The best smartwatches of 2026: Expert tested and reviewed

The Apple Watch maintained the same form factor and basic design for eight years, but all of that changed in 2022 when Apple released the radical new Apple Watch Ultra, built and optimized for the outdoor adventurer. The Ultra 3 builds on the Ultra and Ultra 2 with the new S10 processor, a larger display, improved battery life, and enhanced connectivity options with support for 5G and satellite networks.

Also: I compared the Apple Watch Ultra 3 to Garmin's inReach satellite connectivity - here's the winner

Why we like it: The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is the most rugged and capable Apple Watch to date, and offers a bright, flat 49mm display made of scratch-resistant sapphire glass and 3000 nits maximum brightness with wide-angle support. The new Hypertension Detection feature provides more health information to users with the potential to save lives and increase awareness of high blood pressure diagnoses.

Support for satellite connectivity from your wrist is a key feature in watches launched in late 2025, and in our testing, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is the best thanks to no subscription fees (at least for two years), an ability to send text messages and your location directly from the watch to friends and family with no fees, and easy connectivity to emergency services via satellite when necessary. Others require a subscription, require a special application for the recipient, or limit connectivity.

Who it's for: Beyond the build quality and advanced training functions, no other smartwatch supports as many applications and utilities as an Apple Watch Ultra 3, clearly making it the best smartwatch available today. Its capability to serve as a primary means of communication also makes it tough to beat.

Who should look elsewhere: If you are not an iPhone user, then don't even consider an Apple Watch Ultra 3 since it doesn't connect to an iPad or MacOS computer. There are great options from Google and Samsung if you own an Android smartphone.

If you are looking for an AI-based coach, Apple has yet to provide any system to help analyze your data and guide you through daily improvements in your health and wellness. There are third-party applications designed to help with this, but when Google, Samsung, and others are making this a priority, it is a missed opportunity to see Apple ignore this element of a smartwatch.