Best Smartwatch 2026: From Apple Watch to Pixel Watch

With this fourth-generation model, Google has really hit its own-brand smartwatch stride. The Pixel Watch 4 is the best all-round Wear OS smartwatch you can buy thanks to a number of big upgrades compared to its predecessor, yet costing the same. 

It might look the same, but the device is now repairable (at home, even) and the new Moonstone colourway looks classy. 

Google has also added a unique domed Actua 360 display which, combined with the Material 3 Expressive design of Wear OS and an upgraded haptic engine, results in an excellent user experience. 

Battery life is also solid – though you can find longer lasting Wear OS watches – but that might not matter so much when the new Quick Charge Dock is so fast, and a neater solution to most proprietary chargers. 

Needing to pay for Fitbit Premium for your Readiness score and other advanced features remains a sticking point, but you get a 6-month trial to test it out at least. Not everything is zippy fast to load, Smart Replies aren’t that smart and Gemini takes some trial and error, but the latter should improve with time. 

These small downsides aren’t enough to stop it landing at the top spot of our smartwatch chart.  

Who should buy the Google Pixel Watch 4? 

You’re looking for the best all-round Wear OS smartwatch, especially to pair with a Pixel phone. 

Google Pixel Watch 4: Further Considerations 

There are cheaper options with longer battery life, such as the OnePlus Watch 3.

Read our full Google Pixel Watch 4 review 

The OnePlus Watch 2R has performed so well that it’s actually better than the flagship OnePlus Watch 2.

It might not have that same alluring look as the Watch 2 Nordic Blue edition, but the software and power inside it are the same and that gives you the same great all-round smartwatch with some good fitness features that I think make it the better option.

Other Wear OS smartwatches will offer you more in the way of health monitoring and cellular connectivity, which will be desirable to some, but those watches outside of the TicWatch Pro 5, can’t do what OnePlus manages to do for Wear OS and battery performance.

The look is nice enough, and it’s at a much nicer price than most other Wear OS options and, crucially, is just as good a smartwatch that will have you thinking slightly less about charging it compared to more expensive Wear OS smartwatches.

It would just be nice if there was a smaller size.

Who should buy the OnePlus Watch 2R?

Anyone in the market for an affordable Wear OS watch that doesn’t skimp on features and battery life.

OnePlus Watch 2R: Further considerations

The watch isn’t quite as durable as some that cost just a tiny bit more.

Read our full OnePlus Watch 2R review

Even though it won’t be wowing any long-term Samsung fans with major upgrades over the Galaxy Watch 7, the Watch 8 is still a solid device that easily stands as one of the most competent Wear OS watches you can buy right now, and it’s largely down to the iterative changes that Samsung has made over the years.

Samsung’s One UI Watch overlay is right up there with the software experience provided by Google’s own Pixel Watch, offering a clean, yet wonderfully stylised take on Wear OS that now feels like a genuine competitor to Apple’s watchOS. The tile system in particular remains a great feature that we wish Apple would replicate, as it gives you quick access to your most important apps.

Arguably, the biggest change on the software front is the move from Google Assistant to Google Gemini right out of the box. Having access to a fully fledged AI on your wrist is a game changer, as you can get detailed answers to intricate questions, and have a conversation that retains the context of what’s already been said, all of which is leagues ahead of anything Siri can do

Just like previous Galaxy Watches, the fitness tracking experience is as good as it’s ever been, flanked by detailed sleep tracking metrics that put all of that data into tangible, clearly worded advice.

Admittedly, the Galaxy Watch Ultra inspired design might not be to everyone’s tastes, but we’re big fans of the change, and overall the Galaxy Watch 8 shows off just how far Wear OS has come in the last few years. As a side note, while we have reviewed the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, we found the device to be lacking in a way that the standard Watch 8 isn’t.

Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8?

Those who want a great all-around Wear OS smartwatch with solid fitness tracking.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8: Further considerations

The day-long battery life is still a pain, and it’s a problem the OnePlus Watch 3 doesn’t have.

If there’s one fairly consistent problem with smartwatches, unless you’re buying from the likes of Garmin or Coros, it’s that the battery, more often than not, requires a daily top-up or every few days at best. For the folks who are sick of having to constantly charge their smartwatch in the same fashion as their smartphone, the Xiaomi Watch 5 is the perfect antidote to those battery woes.

When used like a typical smartwatch, Xiaomi’s wearable can go for up to six or seven days at a time, which triumphs over the previous Wear OS king in this category, the OnePlus Watch 3, which would tap out after five days. What’s great is that, if you’re going for a week away and you forget to pack your charger, you can toggle the power saving mode, which disables Wi-Fi and Google Gemini, and can stretch the battery life even further to an 18-day stint.

That kind of longevity is so far from the norm in this space that if battery is your key concern, then the Xiaomi Watch 5 really is your best option. What makes the deal even sweeter is its affordable price tag, which undercuts all of the major competitors from Samsung and Google. If you go any cheaper than that, you’ll find yourself in the price range typically occupied by fitness trackers, which don’t offer the same set of smart features.

Speaking of which, you’re getting the latest version of Wear OS here and everything runs brilliantly thanks to the Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 chipset. It’s a shame then that the user experience is muddied somewhat by Xiaomi’s Wear OS overlay, which feels a lot clunkier than it needs to be. The watch itself isn’t much of a looker either, so if you are more fashion-conscious, then you’ll get on better with the Galaxy Watch 8 or the Pixel Watch 4.

Who should buy the Xiaomi Watch 5?

Battery-conscious users who don’t want to be trapped by daily charge cycles.

Xiaomi Watch 5: Further considerations

Xiaomi’s software overlay doesn’t show Wear OS in its best light, unlike the Pixel Watch 4.

As with so many devices in tech, the Series 11 is more of the same from Apple – additional polish to an already shiny smartwatch, as it were.

While it’s very similar to its predecessor, the latest flagship Apple smartwatch does bring a selection of upgrades and improvements. One of the most important is battery life, which has finally jumped to 24 hours. We’d like more, of course, but it’s an improvement nonetheless and we’ve seen it go much longer when used for only basic tasks like notifications.

Elsewhere the design is more durable with Ion-X glass, optional 5G connectivity and more in the way of health tracking. However, the sleep score still needs work to match what you can get elsewhere.

Once again, it sits neatly in the middle of the Apple Watch range as a sweet spot, but you may want to go Ultra or SE for more or less.

Who should buy the Apple Watch Series 11?

Apple users who want to have the best wearable experience possible, without paying for a Watch Ultra.

Apple Watch Series 11: Further considerations

The Series 10 or SE 3 is a better value choice.

The Apple Watch SE range has always been an easy option to recommend for any iPhone users who want a competent, feature-packed smartwatch that doesn’t cost a fortune, but that value proposition has only gotten better with the Apple Watch SE 3. Even though this newer wearable has a ton of features that are worth the upgrade, it comes at no extra cost over its predecessor.

The big update this time around is the addition of an always-on display. Given that the lack of AOD always seemed like the big distinguishing feature between the Watch SE and more powerful options in the range, we’re still a bit surprised that Apple has bridged the gap, but it’s appreciated nonetheless. Having an always-on watch face makes it much easier to quickly glance at the time and any key bits of info without fully raising your wrist.

Similar to how the SE 2 mirrored the Apple Watch 8, the SE 3 packs the same S10 chipset as the Apple Watch Series 11, so there’s no downgrade in terms of performance. Jumping between apps feels zippy, and we didn’t encounter any software bugs that would otherwise diminish the brilliance of Apple’s watchOS.

There are still two caveats in that you have to put up with fairly chunky bezels as well as a one-day battery life that requires daily charging as a result. Given that so many Wear OS watches have made strides in this area, it would have been nice to see the SE 3 get some sort of battery upgrade, but it’s hard to argue when you consider just how useful the SE 3 is as a smartwatch for both apps and fitness.

Who should buy the Apple Watch SE 3?

Apple fans who want an affordable yet optimised watch to pair with their iPhone.

Apple Watch SE 3: Further considerations

The one-day battery life can be a killer for more intensive users.

If you want a smartwatch with more of a health focus and don’t need the blood pressure capabilities of the Huawei Watch D2, then this is the way Huawei has gone with the Watch 5.

This centres around a new X-Tap sensor made up of a pressure, ECG and PPG sensors. It’s not best placed for everything on the side of the watch, but allows for a one-tap Health Glance of no less than nine indicators to help you check if something’s not right, so you can take action.

The health side of the Watch 5 might even be a bit overwhelming at times, but it is still the main reason to buy it over rivals.

It’s attractive, durable and available in two sizes, but that’s not a hard combination to find in the smartwatch world these days. The smartwatch side of things isn’t quite up to the top competition with sub-par experiences when it comes to payments, music controls and app support.

Huawei has made it compatible with Android and iOS and it features good battery life, eSIM and a Titanium build, so there’s lots to lure you.

Who should buy the Huawei Watch 5?

Anyone who’s obsessed with health tracking metrics.

Huawei Watch 5: Further considerations

Huawei’s ecosystem doesn’t feature the same level of app functionality to what you’ll find on Wear OS and watchOS.

Although Garmin watches are renowned for their incredible fitness tracking tech, they rarely factor into the conversation when it comes to stylish timepieces, but this is certainly not the case with the Garmin Venu 4. Designed to be the type of watch that can be worn out to dinner and down at the gym, this is a stylish running watch that doesn’t skimp on features.

The Venu 4 can be picked up in 41mm and 45mm sizes, so if you prefer having a smaller watch, then that’s not an issue here. What’s impressive though, is that there are four unique, eye-catching variants for either size, although we’re quite partial to the silver model that we had in for review.

Going beyond their looks, the Venu 4 packs all of the fitness tracking features that you’d want from a running watch. There’s dual-band GPS tracking to keep tabs on your route, a battery life of up to 12-days and an excellent heart rate monitor on the back, which, from our testing, was able to pump out accurate results.

There’s even a built-in LED torch that can be used to help guide you when running in the dark. It’s a very comprehensive smartwatch for keeping tabs on your health, but it does come at a significant price increase over its predecessor. It’s also worth considering the Garmin Venu X1 if you have a bit more money to spend, as that features a larger display and a titanium build.

Who should buy the Garmin Venu 4?

Runners who want a stylish watch they can wear all day.

Garmin Venu 4: Further considerations

It’s more expensive than the Venu 3 which is still available to buy.

While there’s a lot to like about Garmin watches, the brand has no shortage of competitors out there that excel in certain areas. If you’re tempted to pick up a Garmin alternative that can help you become a better runner, then look no further than the Huawei Watch GT Runner 2. As its name implies, this watch is made specifically with runners in mind.

Unlike a lot of watches nowadays, there’s just one 43mm size for the GT Runner 2, but it hits a nice stride of being large enough that its 1.5-inch AMOLED screen is easy to read, but without the watch ever feeling cumbersome on your wrist. It’s also very light at just 43.5g, allowing it to sit just as comfortably as the Garmin Venu X1.

The main reason why you’d want to consider the GT Runner 2 over Garmin’s offering is the unbelievable GPS performance onboard. The watch uses an impressive circular antenna that wraps around the device and can do a better job than most watches of keeping tabs on where you’ve ventured during a run. For seeing exactly which parts of a route gave you the most trouble and where you can improve, it’s a big win.

The GT Runner 2 also launched with NFC payment compatibility via Curve. While this isn’t as expansive as what you can get with Apple or Google Pay, it is helpful to have the feature in some form for when you want a post-run beverage. The watch still suffers from not having wider app access, so you can’t listen to songs offline via the likes of Spotify, but if you bring your phone with you during your runs, then this won’t be an issue.

Who should buy the Huawei Watch GT Runner 2?

Enthusiastic runners who want to improve their ability.

Huawei Watch GT Runner 2: Further considerations

It lacks the wider app access that you can get with competing smartwatches.

Although it’s a very minor update on what came before, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 doubles down on what makes the company’s most expensive smartwatch such a tempting buy in the first place, namely the larger display, better battery life and improved connectivity for outdoor use.

With a 1.98-inch LTPO3 OLED panel, you simply won’t find a better-looking Apple Watch display than what you get with the Ultra 3. It’s truly gorgeous to look at, and it gives Apple’s collection of eye-catching watch faces a chance to really spread out and let you admire their craftsmanship. The 3,000 nits of peak brightness go a long way towards helping you read the display in the great outdoors, too.

When you are out on a run, 5G connectivity means you can leave your phone at home and still enjoy speedy music and podcast streaming, not to mention access to messages. If you’re going further afield, then satellite connectivity can kick in to get you out of a tricky situation, much like how Emergency SOS works on iPhone.

All of this sits on top of a leap in battery life, seeing the Ultra 3 through 42 hours of use on a single charge, although that can extend to 72-hours in Low Power Mode. With these upgrades and the brilliance of watchOS, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is a great smartwatch, but unless you’re dead-set on having an Apple-made wearable, you’ll find far better value by opting for a competing Garmin wearable, much like the Venu X1.

Who should buy the Apple Watch Ultra 3?

Avid runners who want access to Apple’s ecosystem on their wrist.

Apple Watch Ultra 3: Further considerations

Garmin wearables can offer a lot more, and often at a lower price. The Ultra 2 is very similar.