Best Smartwatches of 2025

The four watches most “best smartwatches of 2025” lists agreed on, this one included, have all been replaced. This page lists each 2025 pick, what its maker sells in its place in October 2026, and when the older model is still the sensible buy. For the full current list with every figure, see our smartwatch comparison.

How this page is compiled. Prices and battery figures come from each manufacturer’s own pages and press releases, checked on 11 October 2026; the Galaxy Watch7, Forerunner and Pixel Watch 3 figures were checked again on 17 October 2026. Battery figures are the makers’ claims. We have not lab-tested these watches, and this page gives no scores.

The 2025 picks and what replaced them

2025 pick	Launch price	Maker’s battery claim	Replaced by	Current model’s price	Current model’s battery claim
Apple Watch Series 10 (2024)	$399	Up to 18 hours	Apple Watch Series 12	$399	Up to 24 hours
Samsung Galaxy Watch7 (2024)	$299.99	No hour figure published	Samsung Galaxy Watch9	$379.99	Up to 30 hours, always-on display on
Garmin Forerunner 965 (2023)	$599.99	Up to 23 days; 31 hours of GPS	Garmin Forerunner 970	$749.99	Up to 15 days; 26 hours of GPS
Google Pixel Watch 3 (2024)	$349.99	Not checked for this page	Google Pixel Watch 5	$399.99	Up to 30 hours (41 mm) or 40 hours (45 mm), always-on display on

Should you still buy a 2025 model?

Apple Watch Series 10. Apple no longer lists it among its three current models (Series 12, Ultra 4, SE 3). The Series 12 costs the same $399 at list and adds six hours to Apple’s battery claim, so a Series 10 only makes sense well below that. If the budget is the point, the current SE 3 is $249 new.
Samsung Galaxy Watch7. Samsung still sells it, from $249.99 on its US store when we checked on 17 October 2026. That is $130 less than the Watch9’s $379.99. It has a 2,000-nit display against the Watch9’s 3,000. For a first Android watch it is a reasonable saving.
Garmin Forerunner 965. Still listed by Garmin, and by Garmin’s own figures it lasts longer than the 970 that followed it: 23 days against 15, and 31 hours of GPS against 26. If battery matters more to you than the newer model’s additions, the older watch is the better fit and costs $150 less at list.
Google Pixel Watch 3. Two generations old. Google’s store shows the Pixel Watch 4 as the previous model and the Pixel Watch 5 as current. Compare any deal against the Pixel Watch 5’s $399.99.

How to choose

Start with your phone

Apple Watch works only with iPhone. The Galaxy Watch9 and Pixel Watch 5 need Android. Garmin works with both.

Then decide how often you will charge

Apple, Samsung and Google watches are charged about once a day. Garmin’s are charged about every two weeks. That one difference settles more decisions than any feature list.

Then set a budget

Current list prices run from $249 (Apple Watch SE 3) through $379.99 to $399.99 for the three main watches, to $749.99 for the Forerunner 970. If you mainly want step, sleep and heart rate tracking, a fitness tracker costs from $99.99.

Frequently asked questions

What was the best smartwatch of 2025?

Most lists named the Apple Watch Series 10 for iPhone users and the Samsung Galaxy Watch7 for Android users. Both have since been replaced, by the Series 12 and the Galaxy Watch9.

Is a 2025 smartwatch still worth buying in 2026?

Yes, at the right price. The Galaxy Watch7 at $249.99 and the Garmin Forerunner 965 are the two clearest cases. An older Apple Watch at close to $399 is not, because the current model costs the same.

Apple Watch or Galaxy Watch?

Your phone decides: neither works with the other’s phones. Our Apple Watch vs Galaxy Watch comparison goes through everyday use, running, fitness tracking, battery and sleep.

Checked 11 October 2026 against apple.com, samsung.com, garmin.com and store.google.com; Samsung, Garmin and Google figures re-checked 17 October 2026.

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