8 Best Smartwatches of 2026

Apple Watch Series 12 is the most complete health watch for an iPhone owner. Apple lists an ECG app that records a single-lead electrocardiogram to check for signs of AFib, a Blood Oxygen app, high and low heart rate alerts, irregular rhythm notifications, sleep score and sleep apnea notifications. New for this model line is a hypertension notification: Apple says the optical sensor feeds an algorithm that can flag patterns of chronic high blood pressure. Readiness and Vitals combine HRV, blood oxygen and other overnight data, and wrist temperature sensing supports Advanced Cycle Tracking. For daily use, Apple Pay, Fall Detection and Crash Detection are built in, and the cellular model can call, text and stream over 5G with a carrier plan. The tradeoffs are battery and lock-in. Apple lists up to 24 hours of normal use, so most people charge daily, though 15 minutes of fast charging adds up to 12 hours. The watch requires iPhone 11 or later with iOS 27, so Android owners should look at Pixel Watch 5 or Galaxy Watch9.

Google Pixel Watch 5 is the strongest choice for an Android phone owner who wants one watch for health, messages and payments. Google lists an ECG app to check for AFib, alerts for irregular heart rhythms and heart rate outside the normal range, and blood pressure trend tracking, along with sleep, stress, skin temperature and SpO2 data in the Google Health app. Safety is the clearest difference from rivals: Google says it is the first smartwatch with SOS satellite communications, so you can contact emergency services from remote areas without LTE. Google Wallet and Google Maps run on the wrist, and the 4G LTE option handles calls, texts and payments with the phone left at home. Battery runs up to 40 hours, and the Quick Charge Dock adds 15 hours in 15 minutes, which makes overnight sleep tracking practical. The watch is IP68 rated and, per Google, repairable. It needs Android 12.0 or newer, and adaptive coaching built with Gemini is part of Google Health Premium, with 3 months included for new buyers.

Apple Watch SE 3 is the way into Apple Watch for iPhone owners who mostly want notifications, activity tracking, sleep data and Apple Pay. Apple lists sleep score, sleep apnea notifications, HRV, heart rate tracking, high and low heart rate alerts and irregular rhythm notifications, plus Fall Detection and Emergency SOS. The Always-On Retina display reaches up to 1000 nits, and the S10 chip runs Siri. What you give up is listed plainly on Apple's comparison: no Readiness app, no hypertension notifications, no ECG app and no Blood Oxygen app. Apple also says the ECG app is not available on any Apple Watch SE model. Battery is the other compromise, at up to 18 hours of normal use or 32 hours in Low Power Mode, though 15 minutes of fast charging gives up to 8 hours. At $249 in the US Apple Store it costs $150 less than Series 12, which makes it the best value for an iPhone owner who does not need heart rhythm checks.

Samsung Galaxy Watch9 is the natural pick for someone already on a Samsung Galaxy phone, because that is where its health features work in full. Samsung lists a morning blood pressure estimate: you calibrate the watch with a blood pressure cuff sold separately, wear it overnight and see an estimate when you wake. A Heart Health Score combines four daily factors including sleep length and blood pressure, and the ECG Monitor App and irregular rhythm notifications cover AFib checks for adults 22 and older. Sleep tools include Bedtime Guidance, a sleep apnea feature and an Energy Score, all of which need Android 13 or above. The battery grows to 390 mAh from 300 mAh on Galaxy Watch7, though Samsung does not quote hours on the product page. Gemini answers when you raise your wrist and talk, and Wear OS opens the Google Play Store. The catch is phone lock-in: Samsung says the Heart Health Score and Galaxy AI features require a compatible Samsung Galaxy phone.

Amazfit Balance 2 is the pick for someone who wants smartwatch notifications and detailed health data without a charger on the nightstand. Amazfit lists up to 21 days of typical battery life and up to 33 hours with GPS running, far beyond the daily charging of Apple and Google watches. It also packs features that usually cost more: sapphire glass, a 2,000 nit display, dual-band GPS, free offline maps with golf course and ski resort maps, 10 ATM water resistance and dive modes for freediving and recreational scuba to 45m. HybridCharge brings BioCharge, LifeLoad and Training Load together for a daily readiness view, and Amazfit says the Zepp App has no subscription fees for workout and recovery data. Two speakers handle Bluetooth calls. The limits are in phone integration: typed QWERTY message replies are marked as Android only, and the US page does not mention tap-to-pay. At $299.99 it is the cheapest long battery watch on this list.

Garmin Venu 4 sits between a fitness watch and a smartwatch, and it suits someone who trains often but still wants notifications and payments. The owner's manual lists up to 10 days of battery for the 41mm model and 12 days for the 45mm model in smartwatch mode, with battery saver watch mode reaching 18 and 25 days. Garmin Pay holds up to 10 credit or debit cards, though Garmin notes that participating financial institutions may restrict features, so check your bank first. Health Status tracks overnight heart rate, HRV, respiration rate, skin temperature and pulse oximeter data against your own baseline after three weeks of wear. A built-in LED flashlight with strobe modes, a speaker and microphone for voice notes, multi-band GPS and a 5 ATM water rating round out the hardware. It pairs with iPhone and Android, but quick text replies need a compatible Android phone. Garmin's US page listed the 41mm model at $549.99 with a sale price, which our checker could not confirm, so the price is pending.

Withings ScanWatch 2 is for someone who wants a traditional looking watch that still records medical-grade heart data. You rest a finger on the metal bezel and the watch records a single-lead ECG in 30 seconds; Withings says its ECG App is cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration under 510(k) K240795. It also tracks overnight HRV, a Breathing Quality Index, blood oxygen levels and 24/7 temperature with variation notifications, and a Withings+ trial adds cardiologist review of an ECG within 24 hours. Battery is the headline at up to 35 days, with a full charge in 2 hours. The watch works with iOS and Android, is 5 ATM water resistant and shows incoming calls and app notifications. Because it is a hybrid with a small display, the US page lists no message replies, third party apps or wallet payments, so it does not cover the payments part of this list. At $369.95 for either the 38mm or 42mm case, it is the best fit for health first buyers.

Fitbit Sense 2 is the lowest cost way on this list to get an ECG app and wrist payments on either an iPhone or an Android phone. Google's store page says it works with most phones running Android 11.0 or iOS 16.4 or newer, which makes it the safest pick for a household with mixed phones or a buyer who might switch. Health tools include the ECG app for atrial fibrillation checks, a cEDA sensor that flags potential signs of stress with notifications, a skin temperature sensor and a nightly breakdown of light, deep and REM sleep. Built-in GPS records pace and distance without the phone, Google Wallet handles payments and Google Maps gives turn-by-turn directions. On-wrist Bluetooth calls let you answer from the watch. It trails the newer watches on display, apps and safety features, and Google's page gives no battery figure while noting that cEDA use may shorten it. It costs $249.95, and Google's store listed a $199.95 sale price in November 2026.