Google’s Pixel Watch 3 (41mm) is the best non-flagship smartwatch you can buy right now, especially for $169.99. That’s a significant drop from the original $249.99 MSRP, and surprisingly, it packs more punch than you’d expect for the price.
When it comes to serious outdoor pursuits and long, multi-day journeys that require performance tracking, the Garmin epix Pro (Gen 2) Sapphire Edition, priced at $449.99 (was $999.99), outperforms the Apple Watch Ultra. For starters, it’s definitely no slouch in the battery life department, as it lasts 16 days in smartwatch mode and 30 hours of straight GPS tracking.
Google’s Pixel Watch 3, priced at $171 (was $300), may safely be considered a rival for anyone seeking for a flagship smartwatch who isn’t locked into the Apple ecosystem. Google used the lessons from the previous two models and created a watch that seemed to have all of the appropriate features.
In January, many people get off to a good start by setting goals for better health habits or just getting to their destinations on time. It all boils down to consistency rather than making a huge adjustment, which is where the Apple Watch Series 11, priced at $299 (was $399), comes in handy. It now stays on your wrist at all times and does not require you to fuss with it continually. By combining dependable tracking, subtle reminders, and a longer battery life, it makes making progress each day feel effortless rather than arduous.
Many people use wearables solely to track their runs, walks, or gym sessions, rather than getting bogged down in the continual stream of phone notifications or app madness. Amazfit nails this with the Active 2, a simple round smartwatch that is priced at $84.99 (was $99.99) and prioritizes fitness tracking over all the other extras.
Photo credit: Saffy Creatives
Apple has been using elegant metal finishes on its watches for years, but one designer has gone back in time and is pulling inspiration from the iMac G3 from 1998. Yes, you guessed it: Saffy Creatives, the same outfit that created this unofficial design as a complete re-make of the Apple Watch, has taken that famous vibrant vibe and incorporated it into a wearable that evokes memories.
Late-fall walks through muddy trails and early-winter sprints along fog-shrouded coasts both require one thing: a buddy who can keep up without leaving you behind. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is that companion, a tough titanium slab that confidently enters the harsh stuff. For the everyday person who values endurance over having the latest bells and whistles on their watch, the Ultra 2 provides a seamless marriage of toughness as well as brains for a price that is a steal to say the least, or more specifically $599 (was $799).
Samsung’s latest smartwatch comes with a confidence born from knowing exactly what it’s good at. The Galaxy Watch 7 (40mm), priced at $149.99 (was $249.99), shows up with a snazzy aluminum case that looks and feels way more premium than you’d expect, without drawing any more attention to itself than you’d want.
When you put the Apple Watch SE 3, priced at $199.99 (was $249), on your wrist, the first thing you notice is how light it is—27 grams for the 40mm version, so light that you forget it’s there until your phone vibrates and the screen goes on without your touch. That always-on display, which was previously reserved for more expensive models, now glows at 1,000 nits, bright enough for a sunny sidewalk and dim enough for a midnight scroll through tomorrow’s weather.
In a world where most smartwatches feel more like fragile extensions of our phones, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 comes along as the rugged one that can take a pounding and keep rolling. For $699.99 (was $799), you get a device that can handle everything from weekend hikes to daily commutes without missing a beat – or so the promise goes. But does it really live up to that tough-as-nails reputation, especially for people like you and me, and not just hardcore trail runners?