Like many consumer gadgets today, wearables have gotten pricier, driven by several factors, including rising component costs and supply chain pressures. That said, the Apple Watch Series 12 ($399) is the best smartwatch for iPhone owners, and Google’s Pixel Watch 5 ($400) is my top pick for Android users. There are plenty of solid options, in various styles, at a range of prices, and with different levels of smarts.
Below is a roundup of the best smartwatches I’ve tested. For more wearable recommendations, check out my guides to the Best Fitness Trackers, Best Smart Rings, and Best Budget Smartwatches. Add us as a preferred source on Google to see more of us.
While not a major upgrade from its predecessor, the Apple Watch Series 12 is the best everyday smartwatch for most iPhone users. Why WIRED recommends: The Series 12’s health capabilities are more comprehensive than the Series 11, thanks to a new Health Sensing System and faster S11 chip that increases the breadth, accuracy, and frequency of several health metrics. Most notably, the Series 12 can now track heart rate as often as every five seconds and heart rate variability (HRV) every five minutes or so.
With its new Readiness score, the Series 12 also makes a stronger case as a fitness tracker. The streamlined watchOS 27 makes everyday navigation easier. Fast charging gets a boost, too, with 15 minutes offering up to 12 hours of battery life.
The trade-offs: Battery life is still rated at just 24 hours, so you’ll need to charge it daily. Many of watchOS 27’s features are also coming to older Apple Watches. The new Audio Intelligence features raise some privacy questions around the watch’s use of its microphone.
Buy if: You have an iPhone and want a new smartwatch for everyday use, fitness tracking, and health monitoring, or you’re upgrading from the Series 8 or older. Specs Case(s) 42 mm or 46 mm (aluminum, titanium, or ceramic) Compatibility iOS Connectivity Cellular and Bluetooth/Wi-Fi options Battery Life Up to 24 hours (up to 38 hours in Low Power Mode) Key Features Recovery HRV tracking; Hypertension notifications; ECG app; sleep apnea notifications; Siri AI; Audio Intelligence The Google Pixel Watch 5 is Google’s best smartwatch, but many of the software upgrades have rolled out to the Pixel Watch 4. So, if you catch last year’s model significantly discounted, it’s worth considering.
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