The best smartwatches of 2026

Smartwatches are premium smartphone accessories. Besides telling you the time, they can also send important notifications directly to your wrist and run other applications.

 

Even more impressive is that many of the best models today can perform a lot of tricks, such as letting you search the internet by voice , tracking your workouts with GPS , and allowing you to pay at the grocery store without needing a wallet.

They look great. If you're thinking that a smartwatch is a crazy and pointless accessory, think again. These options are well-made, robust, and can make you look more polished.

1. Apple Watch Series 7

The Apple Watch 7 is the best Apple Watch yet. It's not a huge upgrade over the Apple Watch 6 in terms of features, but it does have a larger screen. For the first time, the Apple Watch comes in two sizes, 41mm and 45mm, complementing the larger display. The seventh-generation Apple Watch also features several exclusive watch faces and a full QWERTY keyboard.

 

While battery life hasn't improved, the Series 7 benefits from faster charging. You can fully charge the watch in about an hour, reducing charging time and increasing usage time. Whether you want a smartwatch for work, answering calls from your wrist, or using the best Apple Watch apps, this is the best smartwatch for you. Of course, provided you have an iPhone.

2. Samsung Galaxy Watch 5

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 features a new skin temperature reader, a more scratch-resistant screen, and longer battery life. It's Samsung's best watch yet, because while there aren't many differences between the Galaxy Watch 5 and the Galaxy Watch 4, the improvements have made an already great device even better. With a starting price of around 7 million VND, it's still considered reasonably priced.

There are many things you'll love about the Galaxy Watch 5. First, it lasted two days in our tests and nearly charged from 0% to 50% in 30 minutes. Wear OS 3 with Samsung's interface also offers more perks, including Google Assistant and better interaction with other Samsung devices. For even more GPS features and longer battery life, check out the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro.

3. Fitbit Sense

The Fitbit Sense is the company's flagship smartwatch, packed with more advanced health features than the Versa line. Not only does it have an FDA-approved electrocardiogram (ECG) sensor and blood oxygen level measurement, but the Sense can also measure electrodermal activity and skin temperature.

 

As one of Fitbit's best watch models, the Sense works with both iOS and Android, and comes with onboard GPS, a native app store, Alexa, and more. Fitbit is no longer just a brand with pedometer products; watches like the Fitbit Sense demonstrate a commitment to our holistic health.

4. Apple Watch SE

The Apple Watch SE is a hybrid of the discontinued Apple Watch Series 5 and the Apple Watch Series 3. This $279 smartwatch doesn't have all the features of the Series 6, but it still stands out thanks to its fast processor and signature security features. It also offers an LTE version, making it a good option for those who want to use the Family Setup feature.

When choosing between the Apple Watch 6 and the Apple Watch SE, your only question will be whether you want to spend an extra $120 for a brighter display with an always-on option, an ECG screen, and blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) measurement. If those features aren't that important to you, the SE is a much more viable option for iPhone users.

5. Garmin Venu 2 Plus

The Garmin Venu 2 was already an excellent fitness tracker. It's considered one of the best Garmin watches. The Garmin Venu 2 is both a capable workout companion and a stylish wearable device. The Garmin Venu 2 Plus, priced at around 11 million VND, offers the ability to make calls directly from your wrist and use a voice assistant. While this device maintains Garmin's reputation for accurate activity tracking and GPS, the Venu 2 Plus is now a better-selling product for those who want their smartwatch to function as an extension of their smartphone.

 

Although Garmin still lacks a large third-party app store and continues to not support LTE, the use of more communication tools is a significant step toward mastering the complete smartwatch experience. The Garmin Venu 2 has a battery life of 10 days.

6. Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic

Despite the availability of the newer Galaxy Watch 5, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic remains a worthwhile option for those who prefer a traditional look. This classic version boasts elegant features, specifically a physical rotating bezel (starting at 7.5 million VND).

Thanks to its 3-in-1 health sensor, the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic can measure heart rate, obtain electrocardiogram (ECG) information, and read body composition. And despite the appealing features of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Wear OS, it still pays homage to Tizen, making it an ideal accessory for the best Samsung phones. Note that some features are exclusive to Samsung users, so not all Android users will benefit from everything the Galaxy Watch 4 can do.

7. Fitbit Versa 3

The best mid-range smartwatch for sleep tracking is the Fitbit Versa 3, the next generation of the Fitbit Versa 2. A notable upgrade of the Versa 3 is its built-in GPS. Now, even if you leave your phone at home, the Versa can track your location while exercising outdoors. The larger, more curved screen design is also a major plus.

In addition, the Versa 3 has a great motivational workout feature – Active Zone Minutes. Introduced with the Charge 4, Active Zone Minutes tracks the time you spend burning fat, your cardiovascular energy, or your peak heart rate during exercise. The goal is to achieve the 150 points recommended by the AHA and WHO in Active Zone Minutes each week.

 

8. Amazfit GTR 3 Pro

Many people often wonder whether they should buy an Amazfit watch, and the answer is yes, especially the larger Amazfit GTR 3 Pro. This is the brand's best smartwatch. While users often expect a bit more features for the price (for example, the Amazfit GTR 3 Pro lacks NFC), it still comes equipped with a wealth of health and fitness-related functions. With improved accuracy compared to the previous generation Amazfit GTR 2, the GTR 3 Pro provides an excellent tool for measuring heart rate, blood oxygen, stress levels, etc., all in a single reading.

You can train with over 150 types of exercises, the watch's built-in apps, hands-free voice control, and a menu layout that can be customized to suit your needs. With a battery life of up to 12 days, this is one of the best smartwatches for Android that doesn't come from one of the top names in smart wearables.

9. Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2

The Galaxy Watch Active 2 is a worthy competitor to the Apple Watch at its price point. Samsung's watch works with both Android and iOS smartphones (though not optimally), GPS, heart rate monitoring, and LTE (for the higher-end model). It can also automatically track activity and sleep.

The Galaxy Watch Active 2's round design is beautiful, whether you choose the 40mm or 44mm model. Running Samsung's Tizen operating system, this Galaxy Watch boasts other useful features such as Samsung Pay, built-in music streaming via Spotify, and cardiovascular health features. But the biggest reason why the Galaxy Watch Active 2 is one of the best smartwatches for Android users is its excellent battery life.

10. Apple Watch 3

Starting at $199, the Apple Watch Series 3 is a more affordable smartwatch option than the Series 6 and SE for iPhone users. The Series 3 is smaller, has a thicker bezel, and lacks features like ECG and SpO2 monitoring, but it's still a good choice for its price range.

When comparing the Apple Watch 6 or Apple Watch SE, the Apple Watch 3 doesn't lack too many features compared to the newer versions. You still get a heart rate monitor, GPS, 8GB of storage, and Apple Music offline playback support. The watch is also water-resistant if you want to wear it while swimming, and many of the best software features of the Apple Watch Series 6 are also found in the Series 3.

 

See more:

1. 8 things you need to know about Samsung smartwatches.
2. 9 essential features of a perfect iWatch
3. 3 things you shouldn't have on a smartwatch.