Tested: The Best Smartwatches for Everyday Wear

Although it’s difficult to determine exactly when the first “smart” watch came onto the scene, one thing is certain: smartwatches will soon be as indispensable to our daily routine as their smartphone siblings. Once little more than novelty-item movie props, these wearable devices are becoming exponentially more powerful and also increasingly specialized. As such, choosing the best smartwatch for your needs can be a daunting task — especially when there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to navigating the wearable market. To help weed through the noise of this ever-changing market, we’ve put together a guide featuring the best smartwatches.

How We Tested

Ultimately, finding the best smartwatch is something of a balancing act. There are some smartwatches that will do almost everything well, and there are others that will excel at a few specific tasks. Regardless of where your priorities lie, there are plenty of capable watches coming in at a range of price points. As the wearable market has continued to grow, brands have sought to increase their stake as much as possible. Such a competitive space demands perpetual development, meaning that smartwatches are seeing ever-briefer shelf lives.

For our research, we scoured the scene and went to our favorite brands since we know they do great work. We also looked at all the reputable brands in this space since brand reputation means a bit more in the tech world. We looked at aesthetic, capabilities, connectivity, navigation, if any, battery life, and overall performance. From there, we sourced our units for testing and spent considerable time with each smartwatch, looking at qualities such as user-friendliness, visibility, comfort, and those X-factor features that really make or break certain models. Our results are detailed down below.

What to Look For

Connectivity: One of the key features that sets smartwatches apart from activity trackers is their range of connectivity. Much like their cellular counterparts, smartwatches possess varying degrees of connectivity — from short-range Bluetooth and ANT+ applications to far-reaching 3G and 4G cellular networks. Although the former deals mostly with pairing to smartphones and wireless sensors, the development of near-field communication (NFC) technology has allowed for smartwatches to hold contactless forms of payment. Similarly, while 3G networks were once the gold standard for cellular data transfer, they’ve been nearly eclipsed by their faster 4G successor, and we’re already well on our way to widespread 5G adoption.

Operating Systems: Just like computers and smartphones, smartwatches depend on their operating system for their functionality. Apple’s watchOS and Google’s Wear OS are the most widely-used operating systems in the wearable market, but there are plenty of other brands with proprietary software specifically suited to their products. It’s important to note that while some smartwatches offer cross-compatibility, it doesn’t always work both ways. For instance, Android’s Wear OS and Garmin’s Watch OS play nice with Apple smartphones, however, the Apple watchOS software is not compatible with Android smartphones. While there are some workarounds (getting a 4G Apple Watch, for instance), they don’t provide anything nearly the same interconnectivity of a properly paired setup.

Battery: Battery life varies widely in the wearable world and is largely dependent upon active use. Though some smartwatches on this list require a daily recharge, others offer an incredible battery life and rarely need to leave your wrist. For example, the Apple Watch is rated for only 18 hours of use, whereas the Withings Steel HR multisport watch boasts an impressive 25-day battery life. Some watches like the Solar Edition of Garmin’s Fenix 7 feature a solar-charging function for extended battery performance between charges.

Storage: With an increase in smartwatch processing power comes an increase in storage requirements. Though some smartwatches are limited in the number of applications (apps) and activity recordings that they can hold, others such as the 64GB Apple Watch pack plenty of storage potential. Ultimately, smartwatch storage capacity determines how much data can be saved locally on the device. To put it another way, smartwatches with more storage are more capable as standalone devices, because they are inherently less dependent on smartphone pairing for functionality.

HR Monitoring/Sleep Tracking: Although heart rate monitors were once limited to activity trackers, their continued refinement has meant that they come standard on most smartwatches. Optical heart rate monitoring (OHRM) is the most widely used form of heart rate tracking, a technology utilizing LEDs to measure the amount of light scattered by one’s blood flow and, in turn, estimate pulse rate in beats per minute. With heart rate monitoring, so too comes sleep tracking, a metric designed to assess both the quantity and the quality of your sleep based on resting heart rate. Sleep tracking is an important factor to consider when looking at fitness-focused smartwatches.

Music: Whereas some smartwatches offer onboard music storage, others are reliant on streaming services like Spotify for their music capabilities. Still, others neglect music connectivity entirely. When choosing a smartwatch for its ability to play music, consider how likely you are to keep your smartphone (or other music-playing device) on you. For instance, if you’re a runner looking to pare down the equipment you bring with you, it’d be advisable to look into a smartwatch with onboard music storage or streaming.

Navigation: GPS navigation features are still mostly limited to fitness-focused smartwatches, however, models like the Apple Watch and the Samsung Galaxy Watch now include built-in GPS. GPS is primarily used in conjunction with an accelerometer for tracking training metrics such as speed and distance, but some smartwatches offer capable wrist-based mapping and navigation. Bear in mind that GPS applications are heavily taxing on a smartwatch’s battery life.

Sport Profiles: With the rise of fitness-focused models like the Fitbit Versa and the Garmin Fenix, smartwatch multisport capability is becoming increasingly common. Once limited to simple step counts and calorie estimates, you can now have on-the-fly access to your training metrics in real-time. Specialized sports profiles like running or cycling cater the experience to the individual even further, allowing for customized displays and relevant data recording.

Withings Scanwatch 2

Best Hybrid Smartwatch: Despite sitting at the lowest price point on this list, the Withings Scanwatch 2 is no slouch in the smartwatch world. Featuring a unique hybrid design, the timepiece is great for those looking for an analog unit with a little extra oomph under the hood. On the surface, it looks much like a traditional wristwatch, sporting a classy stainless-steel case and a pair of analog hands. But there’s more to it than meets the eye: It also comes packed with infrared heart rate monitoring, body temperature tracking, AFib detection, blood oxygen level scanning, and full health readouts. The digital “smart” display is minimal but provides just enough feedback for a lot of people out there wanting a simple health monitor.

The Good

The king of the hybrid smartwatch world since debuting a decade ago, Withings has perfected the concept with the Scanwatch 2. It doesn’t do too much but it can also give you plenty of the health-focused benefits of a smartwatch. It has tons of stylistic versatility with a handful of dial, case, and strap options for any occasion, although it does lean more towards casual or dress attire. here’s also a “Quicklook” feature that activates the smart screen when you raise your wrist, which can be an attractive feature for those who don’t want to make it obvious that they’re wearing a smartwatch.

When it came to testing all these smartwatches, the biggest hassle is the number of setups I had to perform. It’s exciting to try out a new piece of tech gear but it can also be frustrating. However, with the Scanwatch, I found the process to be the most enjoyable. Setup was the easiest and quickest of the bunch, and also the most fun when it came to setting all my personal health goals and running tests like ECG and blood oxygenation levels. And toggling through the different features on the watch itself was incredibly straightforward. A single button pushes and scrolls. It clearly delineates between the different apps for notifications, be it Facebook to Amazon delivery updates.

The Not So Good

There aren’t many downsides to the Scanwatch 2 but one thing I noticed was the flaw in the sapphire crystal over the dial. It’s a bit too reflective. While most crystals are literal windows to reading your timepiece, this one makes itself too known to the wearer. When looking at the dial, my entire face was shown in the reflection and it also picked up other images clearly when I viewed the watch at an angle. Also, the watch doesn’t have a lot of wrist presence, perhaps by design. Essentially, it won’t take the place of your favorite mechanical watch if you’re just looking for a time-telling device.

Verdict: Incredibly user-friendly as a health-focused everyday smartwatch but also attractive as a time-teller, the Scanwatch 2 is proof of why Withings is the king of the hybrid smartwatch world. While its downsides are few and far between (a flawed sapphire crystal and a low wrist presence), the watch is an unbelievable hybrid option, with versatile style, a range of capabilities, and a comfortable on-wrist feeling to boot. For someone who doesn’t want to compromise an analog (or autonomous) lifestyle for a bunch of extra tech, this is simply the best option they can find.

Fitbit Versa 4

Best Budget Fitness Tracker: Fitbit’s had a stake in the wearable tech market for a while now, first releasing a range of immensely popular fitness trackers, and more recently expanding into the smartwatch segment. As such, they’re seasoned pros when it comes to building capable, user-friendly products. The Versa 4 is one of their latest smartwatch offerings, gaining tons of built-in functionality like Amazon Alexa, music storage, and wireless payment support, and at a reasonable price. The battery also lasts for 6 days, with a 24-hour resurge in just 12 minutes of charging. But what sets Fitbit apart from much of the competition is its commitment to wellness. Among a long list of health-focused features, the Versa 4 includes on-screen workouts with its 40 exercise modes, real-time fitness stats, and detailed sleep analysis.

The Good

In recent years, Apple and Garmin’s array of sports-centric smartwatches has seemed to detract from what Fitbit has always done so well. And for the price, you still can’t get much better than the Versa 4, whether you’re a gym rat or not, the wearable’s streamlined menu setup is great for accessing certain apps quickly, like Fitbit Pay, your alarms, or the Exercise menu. Likewise, the apps you used most recently will show up on top after you press the button on the side. If you don’t like the default activity options, per se, you can easily add new exercises on top.

While the smartwatch utilizes both a touchscreen and buttons on the side of the case for toggling, there’s no crossover here like on some other smartwatches that have both. For instance, touchscreen functions are used for selecting and scrolling while the side button is exclusively used to swap back and forth between the menus and the home screen. The accompanying phone app sports an intuitive, user-friendly layout, and it’s super easy to set your goals for steps, calories, water intake, and the like. I also really loved the sleep tracking which had easily-digestible and accurate readouts.

The Not So Good

Many users seem to have an issue with the size of the screen. Nonetheless, I loved how wide it was, along with its clarity. On the other hand, using the Versa 4 as an actual watch was a struggle for me. The “Always On” option for the clock face drains the battery quickly (although you have a lot to work with). And then when I set the clock to turn on when I raised my arm, there was a bit of a delay every time I tried it. Likewise, this was an issue when driving, which required me to take my hand off the steering wheel to check the time. Fortunately, this setting is easy to turn on and off thanks to the user-friendly menu.

Another issue you might have is with the strap. It’s a bit too easy to swap out and I was afraid it was going to come undone by itself. While it’s comfortable and stretchy, it can be tricky to buckle on the first few times around.

Verdict: Lightweight and comfortable on the wrist, the Fitbit Versa 4 is easy to forget about when you don’t need it, which is a good thing. The menu design is very intuitive and well laid out, as is the accompanying phone app, built for easy customization of your goals. We had some issues with the strap and the clockface functionality but there are ways around this. Streamlined by nature, this is a great budget-friendly option for those who want a smartwatch for either everyday use or serious workouts.

Samsung Galaxy Watch6

Best for Android Users: Where there’s an Apple smartwatch, Samsung is soon to follow. Android users have to get their fix too, especially if they want to take full advantage of OS compatibility. In addition to its responsive touchscreen interface, the Samsung Galaxy Watch6 brings back the rotating bezel for scrolling. It also features the line’s largest screen (by 20%) and thinnest bezel so far. Like many other smartwatches on this list, the Galaxy Watch6 displays a variety of training metrics during activity recording. However, it also comes equipped with a music streamer, 40 hours of battery life, improved sleep metrics, and IP68 dust-proof and waterproof rating, and an 18% faster processor for overall better performance. Like the Apple Watch, the Galaxy Watch6 comes preloaded with a variety of apps to get you started, and there’s a Galaxy Store to customize the experience to your heart’s delight.

The Good

Aiming to serve those who want an everyday smartwatch, the Galaxy Watch6 has most of the features you’d want in a smartwatch, and a customizable interface and menu layout. A true extension of the Galaxy phone, the watch can do anything you need it to, from navigation to step tracking to sending text messages. I’m a Samsung user myself so the transition was pretty seamless. The first day I used the watch, I happened to go for a walk on my lunch break trying to count my steps. However, a few minutes in, I looked down at the watch, noticing that it had started an “auto timer,” recognizing that I had begun some sort of activity. While I didn’t necessarily need to time my activity, it was cool to see my results isolated from the rest of the day.

I enjoyed trying out some of the more unique features such as the Body Composition test, which was strangely accurate, and the AFib test. But perhaps my favorite part of getting acquainted with the watch was exploring the different watch faces. Categorized from silly to stylish to informative, and everything in between, I oscillated between a “sleep coaching” dial and the chronograph-like version with straightforward time, date, and health info given on the subdials.

The Not So Good

From the two side buttons to the touchscreen to the rotating bezel for scrolling, the watch has almost too many toggling options. And they often interfered with one another when I was using it. Swiping down on the dial often resulted in a leftward swipe, frustratingly so. Meanwhile, for a right-hand watch wearer, the pushers weren’t convenient to use, and catered more to left-hand watch wearers.

I couldn’t help but notice how easily the screen smudged. Often I would glance down at the time and I had to wipe off fingerprints and the like. It’s also important to note that the leather strap I used was very short, but can be swapped for other options if you prefer.

Verdict: While the Galaxy Watch6 is technically compatible with Apple devices, the transition from a Samsung phone is pretty seamless. We loved the plethora of customization options, the unique health features such as AFib detection, and it’s rotating bezel for scrolling. Some of the touchscreen functions were a bit finicky and the pushers were more for left-handed wearers but we couldn’t argue with the user-friendly interface and 40 hours of battery life. If you own a Galaxy phone, this is still the smartwatch for you.

Apple Watch Ultra 2

Best for the Outdoors: Apple really got people paying attention when it debuted its Apple Watch Ultra last year, a smartwatch for the most rugged lifestyles. With an increased 49mm case, the Ultra is the most capable Apple Watch yet and just debuted its second generation. For the first time, the Ultra 2 features a larger face that can reach the outer edge of the display to show the user as much info as possible at once and has the brightest screen ever on an Apple product. You can now connect Bluetooth accessories to enhance your activities and there’s also a handy Night Mode feature that goes on automatically in the dark. For extra ruggedness, the smartwatch is built with a lightweight titanium case and comes with an array of sporty strap options. On top of meeting MIL-STD 810H standards and having 100m of water resistance (with depth gauge) and IPX6 rating, the watch also benefits from Apple’s latest S9 chip for new double-tap controls and voice activation.

The Good

First off, the 49mm case is not only stunningly lightweight thanks to the titanium construction but it’s also noticeably rugged and durable. Not to mention, the titanium is 95% recycled, making this carbon neutral when opting for the trail loop strap, which was the one for the testing model here (it’s super comfortable). If you like the customizable action button on the side of the iPhone 15 Pro case that lets you start workouts, open apps, or even just turn on your flashlight (which I went with out of convenience), then you’ll be glad to hear that it makes an exclusive appearance on the Apple Watch Ultra 2 as well. You can also make it do things such as start your car, which is awesome.

36 hours of battery life is also a big plus, in part thanks to the effectiveness of the new S9 chip, giving you enough charge to last a few days (72 hours in low-power mode). The chip also makes the watch much quicker than the previous generation version. I’m a big fan of the double-tap gesture, which allows you to tap your fingers to do things such as scroll through your Smart Stack, answer calls and messages, and control music. If I was on the move or holding other things, this came in handy. I also noticed that the updated GPS tracking is highly accurate here, especially when running and hiking in the wilderness (more accurate than most other sports watches actually). Luckily, Apple doesn’t get rid of a lot of what made the previous version so great too, including the race route feature and water resistance.

The Not So Good

Aside from its lack of Android compatibility, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is also bulky despite the lightweight construction, which takes a bit of getting used to, especially when running. It’s also important to note that the watch is quite pricey, but for $800, you’re also getting arguably the best everyday watch around, and one with a ton of adventure features.

Verdict: Although it didn’t have Android compatibility and it’s much more expensive than most other watches we tested, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is still a fantastic choice, especially if you’re looking for adventure, from the durable titanium/ceramic case to the myriad of activity features like diving, cycling, and running. On top of that, you’re getting the best battery and brightest screen in an Apple Watch yet, making this a great pick even if you just want a really great everyday watch.

Garmin Fenix 7 Pro Sapphire Solar Edition

Best for Active Lifestyles: Garmin leads the way in terms of GPS-equipped adventure smartwatches, and their fēnix 7 is perhaps their most premium and versatile multisport model. An ultra-tough activity-focused smartwatch with solar charging capabilities for up to 3 weeks of battery life, the Sapphire Solar Edition of their top-shelf wearable has been tested to U.S. Military standards for thermal, shock, and water-resistance. Featuring a 1.3-inch sunlight-visible display, multi-GNSS support, multi-continent topographical maps, a pulse OX sensor, and much, much more, the fēnix 7 also happens to be housed inside a 47mm fiber-reinforced polymer case with a titanium bezel and Power Glass lens. It also comes with the standard ensemble of Garmin features like the slew of built-in sports apps such as golf maps and surfing trackers, text and email alerts, Garmin Pay contactless payment, a stock market tracker, Spotify connectivity, and health apps for sleep, hydration, and respiration tracking. Yeah, this thing’s pretty awesome.

The Good

Benefitting from both touchscreen and push-button selection options, the Garmin fēnix 7 is great for everything from hiking to surfing to working out, but it’s also a really user-friendly everyday watch as well. I opted for the touchscreen most of the time as the push buttons got old when toggling through menu after menu. However, there does happen to be small, albeit hard-to-read, text next to each button so there’s no confusion of what they’re used for.

In terms of the menu layout itself, the fēnix 7 is one of the most intuitive. You’re given a list of its dozens of activity modes (organized with dropdowns to make it clearer) when first setting up the smartwatch. From there, you select and deselect which ones you’ll be using so your menu options down get cluttered with obscure activities like disc golf or snowshoeing (unless you’re into those things). However, what makes this smartwatch such a great choice is how much function it brings you without needing your smartphone in tow, which is a good thing at times.

The Not So Good

While the Garmin Connect app is easy to set up and use for looking at your fitness/health history, setting up workouts, and receiving alerts, the sprawling nature of Garmin’s apps can make it difficult to stay organized. For instance, there are other apps you can use such as Explore or Drive, which each serve its own purpose. However, I like smartwatches and their accompanying apps because of how it makes things easier, not harder.

I’ve never loved how the “up” and “down” side buttons are positioned on Garmin watches (they’re next to each other instead of at opposite ends of the case side). This is just something that may be confusing for first-time users who have worked with other brand’s watches in the past. Also, this watch is $800, which may be too much for some who are looking for a sports watch, but also this is about as good as you’ll get.

Verdict: Garmin hits another one out of the park with the fēnix 7. Lightweight due to its polymer and titanium structure, the smartwatch also has an incredibly comfortable band that’s easy to adjust on the fly. You get tons of sports modes and both touchscreen and push-button functionality. This is a few hundred dollars cheaper than Garmin’s similar tactix 7, but will have enough features to opt for this as a viable lifestyle or everyday watch.

Suunto D5

Best for Aquatic Lifestyles: Some of us spend a lot of time in and around the water, whether we frequent the beach or local pool, work as a lifeguard, or have taken on swimming or diving as a major extracurricular. And simply put, it’s nice to have something on our wrists that can keep us connected worry-free. While Suunto’s multisport watch lineup is experiencing a bit of a reorganization, its D5 dive watch remains a capable option. In addition to its 100m water resistance rating, the D5 comes with a number of other features that make it an ideal companion for underwater exploits. For instance, it includes an impressive 200 hours of logbook time, a detailed decompression planner, and a real-time gas consumption monitor. It’s also compatible with Suunto’s Tank POD, a wireless sensor that delivers a readout of your available air supply. Oh yeah, and there’s a 6-hour battery life for your convenience.

The Good

Admittedly, I’m not a diver but I do know enough about the hobby to see how the Suunto D5 would be the best companion on your wrist. Other smartwatches might have diving apps but mostly they’ll be rather cursory, or at least approach diving more broadly. Simply put, no other sports-focused smartwatch is going to do as much as this. And with easily the largest screen on this list, you may be tempted to use this smartwatch even if you’re not going anywhere near the water.

I also liked the watch as a quasi-chronograph, or timing watch. The top and bottom pushers serve essentially the same function as chronograph pushers. When it came to using the watch as a time-telling device, I was skeptical about the brightness of the display. There are only three settings (low, high, and very high). However, the brightness adapts when outside and this never became an issue. Although I do wish that accessing the display settings were a bit easier.

The Not So Good

If you’re looking for a smartwatch that can serve as an everyday wearable with some diving capabilities, the Suunto D5 is not for you. Aside from telling the time and some notifications, this is almost exclusively a water activity watch. There’s no heart rate monitor or GPS or other apps aside from the diving computer functions. That said, a mechanical dive watch is also usually just a time-teller outside of diving functions (unless it has a GMT feature). However, mechanical dive watches also have a certain cachet as an engineering marvel that this smartwatch won’t have. On the wrist, the D5 also wears heavy due to the width and thickness, compounded with the stainless steel case.

Verdict: If you’re serious about diving and underwater activities, there’s literally no better smartwatch than Suunto’s D5. However, if you’re looking for an option that can serve you well both underwater and in everyday life, this won’t be the one. It’s scarce when it comes to casual features and phone connectivity –– there’s not even GPS or Wi-Fi capabilities. You might be tempted by the 6-day battery life and massive screen but it’s safe to say that this watch is for divers only

Tag Heuer Connected

Best Luxury Smartwatch: As the only smartwatch on this list backed by more than 160 years of brand history, the TAG Heuer Connected offers something perfect for those looking for a luxury timepiece with the added benefit of smart connectivity. At first glance, the Connected smartwatch sports many of the details characteristic of a classic racing-inspired TAG watch, such as a handsome titanium case, a ceramic bezel, a rubber racing strap, and even a default chronograph display. Although you won’t find a Swiss-made movement hidden in this smartwatch, TAG Heuer has preloaded the Connected with a series of faces paying homage to some of their classic pieces. But the TAG Heuer Connected doesn’t skimp on connectivity — when paired with the TAG Heuer Sports app, it unlocks an array of training data in order to take control of your workouts.

The Good

If you’re already familiar with the Samsung Galaxy watch range, the transition to the TAG Heuer Connected will be seamless. And a major difference, if you’re curious, is the elevated quality of the watch. This is not your ordinary smartwatch, looks-wise. I absolutely loved the watch face customization options. After all, this is a major reason to switch from the Galaxy to the TAG smartwatch. Here, you could select from an array of options, including a classic TAG Heuer chronograph-style layout or a more smartwatch-specific option. The brand even has faces from its own mechanical models on hand (e.g., Monaco, Aquaracer, etc.). These options almost make this blend in more as a smartwatch, which is only enhanced by the clarity of the display.

One of my favorite design aspects is the customizable bezel, which you can use as a 24-hour GMT dial for any time zone, a watch battery indicator, a heart rate indicator, a step counter, or a calorie counter (I went with the watch battery indicator just for fun, since it felt like the most unique). Aside from the crystal-clear display (the best of the watches we tested), the glass on top of the screen is incredibly resistant to smudging. I also love the easy clasp strap that can adjust to your wrist size in seconds.

The Not So Good

As I mentioned, the Connected is very similar to the Samsung Galaxy Watch6, right down to the interface layout and even its startup tutorial. However, there are some minor differences when it comes to what each pusher does –– of which there are now three instead of two (one is a pushable crown that rotates for toggling). As a right-handed wearer, the crown was a nuisance when it came to reaching over for scrolling. In fact, I actually had to switch this to my other arm just so I could use it properly. Not ideal. Also, interestingly enough, the watch can’t support phone calls through its interface.

Verdict: Simply put, you’re getting the TAG Heuer Connected smartwatch largely for its looks, with a crystal-clear display that can look like an actual mechanical TAG chronograph at a quick glance. However, its interface isn’t too bad either, with lots of similarities to the Samsung Galaxy Watch6 but with its own flair. We noticed that right-armed watch wearers might have some issues with usability but this is a beautiful, wildly customizable upgrade wearable for those who don’t mind spending the extra money.

Smartwatches Comparison Chart

Types of Wearables

When it comes to choosing a smartwatch best suited for your needs, it’s important to understand the semantics of wearable tech, and what exactly it is that you’re looking for: a smartwatch, an activity tracker, or a hybrid. Oft-used interchangeably, these are actually very different beasts offering varying levels of functionality. In order to make sense of the division, we’ve defined them for the purposes of this guide as follows.

Smartwatches: These are wearable devices that act as an extension of your phone. As squares are to rectangles, smartwatches are to fitness trackers. Thus, while most smartwatches can handle the functionality of a fitness tracker, the opposite is not true. The key difference between these two types of wearable tech lies in their processing power — smartwatches include a slew of advanced features that enable them to be used for much more than calorie counting or sleep tracking.

Activity Trackers: Once little more than stylish digital pedometers, over the years, activity trackers have rapidly improved in functionality. In many ways, the current crop of activity trackers resembles pared-down smartwatches. What they lack in features — like Bluetooth connectivity or voice assistant — they make up for in size and battery life. Activity trackers are made with the express purpose of recording fitness metrics like heart rate and daily steps.

Hybrid Smartwatches: These offer a fusion of old and new, pairing the timeless aesthetics of their analog forbears with the technological capabilities of their digital peers. Hybrid smartwatches don’t usually feature the touchscreen of fully-fledged smart options, meaning they’re typically a bit more limited when it comes to their features. Depending on their capabilities, they can lean towards either smartwatches or activity trackers.

Honorable Mentions

The Google Pixel Watch 2 will be familiar to most of you out there but compared to the Samsung option above, it falls just a tad bit behind. However, if you favor comfort and wearability over features, check this one out.

If you’re looking for another good hiking watch, but one that’s not as pricey as the Apple Watch Ultra, check out the Coros Apex Pro 2. It won’t be quite as capable but it is still comfortable, affordable, and has nice smartphone correspondence.

Garmin has a ton of great sports watches, including this Forerunner 255S, which is a more affordable alternative to the fenix 7 above, and transitions well to everyday lifestyle.

The Fitbit Inspire 3 is a great affordable smartwatch pick if you want just the bare-bones fitness tracker that the brand offers.

The Suunto Vertical Adventure Watch is impressive on paper but we just weren’t impressed with it due to its poor menu organization and below-par non-hiking features. Nevertheless, if you’re a Suunto fanboy, this might still be up your alley.

While the Apple Watch Ultra is the more revered option, the brand’s everyday (more affordable) Apple Watch Series 9 has similar features as the Ultra and isn’t a bad option at all.

Tested: The Best GPS Watches for Hiking

Still looking for a smartwatch but need some more navigation-focused options for the outdoors? Check out our tested guide to the best GPS hiking watches for some capable go-anywhere wearables.