with its always-on AMOLED display enabled. It also has all of the apps and smarts you expect from a Wear OS watch and doubles as a capable fitness and sleep tracker.

  Who It’s For

  Like other Wear OS devices, you need an Android phone to use the OnePlus Watch 2. If you have a OnePlus phone, the watch will automatically sync weather and alarm apps, but it otherwise functions the same on any handset running Android 8.0 or later. The OnePlus Watch 2 only comes in one large 47mm size and has no LTE option.

  • Pros

    • Up to four days of battery life
    • Stainless steel case
    • Responsive touch screen
    • Good app selection
    • Accurate sleep measurements
    • Excellent running insights

  • Cons

    • Comes in only one size
    • No cellular option
    • Lacks ECG, body temperature sensors, fall detection, period tracking
    • No phone camera controls
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