9 Best Smartwatch 2026 in the United States

The Apple Watch Series 11 in its 42mm GPS version with Rose Gold Aluminum case is a strong choice for anyone looking for a versatile and stylish smartwatch. It works seamlessly with iPhones, ensuring easy connectivity for calls, messages, and music. The battery offers up to 24 hours of typical use, which is enough for daily wear, and it charges quickly—just 15 minutes gives you about 8 hours of use, which is handy if you’re on the go. Its always-on Retina display is bright and clear, making it easy to check notifications and fitness stats even in sunlight.

Health and fitness tracking are highlights here. It monitors heart rate, blood oxygen, sleep quality with a sleep score, and can even detect signs of hypertension and sleep apnea. The watch also supports advanced workout metrics and offers a fitness buddy feature that uses AI for motivation. Safety features like crash detection and fall detection add peace of mind.

The design is slim and lightweight, comfortable enough to wear day and night, including during workouts or sleep. It’s durable too, with a screen that’s twice as scratch resistant as the previous model, water resistant up to 50 meters (so you can swim with it), and dust resistant. While the 24-hour battery life is decent, it means you’ll likely need to charge it daily. Also, some advanced health notifications depend on having a paired iPhone nearby or an internet connection. The GPS-only model won’t support cellular calls or data without the iPhone. If you want a smartwatch that offers detailed health insights, solid fitness tracking, a bright and durable display, and smooth integration with Apple devices, the Series 11 fits well. It suits iPhone users who want a reliable daily companion for health, fitness, and staying connected.

The Apple Watch Series 11 GPS 46mm is a strong choice for anyone looking for a versatile and health-focused smartwatch. It works seamlessly with iPhones, ensuring smooth connectivity through Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and GPS. The always-on Retina display is bright and clear, with excellent scratch resistance thanks to its durable glass, making it easy to check your stats anytime without worrying about damage. Battery life covers a full day of normal use, with a handy fast-charge feature that quickly powers the watch for extended use, although heavy users might need daily charging. Health and fitness tracking are standout features here, with advanced sensors for ECG, blood oxygen, heart rate zones, sleep quality (including a helpful sleep score), and even hypertension and sleep apnea notifications. This watch also supports a wide range of workouts and provides personalized fitness guidance, making it a powerful workout partner.

It’s water resistant up to 50 meters and dust resistant, making it suitable for swimming and everyday wear without worry. The design is sleek, lightweight, and comfortable enough to wear day and night, including during sleep. The Apple ecosystem brings a rich app selection and smart features like Siri voice control, emergency SOS, fall and crash detection, and seamless communication options, though it requires an iPhone to unlock its full potential. While the battery life is not the longest in the market and it lacks standalone cellular capabilities without the cellular model, the Series 11 excels for those focused on health insights, fitness, and staying connected in a stylish, durable package.

The Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS, 44mm) is a solid smartwatch choice, especially for iPhone users, as it syncs seamlessly and supports features like calls, texts, and music through your phone or Wi-Fi. It offers an 18-hour battery life, covering a full day, and charges quickly—just 15 minutes can provide about 8 hours of use. The always-on Retina display is bright and easy to read, so you don’t have to raise your wrist constantly to check the time or notifications.

For fitness and health, it tracks workouts with real-time metrics and includes advanced sensors for heart rate, temperature, and sleep, offering alerts for irregular heart rhythms and sleep apnea. It also supports useful safety features like fall and crash detection. The water resistance typical of Apple Watches means it can handle daily activities but should not be used for deep-water activities.

Design-wise, the lightweight aluminum case and comfortable sport band suit daily wear, and the watch faces are highly customizable to match your style. The app ecosystem is strong, especially for health and fitness, though you’ll need an iPhone for full functionality. While the battery life is sufficient for daily use, intensive features may require charging every day. This smartwatch is user-friendly and geared toward those wanting health monitoring, fitness tracking, and staying connected without needing to keep their phone constantly in hand.