Top 5 best smartwatch 2025
A selection of the best smartwatches for your wrist
The platform and operating system you’re using are the most important criteria in selecting the finest smartwatch for you.
An Apple Watch is what you’ll want if you want the best iPhone experience. Similarly, Wear OS and companies like Google and Samsung typically offer the greatest Android experiences.
Our years of testing expertise have taught us that the best approach to purchase a smartwatch is to choose the one that works best with your smartphone, while also taking into account a number of other features. However, there are also some fantastic platform-agnostic alternatives from companies like Amazfit.
We have been evaluating these devices for well over ten years and have reviewed every smartwatch available. A health and fitness specialist evaluates each product and assigns a score based on its features, performance, design, and, of course, cost. You won’t find any picks on this page that we haven’t examined because we compile that info to create our selections.
However, a large number did not make the cut. Here are the top smartwatches available in 2025, including the amazing Amazfit Active 2 and the new OnePlus Watch 3, whether of whether you’re searching for a new Apple Watch, Samsung Galaxy, or a wonderful Wear OS choice from companies like OnePlus.
Table of Contents
BEST OVERALL
1. Apple Watch Ultra 2
BEST CHEAP APPLE WATCH
2. Apple Watch SE 2
BEST SAMSUNG WATCH
3. Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra
BEST GOOGLE WATCH
4. Google Pixel Watch 3
BEST WEAR OS WATCH
5. OnePlus Watch 3
1. Apple Watch Ultra 2
With one of the greatest screens we’ve ever seen on a wearable, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is the pinnacle of smartwatches. Its luxurious Retina Display OLED can reach 3,000 nits of brightness. It contains the S9 processor, which makes it possible to use the fantastic Double Tap gesture, and is larger and thicker than the typical Apple Watch. It is the same as its predecessor, the original Apple Watch Ultra, in every other way.
Although it still has a longer battery life than the standard Apple Watch Series 10, its strong and precise GPS is excellent for exploring, especially with watchOS 11’s enhanced hiking waypoints functionality. Additionally, the Oceanic Plus app turns it into a functional dive computer.
Because of its long battery life and sturdy build, this barely defeats the most recent Apple flagship to keep its title even after the release of the Apple Watch Series 10.
We quickly discovered during testing that this is the brand’s most capable wearable to date. Unfortunately, its exorbitant cost and dependence on the iPhone are its limitations. On the other hand, it is the greatest smartwatch from a technical perspective when examining the devices on this list separately. The specifications table shows that it has the largest and brightest screen, the deepest underwater diving capability, and an ultra-hard titanium case.
2. Apple Watch SE 2
Since it is far less expensive than the Apple Watch Series 10 and still contains the majority of the capabilities of that model, including the same chipset as the Series 8, the SE 2 is likely the best Apple Watch for the majority of users.
The Apple Watch SE 2 still has a lot of health and fitness features, including potentially life-saving additions like Car Crash Detection. Its main shortcomings are the Double Tap feature from the 9 and the always-on display, ECG, and blood oxygen tracking from the 8 (though the Apple Watch Series 9 and 10 are now being sold without blood oxygen tracking).
In addition, it is lightweight, comfortable to wear, powerful, and has an amazing battery life for a smartwatch. As a result, it is a fantastic, reasonably priced choice that perfectly balances price and performance.
It appears that the original Apple Watch SE didn’t need to be fixed because it wasn’t broken, which is where the Apple Watch SE 2 got its start. Rather, Apple has just improved it by adding new colors, a new processor to make it future-proof, an even lighter body, and a slight price reduction.
The answer is no if you’re looking for an Apple Watch SE 2 review to determine if it’s worthwhile to upgrade from the original Apple Watch SE. The most prominent feature is automobile crash detection, which is certainly useful but I doubt many people will pay $250 or £250 for it alone. Other than that, there aren’t many significant new features.
3. Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra
Technically speaking, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is the company’s largest and greatest watch to date. Compared to the other Samsung watches in its range, it has a drastically different design, lasts longer, and is more powerful and durable. It has strong outdoor-focused characteristics and rests on a noticeable titanium cushion.
A bigger Super AMOLED screen can withstand extremely bright outdoor scenes and is clean and sharp. In terms of performance, it’s quick, however using it with a Samsung smartphone will maximize its advantages. It’s essentially Samsung’s take on Apple’s popular Ultra range, but it doesn’t support iPhones either.
The new chipset, the Exynos W1000, its robustness, precise GPS capabilities, and Samsung’s excellent ability to track your body’s muscle and fat composition are the highlights here, aside from SmartThings connectivity.
With its detailed sleep tracking and ability to help you get the most out of each day, it’s almost the ideal fitness gadget. However, throughout our tests, we found it to be too large and cumbersome to wear overnight.
4. Google Pixel Watch 3
The most recent version of Google’s iconic smartwatch design for 2024 is the Google Pixel Watch 3. With the addition of a 45mm size option, it still has the sleek, contemporary, circular form factor that made the prior two so fantastic. Additionally, Wear OS has some amazing optimizations for the larger screen.
Unfortunately, there hasn’t been any improvement over earlier models in the band attachment system. Still, the chip performs well and has all the features you would anticipate from a Google wearable. It’s the ideal partner for the Pixel smartphone and is compatible with other Android smartphones that aren’t made by Samsung.
On your wrist, the simple style is still a timeless classic that is sure to draw attention. Similar to the Apple Watch Series 10, the Pixel Watch 3 may now be used for up to 36 hours when the battery saver is turned on.
5. OnePlus Watch 3
The OnePlus Watch 3, which is a brand-new Wear OS smartwatch for 2025, is simply amazing. With its bold, bulky style, brilliant AMOLED display, and leading battery life, it builds on the highly successful formula of our previous pick, the OnePlus Watch 2.
According to our tests, the OnePlus Watch 3 has a 120-hour battery life, and we were impressed by its outstanding array of communications and health capabilities.
You’ll still get Google’s full suite of apps and all the other features you’d expect from a Wear OS smartwatch, but the traditional circular design sets it apart from other Wear OS alternatives. At least at retail, it’s less expensive than the Pixel Watch 3, and it has a spinning crown and a screen that we called “sumptuous.”
The good news is that later this year, a smaller model with LTE capability will be available.
Unfortunately, since not all wearables are compatible with rival smartphones, your choice of smartwatch frequently depends on your phone preference. Only Apple iPhones are compatible with the Apple Watch. You can use a Samsung watch with a Google phone and vice versa, but Google watches and other Wear OS devices only function with Android smartphones.
Although Fitbit’s fitness tracking wearables may be used with any device and sync with the Fitbit app, such devices often have a stronger emphasis on fitness features and don’t have all the functions and apps that other smartwatches have.
If you’re switching from a Garmin watch that lasts weeks, the majority of wearables only have a day’s battery life, which is disheartening. This list includes a few timepieces with longer lifespans.
Lastly, smartwatches can be costly, and to be honest, they don’t provide much value for the money. Consider whether you plan to go scuba diving this year or if you just want to check your text messages without bothering your dinner companions before spending a fortune on an Apple Watch Ultra.
Is there a difference between the finest smartwatches for men and women?
When it comes to smartwatches for men and women, there are no particular distinctions; instead, it mostly comes down to personal preference. Making sure the watch fits your wrist will be one of your top priorities; many smartwatches on the market today are much too big for thin wrists, and you don’t want a device that is out of proportion to the size of your wrist. Since many watches come in numerous sizes, look at the possibilities before making a purchase to help you make a decision. We’ve included the size alternatives in our comprehensive assessments when this is the case.
Certain smartwatches do provide health-related capabilities for women, like the ability to track the menstrual cycle based on skin temperature and heart health. This is not to imply that women are the only ones who can wear those watches or that they must utilize these functions; the majority are opt-in and can be easily disabled or aren’t set up at all unless you want to.
It is always a good idea to read the privacy policy of the watch you recently purchased if you plan to utilize those features. This will give you a better idea of where your health information is kept and who can access it.
Can an Android phone be used with an Apple Watch?
The first thing you need do is see if the smartwatch you desire and your phone are compatible. Since iOS is required to interface with all of watchOS’s features, you cannot use an Apple Watch with an Android phone.
Although you can use a Fitbit or Google Pixel Watch with an iPhone, the experience will be significantly lessened if you don’t have an Android or Google account. For Samsung and Huawei to function at their peak, handset-watch synergy is also necessary.
However, a lot of gadgets, such as Garmin watches and the CMF Watch Pro by Nothing, just need their own apps to function, so you can use them with either phone without any issues.
Which smartwatch is the best?
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is the greatest smartwatch of 2024, but it needs an iPhone to function. The Galaxy Watch Ultra is the greatest substitute if you have an Android device.