From the everyday smartwatch champion to the ultimate adventure tracker, here are the two watches worth buying this year.
The smartwatch market in 2026 splits cleanly into two camps: do-it-all smartwatches and serious sport watches. We compared health sensors, battery life, durability and ecosystem to find the best of each.
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is the best smartwatch for iPhone users and the most capable all-rounder. Its 3000-nit always-on display is brilliant outdoors, the health suite now includes ECG, SpO2 and blood-pressure trends, and the titanium case shrugs off abuse. Battery lasts up to 42 hours.
The Garmin Fenix 8 Solar is the ultimate watch for athletes and the outdoors. Solar charging stretches battery life to weeks, multi-band GPS is pinpoint accurate, and it's rated to 10 ATM for diving. If you train hard or go off-grid, nothing else comes close on endurance.
We weigh health and fitness tracking accuracy, battery life, display quality, durability, app ecosystem and value. We favour watches with reliable sensors and long software support. Prices change often, so always check the current price before buying.
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is the best for most people, especially iPhone users, thanks to its bright display, complete health sensors and rugged titanium build. The Garmin Fenix 8 Solar is the best for athletes and multi-day battery life.
Pick the Apple Watch Ultra 3 if you use an iPhone and want the best all-round smartwatch. Pick the Garmin Fenix 8 Solar if you prioritise weeks of battery, advanced sport metrics and dive-grade durability.