Get Apple Watch Ultra 4 for the new heart sensors and the longer battery; Ultra 3 already has satellite and the once-a-second Always On screen.1 / 6
Fitness watches
Apple Watch, Garmin, Samsung, Google Pixel, Amazfit and COROS, each explained from what its maker publishes. Start with the watch you’re eyeing, or settle a choice between two with a head-to-head.
Get Apple Watch Ultra 4 for the new heart sensors and the longer battery; Ultra 3 already has satellite and the once-a-second Always On screen.
Get Apple Watch Series 12 for the same new heart sensors and readiness score as Ultra 4, at $399 instead of $799.2 / 6
Get Pixel Watch 5 if your phone runs Android 12 or newer and you want Google's own watch, with Gemini, satellite SOS and Loss of Pulse detection.3 / 6
Get Galaxy Watch Ultra2 if your phone runs Android 13 or newer and you want Samsung's rugged flagship: 47mm titanium, dive certification and an 800mAh battery.4 / 6
Get Galaxy Watch9 if you have an Android phone: Samsung's everyday watch is 8.6mm thick, with a 3,000-nit sapphire screen and up to 30 hours per charge.5 / 6
Get the 47mm Garmin fēnix 9 for on-watch maps and battery life measured in days: 64GB of storage, up to 16 days as a smartwatch and 30 hours of GPS.6 / 6
Photos from Amazon listings and Wikimedia Commons.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. See Affiliate disclosure. This guide summarizes the makers’ published specs below — we haven’t tested them ourselves. See Methodology.
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2026
Apple Watch Series 12
Get Apple Watch Series 12 for the same new heart sensors and readiness score as Ultra 4, at $399 instead of $799.
Apple Watch Ultra 4
Get Apple Watch Ultra 4 for the new heart sensors and the longer battery; Ultra 3 already has satellite and the once-a-second Always On screen.
Garmin fēnix 9
Get the 47mm Garmin fēnix 9 for on-watch maps and battery life measured in days: 64GB of storage, up to 16 days as a smartwatch and 30 hours of GPS.
Google Pixel Watch 5
Get Pixel Watch 5 if your phone runs Android 12 or newer and you want Google's own watch, with Gemini, satellite SOS and Loss of Pulse detection.
Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra2
Get Galaxy Watch Ultra2 if your phone runs Android 13 or newer and you want Samsung's rugged flagship: 47mm titanium, dive certification and an 800mAh battery.
Samsung Galaxy Watch9
Get Galaxy Watch9 if you have an Android phone: Samsung's everyday watch is 8.6mm thick, with a 3,000-nit sapphire screen and up to 30 hours per charge.
2025
Apple Watch SE 3
Get Apple Watch SE 3 if you want the cheapest current Apple Watch and can do without ECG and Blood Oxygen: it starts at $249, against $399 for Series 12.
Apple Watch Series 11
Get Apple Watch Series 11 at a discount: it has Series 12's 24-hour battery, ECG and hypertension notifications, just not the new heart sensors.
Apple Watch Ultra 3
Get Apple Watch Ultra 3 if it's discounted: it has Ultra 4's case, 3,000-nit screen and satellite, just not the new heart sensors or the 50-hour battery.
Garmin Forerunner 570
Get Forerunner 570 for Garmin's running and triathlon coaching in a 42mm or 47mm size at $549.99, $200 less than Forerunner 970.
Garmin Forerunner 970
Get Forerunner 970 if you want Garmin's flagship running and triathlon watch: built-in maps, an LED flashlight and a sapphire lens for $749.99.
Google Pixel Watch 4
Get Pixel Watch 4 only at a clear discount: Pixel Watch 5 has the same battery ratings and weight, plus Wear OS 7 and twice the storage.
2024
Amazfit T-Rex 3
If you want a rugged watch with offline maps for under $300, buy Amazfit T-Rex 3: $279.99 for dual-band GPS and about 27 days of battery.
Apple Watch Series 10
Buy Apple Watch Series 10 only at a clear discount: it has ECG, Blood Oxygen and once-a-second Always On, but Series 11 and 12 last 24 hours to its 18.
Garmin fēnix 8
Buy Garmin fēnix 8 (47mm AMOLED) only below fēnix 9's $999.99 price: it still has a flashlight, a speaker, a 40m dive rating and 16 days of battery.
Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra
Get the first Galaxy Watch Ultra only at a clear discount: Ultra2 brings an 800mAh battery, a 5,000-nit screen claim, Wear OS 7 and dive certification.
2023
Apple Watch Series 9
Keep Apple Watch Series 9, or buy one at a real discount: it's the oldest Series that still gets watchOS 27.
Apple Watch Ultra 2
Get Apple Watch Ultra 2 only at a discount: it has the titanium case and 3,000-nit screen, but no satellite SOS or messaging, which arrived with Ultra 3.
2022
Apple Watch SE (2nd generation)
Buy Apple Watch SE (2nd generation) only well below $249: SE 3 launched at that price with an Always-On screen, and SE 2 doesn't get watchOS 27.
Apple Watch Series 8
Keep Apple Watch Series 8 if yours still works, but if you're shopping, get Series 9: same 41mm and 45mm sizes, and it still gets watchOS 27.
Apple Watch Ultra
Get the original Apple Watch Ultra only at a deep discount: it has the Action Button, siren and 40m dive rating, but no satellite and no watchOS 27.
Other models
Amazfit Active 2 (Round)
Pick Amazfit Active 2 (Round) for a slim, round watch at $99.99–$129.99: a 1.32-inch AMOLED in a 9.9mm-thick case, with sapphire on Premium.
Amazfit Balance 2
Get Amazfit Balance 2 if you want sapphire, dual-band GPS, 10 ATM and up to 21 days of battery for $299.99, well under Balance 3's price.
Amazfit Balance 3
Choose Amazfit Balance 3 for a 3,000-nit sapphire screen, 64GB of storage and 41 hours of accurate GPS, at $369.99–$449.99 in titanium or stainless steel.
Amazfit Bip 6
Buy Amazfit Bip 6 for a big 1.97-inch AMOLED and up to 14 days of battery at $79.99, undercutting the round Active 2.
Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro
Spend $399.99 on Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro for a rugged watch with sapphire, a titanium bezel and a 3,000-nit screen, in 44mm or 48mm.
COROS PACE 3
Get COROS PACE 3 if you want a light, low-cost GPS running watch: 30 grams on the nylon band, up to 38 hours of GPS and $199 on coros.com.
COROS PACE 4
Get COROS PACE 4 for an AMOLED screen and downloadable maps at $249: it still runs 41 hours with all satellite systems and 19 days between charges.
COROS PACE Pro
Get COROS PACE Pro for a big AMOLED screen, maps, 32GB and ECG: it's $299 on coros.com and runs 38 hours with all satellite systems.
COROS VERTIX 2S
Get COROS VERTIX 2S if battery life comes first: up to 118 hours of GPS and 36 days of daily wear, in a titanium and sapphire case, for $699.
Comparisons
SE 2 vs SE 3
SE 3 keeps the 2022 SE's cases, screen sizes and 18-hour battery rating, and adds an Always-On display, S10, 64GB, a 45-minute fast charge and watchOS 27 for the same $249.
SE 2 vs Ultra 4
The 2022 SE is a basic 18-hour watch with no Always-On screen, ECG or Blood Oxygen, and it doesn't get watchOS 27; Ultra 4 is Apple's 49mm titanium watch, from $799, with satellite and up to 50 hours of battery.
SE 3 vs Series 12
Series 12 adds ECG, Blood Oxygen, the Health Sensing System, a 2,000-nit screen and a 24-hour battery to what SE 3 already does, for $399 against $249.
SE 3 vs Ultra 4
SE 3 is Apple's $249 entry watch, with an Always-On screen and watchOS 27 but no ECG; Ultra 4 is the $799 titanium watch with ECG, satellite, a 40m dive rating and up to 50 hours of battery.
Series 10 vs Ultra 3
Both run S10 with 64GB, but Series 10 is a thin 42mm or 46mm watch rated for 18 hours, while Ultra 3 is a 49mm titanium watch with satellite, a 40m dive rating and up to 42 hours of battery.
Series 10 vs Ultra 4
Series 10 is the thinner 2024 watch that charges to 80% in about 30 minutes; Ultra 4 is the 2026 49mm titanium watch with the Health Sensing System, satellite and up to 50 hours of battery.
Series 11 vs Series 12
Series 12 keeps Series 11's 24-hour battery and screen, and adds S11, the Health Sensing System, Ceramic Shield 2 and faster top-ups at the same $399 start.
Series 11 vs Ultra 4
Series 11 is last year's S10 everyday watch with a 24-hour battery; Ultra 4 is the 2026 49mm titanium watch with satellite, scuba diving and 50 hours.
Series 12 vs Ultra 4
Series 12 and Ultra 4 share S11 and the Health Sensing System; the Ultra's extra $400 buys a 49mm titanium case, satellite, scuba diving and twice the battery.
Pixel Watch 5 vs Series 12
Pixel Watch 5 needs Android and Series 12 needs an iPhone, and past that it's Satellite SOS and dual-frequency GPS against the Health Sensing System, at about $400 each.
Series 8 vs Ultra 2
Series 8 is a 2022 everyday watch with 18 hours of battery and no watchOS 27; Ultra 2 is the 2023 49mm Ultra with 36 hours, scuba diving and no satellite.
Series 8 vs Ultra 4
Series 8 has Crash Detection but an 18-hour battery and no watchOS 27; Ultra 4 adds satellite, dual-frequency GPS, scuba diving and up to 50 hours.
Series 9 vs Ultra 4
Series 9 and Ultra 4 both get watchOS 27; Series 9 has 18 hours of battery and no depth gauge, while Ultra 4 adds satellite, dual-frequency GPS and 50 hours.
Ultra 1 vs Ultra 2
Ultra 2 brings S9, 64GB and a 3,000-nit screen to the 2022 Ultra's 49mm titanium case; both are rated for 36 hours and neither has satellite.
Ultra 1 vs Ultra 3
The 2022 Apple Watch Ultra has S8, 32GB, 2,000 nits and no satellite; Ultra 3 keeps the 49mm case and adds a 3,000-nit screen, 64GB, 5G, satellite and watchOS 27 support.
Ultra 1 vs Ultra 4
The 2022 Apple Watch Ultra has S8, 32GB, a 2,000-nit screen and no satellite; Ultra 4 keeps the 49mm titanium shape and adds S11, 64GB, 3,000 nits, satellite and a 50-hour battery.
Ultra 2 vs Ultra 3
Ultra 3 keeps Ultra 2's 49mm titanium case and 3,000-nit peak, and adds satellite, 5G, once-a-second Always On and a 42-hour battery against 36.
Ultra 2 vs Ultra 4
Ultra 4 keeps Ultra 2's 49mm titanium case and 3,000-nit peak, and adds satellite, S11, the Health Sensing System and up to 50 hours of battery against 36.
Ultra 3 vs Ultra 4
Ultra 4 adds S11, the Health Sensing System and a 50-hour battery to the same 49mm case; Ultra 3 already has satellite and the 42-hour battery. Both launched at $799.
Ultra 3 vs Garmin fēnix 8
Ultra 3 needs an iPhone and brings satellite messaging and a 3,000-nit screen with up to 42 hours of battery; the 47mm fēnix 8 works with either phone and lasts up to 16 days, but has no satellite radio.
Ultra 4 vs Garmin fēnix 8
Ultra 4 needs an iPhone and brings satellite messaging, cellular and a 3,000-nit screen with up to 50 hours of battery; the 47mm fēnix 8 works with either phone and lasts up to 16 days, without either radio.
Ultra 4 vs Garmin fēnix 9
Ultra 4 is the $799 iPhone watch with satellite messaging built in and up to 50 hours of battery; the $999.99 47mm fēnix 9 works with either phone and lasts up to 16 days, but satellite means a Pro and a plan.
Pixel Watch 5 vs Ultra 4
Pixel Watch 5 is a 41mm or 45mm aluminum Wear OS watch for Android phones from $399.99; Ultra 4 is Apple's 49mm titanium adventure watch for iPhones from $799.
Ultra 4 vs Galaxy Watch Ultra2
Ultra 4 is the $799 iPhone watch with satellite messaging; Galaxy Watch Ultra2 is the $699.99 Android watch with an 800 mAh battery and a 5,000-nit claim.
Garmin fēnix 9 vs Garmin fēnix 8
The 47mm fēnix 9 adds 64GB for maps, a screen Garmin calls twice as bright and new training tools at the same $999.99 start; the 47mm fēnix 8 matches its 16-day smartwatch rating and keeps an LED flashlight.
Pixel Watch 4 vs Pixel Watch 5
Pixel Watch 5 puts Wear OS 7, 64GB of storage and the W5 Gen 2 Accelerated chip into the same cases, screen and 30 or 40-hour battery as Pixel Watch 4, from $399.99 against $349.
Pixel Watch 5 vs Galaxy Watch Ultra2
Pixel Watch 5 ($399.99) is the lighter aluminum watch with Satellite SOS; Galaxy Watch Ultra2 ($699.99) is the 47mm titanium one with an 800 mAh battery and dive tracking.