Why we like it: The Fitbit Charge 6 tells you everything you need to know about your activity, whether you’re exercising or resting: heart rate, steps, distance, calories burned, time spent in target heart zones, VO2 max, sleep score, blood oxygen, skin temperature, stress management score and more. 

It supports more than 40 exercise modes, including strength training, yoga, cycling and running. Thanks to its SmartTrack feature, it should automatically recognize your exercise and record it in the Fitbit app. 

Exercise aside, you also have access to Google Maps, Google Wallet, notifications for calls, texts and smartphone apps, Find My Phone, blood glucose tracking in the app, a smart wake alarm, menstrual health tracking and do not disturb and sleep modes. 

Who it’s best for: The Fitbit Charge 6 is ideal for anyone who wants a fitness tracker that primarily functions as just that, allowing you to view your stats right on your wrist, as well as with the free Fitbit app. With its SmartTrack feature, you also don’t have to worry about manually recording your workouts.

If you’re a runner, the Charge 6’s built-in GPS allows you to see pace and distance, so no need to check your phone. You can use YouTube Music to listen to your favorite tunes on the go, but a YouTube Music Premium subscription is required for this feature. Offline music isn’t supported. Check your phone after, and you can see a workout intensity map showing where you put in the most effort on your route. 

On Charge 6-compatible workout machines, you can connect your Fitbit to see your heart rate on the equipment as you exercise. And if you decide to hop in the pool after, you’re covered down to 50 meters.

With Fitbit Premium, you get access to a full library of workouts, detailed sleep and stress score breakdowns, a full library of mindfulness sessions and a curated list of recipes, but it does cost $10 per month or $80 per year. 

Who shouldn’t buy it: If you want your fitness tracker to have more Apple or Android apps, like those on your smartphone — for sending messages, making calls and responding to emails, for instance — you’re better off getting a brand-specific smartwatch that has your favorite apps right on it. Serious runners might also want a watch specifically designed for running. 

– Anna Gragert, senior wellness editor

Why we like it: The Apple Watch Series 12 has bumped the Series 11 off this list because it is just as accurate at sensing heart rate as its predecessor and can now take more frequent readings of both heart rate and heart rate variability. Both metrics are key for unlocking a new readiness score that looks at how well the body recovers from stress. Plus, it comes with about four more hours of battery life, new health features such as the readiness score and an S11 processor that makes navigation on the watch faster and interactions with Siri AI on the wrist quicker. And that’s all for the same $399 starting price as the Series 11, with no extra subscription required.

In its own 2026 study comparing the Series 12 with wearables including the Oura Ring 5, Garmin Forerunner 970, Google Pixel Watch 4 and Whoop 5, Apple found that the Series 12 came out on top as the most accurate heart rate-tracking wearable. 

Who it’s best for: Apple fans craving deep integration with the ecosystem and more ways to customize their watch will find the Series 12 a strong fit. It’s ideal for anyone upgrading from an older model who wants a sleeker design, better battery life and every health feature possible, without the bulk or $799-plus cost of the Ultra 4.

Who shouldn’t buy it: If you have a Series 9 or later, the Series 12 isn’t a must-have — especially since many of the new health features will be available on older models, aside from the readiness score, which will only be available on the Series 12 and Ultra 4. While the Series 12 has hypertension notifications, an ECG app and a Blood Oxygen app, the SE 3 offers all other core health features for at least $150 less. So if you’re looking to save, the SE 3 might be a better option.

– Vanessa Hand Orellana, lead writer

Why we like it: The Apple Watch SE 3 is Apple’s most affordable new smartwatch, proving that a lower price doesn’t have to mean sacrificing quality or core features. The always-on display, faster charging and expanded health features put it on par with its higher-end siblings, making it easy to forget this is the entry-level model. 

While it skips a few advanced health metrics, such as ECG and hypertension alerts, most people won’t miss them in day-to-day use. It also has a shorter battery life than the rest, but it holds up to a full day of real-world use, including a 40-minute outdoor workout (GPS-enabled) and sleep tracking.

You’re getting the same processor and nearly all the features found in the higher-end Series 12 (almost twice the price) and the Ultra 3 (three times the price), making it a solid value. The Apple Watch SE 3 has Apple’s latest updates, including 5G connectivity, ultrafast charging and new wellness tools such as Sleep Score and Workout Buddy, along with features from older models like temperature tracking and sleep apnea notifications.

Who it’s best for: The SE 3 is the Apple Watch we’d recommend for most people. It’s the most affordable way to access Apple’s newest features without feeling like you’re missing out. It’s ideal for first-time Apple Watch owners or those upgrading from older models (Series 7 or earlier). It’s also a great first smartwatch for kids, allowing parents to stay connected without introducing a smartphone.

If you’re at higher health risk and want ECG or blood pressure monitoring, the Series 12 might be worth the extra cost. Those prioritizing longer battery life or a larger display should look at the Ultra 3.

Who shouldn’t buy it: iPhone owners who want a tracker that lasts multiple days without charging may be better off with a dedicated fitness tracker or sports watch. With the always-on display enabled, the SE 3 runs through a full day (and night) of tracking, while disabling it can stretch battery life to around two days.

– Vanessa Hand Orellana, lead writer

Why we like it: The Pixel Watch 4 hits a sweet spot between universally appealing design, seamless Android integration, potentially life-saving safety features and robust health tracking through Fitbit.

Google’s fourth-generation Pixel Watch builds on its already excellent predecessor with longer battery life, a brighter, larger display and two powerful new assistants: Gemini for everyday tasks and queries, and the upcoming Fitbit AI health coach, which promises to turn your health data into actionable guidance.

While that health coach is still on the way, nearly everything else delivers on Google’s promises, cementing the Pixel Watch 4 as one of the best Android smartwatches available.

At $350, the Pixel Watch 4 includes luxuries once reserved for pricier sport watches, like dual-band GPS for precise location tracking, satellite connectivity for off-grid emergencies and an easy-to-repair build. The real standout, though, is Gemini, a hands-free AI assistant that’s genuinely helpful and won’t leave you screaming at your wrist. 

Battery life now lasts up to 30 hours (41mm) or 40 hours (45mm), with ultrafast charging that takes you from 0 to 50% in just 15 minutes, and a full charge in less than an hour.

Who it’s best for: The Pixel Watch 4 is perfect for Android users who want a sleek, capable smartwatch that balances cutting-edge features with robust health and fitness tracking — and it won’t leave them guessing about what all that data means.

Anyone with a Pixel Watch 3 or another recent Fitbit or Wear OS model can safely hold off on this update cycle, because Gemini and the Fitbit AI health coach (coming later this year) will arrive on older devices alongside the redesigned Fitbit app.

Who shouldn’t buy it: If you’re prioritizing battery life, you’re better off going for a dedicated Fitbit tracker. While the Pixel Watch 4 offers improvements in battery life, it won’t last more than two days on a single charge, compared to the multi-day battery life of other devices. It does compensate with its lightning-fast charging speed, though. 

– Vanessa Hand Orellana, lead writer

Why we like it: The Whoop 5.0 is a performance- and recovery-centric wearable that helps you build endurance over time and understand the role recovery plays in your overall well-being. It offers one of the best battery lives among fitness trackers on the market, lasting up to 14 days on a single charge. Additionally, it has on-wrist charging — allowing you to wear it at all times without interruption. 

This fitness tracker has no screen, meaning you get all of your insights through the app (compatible with iOS and Android). The app delivers detailed insights into sleep, HRV, strain and even physiological age, which can inform you on how to train smarter and prioritize recovery.

Who it’s best for: Whoop 5.0 is ideal for folks who are serious about performance, long-term health insights and recovery. Considering it’s performance-based, this tracker is best for competitive athletes, fitness enthusiasts and data-driven people who want to understand not just what they’re doing but how their bodies respond over time.

Who shouldn’t buy it: If you want a more traditional smartwatch experience with features like text notifications or GPS, Whoop isn’t for you. This tracker has no display and doesn’t provide any real-time insights; rather, it gives you your insights after the workout is done. It also includes a subscription model, requiring ongoing data access fees.

– Nasha Addarich Martínez, managing editor

Why we like it: The Garmin Forerunner 970 is considered one of the best smartwatches for those who enjoy endurance sports, such as running and cycling. It’s designed for triathletes and those who take their sport seriously. One of my favorite features on this watch is the built-in LED flashlight, which is particularly helpful when running at night or early in the morning when there isn’t enough daylight. This watch has an impressive 15-day battery life, to the point where I didn’t need to recharge it for about three weeks. 

This watch offers numerous capabilities, including coaching, mapping that allows you to create routes, physiological metrics such as sleep tracking and VO2Max and a readiness indicator to assess your physical preparedness for the day, among other functions. Because this watch can be used by triathletes, it can also be used underwater up to 50 meters if you’re taking up swimming and would like to track your laps. 

Who it’s best for: This watch is ideal for athletes who want to collect as much data on their performance and recovery as possible. If you are prepping for your first marathon, triathlon or something similar, you’re going to love having all these functions on one smartwatch. The Forerunner 970 offers a lot more data than I needed as a recreational runner, but it can be helpful for those dedicated to their sport. 

Who shouldn’t buy it: If you’re a beginner runner or cyclist, this watch may be overwhelming. In that case, I’d go with a smartwatch that’s easier to navigate, such as the Apple Watch SE 3. It also has a slight lag when navigating some of the features on the watch (like GPS), and there’s a learning curve to figuring out what functions the buttons have and even saving a workout. If you prefer something simpler or more intuitive, this will easily become a nuisance. Its $750 price may also deter you if you don’t intend to use all the different features that come with the watch.

– Giselle Castro-Sloboda, fitness and nutrition writer

Why we like it: The Suunto Run watch gives you the perks of an advanced running watch without the hefty price tag. It offers 12 days of battery life, allowing you to track physiological data, including sleep, recovery and your training load. This sports watch is lightweight, weighing only 1.2 ounces. The watch interface is easy to read and consists only of a touchscreen, digital crown dial and two buttons for easy navigation. It connects to the Suunto app, which tracks your recorded activities and other data. 

You can connect your Suunto watch to various third-party apps, including Strava, Apple Health and Map My Run. Besides running, the Suunto lets you select from various activities to record your workout. You’ll get more out of the watch if you use it for an endurance sport like running, as it was designed with that sport in mind. However, you can also use it for 34 activities, such as swimming, cycling, strength training and yoga. 

I’ve been running indoors instead of outdoors lately, and one of my issues with smartwatches is that the pacing and timing often don’t sync with the treadmill. However, Suunto is the first watch I’ve tried that seems to match the treadmill pace and time almost accurately.

Who it’s best for: This watch is ideal for beginners or intermediate runners. Similar to Garmin, it takes a learning curve to figure out the different functions but this one has fewer complicated features and widgets compared to a more advanced watch. The price doesn’t hurt either, at only $200, compared to some other smartwatches that are $300 or more. 

Who shouldn’t buy it: If you aren’t training for any type of race or don’t care to know all the extra data that comes with the watch, I’d recommend going for a simpler wearable like the Fitbit Charge. This also isn’t the ideal watch for someone who isn’t looking for a smartwatch with multiple functions and features. If you like running recreationally, you can also get good use out of an Apple Watch SE 3, which is also in a similar price range. 

If you care about the charging mechanism, you may find this one to be a bit of a nuisance. The Suunto Run charger is in the form of a pod with magnetic connectors, which means you have to align the watch correctly each time; otherwise, it won’t charge. I also found it to be flimsy and could benefit from a similar design to the Apple Watch. 

– Giselle Castro-Sloboda, fitness and nutrition writer

Why we like it: The Oura Ring 5 is the newest version of the wearable, and it’s thinner with enhanced updates. It tracks over 50 health metrics and provides insights into sleep, activity, heart health, stress, metabolic health and women’s health. Its 12 sensors provide more accurate readings compared to previous generations, according to Oura. The Oura Ring can measure blood oxygen levels, heart rate, heart rate variability, respiration rate and movement.

Oura’s app interface shares your readiness score, sleep score, cardiovascular age and more. Oura’s symptom radar, which detects if you’re getting sick, has expanded to health radar, which gives you a broader picture of your health and detects trends. This information can be helpful to share with your doctor if you need to discuss certain details about your health.

The Oura Ring 5 has an eight-day battery life and is scratch-resistant — something active ring users will appreciate, since they don’t have to worry about it getting scuffed easily. It now also has automatic detection, which means it can sense when you’re working out. However, Vanessa Hand Orellana, CNET wearables writer, says the detector missed at least one workout she did while testing the ring.

Who it’s best for: The Oura Ring is ideal for anyone who wants a wearable but prefers something more subtle. The thinner design on the latest Oura Ring resembles that of a thin wedding band and can be worn for various occasions — not just workouts. If you care about understanding your sleep habits and overall health data, this is a reliable wearable you’ll enjoy.

Who shouldn’t buy it: If you like to reference your stats on a screen while working out, a smartwatch or wristband fitness tracker with a screen would be a better option. The Oura Ring also doesn’t have a built-in GPS, so if you’re a runner and want to track distance, one of our running-specific picks would be better suited to your needs.