Smartwatches are still a very new thing to a lot of people. You don’t absolutely need one to get through the day, and some of the best smartwatches are much too expensive for many folks out there. With that said, they are good for a lot of things. They can provide you with an easy way to get information, allow you to dismiss or reply to new messages without having to pull out your phone, and much more.
With so many smartwatches on the market, choosing the right one can be a bit daunting. We’re here to help! Here are the best smartwatches you can buy right now.
The best smartwatches:
Editor’s note: We will update this best smartwatches list as more devices come to market.
Apple Watch Series 6: The best smartwatch overall
The Apple Watch Series 6 is the best smartwatch you can buy. It has unmatched first- and third-party app support, receives regular major software updates, and has tight integration with Apple’s messaging apps. It’s really the gold standard for what a smartwatch should be.
It’s also one heck of a fitness tracker. Heart rate monitoring is unmatched compared to other wrist-based heart rate sensors, and GPS performance is solid too. We do think Apple’s new sleep tracking metrics are too basic, but you can always download a third-party sleep tracking app if you need.
Pros
- Premium design and accessories
- Big, bright screen with always-on display
- Stellar heart rate monitoring
- Accurate, reliable GPS
- Unmatched app support
Cons
- Sleep tracking is too basic
- Battery life could be better
- No third-party watch faces
Check out our full review to learn more about the Apple Watch Series 6.
Apple Watch Series 6 specs
- Display: 40mm: 1.57-inch OLED, 394 x 324 / 44mm: 1.78-inch OLED, 448 x 368
- SoC: Apple S6
- Storage: 32GB
- Battery: Up to 18 hours
- Software: watchOS 7
Samsung Galaxy Watch 3: The best smartwatch for Android
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 is one of the best smartwatches you can buy if you don’t use an iPhone. The hardware is top notch, the rotating bezel is useful and intuitive, battery life is good, and it has plenty of fitness- and health-tracking features.
Samsung’s GPS and heart rate sensors can be quite off at times, though, and those coming from a Wear OS or Apple Watch will likely find the lack of third-party apps to be a letdown.
Pros
- Fantastic display and rotating bezel
- Thinner, lighter design
- Two-day battery life
- Advanced running metrics can be helpful
- Useful sleep tracking and insights
Cons
- GPS and HR sensors can be inaccurate
- No MST payments with Samsung Pay
- Big price increase over original Galaxy Watch
- Setup process for non-Samsung phones is a pain
- Third-party app support is lacking
Check out our full review to learn more about the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 specs
- Display: 41mm: 1.2-inch AMOLED / 45mm: 1.4-inch AMOLED
- SoC: Samsung Exynos 9110
- Storage: 8GB
- Battery: ~2 days
- Software: Tizen OS 5.5
Apple Watch SE: The best cheap smartwatch
Sure, the Apple Watch Series 6 is the new hotness, but what if you don’t need the ECG, an SpO2 monitor, or the always-on display? That’s where the Apple Watch SE comes in. Available for $279, Apple’s new budget-friendly smartwatch offers just about 90% of the overall Apple Watch experience for a few hundred dollars less.
Pros
- High-quality hardware
- Bright display
- Plentiful features
- Affordable
Cons
- Short battery life
- No ECG
- Limited sleep tracking
- Limited color selection
Check out our full review to learn more about the Apple Watch SE.
Apple Watch SE specs
- Display: 40mm: 1.57-inch OLED, 394 x 324 / 44mm: 1.78-inch OLED, 448 x 368
- SoC: Apple S5
- Storage: 32GB
- Battery: Up to 18 hours
- Software: watchOS 7
Fitbit Sense: The best Fitbit smartwatch
For as much complaining as we’ve done about the Fitbit Sense, it does get a lot right. The basics are all here: accurate heart rate monitoring with Fitbit’s new PurePulse 2.0 heart rate sensor, onboard GPS that’s quite accurate, fantastic sleep tracking (as always), and a much-improved design.
Fitbit has slowly been improving its smartwatch feature set, too. The Fitbit Sense has built-in Amazon Alexa support and will receive Google Assistant support soon. Bluetooth calling support will also roll out in the coming months.
Pros
- High-end, premium design
- Improved quick-release straps
- (Mostly) accurate GPS and heart rate sensors
- Skin temp sensor provides useful data
- Detailed sleep tracking
- ~6-day battery life
Cons
- Google Assistant, Bluetooth calling unavailable at launch
- Bad inductive button
- SpO2 tracking requires dedicated watch face
- EDA and ECG sensors needs refining
- Fitbit OS still needs work
Check out our full review to learn more about the Fitbit Sense.
Fitbit Sense specs
- Display: 1.58-inch AMOLED, 336 x 336
- SoC: N/A
- Storage: 4GB
- Battery: 6+ days
- Software: Fitbit OS
Don’t miss: Fitbit Premium: Is it worth it?
Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 3: The best Wear OS smartwatch
Mobvoi’s new TicWatch Pro 3 is the first smartwatch with Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon Wear 4100 chipset. This, coupled with 1GB of RAM, makes for overall good performance and stellar battery life.
While some of the materials seem a little cheap, the Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 3 is still our pick for the best Wear OS watch you can buy.
Pros
- Great battery life
- Zippy performance
- Dual display is ace
- Improved design
- Accurate heart rate sensor
Cons
- Dire companion app
- Wear OS needs a refresh
- Inaccurate sleep and fitness tracking
- Cheap strap
- Less durable than previous models
Check out our full review to learn more about the TicWatch Pro 3.
Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 3 specs
- Display: 1.4-inch AMOLED + FSTN LCD, 454 x 454
- SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 4100
- Storage: 8GB
- Battery: 2+ days with normal use, 45 days in “essential” mode
- Software: Wear OS
Also read: The best Wear OS watch faces
Garmin Venu: Garmin’s best smartwatch
The Garmin Venu is the most smartwatch-y wearable Garmin has ever put out. With its crisp OLED display and long battery life, it’s also one of the best smartwatches you can buy today.
All Venu models come with Garmin Pay support, onboard storage for offline music, roughly five-day battery life, and of course plenty of great fitness features.
Pros
- Crisp OLED screen with an always-on display
- Garmin Pay support is convenient
- Music storage is standard
- 5-day battery life
- Unique breathwork exercises
- Accurate fitness and health tracking
- Useful and accurate sleep tracking
Cons
- Touchscreen can be finicky
- High price
- Limited app support
Check out our full review to learn more about the Garmin Venu.
Garmin Venu specs
- Display: 1.2-inch AMOLED, 390 x 390
- SoC: N/A
- Storage: ~3.5GB
- Battery: Up to five days
- Software: Proprietary Garmin smartwatch software
Fossil Gen 5: An old favorite
While the TicWatch Pro 3 is considered the best Wear OS watch due to its hardware, but Fossil’s Gen 5 smartwatch is still one of our favorites. Yep, it’s running on the last-gen Qualcomm processor, but our unit has not slowed down much at all. It’s still an all-around solid smartwatch in 2021.
It has plenty of RAM, a decent battery, a great display, and a design that goes well in many situations. If you’re not feeling the Fossil Gen 5, the Skagen Falster 3 — another Fossil Group smartwatch — is essentially the same thing with a different design.
Pros
- Crisp, bright display
- Plenty of great watch faces preinstalled
- Useful custom battery modes
- GPS, NFC, and heart rate sensor
- Accurate fitness tracking
- Built-in speaker is very useful
Cons
- So-so battery
- Too expensive when not on sale
Check out our full review to learn more about the Fossil Gen 5.
Fossil Gen 5 specs
- Display: 1.3-inch AMOLED
- SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 3100
- Storage: 8GB
- Battery: At least 24 hours
- Software: Wear OS
Skagen Jorn Hybrid HR: The best hybrid smartwatch
Our favorite hybrid smartwatch is the Skagen Jorn Hybrid HR. Its innovative e-ink display offers 2+ week long battery life and blends into the background, camouflaging the watch as a traditional analog wearable. It also has a basic set of fitness tracking features if you’d like to track your steps or workouts.
Aren’t liking the look of the Skagen Jorn? Fossil also has a compelling Hybrid HR offering. Check it out here.
Pros
- Beautiful design
- E-ink display is innovative and fun
- 2+ week battery life
- Decent (but basic) fitness tracking options
Cons
- On-device software is clunky
Check out our full review to learn more about the Skagen Jorn Hybrid HR.
Skagen Jorn Hybrid HR specs
- Display: Always-on e-ink
- Non-touchscreen
- SoC: N/A
- Storage: N/A
- Battery: 2+ week battery life
- Software: Proprietary Skagen hybrid smartwatch software
Why you should trust the editor
Not only does Jimmy Westenberg love wearables, he loves helping people find the right devices to suit their needs. He’s been our resident fitness reviewer at Android Authority since 2016, and in that time has reviewed dozens of fitness products and other wearables.
Through his rigorous testing of fitness products and deep knowledge of health devices and services, you can rest assured knowing Jimmy will give you honest recommendations. Looking for more brand-specific recommendations? Check out the following guides:
- Xiaomi Mi Watch review: Solid fitness tracking on the cheap
- Withings ScanWatch review: A watch that’s after your heart
- The best heart rate monitors and watches
- The most common Fitbit problems and how to fix them