Top 5 Next-Gen Smartwatches in 2025

The best smartwatches are capable of much more than just telling the time; they can also support apps, send notifications to smartphones, and monitor heart rate. You’re in the right place if you’re weighing your options. Since the Pebble era over ten years ago, we have been reviewing smartwatches. To help you find a model that suits your needs and budget, we test options from both large and small brands with a range of features and prices. The Apple Watch Series 10’s svelte design, unparalleled third-party app selection, and precise fitness tracking capabilities make it the best smartwatch for iPhone users. Our list of the top smartwatches below will help you if you have an Android phone or are searching for something less costly.

QUICK LIST

Last update on 2025-03-14 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

Top 5 Next-Gen Smartwatches in 2025

1.Apple Watch Ultra 2

Last update on 2025-03-14 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 remains as large and expensive as ever in 2024, but it is now available in black titanium. Along with the new finish, there are several matching bands, including a titanium version of the Milanese Loop that is ideal for high-speed water sports and scuba diving. The rugged smartwatch has a stunning 3,000-nit display that is 50% brighter than the original model’s screen for better visibility in direct sunlight, and it has a battery life of approximately 55 hours on a single charge, nearly a full day longer than the Apple Watch Series 10. WatchOS 11 includes new features for all recent Apple Watch models, such as a Tides app that shows when the surf is up, Training Load insights, sleep apnea notifications, and more.

The rugged Ultra 2 costs the same as the original model and is priced significantly higher than the Apple Watch Series 10 and the Apple Watch SE. In general, the Series 10 is the best option for the majority of people; the Ultra 2 is a better choice for water sports enthusiasts, hikers, and other outdoor adventurers; and the Watch SE is a reasonable choice for children, older adults, and budget-conscious buyers.

Like the last generation, the Ultra 2 comes in just one size (49mm), but now you can choose from two finishes: natural or black titanium. The black titanium Ultra 2 has a matte finish like the natural model, but the darker color gives it a sleeker look. I wouldn’t call this a true black—in the light it’s more of a very dark gray.

The Ultra 2’s design is nearly identical to its predecessor, with the same dimensions, 1,185 square mm display area, and three-button configuration. The Ultra 2 has the most robust case of any Apple Watch, but it no longer has the largest screen. The 46mm Series 10 now holds that title, with a display area of 1,220 sq mm, providing slightly more screen real estate than the Ultra 2.

Aside from its size, the Ultra 2 stands out from other Apple Watches with a more durable case, a customizable orange Action Button on the left side, a more tactile digital crown and right side button that work better with gloved hands, a brighter display, an upgraded three-microphone array and dual-speaker system, an 86 decibel emergency siren, and a 40-meter (131-foot) underwater depth gauge. The Series 10 also has a depth gauge, but it only goes up to 6 meters, or about 20 feet.

The Ultra 2 runs watchOS 11, the most recent version of Apple’s smartwatch operating system. It includes new Flux and Reflections watch faces, Tides and Translate apps, Training Load insights to help you decide how hard to push yourself, and FDA-cleared sleep apnea notifications. All three Apple Watches require an iPhone XS or later, iOS 18 or higher, and are not compatible with Android phones.

The second-generation Ultra is more environmentally friendly than the original, which used all-virgin titanium. The case is 95% recycled titanium. The natural and black Ultra 2 cases, like certain Series 10 configurations, are carbon-neutral when paired with the Alpine Loop, Trail Loop, or Titanium Milanese Loop bands, as indicated by a green leaf logo on the packaging. There is no carbon-neutral Ocean Band, but it is still available as a stock strap for the Ultra 2.

2.Apple Watch Series 10

Last update on 2025-03-14 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

The Apple Watch Series 10 features a slimmer design and polished aluminum or lightweight titanium case options, drawing inspiration from jewelry. This generation’s screen is also slightly larger than its predecessor, and it includes audio playback, depth and water temperature sensors similar to the Apple Watch Ultra, and accelerometer-powered sleep apnea notifications.

The Series 10 is Apple Watch’s midrange model and the best option for model people. It is positioned between the rugged Apple Watch Ultra 2 and the entry-level Apple Watch SE. The Ultra 2 is aimed at adventurers, with the best durability and battery life of the lineup, while the budget-conscious Watch SE offers all the core connectivity and fitness tracking features of its more expensive siblings with the exception of its more expensive siblings with the exception of an always-on display option and sensors for ECG, wrist temperature, water temperature, and water depth measurements. 

For this review, Apple sent me the 42mm Series 10 in rose gold aluminum with cellular connectivity and a Plum Sport Loop band, which is a carbon-neutral combination as indicated by the green leaf pattern on the side of the box (pictured above).

Apple introduced the carbon-neutral seal last year with the Series 9, which was initially limited to aluminum models with a Sport Loop band. This year, Apple extends the environmentally friendly seal of approval to titanium and two new bands, Braided Solo Loop and Milanese Loop. Apple plans to make all of its products carbon neutral by 2030.

Out of the aluminum models (pictured above), polished jet black stands out the most, with a shiny finish reminiscent of older stainless steel models but at a lower cost. This marks the first time Apple has used a polished aluminum finish on a device since the iPhone 7. It reportedly takes 30 steps, and the results are sleek and striking in person.

Another welcome change is the premium case’s use of lightweight titanium. The titanium version provides the same durability and shine as previous stainless steel models while being approximately 20% lighter. I held the titanium Series 10 and the stainless steel Series 9 in my hands concurrently.

As a result of these changes, the Series 10 has more active screen area (the lit part of the display) than any other Apple Watch. With a display area of 1,220 square mm, the 46mm Series 10 offers more screen real estate than the Series 7 through 9 (1,143 sq mm) and even a little more than the 49mm Ultra 2 (1,185 sq mm). The 42mm Series 10’s 989 sq mm display area offers a 9% bump from the 41mm Series 7 through 9 (904 sq mm). Those differences are all somewhat nominal, though it does allow for an extra line of text in apps like Mail, Messages, and News on the Series 10 vs. the Series 9 at the same font size. The increased active screen area is going to be a lot more noticeable if you’re switching from a Series 6 or older, or a Watch SE to the Series 10. 

3.Google Pixel Watch 3

Last update on 2025-03-14 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

If you just look at the Google Pixel Watch 3 in its 41-millimeter size, you’d probably describe it as sleek, modern, and beautiful, though you shouldn’t expect much new over the previous generation because Google has stuck with a successful design that allows its wearable to stand out from the crowd.

The Pixel Watch 3 is now available in two sizes: 41mm, like its predecessors, and 45mm, a new option. Both sizes have the classic polished-pebble appearance and feel comfortable on the wrist. Aside from the occasionally clunky band mechanism on the back, the design is nearly perfect.

If you just look at the Google Pixel Watch 3 in its 41-millimeter size, you’d probably describe it as sleek, modern, and beautiful, though you shouldn’t expect much new over the previous generation because Google has stuck with a successful design that allows its wearable to stand out from the crowd.

The Pixel Watch 3 is now available in two sizes: 41mm, like its predecessors, and 45mm, a new option. Both sizes have the classic polished-pebble appearance and feel comfortable on the wrist. Aside from the occasionally clunky band mechanism on the back, the design is nearly perfect.

Google is mostly staying on course with the Pixel Watch 3 in terms of design; it’s still an exceptional-looking piece of technology, but it’s now available in two sizes. It still comes in a familiar 41mm option, though appearances can be deceiving, as well as a larger 45mm variant. I spent time with both at the Made by Google event on August 13, and I’ve been wearing the smaller 41mm Pixel Watch 3 for about three weeks now, and I must say that I adore its design.

One of the things I love is that the display here is slightly larger than the Pixel Watch 2 thanks to the bezels being shrunk by 16%; the result is more usable space so you can see more of a message and ultimately have more touch points to get stuff done. It’s also easier to make information out, be it a notification or an extended forecast, as the Actua Display can hit 2,000 nits. It’s on an adaptive brightness setting by default, and while it’s harder to see a difference indoors, when you step outside it gets way brighter. 

One of my favorite features is that the Pixel Watch’s polished, pebble-like design is still used in the third generation here. The larger displays in both sizes appear to be molded onto the recycled aluminum bottom. Google’s digital crown, which was redesigned for the previous generation, is still located in the right-hand center alongside a button. It feels responsive and works well with touch to navigate wearOS.

The sensor array on the back of the Pixel Watch 3 enables activity and workout tracking, as well as other health features such as heart rate and sleep tracking, ECGs, and stress monitoring.

If you’re coming from a Pixel Watch 1 or 2, your bands will work here because Google uses the same band attachment system. However, if you’re switching from another watch brand, the system can be difficult to use; it’s a press-in and pull to attach or detach. Once you get the hang of it, the process can be quick, but it took me several attempts.

4.Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra

Last update on 2025-03-14 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

To be clear, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is Samsung’s most technologically advanced smartwatch to date. It is bigger. It is tougher. It lasts longer. It takes Samsung’s standard design and flips it on its head, adding an endurance-watch twist – even more so than the adventure-focused Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, which debuted a few years ago.

Everything in the design has been changed to give this watch a more rugged appearance. The strap is thicker, more durable, and longer-lasting. The watch’s outer casing is now scratch-resistant titanium, and the round watch face is mounted on a squircle-style shape that Samsung refers to as a “cushion”. The usual two buttons are present, but squeezed between the new protective casing around the buttons is another orange button, which Samsung refers to as a ‘Quick button’ – presumably because the ‘Action button’ has already been taken by the Apple Watch Ultra.

For crying out loud, the naming conventions are identical, and they appear very similar. They both have similar features, including more accurate GPS, emergency sirens, new Night modes with red illumination, and a battery life that is slightly too short for a weekend in the wilderness.

However, after a week of wearing the Watch Ultra, we discovered that it was simple and ergonomic to use, comfortable on the wrist, and has an impressive list of features, even when you consider the plethora of options available as a Wear OS user.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra has the same round-screen design as the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7. In fact, it has the same screen as the 44mm version: a 480 x 480 full-color AMOLED with a Sapphire Crystal always-on display and the ability to switch to a new infrared-style Night mode. Whereas Apple attempted to transform the screen and make it bigger than ever with the Apple Watch Ultra, Samsung leaves a lot of space on the watch by refusing to make that screen any larger than the largest Watch 7 size, though I suppose sharing parts helps keep costs down.

However, the screen doesn’t need to be any larger than it is. The casing is scratch-resistant titanium, and the thick silicone bands, which were redesigned specifically for the Watch Ultra, are partially made from recycled plastics. That casing is fully dive-proof (IP68 10ATM) and designed to withstand extreme low and high temperatures to “military grade” standards.

While we couldn’t take it up Everest or throw it in a fireplace during our testing, I can confirm that it feels satisfyingly weighty and more “premium” than a standard aluminum Galaxy Watch, without being cumbersome, weighing in at 60g. According to my conversation with Samsung’s VP of MX James Kitto, its battery can last 100 hours in low-power mode and “a couple of days” with moderate usage.

Samsung’s usual two buttons let you cycle through options in the same way as they always have, and are used in conjunction with the powerful AMOLED touchscreen. However, we also have the Quick button now, which can be programmed to automatically start workouts, move onto other segments, or skip to the next workout profile with the new Multisports tile, for disciplines like triathlon. During my tests it all flowed very well and felt intuitive, and regular Samsung users will feel right at home despite the very different design. 

It’s all going to come down to whether you like the look of it: in all-white, it actually looks kind of sleek. With the bright chunky orange strap and dark gray titanium cushion, I think it looks eye-catching for all the wrong reasons, bulky and cumbersome in any setting other than an activity one. The Watch Ultra is so big, so thick, and the bright orange strap our testing unit came with so visible, that it really does stick out like a sore thumb. I got lots of comments over the last week – and not all of them were positive. However, that’s a matter of opinion.

5.Samsung Galaxy Watch 7

If you’re looking for a smartwatch to pair with your Samsung phone, the Galaxy Watch 7 should be at the top of your list. It, like the previous version, includes holistic health insights from Galaxy AI, as well as revised gesture controls, dual-frequency GPS, more storage, and a faster processor. The short battery life remains perplexing, and we noticed slightly inaccurate readings for running distances and sleep times during testing, but neither disadvantage is significant enough to seriously limit its appeal.

The Galaxy Watch 7 looks very similar to the Galaxy Watch 6. Both watches are available in 40mm and 44mm sizes and begin at . Both are available in LTE versions, but all models are Bluetooth-enabled, Wi-Fi-capable, and include NFC for mobile payments. In contrast, the Galaxy Watch Ultra has a distinct appearance. Samsung typically releases two new smartwatches each year, and this year the company introduced a new line to compete directly with Apple’s premium Ultra Watch 2. The Galaxy Watch Ultra serves the same purpose as the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro from two years ago, but those who prefer a rotating bezel must stick with the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic.

The base versions of the Watch 7 and Watch 6 also have identical screens. The 44mm models use 1.5-inch, 480-by-480-pixel Super AMOLED displays, while the 40mm versions go with 1.3-inch, 432-by-432-pixel panels.

As far as the design, the watches are available in different colors. The 40mm version of the Watch 7 comes in green or cream, while the 44mm one comes in green or silver. The 40mm variant of the Watch 6 comes in graphite or gold, while the 44mm one comes in graphite or silver.

Samsung provided a green 40mm non-LTE model with a green rubber sport band for this review. You can also choose a fabric band or a rugged athleisure band. The bands have a quick-release button on the bottom, allowing you to switch them out depending on the occasion. They detach easily, but reattaching the bands is a little tricky; you have to squeeze the button to get both sides in place.

The watch feels a little small on my wrist, which is unsurprising given my size. It’s not particularly thin at 0.38 inch (the larger version has the same thickness), but it feels nice and light at only 1 ounce. (The larger version weighs 1.2 ounces.) The watch doesn’t look out of place on my wrist and should fit well on people with smaller frames, but the Garmin Lily 2 is a good option if you want something thin and stylish.

The Galaxy Watch 7 is made of aluminum and has an IP68 weather resistance rating as well as a 5ATM waterproof rating. It is dustproof and can withstand 10 minutes of calm fresh or salt water immersion at depths of up to 164 feet. It also has MIL-STD-810H certification, which means it can withstand extreme temperatures, blowing sand, and other environmental stressors like vibration and shock. Samsung claims the device can function in temperatures ranging from -4 to 122 degrees Fahrenheit.

These specifications are comparable to those of the Galaxy Watch 6, and should give you confidence in the Watch 7’s durability in everyday situations. Just keep in mind that it is not durable enough to withstand extreme sports. Samsung saves those upgrades for the Galaxy Watch Ultra, which has a titanium case, can withstand a wide range of altitudes, and is waterproof up to 10 ATM. It’s the most rugged watch Samsung has ever released, but it’s not as dive-ready as the Apple Watch Ultra 2. For the most part, it compares favorably to Apple’s competitor.