January 2025
Smartwatches: MetaRanking
This page highlights the aggregate summary of smartwatches rankings posted by key online experts, as of January 2025.
Summary
On 11 Jan 2025, ReviewFinder team examined a total of 83 smartwatch endorsements from 10 reputable publishers.
43 smartwatches were endorsed in total, only 13 made it into this month's ranking. (ReviewFinder requires a minimum of 2 endorsements to be included)
As of 11 Jan 2025, Apple Watch Series 10 takes the cake as the most critically-acclaimed smartwatch with 6 expert endorsements. 4 experts out of 6 recommended it as the '#1 smartwatch' this month.
Brand breakdown
-
Garmin: 11 smartwatches
(#1 is Garmin Venu 3)
-
Apple: 7 smartwatches
(#1 is Apple Watch Series 10)
-
Samsung: 6 smartwatches
(#1 is Samsung Galaxy Watch 7)
-
Fitbit: 5 smartwatches
(#1 is Fitbit Sense)
-
Google: 2 smartwatches
(#1 is Google Pixel Watch 3)
Price breakdown
At a glance - January Ranking
| Rank | Change | Price | Smartwatch |
Reviewed
|
Android Authority
|
Trusted Reviews
|
Tom's Guide
|
Popular Science
|
PCMag
|
Ars Technica
|
Wareable
|
TechRadar
|
ZD Net
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
- | Check price |
Apple Watch Series 10
|
-
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
2
|
|
2
|
- | Check price |
Apple Watch Ultra 2
|
6
|
-
|
8
|
6
|
-
|
7
|
-
|
6
|
1
|
1
|
|
3
|
- | $399 |
Google Pixel Watch 3
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
3
|
-
|
9
|
-
|
2
|
4
|
3
|
|
4
|
+1 | $300 |
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
|
-
|
3
|
-
|
2
|
-
|
5
|
-
|
4
|
-
|
5
|
|
5
|
+1 | Check price |
Apple Watch SE
The Apple Watch SE is a comprehensive fitness tracking device with heart rate monitoring, fall detection, noise monitoring, steps and general activity tracking, and a wide range of workouts, making it a great option for those who prioritize fitness tracking and health monitoring.
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
-
|
6
|
-
|
9
|
-
|
6
|
|
6
|
-2 | $245 |
OnePlus Watch 2
|
5
|
5
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
10
|
-
|
-
|
5
|
-
|
|
7
|
- | $650 |
Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra
|
-
|
-
|
7
|
8
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
7
|
3
|
4
|
|
8
|
+2 | $439 |
Garmin Venu 3
The Garmin Venu 3 is a highly capable smartwatch that excels in fitness tracking, heart rate monitoring, GPS accuracy, and smart assistant integration, making it a versatile and reliable choice for individuals looking to improve their overall health and well-being.
|
-
|
4
|
-
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
8
|
-
|
-
|
|
9
|
+7 | $350 |
Withings ScanWatch 2
|
-
|
7
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
9
|
|
10
|
+1 | Check price |
Apple Watch SE 2
The Apple Watch SE 2 is a feature-packed smartwatch that offers extensive fitness tracking, smart assistant capabilities, durable design, and seamless integration with iOS devices, making it an ideal choice for iOS users.
|
-
|
-
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
2
|
-
|
|
11
|
+1 | Check price |
Fitbit Sense
The Fitbit Sense is a comprehensive smartwatch and fitness tracker that offers a wide range of features for users interested in tracking their health and wellness, including heart rate monitoring, automatic exercise tracking, built-in GPS, swim-proofing, voice assistants, and sensors that measure stress levels, heart rate variability, skin temperature, and oxygen saturation levels.
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
-
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
15
|
- | Check price |
Fitbit Versa 3
The Fitbit Versa 3 is a comprehensive fitness tracker and smartwatch that offers a wide range of features, including daily step tracking, heart rate monitoring, workout tracking, built-in GPS, blood oxygen monitoring, voice assistant technology, and a sleek and durable design.
|
7
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
16
|
+1 | $164 |
Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5
The Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 is a feature-packed smartwatch with accurate fitness tracking, long battery life, and convenient smart assistant integration, making it a great choice for Android users.
|
8
|
6
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
We ranked Apple Watch Series 10 #1 in January 2025 because:
- 6 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartwatches” rankings.
- Out of those, 4 experts ranked Apple Watch Series 10 as #1.
Android Authority
Best For iPhone / Editor's Choice
|
Increased display size
Thinner, sleeker build
FDA-approved sleep apnea detection
Useful watchOS 11 updates and additions
Faster charging
|
Same 18-24 hour battery life
No SpO2 measurements disabled in US
Vitals app somewhat simplified
|
Trusted Reviews
The best smartwatch
|
Comfy to wear
Sleep apnea detection is great to have
Faster charging
|
Battery life remains short
|
Tom's Guide
The best smartwatch for iPhone users
|
Bright, sizable display is easy to read at an angle
Thin and lightweight design
Sleep apnea detection
Excellent user interface with lots of useful apps
Fast charging
|
Same 18-hour battery life as Series 1-9
Blood Oxygen app disabled for U.S. customers
|
PCMag
Best for iPhone Users / Editor's Choice
|
Thinner case and bigger screen than the Series 9
Gorgeous polished aluminum, titanium case options
Depth app, water temperature sensor
Supports audio playback
Sleep apnea notifications
|
Blood oxygen sensor is currently inactive
|
Wareable
Best overall smartwatch (iOS only)
|
Easier to use
Lovely finishes
Sleep apnea detection
|
Battery life is still a day
Huge display is a lot on the wrist
|
ZD Net
Best For iPhone Users
|
Ultra-thin form factor
Large, vibrant display
Temperature sensing for sleep and ovulation estimates
Sleep apnea detection
Crash detection contacts first responders when you're in a crash
New advanced workout metrics
|
Less than two-day battery life
|
We ranked Apple Watch Ultra 2 #2 in January 2025 because:
- 7 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartwatches” rankings.
- Out of those, 2 experts ranked Apple Watch Ultra 2 as #1.
Reviewed
Editor's Choice
|
Rugged
Improved UI
On-board Siri processing
|
Battery could be better
Some features unavailable at launch
Plenty of competent competitors
|
Trusted Reviews
Best rugged smartwatch
|
Top screen
Excellent sports tracking
The best Apple Watch
|
Fitness tracking feels dated
Lack of performance analysis
Mapping rolling out slowly
|
Tom's Guide
The best smartwatch for longevity
|
Best battery life of any Apple Watch
Customizable Action Button
Emergency siren
Sleep apnea detection
100 meters of water resistance
|
Large case size
Pricey
|
PCMag
Best for Outdoor Adventurers
|
3,000-nit display
Powerful processor
Expanded operating altitude
Carbon-neutral build option
Excellent connectivity features
|
Expensive
Some map limitations
|
Wareable
Best sporty smartwatch (iOS only)
|
Great screen
Supreme GPS accuracy
Gestures are cool AF
Carbon neutral
|
Wellness feels a tad stale
Short on prosumer metrics
New carbon neutral bands slightly dull
|
TechRadar
The Best Watch Overall
|
Large, bright display
Action button is very useful
|
battery life could be better
Ultra Wideband only works with iPhone 15
|
ZD Net
Best overall smartwatch
|
Large bright display
Crash detection contacts first responders when you're in a crash
100m water resistance
Extra button and dual speakers
Long battery life
Offline mapping for navigation without a phone
|
May be too large for small wrists
|
Methodology: combine opinions of key experts
Identify Experts
We identify key publishers and experts that consistently review and recommend smartwatches.
Capture Rankings
For each publisher we find a currently recommended "top 10" list of smartwatches, it must be updated in the last 9 months.
Aggregate Rankings
We put all those lists together and aggregate them. The more frequently a product is recommended, the higher it is in our ranking
Experts chosen for January 2025 ranking
Reviewed
Android Authority
Trusted Reviews
Tom's Guide
Popular Science
PCMag
Ars Technica
Wareable
TechRadar
ZD Net
We ranked Google Pixel Watch 3 #3 in January 2025 because:
- 6 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartwatches” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Google Pixel Watch 3 as #1.
Android Authority
Best For Android / Editor's Choice
|
Larger, secondary case size
Multi-day battery life
Added wellness features, including advanced running metrics
Refined integration with Pixel phones and Google services
Accurate heart rate tracking
Runs Wear OS 5
|
GPS unimproved from Pixel Watch 2
Inconsistent total distances
Higher price than GW7 (but worth it)
|
Tom's Guide
The best Android smartwatch overall
|
Two days of battery life (45mm model)
Useful sleep, wellness and training insights
Twice the screen brightness of the Pixel Watch 2
Advanced running form metrics
|
One day of battery life (41mm model)
Lengthy multi-week calibration period for some advanced training metrics
|
PCMag
Best Holistic Health Insights
|
Useful holistic health metrics
Detailed running guidance
Accurate heart rate monitoring
Excellent sleep tracking
|
Expensive
No new sensors
Some metrics take weeks to calibrate
|
Wareable
Best smartwatch for Android (Android only)
|
Finally in two case sizes
Two-day AOD battery life (45mm version)
Still excellent HR tracking
|
Not much of an upgrade for 41mm users
No dual-frequency GNSS
Stress tracking remains baffling
|
TechRadar
The best Google smartwatch for Pixel users
|
Elegant, classic watch-like looks
Even brighter display
New larger size
|
Band switch system not improved
No blood oxygen sensing - yet
|
ZD Net
Best Google Smartwatch
|
Two sizes to choose from
Personalized running workouts
Advanced safety features
Minimalist, elegant design
Improved battery life
|
Not built for rugged adventures
|
We ranked Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 #4 in January 2025 because:
- 5 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartwatches” rankings.
Android Authority
Best for Samsung
|
Useful new Energy Score
Sleek, refined design
Familiar Wear OS experience
Easily interchangeable watch bands
Reasonable price
More accurate heart rate monitor
|
Some Samsung-exclusive features
GPS tracking still struggles with tall buildings
Still mostly minor updates
Battery life is good but not great
|
Tom's Guide
The best smartwatch for sleep tracking
|
Accurate and detailed sleep insights
Useful AI-powered wellness features
Comfortable design and responsive user interface
Double the storage capacity of its predecessor
|
One day of battery life
Health-monitoring features like sleep apnea detection require a Galaxy phone
|
PCMag
Best Android Watch for Advanced Health Tracking
|
Accurate heart rate measurements
In-depth sleep monitoring
AI health insights
Responsive touch and gesture controls
|
One-day battery life
Slightly inaccurate running distance and sleep time measurements
|
Wareable
Best Samsung smartwatch for most people (Android only)
|
Feature-packed software
Much-improved sports tracking
Some useful new health and wellness insights
|
The battery performance hasn't improved
Some features require a Samsung smartphone
No major design changes
|
ZD Net
Best Samsung Smartwatch For Smaller Wrist
|
Brighter, bigger display
Upgraded optical and electrical BioActive sensors
New, faster Samsung Exynos processor
Sapphire crystal display and small form factor
|
Large display is likely to consumer more battery power
|
We ranked Apple Watch SE #5 in January 2025 because:
- 5 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartwatches” rankings.
Reviewed
Best Value
|
More for less
Great iPhone integration
Crash detection
|
Still no always-on display
Inconsistent evercise detection
|
Tom's Guide
The best affordable smartwatch on the market
|
$249 starting price
Comfortable and sleek design
Available in two sizes and with/without LTE
Compatible with the latest watchOS 11 software
|
18 hours of battery life
Comparably dimmer screen than competition
|
PCMag
Best Affordable Apple Watch
|
Upgraded processor from previous model
New motion sensor with support for Crash Detection
Improved real-world battery life
Lightweight
Excellent app selection and safety features
Lower price than first-generation model
|
No always-on display
Lacks sensors for ECG, SpO2, or body temperature
No rating for dust resistance
|
Wareable
Best affordable Apple Watch (iOS only)
|
Tracking is very accurate
S8 chip provides very smooth experience
Superb value
|
Battery life hasn't progressed
Design is starting to look a little old
No always-on display
|
ZD Net
Best value Apple Watch
|
Gorgeous, refined hardware
Excellent price for a powerful smartwatch
Broad support for health and fitness features
Extensive third-party application support
|
Less than two-day battery life
Limited sleep details
|
We ranked OnePlus Watch 2 #6 in January 2025 because:
- 5 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartwatches” rankings.
Reviewed
Editor's Choice
|
Easy to manipulate the screen, use the app
Fantastic battery life and quick charging
Lots of Watch Face options to personalize the look
|
Only comes in one larger size
No ECG app, menstrual cycle tracking
Always-on display significantly reduces battery life
|
Android Authority
Best for battery life
|
Runs Wear OS 4
Unique dual-chip architecture
Incredible battery life
Fast charging capabilities
|
Bulky, single-size design
Non-functional rotating crown
Simplistic app experience
Inconsistent health and fitness stats
|
Trusted Reviews
Best Wear OS smartwatch
|
Good battery life (with raise to wake)
Slick WearOS skin
Good sports and fitness tracking features
|
While it is well-made, it doesn’t stand out from the crowd
Battery life with always-on screen isn’t great
Heart rate readings during exercise aren’t the most accurate
|
PCMag
Best Battery Life
|
Up to four days of battery life
Stainless steel case
Responsive touch screen
Good app selection
Accurate sleep measurements
Excellent running insights
|
Comes in only one size
No cellular option
Lacks ECG, body temperature sensors, fall detection, period tracking
No phone camera controls
|
TechRadar
The best Wear OS smartwatch not made by Google
|
Big battery life with dual OS
Accurate fitness metrics
Looks great
|
Single size
Rotating crown not used
|
We ranked Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra #7 in January 2025 because:
- 5 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartwatches” rankings.
Trusted Reviews
The best Samsung smartwatch
|
Wear OS gets some design personality
Strong GPS and HR accuracy
Ultra-bright and clear display
Comprehensive sleep tracking
|
Navigation crying out for rotating bezel
Inconsistent battery life
Not a good fit for smaller wrists
Exclusive features for Samsung phones
|
Tom's Guide
The best smartwatch for monitoring your health
|
Premium materials and color options
Customizable 'Quick' button
Accurate health sensor readings
Actionable wellness insights
Sleep apnea detection
Solid battery life
|
Similar performance to the cheaper Galaxy Watch 7
Best health features require Samsung phones
Large case size
|
Wareable
Best sporty Wear OS smartwatch (Android only)
|
Solid build and fun design
Excellent HR and GPS tracking
Cracking display
Sleep tracking is very detailed
|
Insane rotating bezel miss
Battery life feels inconsistent
Samsung phone required for some features
Looks ridiculous on smaller wrists
|
TechRadar
The best Samsung smartwatch overall
|
Powerful fitness features
Durable and tough
|
Relatively pricey
Optimized for Samsung phones
|
ZD Net
Best Samsung Smartwatch For Outdoor Adventures
|
Lightweight titanium casing
Sapphire glass AMOLED display
Advanced safety features
Large capacity battery Google Wear OS app support
|
Large size not suitable for smaller wrists
Blood pressure certification taking much longer than advertised
|
We ranked Garmin Venu 3 #8 in January 2025 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartwatches” rankings.
Android Authority
Best for fitness tracking / Editor's Choice
|
Highly accurate GPS and heart rate sensors
Automatic nap detection and sleep coaching
On-device phone call and voice assistant support
Up to 14-day battery life
Larger display
|
Pricey compared to competitors
No LTE model
Limited third-party app support
|
Tom's Guide
The best fitness-tracking smartwatch
|
Intuitive sleep and workout advice
Borrows features from high-end Garmin watches
Up to 14 days of battery life
|
Not enough third-party apps
|
Wareable
Best for wellness (iOS and Android)
|
Wellness features finally feel useful
Top HR accuracy
Lovely screen
|
Really pricey
Sports tracking offers basic metrics only
Some sleep accuracy niggles
|
We ranked Withings ScanWatch 2 #9 in January 2025 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartwatches” rankings.
Android Authority
Best hybrid
|
Premium, classy design
Up to 30-day battery life
Broad health tracking tools
Useful fitness tracking
Available in two sizes
|
Limited display space
High price point
No built-in GPS
Few smart features
|
Trusted Reviews
Best hybrid smartwatch
|
Lovely design
Performs well as a sleep tracker
Useful temperature variation data
|
Heart rate tracking accuracy during the day and exercise
Small screen isn’t great for phone notifications
Battery life with all monitoring features in use
|
ZD Net
Best Hybrid Smartwatch
|
Excellent battery life thanks to hybrid design
Analog hands that adapt to digital display
Extensive Withings ecosystem
|
Some advanced metric require a subscription
Limited third-party support
|
We ranked Apple Watch SE 2 #10 in January 2025 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartwatches” rankings.
Trusted Reviews
The best value Apple Watch
|
Plenty of the best Apple Watch features in a cheaper package
Excellent software
Wide customisation options
Accurate tracking
|
Slow charging
No always-on display
|
TechRadar
The best Apple Watch for iPhone users on a budget
|
Light and comfortable
Good battery life for price
Packs updated features compared to older cheap Apple watces
|
No always-on screen or ECG compared to higher-priced watches
Nylon back
|
We ranked Fitbit Sense #11 in January 2025 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartwatches” rankings.
Popular Science
Best fitness tracker
|
Offers a long-lasting battery life, so you can avoid charging for days at a time.
|
Screen response time can be slow when compared to other smartwatches.
|
We ranked Fitbit Versa 3 #12 in January 2025 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartwatches” rankings.
Reviewed
Editor's Choice
|
Automated fitness tracking
Always-on display
Battery life
|
Button design
Premium-feature paywall
Usability quirks
|
We ranked Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 #13 in January 2025 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartwatches” rankings.
Reviewed
|
Up-to-date OS
Excellent build quality
Intuitive Interface
|
No Google Assistant Access
|
Android Authority
Best innovation
|
Dual display is fantastic
Updated digital crown
Improved durability
Same snappy performance
|
Doesn’t run the latest Wear OS
No wireless charging
Only available in one size
No LTE model
|