The best smartwatch for every wrist

It stands to reason that the Apple Watch Series 9 is the best smartwatch for anyone who's already an iPhone, iPad, or MacBook user — it just makes sense, syncing-up and user experience-wise.

But that's not the only reason to upgrade to Apple's latest smartwatch (the Series X is due later in 2024). On the surface it's not that much of an upgrade from the Series 8, but this latest iteration features the powerful S9 processor, with a brighter display and stacks of features (widgets, clock faces, health and fitness) via the watchOS 10 operating system.

In terms of health and fitness features — which most users want from a good smartwatch — the Apple Watch Series 9 has advanced heart monitoring, including an ECG test on demand, plus blood oxygen sensor, sleep tracking, and a workout app with a huge number of training options and metrics. The Apple Watch is still — hands down — the smartwatch to beat.

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is an update of what some reviewers called the best ever Apple Watch. Like the Series 9, the Ultra 2 adds the excellent S9 chip, combining that processing power with the Ultra's main selling point — a rugged build that's designed for adventuring and scuba diving. Indeed, the Ultra 2 uses an Oceanic+ app which transforms it into a dive computer. Away from the water, its compass app is made for getting way off the beaten track.

It's not only made for the wilderness, but for the sweat and toil of heavy gym sessions, too. You also get all the great health and fitness monitoring and stats from the regular Apple Watch, including heart rate tracking and alerts.

The best update is its always-on, brighter-than-ever display, which has space for six metrics at any one time. At 3,000 nits, it's eye-popping even in bright sunlight. It's a watch that you simply have to put to the test in the outdoors.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 is an upgrade on the already-solid Galaxy line. Though, like the Apple Watch for Apple users, it's a no-brainer for Android devotees. Everyone should take note of just how much the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 has to offer — particularly its excellent array of health stats and fitness.

The watch is particularly good when it comes to sleep, with advanced monitoring and feedback features. There are also options for custom workouts, which motivates you to push yourself and reach goals, combined with heart rate metrics and alerts and blood pressure. It can provide body composition readings on body fat, skeletal muscle, body water, basal metabolic rate, body mass Index, and all the figures you'll see elsewhere.

It looks great, too, with a thinner bezel and attractive AMOLED display that sits in Sapphire Crystal glass (watch faces are customisable, of course). Other features such as Samsung Wallet, fast charging, and syncrinicity with other Galaxy devices make the Galaxy Watch 6 a true all-rounder.

You might not be familiar with the Ticwatch Pro 5. The Ticwatch brand certainly isn't as well known as Apple or Samsung, but this WearOS-powered smartwatch ranks as one of the best reviewed models on the market.

For starters, it's a rare smartwatch — one with an impressively reliable battery life. It has more than three days of juice with regular use and fast charging.

It has a double layer touchscreen display, with a more basic display that kicks in when it's not in use, beneath which are stacks of features and spec. Powered by a thunderously fast Snapdragon processor, it has music storage, Google Wallet, and comprehensive health and fitness monitoring and metrics. There are outdoorsy features too, such as advanced GPS, if that's your thing.

We also love how tactile it is. It has the look and feel of a classic wristwatch, and has a rotating crown for scrolling through its menus. Simply stunning.

Garmin's smartwatches, in some ways, are the ultimate fitness trackers — more robust than Fitbit and more specialist than the Apple Watch. For runners, the Garmin Forerunner 255 is a great entry point. Though don't write it off as only for beginners. It's feature-packed and ready for action.

Each morning, you'll receive a report on how your body is doing — based on recovery, sleep, and heart rate variability — and what workouts you should do that day. It also offers up training tips and completion time predictions that adjust based on recent performance and progress.

If you've got specific goals, the Garmin Forerunner can coach you towards smashing a 5K, 10K, or half marathon. It's basically a personal trainer on your wrist. Not only that, it offers up to 30 hours of battery life in GPS mode — great for running new routes. Sure, it's not as stylish as some smartwatches, but it's built for purpose. Avid runners will love its features.

If you want a smartwatch that looks as classy and distinguished as a regular watch, the Huawei Watch GT 4 is a fine choice. The brand likes to boast that this watch is where "fashion and technology meets". There's no denying that this watch, with its stainless steel body, looks sharp (a stainless steel strap is also available). It's a smartwatch you could wear when you're all dressed up.

It has a very competitive battery life, along with accurate heart rate tracking along with over 100 different workout modes. It's fair to say there's nothing revolutionary in its health and fitness features, but it's offers everything that most users will need. It also syncs with your Apple or Android phone, allowing you to access messages, calls, music playlists, and more.

Being made by Huawei means there are some limitations for UK users, but if you can look past that, it's an attractive watch with some useful smart features.

Keeping costs down, the Amazfit range is a good bet for anyone who wants to dip into smartwatch technology without spending a fortune. With the Amazfit GTR 3, you get all the basics and a bit more, with heart rate and blood oxygen metrics, sleep tracking, more than 150 workout modes, and a battery life than can last for 21 days — though expect it to be lower with apps running.

It receives notifications from your phone and has Alexa already built in, which proves helpful in controlling all your smart home devices. The watch even has an offline voice assistant. And you can set it to a style that suits you, thanks to a selection of 100 faces — or the option to upload your own image.

Ultimately, the Amazfit GTR 3 can't compete with the big boys — the likes of Apple and Samsung — but it offers excellent value for a comparatively low price (particularly in usually pricey smartwatch terms). Think of it as an excellent entry level model for first-time smartwatch wearers.