Smartwatches have gone from niche smartphone accessories to everyday devices that can track your health, handle notifications and even replace your phone in some situations – but with so many models now available, it can be hard to pick the best one for your needs. That’s where we come in with our hand-picked selection of the best smartwatches around in 2026.
Compared to when the smartwatch market was in its infancy, it is now possible to get a great smartwatch for a reasonable price. In fact, if you want to shop exclusively in a more affordable bracket, then we have an entirely separate guide that focuses on the best cheap smartwatches, ready for your perusal.
Going back to the broader market, it’s quite impressive to see how manufacturers have adapted to serve most use cases. If you want an app-filled ecosystem on your wrist that can, in a lot of scenarios, replace your smartphone – you’ve got it. If you’d rather lock into a fitness routine and use AI to help you train for a marathon – you’ve got that too. There is no shortage of options available, and our team knows as much through their involved testing process.
Every smartwatch that turns up at our offices, regardless of price, is subjected to the same series of tests to assess how well it performs across the board. These watches are worn by one of our tech experts for at least a week, during which we document the user experience, battery drain and any other aspects we deem noteworthy to potential buyers. All this information means you can shop with confidence, as any wearable featured on this list has passed those tests with flying colours.
Just be aware that ecosystems can play a big role in which smartwatches are available to you. Apple Watches will only connect with iPhones, while Wear OS watches have a similar degree of exclusivity but for Android, but anything toting a different operating system will usually work with all phones.
Keep on reading to see which smartwatches we currently rave about, or check out our separate guides to the best running watches or the best fitness trackers for something different.