The Edit — Wearables
Smartwatches 2026: Apple, Galaxy, Pixel and Garmin Compared
6 smartwatches sorted by the phone in your pocket: the Apple Watch SE 3 for iPhone, Pixel Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch8 for Android, and 3 that work with either, from Garmin and Amazfit.
This guide is research-led: we have not handled these units ourselves. If you buy through our links we may earn a commission — it never changes a pick.Research-led, nothing handled. We may earn from links; it never changes a pick. How we choose
The 6 smartwatches here are ranked by how Amazon shoppers rate them and sorted by the phone each one needs, read against each maker’s published specifications, as How we choose describes. Nothing here was worn or tested.
Best for iPhone owners
Watch for No Android support
Best for Runners, either phone
Watch for Small app range
Best for Android owners
Watch for No iPhone listed
Best for Galaxy phone owners
Watch for No iPhone listed
Best for All-round fitness
Watch for Text replies on Android only
Best for A small budget
Watch for Fewer apps
Your phone narrows 6 watches to 3 or 4
Phone compatibility is the first filter, and it is a hard one. Apple’s spec page for the SE 3 requires an iPhone 11 or later. Google lists Android 12 or newer for the Pixel Watch 5, and Samsung lists Android 12 or higher for the Galaxy Watch8; neither page lists iPhone. The 2 Garmin watches and the Amazfit pair with either kind of phone.
| Watch | Pairs with | Stated battery |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Watch SE 3 | iPhone 11 or later | 18 hours |
| Garmin Forerunner 165 | iPhone or Android | Up to 11 days |
| Pixel Watch 5 (41mm) | Android 12 or newer | 30 hours, always-on |
| Galaxy Watch8 | Android 12 or higher | 325 mAh battery (40mm) |
| Garmin vívoactive 5 | iPhone or Android | Up to 11 days |
| Amazfit Bip 6 | iOS or Android | Not stated on the listing |
With an iPhone, the Apple Watch SE 3 is the one
The Apple Watch SE 3 is Apple’s entry watch, and it now has an always-on Retina display. Apple states 18 hours of battery life, or 32 in Low Power Mode, water resistance to 50 metres, and 2 case sizes, 40mm and 44mm. It needs an iPhone 11 or later, so it is no use to an Android household.
Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS, 40mm)
Apple's entry watch, with an always-on display, 18 hours of stated battery life and water resistance to 50 metres.
Current price shown on Amazon. We may earn a commission.
| Phone | iPhone 11 or later |
|---|---|
| Battery | 18 hours; 32 in Low Power Mode |
| Sizes | 40mm, 44mm |
Always-on display, 18 hours, iPhone 11 or later.
Buy it if
- An iPhone owner who wants the full app range
Don't buy it if
- Anyone with an Android phone
Garmin’s Forerunner 165 lasts days, not hours
A charge measured in days changes how a watch gets used: it can track sleep without a nightly trip to the charger. Garmin states up to 11 days in smartwatch mode and up to 19 hours with GPS running for the Forerunner 165, and it sends texts and alerts to the wrist from an iPhone or an Android phone. It is swim-rated to 5 ATM. It suits a runner first, and anyone who will not charge a watch every night second, which makes it a safe pick on the gifts for dad list.
Garmin Forerunner 165 Running Smartwatch, 43mm
A GPS running watch that pairs with iPhone or Android and lasts up to 11 days in smartwatch mode.
Current price shown on Amazon. We may earn a commission.
| Phone | iPhone or Android |
|---|---|
| Battery | Up to 11 days; 19 hours GPS |
| Water | 5 ATM, swim-rated |
Up to 11 days, 19 hours of GPS, either phone.
Buy it if
- A runner who hates charging
- A household with both kinds of phone
Don't buy it if
- A buyer who wants a large app store
Android owners choose between Pixel Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch8
Both Android watches carry 5 ATM and IP68 water resistance, so the choice comes down to battery and phone. Google states 30 hours for the 41mm Pixel Watch 5 with the display always on, 40 hours for the 45mm, and up to 72 hours in Battery Saver on the larger size. It is a newer listing with few reviews yet.
Google Pixel Watch 5 (41mm, Wi-Fi)
Google's own watch, with 30 hours of stated battery life with the display always on, and 48 in Battery Saver.
Current price shown on Amazon. We may earn a commission.
| Phone | Android 12 or newer |
|---|---|
| Battery | 30 hours always-on (41mm) |
| Water | 5 ATM and IP68 |
30 hours always-on in the 41mm, 40 in the 45mm.
Buy it if
- An Android owner, Pixel phone or not
Don't buy it if
- An iPhone owner
Samsung’s Galaxy Watch8 carries a 325 mAh battery in the 40mm case and 435 mAh in the 44mm. It is the natural pick beside a Galaxy phone, and the successor to the Galaxy Watch7 covered here in 2024.
Samsung Galaxy Watch8, 40mm
Samsung's watch for its own phones, with a 325 mAh battery in the 40mm and 435 mAh in the 44mm.
Current price shown on Amazon. We may earn a commission.
| Phone | Android 12 or higher |
|---|---|
| Battery | 325 mAh (40mm), 435 mAh (44mm) |
| Water | 5 ATM and IP68 |
325 mAh in the 40mm, 435 mAh in the 44mm.
Buy it if
- A Samsung Galaxy phone owner
Don't buy it if
- An iPhone owner
The vívoactive 5 is Garmin’s all-round fitness watch
Where the Forerunner is built around running, the vívoactive 5 carries built-in sports apps and workouts for the gym, the pool and the mat. Garmin states up to 11 days of battery life on an OLED touchscreen. It pairs with either phone, but replying to texts from the watch’s keyboard works only with Android, by Garmin’s own description.
Garmin vívoactive 5 GPS Smartwatch, 42mm
A GPS fitness watch with an OLED touchscreen, built-in sports apps and up to 11 days of battery life.
Current price shown on Amazon. We may earn a commission.
| Phone | iPhone or Android |
|---|---|
| Battery | Up to 11 days |
| Display | OLED touchscreen |
Up to 11 days and built-in workouts.
Buy it if
- Gym, yoga and walking, not just running
Don't buy it if
- An iPhone owner who wants to reply to texts
The Amazfit Bip 6 is the lowest-cost way in
The Amazfit Bip 6 has a 1.97-inch AMOLED display and built-in GPS, and its listing says it works with iOS and Android. It is the one to give a teenager or a first-time wearer, where losing it would not hurt. Expect a smaller app range than Apple’s or Google’s.
Amazfit Bip 6 Smart Watch with GPS
A 1.97-inch AMOLED watch with built-in GPS that works with iOS and Android.
Current price shown on Amazon. We may earn a commission.
| Phone | iOS or Android |
|---|---|
| Display | 1.97-inch AMOLED |
| GPS | Built in |
1.97-inch AMOLED, GPS, iOS or Android.
Buy it if
- A first smartwatch on a small budget
Don't buy it if
- A buyer who wants contactless payment from a big-name wallet
Prices, savings and deal badges are Amazon's own, read from Amazon within the last hour. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Keep reading
Head to head
Which AirPods to Buy in 2026: Every Model ComparedApple sells 4 AirPods. Which one is worth the step up, and which feature is the one you'll actually use?
Explainer
Set Up a Digital Picture Frame Before You Gift ItThe giver can do almost all of the setup. Here is what a grandparent does on the day.
Compared
Record Players for 2026: 6 Turntables by SetupBelt drive or direct drive, automatic or manual: which record player suits the way you will actually listen?
Best for iPhone
Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS, 40mm)