GoKawiilWIRED names Apple Watch Series 12 and Pixel Watch 5 top smartwatches for 2026
WIRED's 2026 smartwatch guide picks the Apple Watch Series 12, priced at $399, as the best option for iPhone owners, and Google's $400 Pixel Watch 5 as the top choice for Android users. The review highlights the Series 12's new Health Sensing System, S11 chip, more frequent heart rate and HRV tracking, a new Readiness score, and faster charging, while noting battery life remains largely unchanged.
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The guide reflects a broader trend of rising wearable prices, which WIRED attributes to higher component costs and supply chain pressures, suggesting consumers may pay more for incremental health-tracking improvements rather than major redesigns. Apple's emphasis on more frequent biometric sensing could push competitors to match similar health-monitoring frequency in future models.
- Apple Watch Series 12 ($399) is WIRED's top pick for iPhone users in 2026.
- Google Pixel Watch 5 ($400) is recommended as the best option for Android users.
- Rising component costs and supply chain issues are cited as driving up smartwatch prices industry-wide.
Apple Watch Series 12 — Named the top smartwatch pick for iPhone owners in this roundup, the Apple Watch Series 12 blends fitness tracking, heart rate monitoring, and seamless notifications into a sleek wearable. It's the ideal companion for anyone wanting to leave their phone in their pocket while staying connected and active.
See Apple Watch Series 12 on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: wired.com — Boutayna Chokrane, 2026-09-29
Published there as: “7 Best Smartwatch Models: Apple, Google, Garmin (2026)”
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