10 Best Fitness Watches 2025 in the United States

The Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS 46mm) is a strong choice for anyone looking for a fitness-focused smartwatch that also excels in health monitoring and daily convenience. It offers a wide range of activity tracking features, including detailed workout metrics, heart rate zones, and specialized fitness guidance through Apple Fitness+. Its health sensors stand out, with the ability to track blood oxygen, take ECG readings, and even provide warnings for hypertension and sleep apnea, which go beyond basic fitness tracking. GPS capabilities are robust, using multiple satellite systems for accurate location tracking.

The watch is water resistant to 50 meters, making it suitable for swimming and everyday wear in wet conditions. The always-on Retina display is bright and clear, while the lightweight and durable design ensures comfort for all-day wear, including during sleep to track sleep quality and provide a sleep score. Battery life supports up to 24 hours of typical use, which covers a full day but may require daily charging for heavier users. Fast charging helps offset this limitation.

Smart features like call and text handling, music control, Siri, and emergency detection add valuable convenience and safety. The watch pairs seamlessly with iPhones but requires one for full functionality. The relatively short battery life compared to some competitors could be a consideration if you want multi-day use without charging. This watch is well suited for those deeply invested in health and fitness tracking while wanting a premium, easy-to-use smartwatch that integrates well with Apple devices.

The Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) is a strong choice for those looking for a fitness watch that doubles as a health companion. It offers advanced health monitoring like ECG, blood oxygen levels, and hypertension notifications, which help you keep a close eye on your heart and overall wellness. Its sleep tracking and Sleep Score features provide useful insights to improve your rest. For fitness, it supports many workout types and provides detailed metrics, including heart rate zones and training load, which work best when paired with an iPhone.

The built-in GPS is accurate for outdoor activities, and the watch is swimproof with 50m water resistance, making it suitable for swimming or rainy runs. The display is bright and always on, so you can check stats easily without needing to raise your wrist. Battery life lasts about 24 hours with normal use and charges quickly, though you might need to charge daily if you use it heavily. It’s also durable, with scratch-resistant glass and dust resistance, which is great for active users.

Smart features include calls, texts, music, and Siri, but you’ll need an iPhone for full functionality, as it relies on iOS. The watch has safety features like fall and crash detection that can alert emergency contacts automatically. While the battery life isn’t the longest compared to some competitors, and the GPS-only model requires your phone nearby for some smart features, the price reflects a premium, well-rounded device that blends health, fitness, and smart connectivity seamlessly.

The Apple Watch SE 3 is a solid choice if you want a fitness watch that does more than just basic tracking. It includes many health-focused features like heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking with detailed sleep scores, and cycle tracking with ovulation estimates. Its built-in GPS lets you track your routes accurately during outdoor workouts without needing your phone. The always-on display is helpful for quick time checks during exercise, though it might slightly impact battery life. Speaking of battery, it offers around 18 hours of typical use and charges fast—15 minutes gets you about 8 hours, which is convenient if you’re active throughout the day.

This watch is water resistant, making it safe for swimming or sweaty workouts. It also packs safety tools such as fall detection and emergency SOS, which add peace of mind beyond fitness. The watch pairs smoothly with iPhones and Wi-Fi, letting you send texts, take calls, and use apps like Siri, adding useful smart features to your workout companion. However, it works best within the Apple ecosystem, so Android users might find it limiting.

The 40mm screen is compact, which might feel small if you prefer bigger displays for easier reading. While it tracks many fitness metrics well, it may lack some advanced sensors found on pricier models, limiting detailed performance insights for serious athletes. The battery life is decent but will require daily charging if you use many features. The Apple Watch SE 3 is a versatile and user-friendly fitness watch ideal for everyday users who want health monitoring, safety features, and smart connectivity all in one. If you own an iPhone and value a reliable, stylish wearable with solid fitness tracking, it’s worth considering. But if you need longer battery life or more advanced sports metrics, you might want to explore other options.