Here are the top smartwatches to consider in 2025, grouped by best overall and by use case. I’ve picked widely recommended models from trusted reviews and noted the main pros/cons and who each is best for.

• Best overall (premium): Apple Watch Ultra 3 — Premium build, best Apple fitness/health features, strong GPS and satellite features, long battery for an Apple Watch. Best if you use an iPhone and want top-tier outdoor/athlete features. (techradar.com)

• Best for most iPhone users (value): Apple Watch SE (current SE 2/SE 3 family) — Most core Apple Watch features at a lower price, comfortable, good battery for the price; lacks some advanced sensors found on Ultra/Series models. Great if you want Apple Watch integration without the premium price. (techradar.com)

• Best Android/tied to Samsung: Samsung Galaxy Watch (Galaxy Watch 8 / Galaxy Watch Ultra depending on needs) — Strong Wear OS experience, good fitness tracking, options from a compact daily watch to the Galaxy Watch Ultra for rugged/athlete use. Best if you have an Android phone (especially Samsung). (techradar.com)

• Best for endurance/serious athletes: Garmin Epix Pro / Garmin high-end models — Extremely long battery life, advanced multiband GPS and outdoor navigation, detailed training metrics. Best if you prioritize battery, mapping, and advanced sports features. (wired.com)

• Best Pixel/Google experience: Google Pixel Watch 3 / Pixel Watch 4 (newer Pixel Watch models in 2025) — Clean integration with Google services, Fitbit health features, improving battery and on-device AI features. Best for Pixel-phone owners who want tight Google ecosystem integration. (huffingtonpost.es)

• Best budget value: Amazfit Active 2 (and similar Amazfit models) — Excellent battery and features for the money, strong basic health tracking, often under $150. Good if you want smartwatch-like features on a tight budget. (theverge.com)

Quick buying tips

• Choose by phone ecosystem: Apple Watch for iPhone users; Samsung, Google/Pixel Watch, Garmin, and many Wear OS/Amazfit models for Android. (techradar.com)
• Prioritize battery life and GPS accuracy if you run/ride or travel off-grid (Garmin, Samsung Ultra, Apple Ultra). (wired.com)
• If price matters, look at the current SE/budget Amazfit options; they give the best value. (theverge.com)

If you’d like, I can:

• Recommend the single best choice for your phone (iPhone vs Android) and budget, or
• Compare two specific models side-by-side (battery, sensors, apps, price).