10 Best Smartwatch For Your Money 2025 in the United States

The Apple Watch Series 10 is a solid choice if you're looking for a smartwatch that works seamlessly with iPhones (iPhone Xs or later). It offers a bright and always-on Retina display that's larger and clearer than before, making it easy to see your stats and notifications at a glance. The battery life supports a full day of typical use, with a handy fast charging feature that can juice it up to 80% in about 30 minutes, which is great if you're in a hurry.

Health and fitness tracking are strong points here. It covers a wide range of activities from running and swimming to yoga and dance, and provides advanced health insights like ECG readings, sleep tracking (including sleep apnea alerts), heart rate notifications, and menstrual cycle tracking. Safety is also a focus, with fall and crash detection plus emergency SOS features to keep you connected when it matters most.

Durability is impressive with 50-meter water resistance and dust protection, so you can wear it through workouts, swimming, or in dusty environments without worry. Connectivity options include GPS for precise location tracking, Bluetooth 5.3, and Wi-Fi, though this GPS-only model requires an iPhone nearby for calls and texts. The watch supports Apple Pay and some handy Apple services, but the experience is best if you already use Apple products. The battery lasts up to 18 hours with regular use, which might feel short if you want multi-day use without charging. It is relatively pricey compared to other smartwatches, and some advanced features need the iPhone to function fully. The watch’s aluminum case is lightweight and comfortable but less premium feeling than titanium options. This smartwatch is an excellent fit for iPhone users who want a reliable companion for health, fitness, and safety, packaged in a stylish, durable design with a bright display. If you’re after long battery life or don’t use Apple devices, there might be better options elsewhere.

The Apple Watch Series 10 is a strong contender in the smartwatch category, especially for fitness enthusiasts and those looking for advanced health monitoring features. Its larger, always-on Retina display is a standout, making it easy to read notifications and track activities without constantly tapping the screen. Users will appreciate the impressive battery performance, which offers up to 18 hours under normal use and up to 36 hours in Low Power Mode, alongside quick charging capabilities.

In terms of health and fitness tracking, the Series 10 excels with features like the ECG app, sleep tracking, and various workout metrics that can cater to almost any activity. The inclusion of advanced safety features such as Fall Detection and Crash Detection enhances its appeal for those concerned about personal safety. Additionally, its water resistance of up to 50 meters and dust resistance rating make it suitable for various outdoor activities.

Customization options are abundant, with a wide variety of watch bands and faces to personalize the watch according to user preference. Its seamless integration with other Apple devices allows for streamlined notifications and functionalities like Apple Pay, enhancing its usability.

However, there are some limitations to consider. You'll need to have an iPhone 6s or later to use the watch, which can limit compatibility for users of other smartphone brands. Also, while the battery life is commendable, heavy users may find themselves needing to recharge more frequently, especially if utilizing many features simultaneously. Additionally, the price point may be a consideration for budget-conscious shoppers.

The Apple Watch Series 10 is an excellent choice for Apple ecosystem users who prioritize health, fitness tracking, and safety features, but it may not be the best fit for those looking for a more budget-friendly or universally compatible smartwatch.

The Garmin Forerunner 265 is a solid choice for anyone looking for a running-focused smartwatch that also covers general fitness and smart features well. Its bright, colorful 1.3-inch AMOLED touchscreen makes it easy to read data and use apps, with the added benefit of physical buttons for reliable control during workouts. Compatibility with both Android and Apple phones ensures you can get notifications, calls, texts, and Garmin Pay for contactless payments, adding convenience for everyday use. Battery life is impressive, lasting up to 13 days in regular smartwatch mode and about 20 hours with GPS running, which is great for long training sessions or multi-day use without frequent charging.

Health and fitness tracking stand out here: the watch offers detailed training metrics, recovery insights, and a training readiness score that adapts based on your sleep, heart rate variability, and recent workouts—helping you avoid overtraining and plan your runs smarter. It supports over 30 activity profiles including triathlon and open-water swimming, making it versatile for multisport athletes. The multi-band GNSS with SatIQ technology means GPS tracking is accurate even in tricky environments like dense city streets or forests, which is crucial for runners and cyclists.

Safety features like incident detection provide peace of mind when training outdoors alone, though they require a paired phone and network coverage. On the downside, while durable and water resistant, the watch isn’t specifically marketed for extreme conditions and heavy-duty use. Also, the advanced training data may be more detailed than casual users need, which can feel overwhelming initially. This watch is best suited for serious runners and fitness enthusiasts who want deep training insights paired with strong everyday smartwatch functions and solid battery life.