Smartwatches have come a long way since they were introduced over a decade ago. The best smartwatch can handle essential phone features like making and receiving calls, sending messages, receiving notifications, and controlling music, but also tracks your workouts and monitors your health.

　　To thoroughly test for the best smartwatches, we wore each smartwatch daily for at least a week and ran through a battery of tests that included using the aforementioned phone, music, and health and tracking functions. Additionally, we tested any device/brand-specific features that are advertised as key selling points and noted our experiences using them. Most importantly, we paid close attention to core smartwatch features such as display visibility, battery life, and connectivity, all of which are likely to rank high on your checklists when shopping for a smartwatch.

　　Below are the best smartwatches based on our testing. To help you find the best smartwatch for your unique needs, we’ve included a buyer’s guide and comparison chart, as well as a price value section.

　　The Best Smartwatches of 2024 Best Overall Smartwatch: Apple Watch Ultra 2 Best Budget Smartwatch: Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra Best Smartwatch for Battery Life: OnePlus Watch 2 Best Smartwatch for Android Users: Google Pixel Watch 2  Best Rugged Smartwatch: Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro Best Overall Smartwatch Apple Watch Ultra 2 Specs Case size and material 49mm titanium Screen size and material 1.9-inch OLED Battery Lithium-ion (up to 36 hours) Wi-Fi/Cellular/GPS Yes/yes/yes Sensors Electrical heart sensor, 3rd-gen optical heart sensor, temperature sensor Dust and water resistance IP6X Software platform watchOS 10

　　

　　

　　Pros Large and bright screen 3-day battery life Extremely rugged and durable Programmable Action button Terrific health and fitness monitoring Cons Bulky fit for smaller wrists Doesn’t work with Android Expensive Raymond Wong It should surprise nobody that the Apple Watch Ultra 2 ($800) is the best overall smartwatch thanks to its rock-solid set of features. If you’ve got an iPhone in your pocket, there is simply no other smartwatch that offers the same level of deep software integration with iOS, except another Apple Watch (we recommend any model as far back as the Series 8).

　　Unless you have small wrists, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is the perfect combination of rugged and robust features, especially if you have adventurelust. The 49mm “aerospace-grade” titanium case is lightweight and durable and makes the large smartwatch feel less bulky than it looks. The raised and textured digital crown and customizable Action button are easy to activate even with gloves (something not always possible on other smartwatches).

　　Outdoors, the 1.9-inch OLED display with 502 x 410 resolution is big and bright (it has a maximum brightness of 3,000 nits), which makes it extremely visible in direct sunlight. We never had any problems viewing incoming notifications, maps and navigation, or any other tiny on-screen information. At night, we liked how the “Night Mode” turns the entire watch face red, which is less straining on the eyes without sacrificing clarity on any essential data-collecting “complications.” Plus, its durable: We banged the hell out of the face when we slipped on a trail, and the sapphire crystal display is as pristine and scratch-free as the day we unboxed it.

　　The Apple Watch Ultra 2’s battery life is excellent, lasting up to 36 hours on a single charge. We wore it on a long weekend starting on a Friday morning and returned on a Sunday evening, and there was 10 to 15 percent battery left in the tank. If you’re off the grid and you really need to stretch battery life even more, there’s a “Low Power Mode” that extends battery life up to 72 hours. And whether you’re taking a dive into a river or lake (or showering outside), the Apple Watch Ultra 2’s water resistance is tops. It’s swimproof (submergible in water up to 100 meters) and can be taken on scuba dives down to 40 meters.

　　Naturally, 10 years into the Apple Watch’s lifecycle, Apple has nearly perfected watchOS. The software is straightforward, and the fitness and health monitoring are best-in-class for consumer smartwatches. Closing activity rings daily is addictive; workout integration with Apple Fitness+ (a $10 paid subscription) offers expanded exercise content; the optical heart sensor can monitor a variety of health vitals, including sleep cycles and irregular heart rhythms. 

　　The only real downsides are that the Apple Watch Ultra 2 doesn’t work with Android phones, it doesn’t come in a smaller size for skinnier wrists, the blood oxygen (SpO2) sensor has been disabled because of an ongoing patent dispute, and it’s pricey at $800. (You can find a first-gen Apple Watch Ultra for a few hundred dollars less if you know where to look.) 

　　With “Ultra” in its name, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 lives up to its label. It has the biggest screen, the longest battery life, and the complete suite of watchOS features. If you’re an iPhone user, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 should be at the top of your smartwatch consideration list.

　　Check price at apple Best Budget Smartwatch Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra GPS Specs Case size and material 47mm stainless steel, nylon, fiberglass Screen size and material 1.4-inch AMOLED Battery Lithium-ion (up to 36 hours) Wi-Fi/Cellular/GPS Yes/yes/yes Health sensors Heart rate monitor, SpO2 sensor Dust and water resistance IP68 Software platform Wear OS 3

　　

　　Pros Long battery life Accurate fitness tracking Rugged and durable design Cons Barebones fitness and health features Bulky design Poor software update support Raymond Wong Ignore the mouthful of a name and youll see that the Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra GPS ($127) is a shockingly great value when it comes to a Wear OS budget smartwatch for Android users. What the smartwatch lacks in bells and whistles, it makes up with some strong basics.

　　Right off the bat, you’ll notice the TicWatch is a big smartwatch. Its 47mm stainless steel, nylon, and fiberglass case is the most reminiscent of a traditional timepiece. If you’ve got daintier wrists, consider a different option like the Pixel Watch 2. There’s nothing particularly bad about the design; it feels as generic as it looks. It has two pusher buttons with rotating caps, but they’re purely decorative and don’t control the software interface.

　　The 1.4-inch AMOLED display is more than serviceable. Its not the brightest but not the dimmest. However, the smartwatch has a second Film Compensated Super-Twisted Nematic (FSTN) display for its always-on watch face mode, which turns it into a stripped-down monochrome digital watch. This is supposed to help conserve power without turning the screen on, but to be honest, we found it a little hard to see in bright sunlight.  

　　Released in 2022, the TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra GPS’s Wear OS 3.5 software lags behind newer Wear OS 4 smartwatches that have performance and security optimizations, as well as support for Gmail and Google Calendar apps. But we didn’t feel it couldn’t keep up, so long as you can accept some minor annoyances, such as choppier animations when swiping between widgets and notifications and having to figure out which of the Mobvoi-made apps do what. Mobvoi could do some consolidation instead of asking users to dig through TicBreathe, TicCare, TicExercise, TicHealth, TicOxygen, TicPulse, TicSleep, and TicZen apps. On the topic of apps, we’re puzzled by the “Hand-wash Timer” app not automatically kicking it in when we run our hands under the faucet.

　　For basic fitness tracking, the TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra GPS does the job. We were impressed by the sensors’ abilities to log generally accurate steps and heart rates as well as smartwatches that cost hundreds of dollars more.

　　Mobvoi advertises up to three days of battery life. We weren’t able to get the TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra GPS to last that long, but we came close with roughly just under 2.5 days of power on a single charge. 

　　To our disappointment, there’s no Google Assistant support. Apparently, the TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra GPS previously supported the virtual assistant, but Google removed that for Wear OS 2 smartwatches. Even though we’re running Wear OS 3.5 on the smartwatch, the hardware doesn’t support the Assistant. It was a bit of a bummer as we consider the Google Assistant core to any Wear OS smartwatch.

　　If you can overlook the age and some of the rougher software edges, the TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra GPS is not to be slept on. For $127, good luck finding another Wear OS smartwatch that packs as many features without more serious compromises.

　　$150 at Amazon Best Smartwatch for Battery Life OnePlus Watch 2 Specs Case size and material 47mm stainless steel Screen size and material 1.43-inch AMOLED Battery Lithium-ion (up to 48 hours) Wi-Fi/Cellular/GPS Yes/no/yes Health sensors Optical heart rate sensor, SpO2 sensor Dust and water resistance IP68 Software platform Wear OS 4

　　

　　Pros Extremely long battery life Stainless steel case Big round display Cons Only one size Rotating the crown does nothing No cellular model Raymond Wong Smartwatches typically last around one day on a single charge, but we’re finally seeing smartwatches with extra-long stamina like the OnePlus Watch 2 ($250). Designed by the smartphone maker of the same name, the OnePlus Watch 2 boasts an impressive 100 hours of battery life (in “Smart Mode”). One full charge can also power the smartwatch for nearly two full days. 

　　The secret is nerdy but clever: the OnePlus Watch 2 has two chips with each one running a separate operating system. Without getting into the weeds, one chip powers Google’s Android-powered Wear OS 4 software, which provides access to core smartwatch features like the phone, notifications, fitness and health tracking, and Play Store apps. The other chip is active when you’re not activating the sensors and only need to display basic stuff like the time or battery life. 

　　Speaking of the battery on the OnePlus Watch 2, we really like that the magnetic charger’s detachable puck and cable allow it to connect to any USB-C cable. That’s one less dangly cable to squeeze into your backpack.

　　The OnePlus Watch 2 is a handsome smartwatch. The polished stainless steel case (available in silver or black) looks good paired with a rain jacket or a dress shirt. The 1.43-inch round display is not the brightest out there, but it’s still crisp thanks to a 466 x 466 resolution and 1,000 nits of max brightness.

　　OnePlus didn’t skimp on smartwatch functionality. The OnePlus Watch 2 has all the smartwatch staples, like a heart rate sensor, sleep tracking, and stress tracking, and it can detect up to 100 sports. However, automatic workout tracking is limited to only six (walking, running, swimming, cycling, rowing machines, and elliptical machines). 

　　Despite stellar battery life, using the OnePlus Watch 2 can be hit or miss. Compared to the other smartwatches we tested in this guide, the automatic fitness tracking is less reliable. On several occasions, the OnePlus Watch 2 didn’t detect walks or runs, even after 30 minutes of activity. Other quirks that annoyed us: the rotating crown doesn’t do anything like scrolling up or down in an app the way you’d find on other smartwatches, there’s no cellular LTE connectivity, and there’s no electrocardiogram (ECG) tracking built-in. The OnePlus Watch 2 also only comes in one size: 47mm.

　　The OnePlus Watch 2 works with any compatible Android phone and even better with a OnePlus device. We recommend it if you like the idea of charging your smartwatch every two days instead of every night, and if you might need the extended battery life.

　　$290 at Amazon Best Smartwatch for Android Users Google Pixel Watch 2 Specs Case size and material 41mm aluminum Screen size and material 1.2-inch AMOLED Battery Lithium-ion (up to 24 hours) Wi-Fi/Cellular/GPS Yes/yes/yes Health sensors Heart rate sensor, ECG sensor, SpO2 sensor, Continuous electrodermal response sensor (cEDA), Skin temperature sensor Dust and water resistance IP68 Software platform Wear OS 4

　　

　　Pros Sleek and stylish design All-day battery life with always-on display turned on Solid Fitbit fitness and health monitoring Cons Stress-monitoring feels useless Only comes in one size Raymond Wong Even though the Pixel Watch 2 ($250) was released a year ago, in 2023, Google’s smartwatch is still our go-to if you’re rocking an Android phone. The second-generation Google-made smartwatch is basically Android’s Apple Watch, only with a round stone-shaped design.

　　Whereas the other smartwatches we tested are on the beefier side, the Pixel Watch 2’s 41mm case is what we would consider very reasonable for most wrists. If you’ve got a thick wrist, you should probably consider a different smartwatch. And unlike other smartwatches that usually have a chonky bezel (decorative or not) around the screen, the Pixel Watch 2’s sturdy 1.2-inch AMOLED display curves beautifully into its polished aluminum case. It’s a simple and elegant design that stands out.

　　Powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 chip and Wear OS 4, the Pixel Watch 2’s hardware keeps up with other Wear OS smartwatches, such as the OnePlus Watch 2. For example, battery life with the always-on display is up to a full day. However, it’s the Fitbit integration that separates it from the competition. Building on Fitbit’s decade-plus of trusted fitness and health monitoring, the smartwatch (especially if you pony up for a $10 Fitbit Premium subscription) gave us arguably the most accurate metrics. We walked 500 steps and the Pixel Watch 2 was the closest one to logging them, with the Apple Watch Ultra 2 only around 10-15 steps behind. (Note: this wasn’t a controlled, scientific test, but we did the test three times and got similar results.)

　　We’re big fans of how easy it is to jump directly into fitness tracking on the Pixel Watch 2. By default, you can tap the Fitbit application to dive into your daily stats, including steps walked, floors climbed, distance walked, calories burned, and more. Swiping screens gives a graph of your continuous heart rate and quick access to workouts. Compared to other smartwatches, Google emphasizes fitness upfront, and it shows. The smartwatch has a continuous electrodermal response sensor (cEDA) that, alongside the skin temperature sensor and heart rate sensor, can aid in monitoring stress, but we didn’t find it particularly useful. Stress notifications seemed to come in later than they should have (often at times when we didn’t feel stressed anymore), and logging your stress level with a mood (i.e., sad, calm, content) didn’t help in reducing our stress.

　　Google recently released the Pixel Watch 3, which improves on the Pixel Watch 2 in myriad ways, including offering a bigger screen, Gemini AI support, and a larger 45mm model. That being said, until we get our hands on the Pixel Watch 3 for a future update, the Pixel Watch 2 is our choice for the best smartwatch for Android users. It’s stylish and well-rounded. Pixel phone users will benefit most with deeper integration (i.e. automatic syncing for “Bedtime Mode” and “Do Not Disturb”), but because it’s a Wear OS smartwatch, virtually everything else will work just as well on other Android phones.

　　$224 at Amazon Best Rugged Smartwatch Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro Specs Case size and material 45mm titanium Screen size and material 1.4-inch Super AMOLED Battery Lithium-ion (up to 36 hours) Wi-Fi/Cellular/GPS Yes/yes/yes Health sensors BioActive sensor (optical heart rate sensor, electric heart rate sensor, bioelectrical impedance analysis sensor) Dust and water resistance IP68 Software platform One UI 4.5

　　

　　Pros Excellent fitness and health tracking Rugged and durable design Up to 3 days of battery life Cons Bulky if you have small wrist Blood pressure monitoring doesn’t work in the U.S. Raymond Wong For a two-year-old smartwatch, Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 5 Pro ($330) sure can take a beating. We wore the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro on a recent climb up New York State’s Bear Mountain, and it survived a heatwave that depleted or shut down every other non-Apple Watch we tested. That’s why we’re giving it the best rugged smartwatch designation. 

　　As the “pro” version of the Galaxy Watch 5, the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is overall bulkier to earn its rugged distinction. Like the Apple Watch Ultra 2, the smartwatch is made of titanium (black or gray). Although it’s on the thick side, the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro didn’t feel too big on our testers small-ish wrist. We could comfortably wear it over a light rain jacket (though you do lose contact with the heart rate monitor if you do that), and we really like the “D-Buckle” magnetic silicone buckle strap. There’s no fiddling with adjustment holes and loops.

　　But ruggedness is what the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro succeeds at. It’s MIL-STD-810H, a U.S. military standard that certifies it for certain extreme conditions, including (but not limited to) very cold or hot temperatures, humidity, shock, and vibration. On top of that, the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is officially IP68-rated, which means it’s fully dustproof and can be submerged in water that’s up to 1.5 meters deep for up to 30 minutes. Additionally, the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is 5ATM, which means it can withstand water pressure up to a depth of 50 meters. The 1.4-inch round sapphire crystal display is damn near impossible to scratch or crack because of its recessed design. 

　　Samsung’s latest Galaxy Watch Ultra is even more rugged and durable and has some features we wish the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro had, like a touch-sensitive bezel for navigating through the One UI interface (based on Wear OS) or the programmable “Quick button.” But if you’re just looking for a wrist computer that can survive the elements like no other, the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is up to the job.

　　$355 at AmazonCheck price at Samsung Smartwatch Comparison Chart

Smartwatch	Price	Screen Size	Battery	Wi-Fi/Cellular/GPS	Sensors	Dust- and Water-resistance	Software platform
Apple Watch Ultra 2	$800	1.9-inch OLED	Lithium-ion (up to 36 hours)	Yes/yes/yes	Electrical heart sensor, 3rd-gen optical heart sensor, temperature sensor	IP6X	watchOS 10
Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra GPS	$127	1.4-inch AMOLED	Lithium-ion (up to 36 hours)	Yes/yes/yes	Heart rate monitor, SpO2 sensor	IP68	Wear OS 3
OnePlus Watch 2	$250	1.43-inch AMOLED	Lithium-ion (up to 48 hours)	Yes/no/yes	Optical heart rate sensor, SpO2 sensor	IP68	Wear OS 4
Google Pixel Watch 2	$250	1.2-inch AMOLED	Lithium-ion (up to 24 hours)	Yes/yes/yes	Heart rate sensor, ECG sensor, SpO2 sensor, Continuous electrodermal response sensor (cEDA), Skin temperature sensor	IP68	Wear OS 4
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro	$330	1.4-inch Super AMOLED	Lithium-ion (up to 36 hours)	Yes/yes/yes	BioActive sensor (optical heart rate sensor, electric heart rate sensor, bioelectrical impedance analysis sensor)	IP68	One UI 4.5

How We Tested the Best Smartwatches Our Expert Tester Raymond Wong has been reviewing smartwatches since before modern smartwatches were mainstream. As a consumer tech reviewer for over 14 years with published reviews in major technology publications, including Inverse, Input, Mashable, and more, Raymond has been testing smartwatches since before the original Apple Watch was released in 2015. He’s tested dozens of smartwatches every year over the last decade, critically covering the rise and fall (and sometimes rise again) of smartwatches and the platforms that they run on.

　　Since 2013, when the original Pebble and Samsung Galaxy Gear kickstarted the modern smartwatch era, Raymond has reviewed every major smartwatch released, totaling over 75. From the premium to the midrange to the budget, he’s tried virtually every model that has been worth reviewing.

　　

　　The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is the most recent version of the OG smartwatch; (photo/Raymond Wong) Our Testing Grounds For this guide, we took seven smartwatches (Apple Watch Ultra 2, Samsung Galaxy Watch Pro 5 Pro, OnePlus Watch 2, Google Pixel Watch 2, Fitbit Sense 2, Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra, and Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro) and wore each of them for a week to collect sufficient fitness and health data, as well as test out the quality of their communications (phone, music, notifications, etc.). We wore them in the tough streets of New York City but also took them to the gym, running and walking in parks, and hiking in the mountains — all while New York was experiencing weeks of high temperatures in the upper 80s and low 90s (Fahrenheit, of course). We also wore the smartwatches for short swims at the local YMCA swimming pool and in the shower to test water resistance.

　　

　　Waterproofness was just one of the tests these smartwatches went through; (photo/Billy Brown) Smartwatches Buyer’s Guide Buying a smartwatch may seem daunting, but it’s easy if you break things down in a systematic way. Here’s our recommendation on how to do that.

　　Features When choosing a smartwatch, it’s important to consider compatibility and features. While virtually all Android-based (Wear OS) smartwatches can pair to iPhones, they won’t provide the same amount of features as an Apple Watch. It’s for this very reason that Apple Watches will almost always be the best choice for iPhone users. Yes, it means you’re locked into the Apple ecosystem, but that’s just how Apple devices work: The hardware and software are designed with deep integration in mind. And if you didn’t already know, Apple Watches also don’t work with Android phones. Womp, womp.

　　

　　If you dont have an iPhone, youll want a watch like the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro; (photo/Raymond Wong) Ecosystem lock-in doesn’t need to be a bad thing, though. It can make finding the smartwatch that works best with your phone easier, actually. If a phone brand makes its own smartwatch, chances are that’s the best option. Apple Watches work best with iPhones, Samsung Galaxy Watches work best with Samsung Galaxy phones, Google Pixel Watches work best with Pixel phones, etc. The open nature of Android-based smartwatches often means they should work with any supported Android phone regardless of brand, but you should read the fine print for yourself to see if any vital features might be omitted when paired interchangeably.

　　Intended Use Once you’ve figured out compatibility with your phone, it really comes down to deciding what features are most important to how you’ll use the smartwatch. Where will you be using it, and in what conditions? Do you value a large screen? A really bright screen? Are you okay with charging it every night, or do you want multi-day battery life?

　　What kind of sensors for fitness and health tracking do you require? Do you need more than the typical optical heart sensor, gyroscope, and accelerometer? For example, do you need a certain ruggedness or durability because you might be exploring dunes or diving? Do you need GPS? What about cellular data or emergency services like the Apple Watch’s messaging via satellite?

　　

　　Some smartwatches like the Apple Watch Ultra 2 pair with hiking apps like AllTrails; (photo/Billy Brown) These are all important features to consider and there’s really no one-size smartwatch that fits all. Everyone has different needs; make a list and then go from there.

　　Battery Life Sure, you could always carry a high-capacity power bank (they’re dirt cheap these days). But do you really want to have to recharge your smartwatch every night when you’re off the grid? Not if you can avoid it.

　　While many people might look at the batch of smartwatches we tested and feel they’re on the large side, the good thing about a bigger device is room for a bigger battery cell. The OnePlus Watch 2 is our champ if battery life is your No. 1 priority. We were impressed by its two-day battery life and 100 hours in “Smart Mode.” Your actual battery life will vary, but we’re confident that you’ll get as much or close to it. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 would have come in first place with its consistent three-day battery life (on a single charge), but its overall battery life falls short of the OnePlus Watch 2. 

　　Display Size One thing is apparent if you follow smartwatch trends: People want bigger screens on their wrists. Larger displays mean more pixels to show timely information, like sensor data and notifications. A bigger display may not fit comfortably on smaller wrists, but the upside outweighs the downside, especially if you’re exploring in climates or weather conditions that are constantly changing. That’s a situation when you either cant or don’t want to be fishing out your phone.

　　Pretty much all of the smartwatches we tested are considered large enough with good screen visibility. It really comes down to how big is enough for your wrist. The Apple Watch Ultra 2’s 1.9-inch rectangle display is spacious and perfect for iPhone users. Android users should look into the OnePlus Watch 2’s 1.43-inch round display or the 1.4-inch display on the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro. For a more budget option with a large screen, check out the 1.4-inch screen on the Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra GPS.

　　

　　The Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 has a large screen for its price; (photo/Raymond Wong) For brightness, look for how many “nits” (measurement of brightness) a smartwatch’s display has. And pay close attention to terminology like “typical” or “peak” brightness. A typical brightness means the brightness level the screen will sustain, whereas a peak brightness means it’s capable of cranking things up only when needed.

　　Style Though we prefer to prioritize features such as battery life and display size over style (we know you gotta look aesthetic for Instagram), the function should probably supersede form in the great outdoors. You’re not going to care that the smartwatch on your wrist looks cute if you’re lost.

　　The group of smartwatches we tested ranged from minimalist to rugged to semi-formal. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Samsung Galaxy Watch Pro 5 are unapologetically rugged-looking. Google’s Pixel Watch 2 is the most non-decorative of the bunch. Options, like theOnePlus Watch 2and Mobvoi’s TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra GPS and TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro look strapped, paired with Gore-Tex shells or even button-down shirts.

　　Price Value Value is different for everyone. And everybody has a specific budget. The most expensive smartwatch is not always the best choice. While it’s always nice to have features “just in case,” if you follow our guidance for noting down what you need from a smartwatch, you can narrow things down and only pay for what you need. Oftentimes, we never need the “just in case” features and may pay for a device with more features than we’ll ever use.

　　Also, be smart: Look for discounts. You’ll often find price reductions or promotions for all of the smartwatches we’ve tested.

　　Budget The number of budget-priced smartwatches has increased significantly over the past five years. Whereas a $100 to $150 smartwatch would have been considered mostly junk back then, you can get decent devices like the Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra GPS ($127). You won’t get all of the latest features from Wear OS, but you will find the basics are surprisingly robust.

　　Mid-Tier If you’ve got just a bit more budget, the OnePlus Watch 2 ($250) and Google Pixel Watch 2 ($250) are great mid-tier smartwatches. The fit and finish are nearly as good as premium options except for a few cut corners, though those are admittedly very minor and might not even be shortcomings for your needs.

　　

　　The Google Pixel Watch 2 sits right in the middle of the smartwatch price range; (photo/Raymond Wong) Premium For almost no compromise, smartwatches such as the Apple Watch Ultra 2 ($800) and Samsung Galaxy Watch Pro 2 ($330) have it all. Out of all the smartwatches, they’re the most feature-packed, the most rugged, and future-proof. Also, Apple and Samsung will push out software updates that improve them for several years. The same can’t be said for mid-tier or budget smartwatches. In other words, you’re not just paying for the smartwatch you get in the box, but the features added later on.

　　Frequently Asked Questions Which smartwatch is best for me? Start with what type of phone you own. If you have an iPhone, the best smartwatch will be an Apple Watch. Apple Watches are designed to work seamlessly with iPhones and vice versa. If you answered an Android phone, start with the brand. Similar to Apple, Android phone makers usually sell their own-branded smartwatches that work best with their devices. Samsung users should look into a Galaxy Watch; OnePlus users a OnePlus Watch; and Google Pixel users should consider a Pixel Watch.

　　What features will I not get on my iPhone if I buy a non-Apple Watch smartwatch? iPhone users who choose a smartwatch that’s not an Apple Watch will not get Apple-exclusive features such as iMessage, FaceTime audio calls, and Siri. Additionally, certain basic smartwatch features, such as music controls and notifications, may not work properly or at all.

　　Which smartwatch has the best health and fitness tracking? Fitbit smartwatches such as the Sense 2 are a simple way to monitor your health and track your fitness, but in terms of having the very best of both, Apple and Samsung’s latest smartwatches have the most advanced sensors that contribute to better data collection. Samsung’s latest Galaxy Watch Ultra and Watch 7, specifically, even leverage AI to provide more personalized health and fitness insights based on your recorded data.

　　Which smartwatch has the brightest screen? A brighter smartwatch screen means better visibility outdoors, especially in direct sunlight. Clocking in at 3,000 nits, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra have the brightest screens of any smartwatches that we have ever tested. Even wearing sunglasses, the screens on both of these smartwatches are bright, crisp, and vibrant.