Best Smartwatches of 2026: Top Picks for iPhone and Android

A good smartwatch tracks your health and workouts, filters notifications so you pick up your phone less, and can even call for help in an emergency. But the most important factor is your phone: Apple Watch only works with iPhone, and the best Android watches work best with specific phones.

We have ranked the best smartwatches for each type of buyer, with clear notes on battery life, health features and compatibility.

How to choose a smartwatch

• Match your phone. Apple Watch requires an iPhone. Galaxy Watch works with most Android phones but some health features need a Samsung phone.
• Decide how often you will charge. Most smartwatches last one to two days; Garmin and Ultra models last much longer.
• Check the health features you care about — ECG, sleep tracking, blood pressure alerts and fall detection vary by model and country.
• Get the right size. Larger cases have bigger batteries but can feel heavy when sleeping.

The best smartwatches

1. Apple Watch Series 11 — best for iPhone

The Series 11 is the most polished smartwatch you can buy. It tracks workouts accurately, offers a deep set of health features — including ECG, sleep apnea and hypertension notifications — and integrates seamlessly with the iPhone for messages, calls, Apple Pay and unlocking your Mac. Battery life is improved to up to 24 hours. Pictured is the Series 10, which shares its design. See our Series 11 vs Ultra 3 comparison.

2. Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 — best for Android

The Galaxy Watch 8 is the best all-round Android watch. It is thinner than its predecessor, runs Wear OS with Samsung’s One UI Watch and brings Gemini to your wrist for natural voice requests. Health tracking is excellent and includes unique features such as the Antioxidant Index and Bedtime Guidance. Some features require a Samsung phone. The Galaxy Watch 7, pictured, is its predecessor.

3. Apple Watch Ultra 3 — best for adventure

The Ultra 3 has the biggest screen Apple has put on a watch, up to 42 hours of battery life and satellite Emergency SOS for when you are out of mobile coverage. It is ideal for hikers, divers and endurance athletes — and anyone who wants to charge less often.

4. Google Pixel Watch 4 — best for Pixel owners

Google’s latest watch has a domed display, deep Fitbit-powered health tracking and Gemini built in. It works with any modern Android phone, but pairs best with a Pixel. If you care about sleep and readiness scores, Fitbit’s insights are among the best available.

5. Garmin Forerunner 970 — best for runners

For serious runners, Garmin remains the benchmark. The Forerunner 970 has a bright AMOLED display, precise dual-frequency GPS, detailed training metrics and recovery guidance, and battery life measured in days rather than hours. Smart features are more basic than Apple or Samsung, but training tools are unmatched.

6. Apple Watch SE 3 — best budget smartwatch

The SE 3 brings an always-on display and a faster chip to Apple’s cheapest watch. It lacks some advanced health sensors, but it covers workouts, sleep, notifications, fall detection and crash detection — perfect for a first smartwatch or a teenager’s watch.

Smartwatch comparison

Watch	Works with	Battery	Best for
Apple Watch Series 11	iPhone	Up to 24h	Most iPhone owners
Apple Watch Ultra 3	iPhone	Up to 42h	Adventure, endurance
Galaxy Watch 8	Android	About 1–2 days	Samsung and Android users
Pixel Watch 4	Android	About 1–2 days	Pixel owners, sleep tracking
Garmin Forerunner 970	iPhone and Android	Many days	Runners and triathletes
Apple Watch SE 3	iPhone	Up to 18h+	Budget buyers