Smartwatches are no longer a novelty. I see more wrists strapped into wearables than analog timepieces on a daily basis. Yet, a growing market only means more room for competition and a more confusing shopping experience. After testing countless smartwatches over the years, I’ve honed in on what makes a device the most valuable, including user experience, feature set, fitness tracking tools, and sensor package, without forgetting about comfort and looks. Depending on what ecosystem you belong to, the watches below represent the top smartwatches I recommend in 2026 so far.
Google Pixel Watch 4: The best smartwatch for Android users Google Pixel Watch 4 Emergency Satellite communications • Power AI on your wrist • Capable health and fitness tracking MSRP: $349.00 The best Pixel Watch to date. The Google Pixel Watch 4 series is available in 41mm and 45mm sizes, and Wi-Fi and LTE variants of each size. The Actua 360 Display is a domes AMOLED panel with 3,000 nits of brightness, and a large viewing area with greatly reduced bezels over previous models. Multiple-day battery life and quick charging power a wide array of health and fitness sensors to keep you informed on the go. See price at AmazonSee price at Amazon Positives Beautiful, refined design with Actua 360 display and thinner bezels
Beautiful, refined design with Actua 360 display and thinner bezels Finally repairable with replaceable parts
Finally repairable with replaceable parts Battery life and charging improvements
Battery life and charging improvements Refined Gemini integration
Refined Gemini integration Top-tier heart-rate accuracy
Top-tier heart-rate accuracy Satellite SOS brings added safety Cons Not sapphire crystal display glass
Not sapphire crystal display glass GPS accuracy could be improved
GPS accuracy could be improved Fitbit Premium paywalls limit full feature access
Fitbit Premium paywalls limit full feature access Charger not backwards compatible When Google first entered the smartwatch space, the Pixel Watch line took a few generations to find its footing. The Pixel Watch 4 absolutely delivers. To start, the newest model offers the most complete Wear OS experience yet, pairing Google’s Tensor G4 chipset with the powerful Wear OS platform for faster performance, smoother navigation, and stronger integration across the Pixel ecosystem. Meanwhile, Fitbit’s latest algorithms deliver some of the most accurate heart rate tracking I have ever seen on a wearable, consistently matching dedicated heart rate straps throughout my workouts. Likewise, dual-band GPS offers reliable outdoor workout tracking, making the device a well-rounded smartwatch as well as a premium workout companion. As for design, Google continues offering two case sizes, both with slimmer bezels this generation and a brighter 2,000-nit OLED display for better outdoor visibility. The aluminum chassis is lighter, and updated bands make the system more comfortable overall. For the Pixel Watch 4, Google finally added repairability, which makes the hardware more sustainable than past generations. The watch also ships with a better charging setup for faster charging and a more user-friendly dock. The most refined generation yet, the Pixel Watch 4 is Google's best wearable and the best pick for Android users. New watch faces and personalization, on-device summaries, and expanded safety features round out the Pixel Watch 4. At its heart is the best of Google’s toolkit, including Gemini-powered features, alongside improved performance, better health tracking, and stronger battery life In other words, the Pixel Watch 4 is the most complete version of Google’s wearable vision so far. Read more
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