HomeGear8 Best Smartwatches (2023): Apple Watch, Wear OS 3, Hybrid Watches

8 Best Smartwatches (2023): Apple Watch, Wear OS 3, Hybrid Watches

July 8, 2023

8 Best Smartwatches (2023): Apple Watch, Wear OS 3, Hybrid Watches

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Best for iPhone Owners

Apple Watch Series 8

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$399 at Amazon

Best for Android Owners

Samsung Galaxy Watch5 and Galaxy Watch5 Pro

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$280 at Amazon (40 and 44 mm)

Best Hybrid Smartwatch

Withings ScanWatch

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$300 at Amazon

Best Fitness Watch

Garmin Vivomove Trend

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$270 at Amazon
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A great timepiece doesn’t just display the time of day; it can elevate your outfit and make you feel good. Smartwatches can do even more, from tracking your workouts and measuring your heart rate to serving up notifications and access to voice assistants. While you’re wearing a connected watch, you can leave your phone in your pocket and use your wrist for simple tasks.

The Apple Watch is our favorite for iPhone owners, but Samsung’s Galaxy Watch5 is a great wearable for anyone on Android. We also like several other options—in various styles and with different levels of smarts. Below is a roundup of the best smartwatches we’ve tested. Looking for a fitness tracker instead? We’ve got plenty more workout-friendly options in our Best Fitness Trackers, Best Fitbits, and Best Garmin Watches guides.

Updated July 2023: We’ve added the Mobvoi Ticwatch Pro 5, Garmin Vivomove Trend, and Casio G-Shock DW-H5600.

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  • Photograph: Apple

    Best for iPhone Owners

    Apple Watch Series 8

    The Apple Watch is the best smartwatch money can buy. It has the best operating system, WatchOS, which is slick, with plenty of apps to help reduce the number of times you need to pull out your phone. The Series 8 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) doesn't introduce a ton of new changes over the Series 7, but most notable is a skin temperature sensor that may or may not be helpful for tracking fertility and periods. It also features Crash Detection, which ensures the watch will contact emergency responders if you're unresponsive in a car accident.

    As usual, the health features are robust. There's a sensor to measure oxygen saturation in the blood (SpO2)—helpful for athletes training at altitude or anyone with an underlying health condition—as well as an FDA-cleared electrocardiogram sensor. Unfortunately, battery life is still mediocre; you'll need to charge it the following morning after tracking your sleep. That said, WatchOS 9 added a new Low Power Mode that extends the battery life to two full days while sacrificing features such as the Always-On Display or workout autostart. Our Best Apple Watch guide has more details, and check out our Apple Watch Accessories guide for extras.

    Comes in 41-mm or 45-mm sizes.

    ★ A cheaper alternative: The second-gen Apple Watch SE ($240) is likely all you need (it includes fall detection too!). It debuted alongside the Series 8 and is the model for those who balk at a $400 price and don't need an electrocardiogram, SpO2, the always-on display, or the new skin temperature capabilities.

    $399 at Amazon
    $399 at Apple
    $400 at Target
    $399 at Best Buy

  • Photograph: Samsung

    Best for Android Owners

    Samsung Galaxy Watch5 and Galaxy Watch5 Pro

    Samsung's Galaxy Watch5 and Watch5 Pro (7/10, WIRED Recommends) are easily the best smartwatches for anyone using an Android phone, especially if you have a Samsung. They match the Apple Watch’s accuracy in several health and fitness metrics, from SpO2, sleep, and heart-rate tracking to electrocardiogram measurements (though the latter is exclusive to Samsung phones). The Watch5 Pro is larger and therefore has a battery that lasts roughly two full days, whereas the Watch5 lasts around a day and a morning. The Pro also adds GPX, meaning you can download hiking routes to the watch. They have sapphire crystals protecting the screen, but the Watch5 Pro’s crystal is even more durable, and it has a stronger titanium case versus the standard Watch5’s aluminum.

    They’re comfy to wear, look attractive, and boast slick interfaces, though you still won’t find nearly as many apps on the Wear OS Google Play Store as in the Apple App Store. Still, you can respond to notifications, rely on these devices for turn-by-turn navigation in Google Maps, and ask Google Assistant anything—rivaling the Apple Watch in utility.

    Comes in 40- and 44-mm sizes. Watch5 Pro comes in 45-mm size.

    Note: Samsung is expected to unveil successors at its Galaxy Unpacked event on July 26. It might be prudent to wait.

    $280 at Amazon (40 and 44 mm)
    $280 at Best Buy (40 mm)
    $399 at Amazon (Watch5 Pro)
    $280 at Samsung (All)

  • Photograph: Withings

    Best Hybrid Smartwatch

    Withings ScanWatch

    Withings' ScanWatch (8/10, WIRED Recommends) has nearly all the functions you want—heart rate and sleep tracking, plus basic notification alerts—but it goes further with its FDA clearance for the blood-oxygen and electrocardiogram measurements. The latter can be helpful to detect atrial fibrillation and irregular heartbeats, though you should always consult your physician if you're concerned about the results. 

    This minimalist watch can go a whole month between charges—who doesn't love that? The face is covered by sapphire glass, and the case is stainless steel, so it's durable and feels well-built. What gives away its smart sensibilities is the OLED subdial, which is also one of the ScanWatch's biggest downsides. This screen is tiny! You'll be reading texts like the news ticker in Times Square, New York. It's better for quickly glancing at the date and your heart rate and step count. 

    Comes in 42-mm or 38-mm sizes. 

    $300 at Amazon
    $300 at Best Buy
    $300 at Withings

  • Photograph: Garmin

    Best Fitness Watch

    Garmin Vivomove Trend

    Fitness watches are typically not as sleek or simple to operate as more robust smartwatches, but the Vivomove Trend (8/10, WIRED Recommends) oozes elegance. This is also the first Garmin to include wireless charging, which means you’re now free to ditch your annoying Garmin plug-in charger.

    The watch has it all—wireless charging, blood oxygen measurements, sleep tracking, auto-activity tracking, and Garmin’s proprietary and excellent algorithms for measuring your fitness. It’s a little clunky to operate, but that’s something you can get used to, especially if it means a five-day battery life.

    Read our Best Fitness Watches guide for more recommendations.

    Comes in a 40.4-mm case.

    $270 at Amazon
    $270 at Best Buy
    $270 at Target
    $270 at Garmin

  • Photograph: Google

    Another Good Android Watch

    Google Pixel Watch

    After years of rumors, the Pixel Watch finally arrived in 2022. Google's first smartwatch (6/10, WIRED Review) gets a lot of things right: performance is smooth, the screen is responsive and bright, and it's comfortable to wear. Best of all, it's gosh-darn pretty. Seriously, I think it's the best-looking smartwatch right now. It has NFC for making contactless payments, a speaker to answer phone calls, and there's electrocardiogram measurements plus sleep tracking if you need it. It initially lacked a slew of important features but they have since been added via over-the-air updates, including SpO2 tracking, alerts for high and low heart rate measurements, and auto-pause and resume for walking, running, and biking workouts. It's now able to detect falls too.

    There are still a few caveats though. Google has also gone the Apple route with a proprietary charger and straps. It doesn't even recharge quickly! The battery is lackluster, lasting only about a full day with sleep tracking, and it only works with Android phones. All this said, I still really like wearing the Pixel Watch—it's attractive and does the basics I care about the most pretty well. If you don't mind frequently dropping it on a charger, you'll be happy with this on your wrist.

    Comes in a 41-mm size.

    $350 at Amazon
    $350 at Target
    $350 at Best Buy

  • Photograph: Apple

    Best for iPhone Weekend Warriors

    Apple Watch Ultra

    Frequently escaping to the hills every weekend? If you want to bring an Apple Watch and don't mind the distracting pings, the Series 8 with Apple's new Low Power Mode can extend the battery life through the weekend. However, if your activities often take you to remote areas in rough terrain, then it might be smart to pony up for the very expensive, uber-durable, and gigantic Apple Watch Ultra (8/10, WIRED Recommends). A bigger watch means a bigger battery—it regularly lasted us close to two full days, and it can go for 60 hours with Low Power Mode turned on. It's made of more durable titanium, and the case rises up to protect the edges of the display, which is also covered with scratch-resistant sapphire crystal. There's even a guard around the digital crown and the side button on the right side.

    The Ultra has better mics to pick up your voice, an 86-decibel siren to alert your position to anyone nearby, and a more precise GPS to better track your hikes (plus help you find your way back with the new Backtrack feature). The screen gets twice as bright as the Series 8 and it can survive twice the depth (100 meters). There's even a spare customizable button on the left side, which you can use to trigger a custom workout. 

    Comes in a 49-mm size.

    $799 at Apple
    $780 at Amazon
    $800 at Target

  • Photograph: Casio

    Best Barely Smart Watch

    Casio ProTrek PRW-61

    I had this Casio on my wrist for more than a month and used one of its handful of functions every single day, something I can't say for many smartwatches. I used the stopwatch to track my rest intervals between sets at the gym. I set my world time to New Delhi, India, the time zone my sister and parents are in. I've used the compass to navigate when I emerge from the subway in New York City and can't get my bearings, and I've learned to read the barometer—mostly just to see how cool it is to predict the weather without having to ask a voice assistant. 

    I love how this watch looks. It's rugged and outdoorsy, but still relatively classy. Even better, it's incredibly comfortable to wear. Seriously, I never took it off in the month I tested it. It's been fine in the shower and through workouts. I love that it's made of biomass plastics from regenerative resources, such as castor seeds and corn (and other raw materials). Don't let that worry you about durability; I've been through a move, dinging it on various walls, got paint on it, and yet it looks pristine. The dial is easy to read—the indices glow or you can press a button right below the case to light 'em all up for nighttime visibility. And you never need to recharge it. Casio’s Tough Solar tech means it recharges itself via sunlight. 

    Comes in a 47.4-mm size.

    $297 at Amazon
    $311 at Walmart
    $420 at Casio
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  • Photograph: Mobvoi

    Great Battery Life

    Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5

    Got an Android phone? I really liked using the TicWatch Pro 5, mostly because its battery stands out among competitors like Google, Samsung, and Apple. I easily eked out three days of average use, and Mobvoi’s unique dual-display technology lets you stretch the battery life even further. When you’re actively using the TicWatch, you look at an OLED screen on the bottom. There’s also an ultra-low-power display on top for when you’re not staring at the watch. The latter shows the time, your steps, and even heart rate data. It also helps that it’s powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1 chipset, which is a newer and more efficient processor. And I’ve barely seen any hiccups operating this Wear OS 3 watch.

    The TicWatch Pro 5 packs many of the health-tracking features seen on the smartwatches above, from blood oxygen to sleep tracking, and results largely lined up with the Apple Watch Series 8. It’s a big watch and looks a little plain, but it’s certainly not offensive. I’d suggest swapping the 24-mm straps for something a little nicer. Just know that there’s no Google Assistant support yet, and Mobvoi has yet to deliver Wear OS 3 to its prior watches, so it may take a long time for this watch to be updated to the upcoming Wear OS 4.

    Comes in a 48-mm size.

    $350 at Amazon
    $350 at Mobvoi
  • Photograph: Casio

    Honorable Mentions

    Other Watches We Sorta Like

    The number of smartwatches on the market is staggering. We’ve tested models from Tag Heuer, Citizen, Montblanc, and many other fashion brands, but most of them are simply too expensive for what you get. Here are a few other options we like.

    Casio G-Shock Move DW-H5600 for $299: Want a G-Shock with a heart rate monitor? The DW-H5600’s measurements lined up well with the Apple Watch, but if you’re serious about tracking your health, I think you’re better off buying something from our Best Fitness Trackers guide. The buttons are a bit tough to press, and there aren’t a ton of workouts you can track (running, walking, gym workouts). You can sift through a good amount of data in the app, though I was left wanting more, and battery life lasted me roughly three days with continuous monitoring. It can recharge via solar, but you will need to use the bulky charging clip every few days. I still enjoyed wearing it, even if I didn’t find it as useful as our above picks. You can use it to track different time zones, your movements via the GPS during a workout, and even sleep.

    Skagen Falster Gen 6 for $148: Barring looks, this Wear OS smartwatch is akin to Fossil’s Gen 6 smartwatch (which I didn’t like as much). It runs the Snapdragon Wear 4100+ processor, and Fossil rolled out an update to Wear OS 3. Performance is smooth, there’s heart rate and sleep tracking, plus SpO2 measurements. All of the results matched my Apple Watch Series 7, though the Skagen usually took longer to get me those numbers. It only lasts about a day with sleep tracking, but it recharges fairly quickly.

  • Photograph: Montblanc

    Avoid These Smartwatches

    No Thanks

    Not every smartwatch is a winner. Here are a few ones we've tried that aren't worth the dough.

    Fossil Gen 6 Wellness for $299: This Fossil watch (4/10, WIRED Review) is just too laggy for how much it costs. It's not optimized well, so it's frustrating to use, plus its fitness app is a little too bare-bones. I also ran into an annoying bug where some features kept turning on and off. The battery life is also lackluster.

    Montblanc Summit 3 for $1,290: This is a beautiful (and large) smartwatch, and it runs Wear OS 3, but that doesn't mean it's worth the high price. There's no speaker, no Google Assistant, and the fitness features feel half-baked. It just doesn't offer all that much other than a pretty face.

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  • Photograph: Natalya Trofimchuk/Getty Images

    Swap Your Straps

    Fresh Band

    You don't need to stick with the strap you get in the box! Nearly every smartwatch these days has straps that can easily be swapped out. Apple Watches and Google's Pixel Watch have a proprietary strap system, but analog watch straps will work for others, making your options nearly endless. All you need to do is figure out the strap size of your smartwatch. You can usually find this on the back of the strap itself (you'll see “20 mm” or just “22”), or you can check the manual or the website you purchased the watch from. It's an easy way to further match your timepiece to your look.

  • Photograph: UMIDIGI

    Buyers Beware

    Know What You Buy

    Search Amazon for "smartwatches" and you'll be greeted with a long list of devices from brands you've probably never heard of. One brand that frequently popped up is Yamay, but a quick visit to the company's Twitter page showed that it offered "full refunds" for people who post reviews. Look at the 1-star reviews and you'll see complaints of the watch malfunctioning after a few weeks of use. This is a warning not to buy the first thing you see, even if it's cheap and has plenty of positive reviews on Amazon. Research the company and look for other reputable websites that have reviewed the products before you make your decision.

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