The smartwatches most “best of 2025” lists still recommend, this page included until now, are two or three generations old. Apple, Samsung and Google all replaced their main watches between July and September 2026. This guide lists the current model in each family, the figures each maker publishes for it, and which of the 2025 picks are still worth buying at a discount.
How this guide is compiled. Every number below comes from the manufacturer’s own specification page or press release, checked on 11 October 2026. Prices are US list prices for the base model. Battery figures are the makers’ claims under their own test conditions, so compare them within a brand more confidently than across brands. We have not lab-tested these watches, and nothing here is a measured result.
Quick comparison: current smartwatches, October 2026
| Watch | Works with | From (US list) | Battery, maker’s claim | Peak brightness | Water rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Watch Series 12 | iPhone only | $399 | Up to 24 hours; 38 in Low Power Mode | 2,000 nits | 50 m, swimproof |
| Apple Watch SE 3 | iPhone only | $249 | Up to 18 hours; 32 in Low Power Mode | 1,000 nits | 50 m, swimproof |
| Samsung Galaxy Watch9 | Android only | $379.99 | No hour figure published; 390 mAh (40 mm), 445 mAh (44 mm) | 3,000 nits | 5 ATM, IP68 |
| Google Pixel Watch 5 | Android 12 or newer | $399.99 | Up to 30 hours (41 mm) or 40 hours (45 mm) with always-on display | 3,000 nits | 5 ATM, IP68 |
| Garmin Venu 4 | iPhone and Android | $549.99 | Up to 12 days in smartwatch mode | Not published | 5 ATM |
| Amazfit Balance 3 | iPhone and Android | $369.99 | 21 days | 3,000 nits | 10 ATM |
Apple Watch Series 12: best overall for iPhone users
The Series 12 went on sale on 18 September 2026 and starts at $399 for the 42 mm aluminum GPS model. Apple quotes up to 24 hours of normal use, up to 38 hours in Low Power Mode, and an 80% charge in about 30 minutes. The display peaks at 2,000 nits and the 42 mm aluminum case weighs 32.2 grams.
Its health features include the ECG app, a blood oxygen app, a temperature sensor, hypertension notifications and sleep apnea notifications. Apple labels the blood oxygen and temperature features as wellness features, not medical ones. Water resistance is 50 meters, which covers swimming but not scuba diving.
Choose it if you use an iPhone and want the widest app selection and health feature set. Skip it if you want more than a day between charges, or you use an Android phone: no Apple Watch pairs with Android.
Check Apple Watch Series 12 prices on Amazon
Apple Watch SE 3: best budget pick for iPhone
The SE 3 starts at $249 and is still the current SE in October 2026. It has an always-on display at 1,000 nits, up to 18 hours of normal use (32 in Low Power Mode), and the 40 mm case weighs 26.3 grams. It includes sleep apnea notifications, irregular rhythm notifications and a temperature sensor. Apple’s specification page for the SE 3 does not list the ECG app or the blood oxygen app, which are the main things the extra $150 for a Series 12 buys.
Check Apple Watch SE 3 prices on Amazon
Samsung Galaxy Watch9: best for Samsung phone owners
Samsung launched the Galaxy Watch9 in July 2026, with general availability on 7 August, from $379.99. It comes in 40 mm and 44 mm sizes with a sapphire crystal display that reaches 3,000 nits, and runs Wear OS on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Wear Elite platform.
The health features are where it differs from Google’s watch: FDA-cleared sleep apnea risk detection, Bedtime Guidance, Energy Score, and a blood pressure trend estimate that has to be calibrated against a separate cuff every 28 days. Samsung says several of these features need an Android phone on Android 13 or newer. Samsung does not publish an hours figure for battery life on the product page, only the capacities, so treat any single number you see quoted elsewhere with caution.
Find Samsung Galaxy Watch9 deals on Amazon
Google Pixel Watch 5: best Wear OS watch for any Android phone
The Pixel Watch 5 reached shelves on 20 August 2026 at $399.99 for the 41 mm model; Google’s own store was showing $349.99 on the day we checked. Google quotes up to 30 hours with the always-on display on the 41 mm watch and up to 40 hours on the 45 mm, rising to 48 and 72 hours in Battery Saver mode. The quick-charge dock takes the 41 mm watch to 50% in about 15 minutes.
It has dual-frequency GPS, an ECG-capable electrical sensor, SpO2 and skin temperature sensors, a 3,000-nit AMOLED display and 5 ATM plus IP68 water protection, and the 41 mm case weighs 31 grams without a band. It works with phones on Android 12 or newer. Google Health Premium is an optional subscription, not a requirement.
Choose it if you use an Android phone that is not a Samsung, or you want the longest published battery figure among the three phone makers’ main-line watches. The 45 mm model’s 40 hours is the number to compare with the Series 12’s 24.
Shop Google Pixel Watch 5 on Amazon
Garmin Venu 4: best if you train often and hate charging
Garmin announced the Venu 4 on 17 September 2025 at $549.99, in 41 mm and 45 mm sizes, and it is still the current Venu. Garmin quotes up to 12 days in smartwatch mode, which puts it in a different class from the one-to-two-day watches above. It adds an LED flashlight, a speaker and microphone for calls through your phone, and the Garmin ECG app in the regions where it is approved. It pairs with both iPhone and Android.
The trade-offs are a smaller app catalog than Apple or Wear OS, and Garmin does not list a cellular version. For running-first buyers, our Garmin vs Apple Watch guide for runners covers the difference in more detail.
Check Garmin Venu 4 prices on Amazon
Amazfit Balance 3: best value and longest battery claim
The Balance 3 launched on 2 June 2026 at $369.99 in stainless steel. Amazfit advertises 21 days of battery and no subscriptions, and the watch works with both iPhone and Android. It carries a 10 ATM water rating and a 3,000-nit AMOLED display. Amazfit’s product page does not spell out the conditions behind the 21-day figure, so expect less with the always-on display and daily GPS use. It takes the place of the Amazfit GTR 4 as this guide’s budget pick.
Check Amazfit Balance 3 pricing on Amazon
If you want a rugged flagship
Both phone makers sell a larger titanium watch above their main line. The Apple Watch Ultra 4 starts at $799 in a single 49 mm size with cellular included, a 3,000-nit display and 100-meter water resistance rated for recreational scuba. The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra2 starts at $699.99 in 47 mm titanium with a 10 ATM rating. Neither is a better smartwatch day to day than the Series 12 or Watch9; you are paying for battery, brightness and durability.
The 2025 picks: where they stand now
These are the five watches this guide recommended before the October 2026 update. All five still work and still receive attention from buyers, but each has been replaced at least once.
| 2025 pick | Released | Replaced by | Still worth buying? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Watch Series 9 | 2023 | Series 10, 11 and now Series 12 | Only refurbished or on clearance, well under the $249 price of a new SE 3 |
| Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic | 2023 | Watch7, Watch8 Classic and now Watch9 | Only if you specifically want the rotating bezel at a deep discount |
| Garmin Forerunner 965 | 2023 | Forerunner 970 ($749.99, May 2025) | Yes, at a discount: it remains a capable running watch |
| Google Pixel Watch 2 | 2023 | Pixel Watch 3, 4 and now 5 | No: the battery and sensor gains since are large |
| Amazfit GTR 4 | 2022 | Amazfit Balance line, now Balance 3 | Only as a sub-$150 basic watch |
If you are weighing the older Garmin, our Forerunner 965 review has the detail.
Which smartwatch should you buy?
- iPhone, want everything: Apple Watch Series 12.
- iPhone, spending as little as possible: Apple Watch SE 3.
- Samsung phone: Galaxy Watch9. Some health features need a Samsung or recent Android phone.
- Any other Android phone: Pixel Watch 5, in 45 mm if battery matters to you.
- You train most days and want a week or more per charge: Garmin Venu 4.
- Lowest price with long battery, either phone: Amazfit Balance 3.
Still deciding between the two biggest names? See Apple Watch vs Samsung Galaxy Watch. Not sure you need a full smartwatch at all? Read smartwatch vs fitness tracker or our fitness tracker comparison. For battery alone, see the smartwatches with the longest battery life.
Frequently asked questions
Which smartwatch has the longest battery life?
Among the watches in this guide, Amazfit claims 21 days for the Balance 3 and Garmin claims up to 12 days for the Venu 4 in smartwatch mode. Among the phone makers’ main-line watches, Google’s 45 mm Pixel Watch 5 has the longest published figure at up to 40 hours with the always-on display, against up to 24 hours for the Apple Watch Series 12. The larger Ultra models from Apple and Samsung last longer than either.
Can I use a smartwatch without a smartphone?
You need a phone to set one up. After that, a cellular (LTE) model can make calls, send messages and stream music on its own with a carrier plan, which usually costs extra each month. Apple, Samsung and Google all sell cellular versions; Garmin and Amazfit do not list one for the Venu 4 or the Balance 3.
Are Apple Watches compatible with Android phones?
No. Every Apple Watch requires an iPhone. In the other direction, the Galaxy Watch9 and Pixel Watch 5 do not pair with an iPhone. Garmin and Amazfit watches work with both.
What is the difference between GPS and cellular models?
Every watch here has GPS for tracking outdoor workouts without your phone. “Cellular” adds a mobile connection so the watch stays online away from the phone. It costs more up front and needs a plan from your carrier.
Are smartwatch health features medically accurate?
Some features have regulatory clearance for a specific use, such as ECG apps and Samsung’s sleep apnea risk detection. Others, including blood oxygen and temperature readings, are labeled by the makers as wellness features and not for medical use. None of them replaces a diagnosis; treat an alert as a reason to talk to a doctor.
Sources
- Apple: Apple Watch Series 12 technical specifications; Apple Watch SE 3 technical specifications; Apple Watch Ultra 4 technical specifications
- Samsung: Galaxy Watch9; Galaxy Watch Ultra2
- Google: Pixel Watch 5 technical specifications
- Garmin: Venu 4 press release
- Amazfit: Balance 3
Specifications checked 11 October 2026. Prices and availability change; the retailer’s page is the final word.
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