Every major mobile brand has begun making smartwatches to fill out their ecosystems, but just because a smartwatch is “your brand,” does it mean you should invest in it? We spent all year testing smartwatches from various companies and have finally named our Best Smartwatches 2025 to give you a head start on the new year!
Google, Xiaomi, Redmi, Samsung, Apple, you name it, we’ve tried it. Smartwatches have developed from time-tellers to heart rate monitors and now are even sleep-apnea-aware. So much can go into what makes the “best smartwatch,” from its ecosystem to battery life to features and even style. We have brought you excerpts from our favourite devices this year to name our Best Smartwatches 2025!
Google Pixel Watch 3
Still, Google has put time into making this smartwatch a more impressive offering overall. The most noticeable change is the introduction of a larger 45mm size option alongside the previous 41mm size. This is something many of my friends have been asking for, especially those with bigger wrists, as the 41mm version felt uncomfortable to use. Keeping the same design, the 45mm variant provides a more substantial presence without feeling overly bulky, striking a nice balance between screen real estate and wearability.
Under the hood, the Pixel Watch 3 features many of the same core components as the Pixel Watch 2. It still includes a Qualcomm SW5100 chip with a Cortex M33 co-processor, paired with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage to ensure smooth performance. Wear OS 5 feels snappy and responsive, with apps launching quickly and animations remaining fluid. The haptic crown provides precise scrolling, though some may still prefer the physical rotating bezel found on select Samsung models.
The Pixel Watch 3 represents Google’s most refined wearable offering to date. It successfully addresses most of the shortcomings of its predecessors while building upon their strengths. For Android users seeking a stylish, capable smartwatch with a strong focus on fitness, Google’s Pixel Watch 3 should be at the top of your list. It’s a device that not only meets expectations but often exceeds them, cementing Google’s place as a serious contender in the wearable market.
The Pixel Watch 3 may not reinvent the wheel, but it refines Google’s vision of what an Android smartwatch should be.
- The Google Pixel Watch 3 is designed for performance, with advanced fitness from Fitbit[1,2]; the 45mm screen is twice as bright and 40% larger than before, making it easier to see your stats and info[1]
- Maximize your performance with advanced running features; build custom run workouts and get real-time guidance and advanced form tracking[3]
Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro
This premium look carries over into the overall experience, with the 1.74-inch OLED display appearing incredibly bright and vibrant—an impressive achievement considering the Smart Band 9 Pro’s affordability. While the display size remains the same as its predecessor, the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro brings notable improvements that elevate the user experience. With a resolution of 336×480 pixels, the screen delivers crisp visuals, but its brightness capabilities truly stand out. The display now boasts a peak brightness of 1,200 nits—double that of the previous generation—ensuring excellent visibility even in bright sunlight, making it easy to use indoors or outdoors without issue.
While the Smart Band 9 Pro’s design is impressive, its battery life is what truly sets it apart—especially for users who dislike the hassle of charging their watch every night. The watch is equipped with a larger 350mAh battery, an 18 per cent increase from its predecessor, which is significant for a device of its size. This upgrade extends typical usage to an impressive 21 days, with up to 10 days of operation even when the Always-On Display is activated. In testing, I achieved 15 days of moderate to heavy use, though this decreased with more intense usage or prolonged display activation. Even so, the Smart Band 9 Pro outlasts most mainstream smartwatches on the market.
The Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro is a fantastic smartwatch and a testament to the overall quality of Xiaomi’s wearable lineup. I own plenty of watches—some might say too many—but I’ve chosen to wear the Smart Band 9 Pro daily since I received it for review, even after my testing period was complete. The improved build quality, enhanced display, and refined user experience make this watch a joy to use—and even more enjoyable to show off.
The Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro is a beautifully designed, premium fitness tracker that feels much more expensive than its price tag suggests.
- 1.74″ narrow-edge quadrilateral display with 2.5D cover glass
- Aluminum alloy frame in 3 colours, to match a vibrant style
OnePlus Watch 2R Smartwatch
Although this is a cheaper option than the standard OnePlus Watch 2, the company has still made sure to use Gorilla Glass on the display. This offers some protection against scratches in everyday use. However, it’s important to note that it’s not as good as the sapphire glass used on the Watch 2. The 1.43-inch AMOLED screen is clear and colourful, with a resolution of 466 x 466 pixels. It is also bright, reaching up to 1,000 nits, which means you can see it well even in bright sunlight.
The 500mAh battery lasts for up to 100 hours when used in smart mode and an incredible 12 days in power-saving mode. In real-world tests, you can use it for three to four days with the always-on display and sleep tracking on, a respectable length, and should be more than sufficient for most people’s needs. When it needs a charge, the VOOC fast charging can go from 0 to 100% in about an hour. OnePlus took notes from their first OnePlus Watch launch, and I am happy with the improvements across the board.
The OnePlus Watch 2R is a strong contender in the mid-range smartwatch market. It offers great performance, long battery life, and a solid range of features at a fair price. While it may not have all the extras of more expensive models, it nails the basics and should meet the needs of most users. For me, the OnePlus Watch 2R is an excellent choice, and with its attractive colour options, it’s the watch to buy—unless you specifically need the extra features its bigger sibling offers.
The OnePlus Watch 2R proves that you don’t need to break the bank for a reliable and feature-rich smartwatch.
- Classic Design Meets Modern Tech: The OnePlus Watch 2R combines vintage-inspired aesthetics with sleek, contemporary design for a timeless look that stands out.
- Outstanding Endurance: Enjoy up to 100 hours of battery life on a single charge, ensuring that your smartwatch keeps up with your active lifestyle without frequent recharging.
Apple Watch Series 10
The Apple Watch Series 10’s wide-angle OLED manages up to 40% better brightness from an angle than the Series 9. Combined with a faster refresh rate, it functions even more like a traditional analog watch than ever, now that you can view ticking clock hands without fully raising your wrist to wake the device. Even keeping it at a modest overall brightness, I found it easy and natural to quickly glimpse at the screen to check the time or parse a new notification while otherwise occupied.
When it comes to actually putting this fancy design to use, the Apple Watch Series 10 feels like a valuable and worthwhile extension of the iPhone experience. Depending on your daily routine, there can be times when it’s not polite, prudent, or even possible to take your phone out and check what that last alert was all about. Apple made the most of the large screen, optimizing the layout of notifications so that it’s easy to check with a quick glance.
All told, the Apple Watch Series 10 has quickly proven itself to be a worthwhile companion in my daily routine. Whatever I’m up to, it can offer some utility in a pinch—be it detecting that I’m out for a walk and starting a Workout, letting me check my texts or skip a song without retrieving my phone from my pocket, or putting some of my favourite apps closer at hand. The Apple Watch Series 10’s form factor is sleek and unobtrusive, the display is sharp, and the intuitive design provides a lot of convenience.
The Apple Watch Series 10 is a worthy extension of the iOS family, offering iPhone users much more than just fitness tracking.
![Apple Watch Series 10 [Gps 46Mm Case] Smartwatch With Jet Black Aluminium Case With Black Sport Band - S/M. Fitness Tracker, Ecg App, Always-On Retina Display, Water Resistant](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31Cud2WnszL._SL160_.jpg "Best Smartwatches 2025")
- WHY APPLE WATCH SERIES 10 — Bigger display with up to 30 percent more screen area.* A thinner, lighter, and more comfortable design.* Advanced health and fitness features provide invaluable insights.* Safety features connect you to help when you need it.* Faster charging gives you 80 percent battery in about 30 minutes.*
- ADVANCED HEALTH INSIGHTS — Take an ECG anytime.* Use the Blood Oxygen app.* Get notifications if you have high or low heart rate or an irregular heart rhythm.* Understand your menstrual cycle and get retrospective ovulation estimates.* See overnight health metrics like heart rate, respiratory rate, and more with the Vitals app.* Track sleep and get notifications if Apple Watch detects signs of sleep apnea.*
Xiaomi Smart Band 9
With a peak brightness of 1200 nits, I also never had an issue seeing the display, and if anything, during TIFF 2024, I had to be sure to turn my display off, as it was quite bright in a dark movie theatre. The Xiaomi Smart Band 9 allows for Raise to Wake, which can be turned on, off or scheduled. You can also swap on Always on Display if you prefer, but it will take a toll on your battery. In the settings, you can control how long the band stays on and whether or not you want to activate Cover to Sleep, which is quite literally the opposite of Raise to Wake.
Of course, my favourite feature of the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 has to be its 233 mAh battery, which can last up to 21 days on a single charge. Depending on your display, vibrate, and notification settings, the Smart Band 9 can last weeks without issue. With Always on Display off, Auto Brightness on, and constant notifications on and consistent use, the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 was still sitting at 51% battery after eight days, and it stated another seven days were possible at its current settings.
With the right accessories, the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 is hands-down my favourite smartwatch on the market right now. With outstanding battery life, a small footprint, and all of it without sacrificing display quality and features, it is a hard watch to beat. The Xiaomi Smart Band 9 is everything you could need in a smartwatch or fitness tracker.
The Xiaomi Smart Band 9 packs an insane number of features in a tiny package and pairs it with excellent battery life and a vibrant display, all at a price that will impress.
- IMPROVED DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS: With an AMOLED peak display brightness of 1200 nits, view data with ease even under direct sunlight. Equipped with a light sensor module, it accurately detects ambient light to automatically adjust screen brightness for more comfortable viewing
- ELEGANT DESIGN: For the first time, the Xiaomi Smart Band utilises aluminium alloy frames in different colours such as Midnight Black, Glacier Silver, Mystic Rose and Arctic Blue. Pair it with a range of stylish straps, allowing you to show off your individuality with every flick of your wrist
