The 5 best smartwatches of 2026: Comparing the latest models from Apple, Google, and Samsung

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The best smartwatches make it easy to monitor your health, track your workout progress, and check your notifications on the go. Top brands like Apple, Garmin, Google, and Samsung have all launched new smartwatches in recent months, so whether you're team Apple or team Android, you have excellent choices for your wrist. Now that we've researched the biggest releases, tested a handful of them ourselves, and drawn upon the expertise of our Ziff Davis colleagues at CNET and PCMag to fill in the gaps, we're ready to name the best smartwatches of 2026. Spoiler: You really can't go wrong with any of the latest flagship models.

The smartwatch market is crowded, and that's good news

In just the past few months, Samsung, Apple, Garmin, and Google have all rolled out new smartwatches. Later this month, Google will also debut the brand-new Fitbit Edge with a bright display and advanced fitness features. (The Venn diagram of the best smartwatches and the best fitness trackers is basically a perfect circle.) The competition intensifies when you factor in other wearables like smart rings and sleep trackers.

Price-wise, most of our favorite smartwatches cost somewhere between $250 and $400, though they're often on sale for much less. However, you don't have to spend very much to get a kick-ass smartwatch. In fact, we have an excellent option for folks with budgets capped at $100.

So, which watches deserve a spot on your wrist? (Say that five times fast.) Here's our definitive guide to the best smartwatches for 2026 shoppers.

The best smartwatch for iPhone users: Apple Watch Series 12

If you're an iPhone user, we think you'll be very happy with Apple's latest smartwatch, the Series 12. Mashable's Stan Schroeder is in the process of testing it right now, and he said that while it may look similar to last year's model — other than some new ceramic case options — "it does bring a number of big improvements inside."

The Series 12 has a new S11 chip that adds support for Audio Intelligence tools. Moreover, it boasts "an entirely new electrical and optical heart sensor," and offers more battery life during workouts (plus faster charging), Schroeder said. He added, "The star of the show is the heart sensor array, which allows for far more frequent measurements and opens the door for new apps such as Readiness and an overhauled Vitals app."

It's worth pointing out that the Apple Watch Series 12's chip and sensors are the exact same ones you'll find inside the rugged Apple Watch Ultra 4, which costs twice as much. The Ultra 4 is awesome in its own right, especially if you prioritize battery life and durability, but this means you don't need to splash out on Apple's most expensive smartwatch to use its most advanced features. The mid-tier option has never been a smarter buy or a more worthwhile upgrade from an older model.

The best budget smartwatch for iPhone users: Apple Watch SE 3

Apple hasn't updated its cheapest wearable for 2026, but we're not complaining. Last year's Apple Watch SE 3 is still an outstanding budget pick with all the necessary features you're probably looking for in a smartwatch, like a gorgeous always-on OLED display, heart rate tracking, sleep tracking, gesture controls, and a water-resistant design. (For all intents and purposes, it's a last-gen Series 11 with a shorter battery life and no blood oxygen monitoring.) The new Series 12 is the "better" iOS-friendly smartwatch overall, but it's obviously much pricier and might be considered overkill if you're not especially health-conscious.

Mashable Light Speed

CNET's wearable expert Vanessa Hand Orellana tested the SE 3 and deemed it a great option "for anyone new to the Apple Watch world or upgrading from a much older model (think Series 6 or earlier)." It would also make a good starter device for a kid, she noted, letting parents "hold off on a full-fledged smartphone while maintaining a direct line of communication with their child."

The extra-nice thing about the SE 3 is it's much easier to find on sale than Apple's newest smartwatches, since it's technically an "older" model. It's regularly marked down to $219 these days, and on Black Friday, we expect it to dip under $200.

The best Android smartwatch for most people: Google Pixel Watch 5

Former Mashable senior reporter and marathon runner Christianna Silva gave the Google Pixel Watch 4 a 4.4/5 rating last year, calling it "a true runner's watch." They loved its immersive display, clear audio, repairable design, custom workouts, and "solid" battery life. It used to be our favorite Android smartwatch — until Google released the Pixel Watch 5 this summer. It justifies a $50 price bump with a faster processor, double the storage, improved GPS route tracking, faster charging, and better sleep tracking, including a new breathing emergency detection feature. It can also now monitor blood pressure and insulin resistance trends.

Those who are already using Google's Gemini AI assistant on their Android phones will appreciate its integration into the Pixel Watch 5, which is pretty extensive. Gemini "acts as a proactive companion" within the device, "surfacing your flight details on the way to the airport or suggesting a phone number while you text about dinner plans," writes PCMag's Andrew Gebhart. Plus, certain Gemini features now work offline.

All things considered, we think the Pixel Watch 5 is the best Android smartwatch for most people — though if you manage to find its predecessor in stock for way cheaper, it's still a stellar choice.

The best budget Android smartwatch: Nothing CMF Watch 3 Pro

Mashable readers went a bit gaga for this budget smartwatch when it was announced last July — and after testing it out for ourselves, we get it. Mashable contributor and reviewer Lauren Allain gave it a 4.6/5 rating (earning it a Mashable Choice Award), writing that it "looks, feels, and functions like a smartwatch that costs hundreds more." If you're looking for the best smartwatch under $100, nothing else comes close. (It's priced at $99, but often available for $79 these days.)

The British brand Nothing is known for its unique designs, which somehow look both retro and futuristic at the same time. CMF is the company's budget line, but the Watch 3 Pro doesn't perform like most cheap smartwatches. For starters, it offers direct ChatGPT integration, which even the Apple Watch can't do. Samsung and Google are eager to make you use their own AI tools, but if you prefer ChatGPT, then you'll love this watch.

Other spec highlights include blood oxygen monitoring, stress tracking, precise heart-rate monitoring and location tracking, and an extra-long battery life. For a smartwatch this cheap, that's an impressive roster of features. (Remember: The cheapest Apple Watch still lacks blood oxygen monitoring.) Allain said it best when she wrote that the CMF Watch 3 Pro "feels like a pricing mistake."

The best smartwatch for Samsung fans: Samsung Galaxy Watch 9

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 is another great Android wearable packed with Gemini-powered features. While we prefer the Pixel Watch 5 a bit more, mainly because its battery life is much better, this is a sensible purchase for those who are already in the Samsung ecosystem. Its feature set includes a new Heart Health score, a Fitness Index score, a Daily Cardio Load metric, and a tool that monitors your vitals overnight. (Aptly, it's called Vitals.)

On the aesthetic side, Samsung retained "squircle" design of the older Galaxy Watch 8 — which really isn't as ugly as some people say, in our opinion. CNET's Katie Collins said it has a "relatively subtle look, which is useful for an accessory you’re just as likely to be wearing to the gym as into the office." She also found it quite comfortable to wear all day, even in the larger 44mm size. "I can’t imagine ever feeling the need to take this one off, except when it needs recharging," she wrote.

The Galaxy Watch 9 also marks a price hike over its predecessor, but only a small one ($30). The older Galaxy Watch 8 remains a good alternative if you find it at a steep discount.