The Best Smartwatches of 2026: Our Buying Guide for iPhone, Android and Every Budget
Our picks for the best smartwatches of 2026 in the US: best overall, best for iPhone, best for Android, best for Samsung phones, best budget, best for running, best for outdoor adventures and best battery life.
Buying guide
Updated November 2026
Choosing a smartwatch in 2026 starts with one question: what phone do you have? Apple Watches only work with iPhones, Samsung and Google keep some features for their own phones, and the best-value watches from brands like Amazfit and Garmin work with almost anything. To make it simple, our team went through this year's watches from Apple, Google, Samsung, Garmin and Amazfit. We compared health and fitness tracking, GPS accuracy, battery life, comfort and street prices, and narrowed everything down to the watches we'd actually tell a friend to buy.
Below you'll find our quick picks, a closer look at each watch, our recommendations by phone and need, and a short guide on what really matters before you buy.
A note on prices: smartwatch prices drop a lot around Black Friday (November 27) and Cyber Monday (November 30), and LTE (cellular) versions cost more than GPS-only models. We show approximate price ranges and starting prices. Always check the exact model, case size and whether it's the GPS or cellular version before buying.
Our quick picks
| Category | Our pick | Why we like it |
|---|---|---|
| Best overall & best for iPhone | Apple Watch Series 12 | Upgraded health sensors and a free Readiness Score |
| Best for Android | Google Pixel Watch 4 | Works with any Android phone, great Fitbit tracking |
| Best for Samsung phones & health tracking | Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 | Turns health data into practical advice |
| Best budget (any phone) | Amazfit Active 3 Premium | Premium fitness features for about half the price |
| Best budget for iPhone | Apple Watch SE 3 | The core Apple Watch experience from $249 |
| Best for fitness & running | Garmin Venu X1 | Garmin's full training tools in a thin, light watch |
| Best for outdoor adventures (iPhone) | Apple Watch Ultra 4 | Rugged titanium build and up to 50 hours of battery |
| Best rugged Android & battery life | Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 | Multi-day battery and a dive-ready design |
Apple Watch Series 12
The smartwatch we'd recommend to most iPhone owners
- Works with:
- iPhone only
- Sizes:
- 42mm, 46mm
- Display:
- Always-on LTPO3 OLED (up to 2,000 nits)
- Chip:
- Apple S11
- Battery:
- Up to 24 hours
- Connectivity:
- GPS or GPS + Cellular
- Price range:
- $$$ (from $399)
The Series 12 is the best smartwatch you can buy if you have an iPhone, and it's the one we'd tell most people to get. It doesn't look very different from last year's Series 11, but the real changes are inside: a redesigned heart rate sensor takes heart rate and heart rate variability readings more often, and that data powers Apple's new Readiness Score. Every morning you get a simple score out of 10 that tells you how ready you are for a hard workout, and it's included without a subscription.
Everything else is what makes the Apple Watch so easy to live with: smooth performance thanks to the S11 chip, a bright always-on screen, Apple Pay, tight integration with the iPhone and the largest app selection of any watch. Apple also brought back an optional ceramic case. The weak spot is still battery life. At around 24 hours, you'll be charging it every day, so plan a quick top-up before bed if you use sleep tracking.
What we like
- Upgraded heart rate and HRV tracking
- Useful Readiness Score, no subscription
- Fast, polished software and apps
- No price increase over last year
What we don't
- Still needs charging every day
- Same design and display as the Series 11
- Only works with iPhone
Save money: last year's Apple Watch Series 11 is still a great buy when discounted, with the same 24-hour battery life.
Google Pixel Watch 4
The closest thing to an Apple Watch for Android phones
- Works with:
- Android 11 or later
- Sizes:
- 41mm, 45mm
- Display:
- Domed always-on AMOLED
- Battery:
- Up to 30 hours (41mm), 40 hours (45mm)
- Extras:
- Dual-frequency GPS, satellite SOS (LTE models)
- Software:
- Wear OS 6 with Gemini
- Price range:
- $$$ (around $400)
The Pixel Watch 4 is our favorite watch for Android users because it works well with any Android phone, not just Google's. Only a few extras, like call screening and using the watch as a camera remote, are reserved for Pixel phones. The new domed display looks fantastic and almost edge-to-edge, and the Fitbit-powered health and fitness tracking is some of the easiest to understand on any watch. Dual-frequency GPS also makes route tracking much more accurate in cities and on trails.
It's also the first Pixel Watch with a replaceable battery and display, so it should last longer. Just note that it uses a new charger, so your old Pixel Watch cables won't work.
What we like
- Works with all Android phones
- Beautiful domed display
- Easy-to-read Fitbit health tracking
- Repairable battery and screen
What we don't
- Old chargers aren't compatible
- Heart rate not quite as accurate as the best rivals
- Satellite SOS only on pricier LTE models
Want the newest model? The Google Pixel Watch 5 is now available, with a Tensor A4 chip, a 3,000-nit display and new health features, though some of Google's health insights now require a $9.99/month subscription. Need more battery? The OnePlus Watch 3 (around $330) lasts up to 120 hours and still runs Wear OS with all of Google's apps, but skips some safety features like fall detection.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 9
The watch to get if you own a Galaxy phone
- Works with:
- Android (best with Samsung phones)
- Sizes:
- 40mm, 44mm
- Display:
- Super AMOLED (up to 3,000 nits)
- Battery:
- Up to 30 hours (40mm), 40 hours (44mm)
- Durability:
- IP68, 5ATM
- Software:
- Wear OS 7 (One UI Watch)
- Price range:
- $$$ (from around $380)
If you have a Samsung Galaxy phone, the Galaxy Watch 9 is the natural choice, and it's also the watch that does the most with your health data. Beyond the usual heart rate, sleep and workout tracking, it can measure body composition and antioxidant levels, estimate sweat loss after a run and give you practical sleep coaching. Its Energy Score gives you a quick read on how ready you are for the day, and the new Fitness Index compares your fitness with other users. These insights aren't locked behind a paywall.
The slim, light design is comfortable for workouts and overnight wear. The bright display is easy to read in full sun. Two things to know: features like ECG and blood pressure monitoring need a Samsung phone, and battery life is only average if you track workouts and sleep, so expect to charge it often.
What we like
- Turns health data into actionable advice
- Reliable GPS and heart rate tracking
- Comfortable day and night
- Very bright display
What we don't
- Average battery life
- Some health features need a Samsung phone
- Looks almost identical to the Galaxy Watch 8
Save money: the Galaxy Watch 8 and Galaxy Watch 7 remain great buys when discounted.
Amazfit Active 3 Premium
Flagship-level fitness tracking that works with any phone
- Works with:
- iPhone and Android
- Display:
- 1.32" AMOLED, sapphire glass
- Battery:
- Up to 12 days
- GPS:
- Built-in, with offline color maps
- Water resistance:
- 5ATM
- Software:
- Zepp OS
- Price range:
- $ (about half the price of an Apple Watch or Pixel Watch)
The Active 3 Premium is the watch we recommend to anyone who wants great health and fitness tracking without spending flagship money, and it works with whatever phone you have. It tracks more than 170 activities, has built-in GPS and offline maps, and its running metrics come surprisingly close to what you'd get from a Garmin. Sleep tracking is excellent, and every feature is included without a subscription. The Zepp app explains everything clearly, which makes it a great choice if you're just getting into running.
What you give up are the "smart" extras of Apple and Google's watches, such as on-watch calls, third-party apps and emergency features like fall detection.
What we like
- Unbelievably good value
- Premium fitness and sleep tracking
- About a week of battery life
- Works with iPhone and Android
What we don't
- Limited smart features and apps
- Contactless payments are limited in the US
- Few color and style options
Spend even less: the Amazfit Active 2 (around $99) has a classic stainless steel design, excellent health tracking and very long battery life. It's still one of the best cheap smartwatches you can buy.
Apple Watch SE 3
The best first Apple Watch
- Works with:
- iPhone only
- Sizes:
- 40mm, 44mm
- Display:
- Always-on OLED
- Chip:
- Apple S10
- Battery:
- Up to 18 hours, fast charging
- Connectivity:
- GPS or GPS + Cellular
- Price range:
- $$ (from $249)
If you want an Apple Watch but don't want to spend $400, the SE 3 is the smart buy. It uses the same fast S10 chip found in last year's premium models, so apps, notifications and Apple Pay all feel just as smooth, and it'll keep getting watchOS updates for years. It now has an always-on display and fast charging too, which used to be reserved for pricier models.
The compromises: the screen is smaller with thicker borders, battery life is shorter (about 18 hours) and it skips some health features of the Series 12, including ECG, blood oxygen and hypertension alerts. For a first smartwatch or for a teen, those trade-offs are easy to accept.
What we like
- Great value for an Apple Watch
- Fast S10 chip
- Always-on display and fast charging
What we don't
- Older, smaller screen design
- No ECG or blood oxygen
- Shortest battery life in this guide
Buying for a young child? A dedicated kids' watch is usually a better fit. Our favorite is the Bark Watch, which has accurate GPS tracking, safe zone alerts, parent-approved contacts and an SOS button, and even flags problematic messages. It needs a monthly plan (from about $12/month plus a service plan).
Garmin Venu X1
A serious training watch that's comfortable to wear all day
- Works with:
- iPhone and Android
- Display:
- Large AMOLED, sapphire glass
- Case:
- Titanium, 7.9mm thin
- Battery:
- Up to 8 days (about 2 days with always-on screen)
- Extras:
- Full-color maps, LED flashlight, music storage
- Water resistance:
- 5ATM
- Price range:
- $$$$ ($799 list, often around $600 on sale)
If you usually picture Garmin watches as big and chunky, the Venu X1 will change your mind. It's only 7.9mm thick, light and comfortable enough to wear while training, working and sleeping. But it's still a Garmin through and through, with the brand's full set of training tools: Training Readiness, Morning Report, recovery insights, running coaching and excellent full-color maps on a big, bright screen.
The trade-off is battery life, which is short by Garmin standards. It also skips ECG and multi-band GPS, which feels stingy at this price.
What we like
- Thin, light and comfortable
- Garmin's complete training toolkit
- Gorgeous display for maps and stats
- Built-in LED flashlight
What we don't
- Always-on display cuts battery a lot
- Pricey
- No ECG or multi-band GPS
Runner on a budget? The Garmin Forerunner 165 is light, accurate and easy to use, lasts up to 11 days and stores music, for much less money. Heading into the backcountry? The all-titanium Garmin Fenix 9 Pro offers 10+ days of battery (51mm), accurate GPS and best-in-class mapping.
Apple Watch Ultra 4
The toughest, longest-lasting Apple Watch
- Works with:
- iPhone only
- Size:
- 49mm titanium case
- Display:
- Always-on LTPO3 OLED (up to 3,000 nits)
- Battery:
- Up to 50 hours
- Water resistance:
- 100m
- Connectivity:
- 4G LTE, satellite SOS
- Price range:
- $$$$ (from $799)
The Ultra 4 is the Apple Watch for hikers, trail runners, swimmers and anyone who's tired of charging every night. The rugged titanium case, very bright screen, customizable Action Button and satellite SOS make it a reliable companion far from cell coverage.
It gets the same health upgrades as the Series 12, including the faster heart rate and HRV sensors and the free Readiness Score, and its heart rate stayed within 2 bpm of a chest strap on a 5K run. The downsides: it's a big watch that can feel like overkill on smaller wrists, and Ultra 3 owners won't find much reason to upgrade.
What we like
- Longest battery life of any Apple Watch
- Rugged, adventure-ready design
- Accurate heart rate tracking
- Satellite SOS built in
What we don't
- Expensive
- Large and heavy for small wrists
- Little change from the Ultra 3
Save money: the Apple Watch Ultra 3 has the same 49mm titanium design, satellite features and excellent dual-frequency GPS, and it's worth grabbing if you find it discounted.
Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2
Multi-day battery without giving up a full smartwatch
- Works with:
- Android (best with Samsung phones)
- Display:
- 1.5" Super AMOLED
- Case:
- Titanium, single size
- Battery:
- 800mAh; runtime depends on settings and use
- Water resistance:
- WR100 (dive-ready)
- Connectivity:
- LTE, dual-frequency GPS
- Price range:
- $$$$
The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 solves the biggest problem with Wear OS watches: battery life. Its large 800mAh battery is the reason we recommend it to buyers prioritizing battery capacity. Samsung also made it about 12% thinner than the original Ultra and lightened the band, so it's more comfortable during hard workouts and even overnight. The display is extremely bright and easy to read in direct sunlight.
It's built for runners, hikers and divers, with dual-frequency GPS, GPX route support for trail runs and new diving features. And because it's a full Samsung smartwatch, you still get LTE, Gemini, ECG, third-party apps and the complete Samsung Health suite. As with the Galaxy Watch 9, some health features need a Samsung phone.
What we like
- Genuine multi-day battery life
- Slimmer, lighter design than before
- Rock-solid GPS and workout tracking
- Dive and trail running features
What we don't
- Still a large, heavy watch
- Some health features need a Samsung phone
- No rotating bezel or crown
Best smartwatch by phone and need
| Your phone / need | Our pick | Budget alternative |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone | Apple Watch Series 12 | Apple Watch SE 3 |
| Google Pixel or other Android | Google Pixel Watch 4 (or the new Pixel Watch 5) | Amazfit Active 3 Premium |
| Samsung Galaxy phone | Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 | Galaxy Watch 8 or Watch 7 on sale |
| Works with any phone | Garmin Venu X1 | Amazfit Active 3 Premium / Active 2 |
| Running & fitness | Garmin Venu X1 | Garmin Forerunner 165 |
| Outdoor & adventure | Apple Watch Ultra 4 (iPhone) / Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 (Android) | Apple Watch Ultra 3 on sale |
| Longest battery life | Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 (Wear OS) / Apple Watch Ultra 4 (iPhone) | OnePlus Watch 3, Amazfit Active 2 |
| Health tracking | Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 / Apple Watch Series 12 | Amazfit Active 3 Premium |
| Kids | Bark Watch | Apple Watch SE 3 (for teens with an iPhone) |
Which size should you get? Most watches come in a smaller and a larger case (for example 42mm and 46mm on the Apple Watch Series 12). The larger size usually has a bigger battery and a screen that's easier to read, while the smaller one is more comfortable on slim wrists and during sleep. If you can, try both on before buying.
How to choose a smartwatch: 7 things that actually matter
1. Start with your phone
This is the most important decision. Apple Watches only work with iPhones. Pixel and Galaxy watches only work with Android, and Samsung keeps some health features (like ECG and blood pressure) for its own phones. Watches from Garmin and Amazfit work with both, which is handy if you might switch phones later.
2. Smartwatch or fitness watch?
Apple, Google and Samsung make true smartwatches: apps, calls, voice assistants, payments and safety features like fall detection. Garmin and Amazfit lean toward fitness: deeper training data, better battery life and fewer apps. Decide which side matters more to you.
3. Battery life
Flagship smartwatches like the Apple Watch Series 12 and Galaxy Watch 9 last about a day to a day and a half. Ultra models stretch that to two to four days, and fitness-focused watches like the Amazfit Active 3 Premium last a week or more. If you want sleep tracking, longer battery life makes a big difference.
4. Health and safety features
Most watches track heart rate, sleep, blood oxygen and stress. Pricier models add ECG, irregular rhythm notifications, hypertension alerts, fall and crash detection and emergency SOS. These features are helpful, but they're not medical devices, so treat them as an extra safety net rather than a reason to skip a doctor's visit.
5. GPS accuracy
If you run, hike or cycle outdoors, look for dual-frequency (multi-band) GPS. It's much more accurate in cities with tall buildings and under tree cover. The Pixel Watch 4, Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 and Apple's Ultra models have it.
6. GPS only or cellular (LTE)?
A cellular model lets you take calls, stream music and send messages without your phone, but it costs more up front and needs a monthly plan from your carrier. If you always carry your phone, the GPS-only version is enough.
7. Subscriptions and when to buy
Check whether key features need a subscription. Apple's Readiness Score and Samsung's health insights are free, while some of Google's newer health features require a paid plan. The best prices usually show up around Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and right after new models launch in late summer and fall, when last year's watches get discounted.
Frequently asked questions
What's the best smartwatch in 2026?
For iPhone owners, the Apple Watch Series 12. For Android, the Google Pixel Watch 4 works with any phone, and the Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 is the best choice if you have a Galaxy phone. If you want something cheaper that works with any phone, the Amazfit Active 3 Premium is outstanding value.
Can I use an Apple Watch with an Android phone?
No. The Apple Watch needs an iPhone to set up and use. If you have an Android phone, look at the Pixel Watch 4, Galaxy Watch 9 or a phone-agnostic watch from Garmin or Amazfit.
Which smartwatch has the best battery life?
Among full-featured smartwatches, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 and the Apple Watch Ultra 4 are our battery-focused recommendations. If you're happy with fewer smart features, the Amazfit Active 3 Premium lasts about a week, and the OnePlus Watch 3 is rated for up to 120 hours.
Is it worth upgrading from last year's model?
Usually not. The Series 12, Ultra 4 and Galaxy Watch 9 look almost identical to their predecessors and mostly improve sensors and software. If your watch is two or more generations old, the upgrade makes more sense.
What's the best smartwatch for kids?
For younger kids, we prefer a dedicated kids' watch like the Bark Watch, which focuses on GPS tracking, approved contacts and SOS calling instead of apps and games. For teens with an iPhone, the Apple Watch SE 3 is a great, affordable option.
Do smartwatches that look like traditional watches still exist?
Yes. Hybrid watches like the Withings ScanWatch series and Garmin Vivomove Trend look like classic analog watches, with a small display for notifications and health stats.