Other Smartwatches to Consider
The number of smartwatches on the market is staggering. Here are a few other options I like.
Tag Heuer Calibre E5 Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E5 for $1,950: I've spent close to a month with TAG Heuer's new luxury smartwatch. It's a nice alternative for anyone tired of Google's Wear OS or the Apple Watch, but design and brand are the top reasons to buy this smartwatch. You're not getting the rich smartwatch experience with third-party apps and the ability to reply to messages; heck, it still doesn't even have sleep tracking. (That's supposedly coming in a software update.) But you can track heart rate, steps, calories, and a handful of workouts. My data was generally aligned with the Pixel Watch 4, though the Calibre E5’s heart rate data during intensive workouts is slightly off. I do appreciate that Tag offers a battery replacement service for the smartwatch, but again, this is for someone with multiple Tag watches in their collection. Most people will be better served by one of our picks above.
Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
Withings ScanWatch 2 for $370: The ScanWatch 2 has been on the market for several years now—one of the few analog smartwatches that discreetly offers a robust suite of health-tracking features. While Withings has introduced new versions of it in fresh styles (like the Nova), the hardware is largely the same. Thankfully, the software recently got a major revamp. In the fall of 2025, Withings released a new operating system called HealthSense 4, and you don't need to buy a new ScanWatch 2 to receive it. The health-tracking algorithms are more accurate, there are more predictive features, and you even get longer battery life (35 days!). I retested the ScanWatch 2, and overall, I enjoyed my time with it; the data is laid out nicely in the Withings app. The tiny display is still a problem, but I can get the gist of incoming-message notifications, and it's easy to scroll with the crown to quickly glance at heart rate, steps, sleep data, and even start a workout. What is frustrating is that any semblance of insight into your data is paywalled behind the Withings+ subscription ($8 per month or $99 a year). My sleep data was more accurate on the Apple Watch and Pixel Watch 4, though the other metrics are on point. If you want a nice-looking analog watch to track basic health data, the ScanWatch 2 is solid, but I think it's time for fresh hardware.
Apple Watch Series 10 Photograph: Adrienne So
Apple Watch Series 10 for $329: Thanks to watchOS 26, the 2024 Series 10 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) has many of the same features as the new Series 11, like hypertension notifications and Sleep Score. It has a thinner and lighter design with a larger screen than prior models, and it even got blood oxygen sensing back via a software update in August 2025. It's too bad this one still has the 18-hour battery life. Avoid paying anywhere close to MSRP for this watch. If you can find it for under $300, snag it.
Google Pixel Watch 3. Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
Google Pixel Watch 3 for $219: The Pixel Watch 3 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is seeing some steep discounts now that the Pixel Watch 4 is here. It's a great smartwatch, with the caveat that it's not repairable. (The newer model addresses that.) It features loss-of-pulse detection—cleared by the FDA for use in the US—which can be critical in saving someone’s life. Google also focused its fitness updates on running, enabling users to create custom runs and follow AI-powered run recommendations while getting feedback on cardio load—how hard your heart is working and whether it's appropriate for your body. I strongly recommend you go with the 45-mm model, which doesn't even feel that big. It simply delivers better battery life—just about 24 hours with the always-on display or a little more if you have it turned off.
... continue reading