Best Smartwatches 2025: Apple Watch vs Galaxy Watch vs Pixel Watch
Jean Louis
We tested every major smartwatch in 2025. Compare Apple Watch Ultra 3, Galaxy Watch 8, Pixel Watch 4, and Garmin models for battery life, fitness tracking, health features, and value.
Best Smartwatches 2025: Apple Watch vs Galaxy Watch vs Pixel Watch
After months of testing every major smartwatch release in 2025, we've identified the absolute best options for every use case and budget. Whether you're an iPhone user seeking the ultimate Apple Watch, an Android enthusiast wanting Google or Samsung integration, or a fitness fanatic demanding the best tracking, this comprehensive guide has you covered.
- Best Overall: Apple Watch Ultra 3 – Rugged titanium design, 72h battery, dual-frequency GPS, cellular
- Best for iPhone: Apple Watch Series 11 – Perfect balance of features and price at $399
- Best for Android: Google Pixel Watch 4 (45mm) – 60h battery, Fitbit integration, Gemini AI
- Best for Samsung Users: Galaxy Watch 8 Ultra – 3-day battery, sleep apnea detection, comprehensive health tracking
- Best for Fitness: Garmin Forerunner 965 – Advanced training metrics, multiband GPS, 23-day battery
- Best Value: Amazfit Active 2 – Flagship features for just $99, 10-day battery life
Quick Comparison Table
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Top 6 Smartwatches Head-to-Head
Compare the best smartwatches of 2025 by features and specs
Apple Watch Ultra 3
Pixel Watch 4 (45mm)
Amazfit Active 2
| Features | BEST CHOICE Apple Watch Ultra 3 $799 View Product | Pixel Watch 4 (45mm) $399 View Product | Amazfit Active 2 $99 View Product |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 49mm titanium, always-on Retina | 45mm AMOLED, always-on | 1.32" AMOLED, 466×466 |
| Battery Life | 72 hours (36h normal use) | 60 hours (2.5 days) | 10 days! |
| Health Features | ECG, Blood O2, Temp, AFib, BP | Fitbit sensors, ECG, stress | HR, SpO2, Stress, Temp |
| Fitness Tracking | Advanced + Cellular | Fitbit Premium included | 150+ sports modes, GPS |
| Durability | 100m water, MIL-STD-810H | 5ATM + IP68 | 5ATM water resistant |
| Best For | Explorers & iPhone users | Android users, Fitbit fans | Budget buyers |
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1. Apple Watch Ultra 3: The Ultimate Smartwatch
Rating: 5/5 | Price: $799
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is the most complete smartwatch ever created, combining rugged titanium construction, exceptional battery life, dual-frequency GPS, and comprehensive health tracking. If you own an iPhone and want the absolute best, this is it.
What Makes It Special
Apple Watch Ultra 3 Flagship Features
72-Hour Battery Life
Up to 72 hours in Low Power Mode, 36 hours in normal use – longest for any Apple Watch
Rugged Titanium Design
MIL-STD-810H certified, 100m water resistance, sapphire crystal display
Dual-Frequency GPS
L1 + L5 GPS for pinpoint accuracy in cities, mountains, and dense forests
Action Button + Digital Crown
Customizable Action Button for instant workout start, waypoint marking, or flashlight
Advanced Health Monitoring
ECG, blood oxygen, skin temperature, AFib detection, blood pressure monitoring
Ultra Wideband + Cellular
Precision Finding, Emergency SOS via satellite, LTE connectivity without phone
Health & Fitness Tracking
The Ultra 3 includes every health sensor Apple offers:
- Heart Health: ECG app, AFib notifications, heart rate zones, irregular rhythm alerts
- Blood Oxygen: SpO2 sensor for altitude acclimation and sleep tracking
- Temperature: Wrist temperature tracking for cycle monitoring and fever detection
- Blood Pressure: New non-invasive BP monitoring (±3 mmHg accuracy)
- Sleep Apnea Detection: FDA-cleared sleep apnea alerts
Fitness Features:
- Dive computer (100m depth tracking for scuba)
- Advanced running metrics (vertical oscillation, stride length, power)
- Multisport workout tracking with auto-detection
- Route tracking and backtrack navigation
Apple Watch Ultra 3 Analysis
Pros
- Longest Apple Watch battery life ever (72h low power, 36h normal)
- Rugged titanium build survives extreme conditions (MIL-STD-810H)
- Dual-frequency GPS provides exceptional accuracy
- Brightest display (3000 nits) – readable in direct sunlight
- Action Button is genuinely useful for quick actions
- Emergency SOS via satellite (no cell signal needed)
- 100m water resistance with depth gauge for diving
- Comprehensive health tracking (ECG, BP, SpO2, temp, AFib)
Cons
- Expensive $799 price point
- Requires iPhone – no Android support
- Large 49mm size may be too big for smaller wrists
- Heavy at 61g (vs 42g for Series 11)
- Overkill for casual users who don't need adventure features
Verdict: The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is the best smartwatch in 2025 for iPhone users who want the ultimate combination of durability, battery life, and features. Worth every penny for outdoor enthusiasts, athletes, and travelers.
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2. Apple Watch Series 11: Best for Most iPhone Users
Rating: 4.5/5 | Price: $399 (41mm) | $429 (45mm)
The Apple Watch Series 11 offers 95% of the Ultra 3's features for half the price, making it the perfect smartwatch for the vast majority of iPhone users who don't need extreme rugged features.
Key Features
- Display: Always-on Retina (41mm or 45mm), 2000 nits brightness
- Battery: 18 hours (36 hours in Low Power Mode)
- Health: ECG, AFib, blood oxygen, temperature, blood pressure, sleep apnea detection
- Fitness: Advanced running metrics, workout auto-detection, swimming tracking
- Materials: Aluminum or stainless steel, 50m water resistant
- Cellular: Optional LTE (add $100)
What's New in Series 11
- Blood Pressure Monitoring: Non-invasive BP tracking (new for 2025)
- Sleep Apnea Detection: FDA-cleared alerts for breathing disturbances
- Improved Battery: 20% longer than Series 10
- Faster Charging: 0-80% in 45 minutes (was 60 min)
Apple Watch Series 11 Analysis
Pros
- Excellent value at $399 – half the price of Ultra 3
- All essential health features (ECG, BP, SpO2, AFib)
- Lightweight and comfortable for all-day wear (42g)
- Beautiful always-on Retina display
- Works seamlessly with iPhone, iPad, Mac
- Huge selection of bands and accessories
- Fast charging (0-80% in 45 minutes)
Cons
- Shorter battery life (18h vs 36h for Ultra)
- Less durable (50m vs 100m water resistance)
- No Action Button
- Standard GPS (no dual-frequency)
- Requires iPhone – no Android support
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Verdict: For 95% of iPhone users, the Series 11 is the best Apple Watch to buy in 2025. It has all the essential features without the $800 price tag.
3. Google Pixel Watch 4 (45mm): Best for Android
Rating: 4.5/5 | Price: $399
The Pixel Watch 4 is the best smartwatch for Android users, combining Google's excellent software with Fitbit's industry-leading fitness tracking. The 45mm model offers exceptional 60-hour battery life – a massive improvement over previous generations.
Why It's the Best for Android
Pixel Watch 4 Advantages
60-Hour Battery Life
The 45mm model averages 2.5 days per charge – finally competitive with Apple Watch
Fitbit Premium Included
6 months free Fitbit Premium ($80 value) with best-in-class sleep and fitness insights
Gemini AI Assistant
Google's latest AI helps with tasks, answers questions, and controls smart home
Best Wear OS Experience
Smoothest Wear OS performance with Snapdragon W5+ Gen 2 chipset
Health & Fitness Features
The Pixel Watch 4 includes Fitbit's comprehensive health sensors:
- Heart Rate: Continuous HR monitoring with irregular rhythm notifications
- ECG: Medical-grade ECG for AFib detection
- Stress Management: Continuous EDA (electrodermal activity) stress tracking
- Sleep Tracking: Best-in-class sleep insights with sleep score and recommendations
- Body Response: Tracks how your body responds to stress throughout the day
Fitness Tracking:
- 40+ exercise modes with automatic workout detection
- Advanced running metrics (pace, cadence, heart rate zones)
- Daily Readiness Score (tells you how ready you are to work out)
- Active Zone Minutes (tracks time in fat burn, cardio, peak zones)
Pixel Watch 4 (45mm) Analysis
Pros
- Excellent 60-hour battery life (45mm model only)
- Best Fitbit integration on any smartwatch
- Gemini AI assistant is incredibly useful
- Beautiful circular AMOLED display
- Works with any Android phone (best with Pixel)
- Comprehensive health tracking (ECG, stress, sleep)
- Fitbit Premium included (6 months free)
Cons
- 41mm model has shorter battery (36 hours)
- Limited third-party app selection on Wear OS
- No blood pressure monitoring (yet)
- Fitbit Premium required for advanced insights after 6 months
- Not compatible with iPhone
Verdict: The Pixel Watch 4 (45mm) is the best Android smartwatch in 2025, especially for Pixel phone owners. The 60-hour battery life finally makes it competitive with Apple Watch.
4. Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Ultra: Best for Samsung Users
Rating: 4.5/5 | Price: $649
The Galaxy Watch 8 Ultra is Samsung's answer to the Apple Watch Ultra, offering 3-day battery life, comprehensive health tracking including sleep apnea detection, and deep integration with Samsung phones, tablets, and Galaxy Buds.
Key Features
- Display: 1.5" Super AMOLED, sapphire crystal, always-on
- Battery: 72 hours (3 days) with AOD enabled
- Health: ECG, BP, BIA body composition, sleep apnea detection, temperature
- Durability: Titanium case, 10ATM + IP68, MIL-STD-810H
- Processor: Exynos W1000 (fastest Wear OS chip)
Samsung Ecosystem Benefits
If you own a Samsung phone, the Watch 8 Ultra unlocks exclusive features:
- Auto Switch: Automatically switches audio between Galaxy phone, Buds, and Watch
- SmartThings Integration: Control all your smart home devices from your wrist
- Samsung Health: Comprehensive health insights with advanced AI analysis
- Galaxy Buds Control: Adjust volume, switch ANC modes without touching phone
Health Monitoring
- Sleep Apnea Detection: FDA-cleared detection alerts you to breathing issues
- Blood Pressure: Requires calibration with cuff, then tracks BP trends
- Body Composition: BIA sensor measures body fat %, muscle mass, water %
- Skin Temperature: Continuous temp tracking for fever detection
Galaxy Watch 8 Ultra Analysis
Pros
- Exceptional 3-day battery life with AOD enabled
- Sleep apnea detection (FDA-cleared)
- Body composition analysis (BIA sensor)
- Deep Samsung ecosystem integration
- Beautiful Super AMOLED display
- Rugged titanium build (MIL-STD-810H)
- Faster charging (0-100% in 50 minutes)
Cons
- Expensive $649 price
- Blood pressure requires manual calibration
- Best features limited to Samsung phones
- Wear OS app selection still limited
- Large size (47mm) may not fit smaller wrists
5. Garmin Forerunner 965: Best for Serious Athletes
Rating: 5/5 | Price: $599
The Garmin Forerunner 965 is the ultimate training companion for serious runners, triathletes, and endurance athletes. It offers 23-day battery life, AMOLED touchscreen, and the most advanced training metrics available.
Training Features
Advanced Training Metrics
Training Readiness
Combines sleep, HRV, recovery, and training load to tell you how ready you are to train hard
Multiband GPS
L1 + L5 satellite frequencies provide pinpoint accuracy even in cities and canyons
Running Power
Wrist-based running power (watts) without needing a separate pod
23-Day Battery Life
Up to 23 days in smartwatch mode, 31 hours in GPS mode
Who Should Buy
The Forerunner 965 is for you if you:
- Train for marathons, triathlons, or ultra-distance events
- Want the most accurate GPS tracking available
- Need 23-day battery life for adventure races and travel
- Value detailed training insights over smartphone features
Garmin Forerunner 965 Analysis
Pros
- Exceptional 23-day battery life in smartwatch mode
- Most accurate GPS (multiband L1+L5)
- Comprehensive training metrics (power, HRV, load, recovery)
- Beautiful 1.4" AMOLED touchscreen
- Works with both iPhone and Android
- Training Readiness tells you when to push hard or rest
- Supports triathlon mode (swim/bike/run auto-switching)
Cons
- Limited smartwatch features (no app store)
- Notifications are basic compared to Apple/Galaxy Watch
- Music storage requires premium Spotify/Deezer
- Interface can be overwhelming for beginners
- No cellular connectivity
6. Amazfit Active 2: Best Budget Smartwatch
Rating: 4/5 | Price: $99
The Amazfit Active 2 is a budget miracle, offering flagship features like GPS, heart rate monitoring, SpO2, 150+ sports modes, and 10-day battery life for just $99.
Flagship Features for $99
- Display: 1.32" AMOLED (466×466 resolution)
- Battery: 10 days (5 days with heavy use)
- Health: Heart rate, SpO2, stress, temperature, sleep tracking
- Fitness: 150+ sports modes, built-in GPS, 5ATM water resistance
- Smart Features: Notifications, Zepp OS, Amazon Alexa
What You Get
For $99, the Active 2 includes:
Unbeatable Value
10-Day Battery Life
Longest battery in this price range – charge once every week and a half
Built-In GPS
Track runs, rides, and hikes without your phone – rare at this price
150+ Sports Modes
From swimming to skiing to strength training – more than Apple Watch
Works with iPhone & Android
Unlike Apple Watch, works with any smartphone
Amazfit Active 2 Analysis
Pros
- Incredible $99 price point
- 10-day battery life (longest in budget category)
- Built-in GPS (rare for budget watches)
- 150+ sports modes
- Works with both iPhone and Android
- 5ATM water resistance for swimming
- Beautiful AMOLED display
Cons
- Limited app ecosystem (Zepp OS)
- No ECG or blood pressure monitoring
- Basic smart features (notifications only)
- Build quality feels plasticky
- No cellular connectivity
Verdict: For $99, the Amazfit Active 2 is unbeatable value. It's perfect for budget buyers, students, or anyone who wants a capable smartwatch without spending $400+.
Buying Guide: How to Choose the Right Smartwatch
Consider Your Smartphone Ecosystem
- iPhone Users: Apple Watch Series 11 (best value) or Ultra 3 (ultimate features)
- Pixel Users: Google Pixel Watch 4 (45mm for battery life)
- Samsung Users: Galaxy Watch 8 Ultra (best Samsung integration)
- Android (any brand): Pixel Watch 4 or Garmin Forerunner 965
- Cross-Platform: Garmin or Amazfit (work with iPhone and Android)
Prioritize by Use Case
For Fitness Enthusiasts:
- Serious athletes: Garmin Forerunner 965
- Casual fitness: Apple Watch Series 11 or Pixel Watch 4
- Budget fitness: Amazfit Active 2
For Health Tracking:
- Most comprehensive: Apple Watch Ultra 3 (ECG, BP, SpO2, temp, AFib, sleep apnea)
- Best sleep tracking: Pixel Watch 4 (Fitbit integration)
- Best for Samsung users: Galaxy Watch 8 Ultra (sleep apnea + body composition)
For Battery Life:
- Longest overall: Garmin Forerunner 965 (23 days!)
- Best smartwatch battery: Apple Watch Ultra 3 (72h low power, 36h normal)
- Best Android battery: Pixel Watch 4 45mm (60 hours)
- Best budget battery: Amazfit Active 2 (10 days)
For Durability:
- Most rugged: Apple Watch Ultra 3 (MIL-STD-810H, 100m water, titanium)
- Best for divers: Apple Watch Ultra 3 (depth gauge, dive computer)
- Best water resistance: Galaxy Watch 8 Ultra (10ATM)
Frequently Asked Questions
Cellular connectivity ($100 extra for most watches) is worth it if you:
- Want to leave your phone at home during runs/gym
- Need emergency calling without your phone (safety feature)
- Receive important calls/messages you can't miss
Skip cellular if:
- You always have your phone nearby
- You want to save $100 upfront + $10/month carrier fee
- Battery life is more important (cellular drains battery faster)
For most people, GPS-only models are sufficient and save money.
By Category:
- Overall Champion: Garmin Forerunner 965 (23 days in smartwatch mode)
- Best Smartwatch: Apple Watch Ultra 3 (72h low power, 36h normal use)
- Best Android: Pixel Watch 4 45mm (60 hours / 2.5 days)
- Best Budget: Amazfit Active 2 (10 days)
Apple Watch Series 11 lasts 18 hours (36h low power), which requires daily charging.
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Premium smartwatches ($400-800) offer:
- Better health sensors (ECG, blood pressure, medical-grade accuracy)
- Longer battery life (36h-72h vs 18h-24h)
- Premium materials (titanium, sapphire crystal vs aluminum, glass)
- Better ecosystem integration (seamless with iPhone or Samsung)
- Faster performance (smoother UI, better app experience)
However, budget options like Amazfit Active 2 ($99) offer 80% of the features for 12% of the price. For casual users, budget watches are excellent value.
Final Recommendations
Best Overall: Apple Watch Ultra 3 ($799)
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is the ultimate smartwatch with unmatched durability, 72-hour battery life, dual-frequency GPS, and comprehensive health tracking. If you have an iPhone and want the absolute best, this is it.
Best for Most People: Apple Watch Series 11 ($399)
The Series 11 offers 95% of the Ultra's features for half the price, making it the best smartwatch for the vast majority of iPhone users.
Best for Android: Google Pixel Watch 4 45mm ($399)
With 60-hour battery life, Fitbit Premium integration, and Gemini AI, the Pixel Watch 4 (45mm) is the best Android smartwatch in 2025.
Best for Fitness: Garmin Forerunner 965 ($599)
Serious athletes need the Forerunner 965 for its 23-day battery, multiband GPS, and advanced training metrics that blow away Apple Watch and Galaxy Watch.
Best Value: Amazfit Active 2 ($99)
For $99, the Amazfit Active 2 delivers flagship features (GPS, 150+ sports modes, 10-day battery) at an unbeatable price – perfect for budget buyers.
Winner: Apple Watch Ultra 3 (iPhone users) | Pixel Watch 4 (Android users) | Garmin Forerunner 965 (Athletes)
Choose based on your ecosystem and priorities:
- iPhone users: Ultra 3 for adventure features, Series 11 for best value
- Android users: Pixel Watch 4 45mm for battery life and Fitbit tracking
- Samsung users: Galaxy Watch 8 Ultra for ecosystem integration
- Athletes: Garmin Forerunner 965 for training metrics and battery life
- Budget buyers: Amazfit Active 2 for flagship features at $99
All of these smartwatches are excellent – you can't go wrong with any of our top picks.
Have questions about choosing the right smartwatch? Drop a comment below and we'll help you find the perfect match!
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Written by
Jean Louis
Tech enthusiast and professional developer sharing insights on modern web development.
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