10 Best Smart Watches 2025 in the United States

The Garmin fēnix 8 is a high-end multisport GPS smartwatch designed for athletes and outdoor adventurers. Its 1.4-inch AMOLED screen is bright and clear, protected by a tough sapphire lens, making it easy to read even in bright light. The watch is built with a durable titanium bezel and pebble gray band, offering a premium, sturdy feel that’s also lightweight at just over 3.5 ounces. Compatibility is good with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, and it connects well with smartphones to display notifications and allow calls with its built-in mic and speaker.

Battery life is impressive, lasting up to 29 days in smartwatch mode and 84 hours when using GPS, which is ideal for long trips or extended workouts without frequent charging. The watch supports a wide range of fitness and health tracking features, including heart rate, sleep, respiration, and oxygen saturation monitoring, plus advanced metrics like training readiness and stamina tracking. It also supports scuba diving up to 40 meters with water-resistant, leakproof buttons, which is a standout feature for divers.

Navigation is strong with multi-band GPS and sensors like a compass and barometric altimeter, helping users accurately track routes and even receive dynamic route suggestions. The off-grid voice command feature is helpful when you don’t have your phone nearby. Some features such as Pulse Ox and ECG monitoring may not be available in all regions and aren’t substitutes for professional medical devices. The design is customizable and rugged, suited for active lifestyles, but the 51mm size might feel large on smaller wrists. While the Garmin OS isn’t as widespread as other smartwatch platforms, it’s optimized for sports and outdoor use. This watch suits serious fitness enthusiasts and adventurers who want durable gear with long battery life and advanced tracking, though it may be overkill for casual users.

The Garmin Venu 4 is a solid choice if you're looking for a smartwatch that does a lot more than just tell time. It offers a bright and colorful 1.4-inch round display that’s easy to read, and its stainless steel design paired with a black silicone band gives it a sporty yet stylish look. The watch works well with both iPhone and Android smartphones, letting you take calls, respond to texts by voice, and use your phone’s voice assistant right from your wrist.

One of its standout features is the extensive health and fitness tracking. It monitors your heart rate, stress, sleep quality (including personalized coaching), and even tracks your body energy levels. The built-in GPS helps accurately track outdoor activities like running or cycling, and there are over 80 sports apps included for various workouts. The battery life is impressive, lasting up to 12 days, which means less frequent charging and more time focused on your fitness goals.

The watch also offers advanced features like an ECG app for heart rhythm and a flashlight for convenience, which you don’t often see in smartwatches. Lifestyle tracking such as caffeine and alcohol intake helps you understand how your habits affect your health. The Pulse Ox feature, useful for sleep tracking, is not available everywhere, and the watch is not a medical device, so its health readings should be viewed as estimates. Additionally, while it has water resistance, users should check its limits if they plan to use it mainly for swimming or water sports.

This makes the Garmin Venu 4 a great fit for users who want a comprehensive health-focused smartwatch with long battery life and solid connectivity, especially if they enjoy tracking various sports and health metrics. It may be more feature-rich than necessary for those who prefer a simple, basic smartwatch.

The Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm) is a solid choice if you want a smartwatch that excels in health and fitness tracking. It works smoothly with iPhones and offers a bright, always-on Retina display that’s easy to read throughout the day. The design is lightweight and comfortable, good for wearing all day and night to track sleep, which it scores to help improve your rest.

In terms of health features, it’s impressive—it can detect signs of high blood pressure, irregular heart rhythms, and sleep apnea, plus it offers ECG and blood oxygen measurements. These are advanced tools that go beyond basic fitness trackers. The watch is also swim-proof and dust resistant, so it’s durable enough for everyday use and workouts. Battery life lasts up to 24 hours with regular use, so you’ll likely need to charge it daily; fast charging helps if you’re short on time.

It supports notifications, calls, music, and voice commands through Siri, keeping you connected without pulling out your phone. One downside is that it’s designed mainly for iPhone users, so it won’t work with Android devices. Also, while the feature set is rich, the price tends to be on the higher side compared to simpler smartwatches. If you want a stylish, health-focused watch with strong fitness tracking and solid daily use features, this model fits well—just be ready to charge it every day and pair it with an iPhone.