10 Best Smartwatch For Your Money 2025 in the United States

The Garmin Instinct 3 is a solid choice for those looking for a rugged smartwatch that handles outdoor activities well. Its standout feature is the solar-charged display, which helps extend battery life significantly—ideal if you spend a lot of time outside and want to avoid frequent recharging. The 0.9-inch round screen is not large or flashy but is durable and functional enough for quick glances during activities.

Health and fitness tracking are thorough, including heart rate, sleep monitoring, and Pulse Ox, with the understanding that this data provides estimates rather than medical-grade measurements. The watch is built tough with a fiber-reinforced case and metal bezel, plus it meets high water resistance and military standards for shock and thermal durability, making it suitable for outdoor and rugged use.

Connectivity-wise, it supports Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Garmin Pay for contactless payments, but it relies on your smartphone for smart notifications and emergency features, so it is not fully independent. The inclusion of a built-in flashlight is a valuable bonus for outdoor adventures. For those who prioritize durability, long battery life, and reliable outdoor tracking over flashy screens or extensive app ecosystems, the Garmin Instinct 3 offers good value for the money.

The Fitbit Versa 4 Fitness Smartwatch stands out for its extensive fitness and health tracking features, making it an excellent choice for those focused on improving their fitness and overall well-being. Its Daily Readiness Score, built-in GPS, 24/7 heart rate monitoring, and 40+ exercise modes cater to a wide range of workout enthusiasts. The watch also emphasizes sleep quality with advanced tracking and personalized insights, which is beneficial for users looking to optimize their rest. Additionally, stress management tools, guided breathing sessions, and menstrual health tracking are notable features that support mental and physical health.

With a battery life of over 6 days, users won't need to charge frequently, adding to its convenience. The inclusion of Bluetooth calls, texts, notifications, and built-in Amazon Alexa enhances its utility beyond fitness. However, the Fitbit Versa 4 does have some drawbacks. The display size of 1.58 inches is fairly standard but might be small for some users. Its reliance on a Premium membership for advanced features and insights can be seen as a downside since it involves additional cost after the initial 6-month trial. The device is also somewhat limited by its OS compatibility—though it works with iOS, some features like Google Maps are Android-only at launch.

Despite these points, the smartwatch is durable and water-resistant up to 50 meters, making it suitable for various activities. Customization options, including changeable bands and clock faces, allow users to tailor the watch to their style. All in all, the Fitbit Versa 4 is a robust fitness smartwatch with a comprehensive feature set, ideal for fitness enthusiasts and those looking to track and improve their health metrics.

The Garmin Forerunner 165 is a solid choice if you're looking for a running-focused smartwatch that offers good value for your money. Its bright and colorful 1.2-inch AMOLED touchscreen makes it easy to read your stats even in sunlight, and the combination of touchscreen and traditional buttons helps with navigation during workouts. It tracks a wide range of activities beyond running, like cycling and strength training, which is great if you want an all-around fitness companion.

The watch also provides personalized workout suggestions that adapt based on how you perform and recover, helping you train smarter. Battery life is impressive, lasting up to 11 days in regular smartwatch mode and about 19 hours with GPS active, so you won't have to charge it constantly. On the health side, it gives useful insights like heart rate, sleep, and recovery times, although these are estimates rather than medical-grade measurements. For safety, features like incident detection can send alerts to your emergency contacts, requiring your phone to be nearby with network access.

The watch supports smart notifications and Garmin Pay for contactless payments, adding convenience for daily use. It works well with both Android and Apple phones, though some features depend on a smartphone connection. This smartwatch blends strong fitness tracking, a sharp display, and reliable battery life into a lightweight package, making it ideal for runners and fitness enthusiasts who want meaningful data and guidance without overcomplication.