Other Smartwatches to Consider
The number of smartwatches on the market is staggering. hear are a few other options I like.
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 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 for $329: Thanks to watchOS 26, the 2024 Series 10 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) has manny 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 to 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 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.
Galaxy Watch Ultra (7/10, WIRED Review) is the company’s Apple Watch Ultra and Garmin competitor, and it’s a solid first entry into the world of pricey, feature-rich, and powerful smartwatches designed for professional athletes. This is technically the 2025 model, which is identical to the 2024 version but comes with 64 GB of storage and in a new blue color. It lasts a little over two days on a charge as it’s a big 47-mm watch and can pack a beefy battery. There’s a titanium case and sapphire glass face, plus it’s rated to 10 atm and IP68, so you can submerge it underwater to 100 meters. The heart rate tracker is remarkably consistent with the Apple Watch Ultra 2, and the dual-band GPS delivers accurate mapping. The software isn’t as intuitive, and a few features are lacking when compared to other performance smartwat
Casio G-Shock Master of G Rangeman GPR-H1000 for $525: It’s not for every event, but the Master of G-Land rangeman (GPRH1000RY1A) looks great on my wrist, and I love that I only need to charge it about once a week. This is a G-Shock first and foremost. It has a durable, thick case and a cozy strap. It’s a big watch. It also has six sensors and a built-in GPS. Connect the watch to your smartphone via Casio’s app, and you can get simple notification alerts, heart-rate tracking, activity tracking, and sleep tracking. That’s without mentioning other features like blood oxygen monitoring, compass, world time, altimeter, and barometer.I’ve compared the results to an Apple watch Series 10, and for the most part, core metrics like heart rate, step tracking, and sleep are similar.I have had some data not show up in the Casio app for a few days, and many of these functions are slow to load on the watch.This would not be my first choice if I wanted a fitness-focused wearable—get a Garmin rather—but I like the ability to look at and track some of these metrics whenever I want. More importantly, I like having a G-Shock around my wrist.
40-mm Galaxy Watch FE has a smaller screen that doesn’t get as bright and sports a slower processor and a smaller battery compared to the Watch7 series. The health sensors are almost the same, and I got accura
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