When you’re searching for one thing new to indicate off in your wrist, we have now a listing of the finest smartwatches that can assist you out. Whether or not you’re searching for a recent wearable full of health options to trace your train routine, or simply need a fashionable accent that provides extra capabilities than simply telling the time, we’ve acquired loads of choices to select from earlier than you make the massive choice.
After all, an excellent smartwatch isn’t a lot use with no highly effective smartphone to gather all of your info. So, in the event you want an improve in each departments, take a look at our guides to one of the best Samsung telephones, one of the best OnePlus telephones, and one of the best Xiaomi telephones. Or, in the event you’re searching for one thing a little bit fancier, see our picks for one of the best flip telephones and one of the best foldable telephones.
Listed below are the finest smartwatches in 2023:
1. Apple Watch Sequence 9
The most effective smartwatch for Apple customers.
Battery | Li-Ion 308 mAh |
Show | 1.9-inch LTPO OLED (484 x 396 pixels) |
Chipset | Apple S9 |
Storage | 64GB |
Colours | Silver, Graphite, Gold |
Execs
- Seamless iOS connectivity
- ‘Double Faucet’ gesture management
- Highly effective S9 processor
Cons
- Disappointing battery life
- Similar design as earlier fashions
When you personal an iPhone, the Apple Watch Sequence 9 is the obvious smartwatch accompaniment. That includes a shiny and detailed show, seamless connectivity with Apple’s suite of health, life-style, and security options, and a choice of visually interesting clock faces, this Apple smartwatch has nearly every part you want in a wearable machine, with a number of further bits for good measure.
Whereas the design aspect may not be a lot completely different from the Sequence 8, nor the Sequence 7 in all honesty, the newest Apple Watch gives higher efficiency than ever earlier than due to its extremely succesful S9 processor. One other software program innovation with this watch is the ‘Double Faucet’ gesture system, permitting you to reply calls, view messages, and even snooze an alarm with out touching the show. The latter of these options is a bit lethal for many who love a lie-in like I do, but it surely’s a sensible function that not one of the different units on this checklist can provide.
My principal problem with this machine is the battery life. Contemplating that is the ninth era of Apple smartwatch, it ought to have extra to supply than lower than 48 hours in the event you’re utilizing it for the naked minimal. When you’re utilizing it actively, it’s even worse than that, providing a comparatively measly 18 hours on common. Compared to a number of the non-Apple units that make up the remainder of this checklist, that’s fairly poor.
My different quibble is a bit more subjective, however I’m simply not a fan of the sq. clock face. It appears like a little bit of a gimmick to assist differentiate the Apple watch from the remainder of the sphere, however I’m a little bit of a traditionalist, and I desire a round clock face. It’s additionally value declaring there’s a extra luxurious choice within the Apple Watch Extremely 2, however at nearly double the worth of the Sequence 9, we expect the latter is the higher choice for many.
2. Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro
The best smartwatch for Xiaomi users.
Battery | Li-Po 495mAh |
Display | 1.43-inch AMOLED (466 x 466 pixels) |
Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1 |
Storage | 32GB |
Colors | Black or Silver |
Pros
- Cheaper than the alternatives
- Vast fitness and well-being features
- Stylish design
Cons
- Screen smudges easily
- iPhone connectivity issues
While all of the devices on our list of the best smartwatches are impressive in their own right, the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro is my personal favorite. It matches an elegant design, featuring an intelligently placed bezel guarding the glass against scratches and nicks with some stellar health and well-being features. Simply put, it’s the complete package. Better still, it’s cheaper than many alternatives, including the latest Google Pixel and Samsung smartwatches.
While the original Xiaomi Watch struggled to impress some due to the brand using its own, soon-to-be defunct, MIUI OS, the introduction of Google Wear OS with the follow-up model is a game changer. As I state pretty plainly in our Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro review, I think this device utilizes Google’s operating system better than the company’s own smartwatch. It’s not dramatically better, and of course, it’s a subjective opinion, but Xiaomi’s latest offering simplifies things while offering a full suite of fitness features you don’t need to pay for through a subscription service like Fitbit Premium.
The only caveat here outside of the smudgy screen is that, much like some of the other picks on this list, this wearable doesn’t always play nicely with Apple devices. Older Xiaomi devices seem to be fine, but at the time of writing, the latest from the company has some connectivity issues with iOS, occasionally not connecting at all.
3. Google Pixel Watch 2
The best smartwatch for Google Pixel users.
Battery | Li-Ion 306 mAh |
Display | 1.2-inch AMOLED (450 x 450 pixels) |
Chipset | Qualcomm 5100 |
Storage | 32GB |
Colors | Polished Silver, Matte Black, Champagne Gold |
Pros
- Personal safety features
- Improved battery life
- Ships with different strap color options
Cons
- Divisive design
- Some fitness features require Fitbit Premium
The Google Pixel Watch 2 is Google’s latest attempt to stake a claim in the smartwatch arena, utilizing its own Wear OS software to offer a lifestyle and fitness-enhancing wearable. One of the more enticing selling points here is the emphasis on personal safety, with real-time location sharing, a check-in countdown to alert your loved ones if needed, and the option to add any medical ID information. If you often feel vulnerable during workouts or excursions, this smartwatch could alleviate some of those concerns.
In terms of design, it’s one of the sleeker devices on our list of the best smartwatches, with a dome-shaped design that gives it a bit of a futuristic feel. Feeling like you’ve got a sci-fi watch does come with a slight cost, though, as the display is just slightly smaller than others on this list. In saying that, the Pixel Watch 2 has improved some of the maligned features of its predecessor, offering 24 hours of juice with an ‘always on’ display’, beating the Apple Watch Series 9 by a solid six hours and matching the Galaxy Watch 6.
Still, there’s something to keep in mind if you’re tempted by the Google Pixel Watch 2. Google locks some of the most impressive fitness features and in-depth tracking behind the Fitbit Premium service. You get a six-month subscription on purchasing the device, but then you’re on your own, left with the choice between continuing with the plan for $9.99 a month or missing out on some of the watch’s most impressive features.
4. Samsung Galaxy Watch 6
The best smartwatch for Samsung users.
Battery | Li-Ion 425 mAh |
Display | 1.5-inch Super AMOLED (480 x 480 pixels) |
Chipset | Exynos W930 |
Storage | 16GB |
Colors | Silver, Graphite, Gold |
Pros
- Dazzling display
- Easily customizable
- Unique One UI 5 skin
- Incredibly accurate tracking
Cons
- Disappointing battery life
- Little change from the predecessor
While the Galaxy Watch 6 is another Google OS utilizing pick on our list of the best smartwatches, it stands out from the crowd thanks to its Wear OS One UI 5 skin. It might not be a drastic improvement on its Galaxy Watch 5 predecessor, but it is hard to better something already quite impressive, and Samsung has continuously produced some of the better wearable devices of the last few years.
One of the perks of this smartwatch is the rotating bezel, so you can navigate through most of the features without the fear of leaving smudge marks on the screen. This is all the better as the display of the Galaxy Watch 6 is one of its most impressive features, offering a peak brightness of 2,000 nits and a varied collection of clock face options. Combine all of this with some of the most accurate fitness and well-being tracking available, and the Samsung wearable is one of the most attractive propositions in the current crop of smartwatches.
The downside is that the Galaxy Watch 6 is less impressive in the battery department than most of the other entries on this list. While Samsung suggests this smartwatch can last for up to 40 hours, or thirty with an ‘always on’ display, it’s more like 20-25. This means you have to charge it daily, and forgetting to plug it in for an hour in the morning can completely scupper your workout plans for the rest of the day.
5. Garmin Forerunner 55
The best budget smartwatch.
Battery | Rechargeable lithium-ion battery |
Display | 1.04-inch LCD (208 x 208 pixels) |
Colors | White, Blue, Black, Grey |
Pros
- Stellar battery life
- Plenty of fitness features
- Easy-to-read display
- Great price
Cons
- No voice assistant
- No option to change the straps
While Garmin might be better known as a massive sat nav brand, the company also offers a range of budget smartwatches. The best of these, in terms of design, features, and, of course, pricing, is the Garmin Forerunner 55. With an exhaustive list of fitness features, including respiration tracking, daily suggested workouts, and a recovery advisor, it’s ideal for anyone looking to keep fit without breaking the bank.
The battery life on the Forerunner 55 is also pretty impressive. It can go for up to two weeks while in smartwatch mode or around 20 hours in GPS mode, with even lengthy workouts barely depleting the battery more than a couple of percentage points. Match all that with a comfortable, no-nonsense build, and this is definitely a low-cost contender for the best fitness-focused smartwatch.
However, unlike the rest of the entries on our list of the best smartwatches, this thing is essentially just for fitness tracking and telling the time, without many of the lifestyle features we’ve seen in other devices. There’s no Google Assistant or Siri equivalent, so if you’re looking for something that has utility outside of your exercise regimen, you might have to hold off until your budget allows for one of the other recommended devices.
How we chose the best smartwatches
When it comes to choosing the best smartwatches from a crowded market of wearable devices, we take multiple factors into consideration. The most important thing is the list of features included, especially things like fitness trackers, though we also take into account AI assistants and safety features. Value for money plays into our thinking too, though, explaining why we include the Garmin Forerunner 55, which has no AI assistant but is a fantastic watch for fitness enthusiasts.
However, design and comfort are also crucial to our decision-making process. It’s not much use having a wearable with fantastic features if it feels clunky on your wrist, especially as all of them are at their best when exercising. Picking out entries based on design is a bit trickier, as aesthetics are much more subjective, but with the variety on offer there should be something to suit different tastes. For more details on how we write our buying guide lists, check out our page detailing how we test hardware.
There you have it, our guide to the best smartwatches on the market. If you’re more concerned with gaming than fitness tracking, check out our best gaming phone guide. Or, if you’re something of an artist, see if anything in our guide to the best stylus for iPad and iPhones sparks your imagination.