Here Are the Best Smartwatches to Give As Gifts in 2026.
If someone on your list needs a new smartwatch, choosing the right model can be challenging—there are plenty of options on the market, all claiming superior functionality. But unlike other devices, choosing a smartwatch largely depends on the other devices the user owns. Keeping this in mind makes the decision much easier. So, here are the best smartwatch gift ideas for this year.
The Best Gift for Most People: Apple Watch SE 3
Choosing one of the latest Apple Watch models as the best gift for most people seems tempting. The company just released the Series 12 and Ultra 4, both featuring the latest S11 chip and continuous heart rate monitoring. If someone on your list wants the best Apple Watch money can buy, this might be a good option. But most people don’t need (or even care about) Apple’s latest features. They want an Apple Watch for workouts, sleep tracking, and replying to messages. For these tasks (and many others), the Apple Watch SE is a more than worthy choice.
Apple’s “budget” watch is surprisingly functional. It comes in 40mm and 44mm sizes, with an always-on OLED display (which I often turn off to extend battery life) that delivers up to 1000 nits of brightness. It includes a heart rate monitor, sleep tracking, cycle tracking, and vital signs tracking. It may not have the new S11 chip, but it does have the S10, which is just one generation older and more than up to date with the latest 2026 features. It powers Apple Intelligence and Siri AI, if your gift recipient is interested in the new features Apple introduced in watchOS 26 and watchOS 27.
It doesn’t have as large a battery as the Series 12 or Ultra 4, though 18 hours of battery life should be more than enough for most users. (Apple claims you can get up to 32 hours of battery life in Low Power Mode.) Fast charging is also available: you can charge from 0% to 80% in 45 minutes, and get up to eight hours of battery life in 15 minutes.
This Apple Watch lacks some features found on more premium models: it’s not as flashy as the Series 12 or Ultra 4; it lacks high-frequency background heart rate tracking, an ECG sensor, and hypertension alerts; it lacks a Blood Oxygen app, as well as Audio Intelligence ( though that may be an advantage in the long run ); and it lacks a depth sensor or water temperature sensor. But I don’t think most people will miss these omissions much.
The best gift for an athlete: Apple Watch Ultra 4.
If your gift recipient is an athlete or someone who practices extreme sports, the SE model may not be the best choice. Furthermore, the Series 12 may not be suitable either. Instead, consider the Ultra line. This is Apple’s “rugged” line of smartwatches, featuring larger batteries and displays, as well as a more durable case capable of withstanding intense workouts.
While the older models may be excellent, I still recommend opting for Apple’s latest model, the Ultra 4. This isn’t necessarily because Apple made a ton of improvements over the previous Ultra 3 models. In fact, the improvements were mostly minor: it runs on Apple’s latest S11 chip instead of the S10; has a slightly larger battery, providing 50 hours of battery life instead of 42; features an improved heart rate sensor and Health Sensing System; supports audio intelligence; and has a new Readiness app to help determine workout intensity. Most of the other improvements are fairly minor.
However, the main reason I’d recommend it over the Ultra 3 is that new Ultra 3 devices are quite hard to find. If you’re looking to give someone a refurbished model, you can find some good deals, but unopened Ultra 3s are extremely rare. As a gift, I think the new Ultra 4 would be a better choice.
An iPhone user with an intense workout regimen will likely appreciate the Ultra 4. In addition to the features listed above, this Apple Watch’s OLED display can reach up to 3000 nits of brightness, it features an ECG sensor and blood oxygen monitor, sleep tracking, emergency SOS support with fall detection (and a siren if needed), is water resistant to 100 meters (330 feet) and submersible to 40 meters (131 feet), and has cellular connectivity, so you don’t need to spend extra if you think the recipient will want to use their Apple Watch without an iPhone.
The Best Smartwatch for Pixel Users: Google Pixel Watch 4
If the gift recipient has a Pixel phone, the best option is a Pixel Watch smartwatch. The newest model is the Pixel Watch 5, and while it’s the “best” smartwatch Google makes, it might not be the best gift. Currently, the Pixel Watch 4 is a better value.
Like the Apple Watch SE, the Pixel Watch 4 doesn’t require major compromises. It comes in two sizes: 41mm and 45mm, with an AMOLED display capable of reaching 3000 nits of brightness. It comes with a suite of sensors, including heart rate, ECG, temperature, and more. It uses a Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 chip with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, along with a 325mAh (41mm) or 455mAh (45mm) battery. Google claims the 41mm model offers 30 hours of battery life, while the 45mm model offers 40 hours, with 15 hours of battery life achieved after just 15 minutes of charging. The watch also has an IP68 rating, indicating its high dust and water resistance.
It features emergency satellite communication, dual-band GPS, and, of course, integration with Gemini—a Google product. It includes health features like Google Health Coach, heart rate loss detection, and a “readiness” score that indicates how your body can respond to a certain workout intensity.
While you might expect the Pixel Watch 5 to be a significantly better option, it actually offers fewer improvements than usual. It features a “boosted” version of the Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 chip from the Pixel Watch 4 and more accurate GPS, but most other specs remain the same. Furthermore, as CNET notes , Google’s latest smartwatch features, such as Workout Builder, Health Guardian, and blood pressure and insulin resistance tracking, are available on both the Pixel 4 and Pixel 5. Still, you can’t go wrong with the Pixel Watch 5. While it may not be a huge upgrade, you’re still getting the best Pixel Watch Google has made to date, and the improved chip will slightly extend the device’s lifespan in the future.
The Best Smartwatch for Samsung Galaxy Users: Galaxy Watch 8
Similarly, if the gift recipient has a Samsung Galaxy phone, they’ll likely benefit most from a Galaxy Watch. And, as with the Pixel Watch, the previous-generation Galaxy Watch may prove to be a better value than the latest model. The Galaxy Watch 8 runs on a Samsung Exynos W1000 chip, which comes with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. The watch is available in 40mm or 44mm sizes (the “Classic” variant comes in 46mm). These AMOLED displays can reach up to 3000 nits of brightness, just like the Pixel Watch. Samsung claims 30 hours of battery life with the Always-On display enabled. The watch also has IP68 dust and water resistance and supports emergency SOS calling and fall detection.
The Galaxy Watch 8 smartwatch is equipped with Samsung’s flagship health features, such as sleep coaching, running coaching, sleep apnea tracking, stress alerts, menstrual cycle tracking, and more. The Samsung Watch also offers an “energy rating,” which, like the Pixel Watch, provides an overall workout “readiness” score. It also supports Google Gemini (it’s still an Android smartwatch, after all), but the gift recipient will find it best supported if they also have a Galaxy phone that the watch can connect to.
Again, the Galaxy Watch 9 is Samsung’s “best” smartwatch, boasting an improved processor and some exclusive features, so you can’t go wrong with it if you’re a Galaxy user. But the Galaxy Watch 8 offers almost all the same features (not to mention the same design) as its successor, at a more reasonable price.
Best Android Smartwatch for Fitness: Garmin Venu 4
Garmin is a favorite among runners and athletes, surpassing all other fitness watch and smartwatch brands. While Apple, Google, and Samsung offer excellent health tracking features, Garmin is primarily focused on fitness. Its smartwatches offer advanced health and activity tracking capabilities, as well as the best battery life on the market. According to Apple, the Apple Watch Ultra 4 offers up to 50 hours of battery life; the Garmin Vemu 4 lasts more than a week.
This watch comes in 41mm and 45mm sizes, both with OLED displays. With the Always-On Display enabled, the watch can last up to four days on a single charge. However, turning it off extends the battery life to 12 days. The watch is packed with health-tracking sensors and features: a heart rate monitor checks your heart rate every second; sleep tracking and a sleep coach, including nap detection; daily training recommendations for all activities; coaches for various exercises, including running and cycling; and, of course, it tracks a range of metrics, including heart rate zones, calories burned, recovery time, and VO2 max. If you’re a runner, you can see GPS-based distance traveled, stride length, running power, ground contact time, predicted race time and pace, and much more.
Although the Venu 4 is compatible with both Android and iOS, iPhone users may miss out on some of the benefits Apple offers within its own ecosystem. Android users can send text messages with the Venu 4 and view images from notifications, while iPhone users cannot. However, users of both platforms can benefit from this watch.