The Best Smartwatches of 2026: Top Picks for Every Budget
The best smartwatch doesn't just tell time; it's a style statement and a tool for tracking fitness, health, and even emergencies. WIRED writer has tested numerous wearables over the past decade and recommends seven top picks.
For iPhone users, the Apple Watch Series 12 stands out as the top choice due to its comprehensive health capabilities and seamless integration with other Apple devices. Its Health Sensing System provides more accurate heart rate measurements, and the new Readiness score makes it an excellent fitness tracker. Fast charging is also a welcome feature, allowing up to 12 hours of battery life in just 15 minutes.
However, the Series 12 has some drawbacks: its battery life still only lasts for 24 hours, requiring daily charging. Some features are also exclusive to newer Apple Watches. Despite these limitations, WIRED recommends the Series 12 as the best smartwatch for everyday use and fitness tracking.
For Android users, Google's Pixel Watch 5 is the top pick due to its polished design, accurate health and fitness features, and support for satellite messaging during emergencies. Its dual-band GPS provides more accurate mapping, and Gemini allows offline tasks such as starting a workout. However, some features are limited to Pixel phones only.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch9 is another strong contender, especially for users with Samsung phones. Its health- and fitness-tracking features are reliable, and automatic workout detection is among the best. The watch also has useful tools like Vitals and sleep apnea detection.