The Apple Watch lineup is the perfect round, nevertheless it might not be proper for everybody.
In case you’re an iPhone proprietor, the Apple Watch is probably going the perfect smartwatch obtainable for you.
With the present vary, which incorporates the Collection 10, Extremely 2, and SE 2, there’s extra selection than ever. But, they’re not the one smartwatches it’s best to take into account when you’ve got an iPhone.
No matter your chosen mannequin, Apple’s smartwatches are sometimes pricier than these from Garmin, Huawei, Fitbit, and different manufacturers. Plus, there’s the battery situation. For a lot of customers, the 1-2 days of battery life isn’t adequate, and plenty of rivals carry out considerably higher.
Mix all of this with considerations concerning the model’s sq. smartwatch design, and there are many the explanation why iPhone customers ought to take into account a substitute for the Apple Watch.
Right here at Wareable, our reviewers have examined each choice in the marketplace. Keep in mind that you received’t discover something from Google, Samsung, or different Put on OS distributors right here—they’re restricted to Android telephones and received’t work with iPhones. Nevertheless, for our high suggestions to pair along with your iPhone, check out the choices in our listing beneath.
Briefly: The perfect smartwatches for iPhone customers
Apple Watch Collection 10
The Apple Watch Collection 10 is, as you’ll think about, a superb smartwatch for iPhone customers.
Whereas Apple is thought for its incremental year-on-year modifications, its newest iteration marks a big leap ahead, providing thinner, lighter, and bigger watches with extra expansive, brighter shows.
Whereas aluminum stays the usual, Apple has switched the premium materials from chrome steel to titanium and carbon impartial, a welcome change primarily based on our testing. Different enhancements embody a louder speaker, a depth and water temperature sensor, a brand new S10 chip, and barely sooner charging.
Past the {hardware}, the Collection 10’s actual energy is within the wealthy ecosystem Apple has constructed up during the last decade of smartwatch entries. Options like Double Tap gestures, Low Power Mode, ECG readings, cycle monitoring, and a strong app retailer make it a complete smartwatch.
The watchOS 11 update additionally provides sleep apnea detection, the Vitals app, and superior coaching insights, additional solidifying its place because the premier smartwatch.
The downsides of selecting the Collection 10
Nevertheless, the Collection 10’s stays hamstrung by its ‘single-day’ battery life. Though the Collection 10 will sometimes final 25-30 hours in reasonable and heavy use, there’s nonetheless a every day query of when and the place you’ll subsequent cost it up. After some time, it could really feel choresome.
Moreover, the elevated case sizes (42mm/46mm, elevated from 41mm/45mm) might not go well with everybody, particularly these with smaller wrists.
Nonetheless, in the event you can look previous these shortcomings, the Collection 10 is a compelling bundle – and an ideal choice for these new to Apple smartwatches or upgrading from an older mannequin (Collection 6 and beneath).
Our Apple Watch buyer’s guide can present extra particulars on whether or not we nonetheless advocate it as we strategy the anticipated annual refresh in September.
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Simpler to make use of -
Beautiful finishes -
Sleep apnea detection
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Battery life continues to be a day -
Enormous show is rather a lot on the wrist
Apple Watch SE (2nd technology)
Finest finances look ahead to iPhone customers
The Apple Watch SE (second technology) continues to be the most suitable choice for iPhone customers in search of an inexpensive Apple Watch. Nevertheless, it’s more likely to be up to date later this yr after being passed over at Apple’s final smartwatch refresh in September 2024.
The bundle continues to be pretty complete for the asking worth and highly effective sufficient for the most recent watchOS 11 software program. Nevertheless, the {hardware} compromises are clear and simple to grasp.
You sacrifice the thinner design, edge-to-edge display, always-on show, and superior options like Double Faucet, ECG, and temperature sensing.
Nevertheless, you continue to get all of the unimaginable sports activities monitoring and exercise monitoring options of the dearer Apple Watch fashions and all the advantages of the unimaginable App Retailer. This helps elevate the machine above its rivals.
Apple included the S8 chip on this second-gen model of the SE, too, which ensures that the expertise continues to be very zippy even just a few years after the watch’s launch.
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Monitoring may be very correct -
S8 chip gives very clean expertise -
Very good worth
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Battery life hasn’t progressed -
Design is beginning to look just a little outdated -
No always-on show
Apple Watch Extremely 2
Finest sports activities look ahead to iPhone customers
The Apple Watch Extremely 2 doesn’t deviate a lot from the 2022 debut design—apart from it’s now carbon impartial and incorporates 95% recycled titanium when paired with a new-gen strap. In 2024, we additionally acquired a brand new black titanium end.
It boasts a 33% enhance in display brightness from the unique, too. The S9 SiP chip delivers a four-core Neural Engine, which permits the sensible Double Faucet gesture management characteristic and sooner Siri response occasions.
It’s been round 18 months because the Extremely 2 was launched, nevertheless it stays an unimaginable smartwatch that solves a lot of the Collection 10’s battery life nervousness. Battery life surpasses Apple’s 36-hour promise, and we discovered it usually lasted into a 3rd day with moderate-heavy use.
Sports activities monitoring stays potent, as nicely, with high dual-frequency GPS accuracy and extremely feature-rich operating and biking modes. We discovered VO2 max accuracy to be spot on, too. The compass app has been given some new options, and TOPO mapping is a good addition alongside all the brand new tips of watchOS 11.
It’s nonetheless the perfect model of the Apple Watch, however homeowners of the first-gen Extremely received’t have too many causes to improve. And, just like the Apple Watch gadgets above, remember that it’s in line for a refresh later this yr within the type of the Ultra 3.
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Nice display -
Supreme GPS accuracy -
Gestures are cool AF -
Carbon impartial
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Wellness feels a tad stale -
Brief on prosumer metrics -
New carbon impartial bands barely boring
Garmin Venu 3 collection
Finest Apple Watch different
The Garmin Venu 3 is a direct rival to the Apple Watch Collection 10, particularly focusing on sports activities and well being fanatics. It’s a critical different to the Apple Watch.
It’s obtainable in two sizes (45mm and 41mm) with choices for various colours and options, together with the Sleep Coach and an automated nap detection mechanism, which personalizes sleep necessities primarily based on quite a few metrics.
At its core, the Venu 3 is 2 issues: a sporty health tracker and a wellness smartwatch.
Contemplating it’s a Garmin, it produces fairly low-level knowledge for operating and biking, however there are neat insights for actions like HIIT and golf (with 40,000 programs built-in). Simply remember that Garmin has omitted its top-tier Multi-Band mode right here, regardless of some enhanced GNSS performance and the inclusion of its newest Elevate V5 coronary heart fee sensor.
In-depth metrics comparable to the brand new sleep coach, Morning Report, HRV Status, Physique Battery, stress monitoring, respiration fee, and coronary heart fee, make it a really thought-about, holistic wearable. It additionally contains an ECG feature to spot-check heart rhythms for atrial fibrillation (AFib).
Battery life (for the 45mm mannequin) additionally stretches to 10-14 days, far surpassing what the Apple Watch is able to.
For all that, it’s no shock it’s additionally very costly—$449.99/£449.99. If that’s too wealthy on your style, the Vivoactive 6 (launched in early 2025) can also be an choice for a fraction of the value.
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Wellness options lastly really feel helpful -
High HR accuracy -
Beautiful display
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Actually expensive -
Sports activities monitoring presents fundamental metrics solely -
Some sleep accuracy niggles
Huawei Watch Match 3
Finest finances Apple Watch different
The Huawei Watch Match 3 impressed us as a robust, fitness-oriented finances smartwatch when it launched a few years in the past. It ushered in a totally new search for Huawei’s entry-level vary, with a design that unapologetically emulates the Apple Watch. It’s nonetheless an choice, although it has now been changed by the Watch Match 4 collection (which we’re at present placing by means of testing).
It’s by-product, nevertheless it additionally delivers. Boasting correct GPS monitoring, heaps of sports activities monitoring modes, and a wonderful AMOLED display, it’s a improbable all-rounder that belies its $170/£129 price ticket. It’s not the most cost effective smartwatch you should purchase, nevertheless it’s just about the perfect at this worth.
We ran and educated with the Match 3, and the center fee accuracy was stable. Nevertheless, as we at all times advise, use a chest strap if you’re coaching by coronary heart fee in actual time.
It suffers from an absence of an app retailer, music streaming, or fee companies. But, for extra informal athletes searching for an excellent worth iOS-compatible smartwatch, the Match 3 will get a lot proper.
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Good exercise monitoring -
Beautiful worth -
Slim and light-weight
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Sleep monitoring accuracy may very well be higher -
Fundamental watch faces and UI design -
Lack of apps/companies
Huawei Watch 5 collection
Finest different for traditional smartwatch design
The Watch 5 is a high-quality all-rounder smartwatch, providing sometimes sensible Huawei {hardware} and a sports activities monitoring expertise that may match a smartwatch just like the Apple Watch Collection 10.
In contrast to the model’s GT collection, the Watch 5’s 42mm and 46mm designs are basic smartwatch ones, and refinements to the metal and titanium case choices imply they’re among the many best-designed smartwatches we’ve ever examined.
As ever, this flagship line is extra centered on well being improvements than anything. In that sense, the Watch 5’s ‘X-Faucet’ sensor, positioned on the aspect of the case (proven above), presents probably the most intrigue for this technology.
We discovered it barely gimmicky in testing, however there’s little doubt that it’s an attention-grabbing employment of dual-sensing tech—and one which does present higher accuracy and pace for measurements than in earlier generations.
In typical completeness, the Watch 5 additionally boasts all the premium sports activities options that debuted on final yr’s GT line; these make it a superb match for golfers, divers, path runners, and any person who craves thorough and correct sports activities monitoring.
Nonetheless, the shortage of a strong ecosystem, significantly in areas comparable to apps and funds, is noticeable and stays a big disadvantage to Apple Watch gadgets. It will probably’t be understated the way you’re primarily getting a health tracker in a smartwatch physique right here.
But, the trade-off for that compromise is much-improved battery life. If you need 10+ days of battery, you have to to forego options just like the always-on show, however we have been capable of persistently obtain 4-5 days in a really power-intensive setup. That makes it a worthy different to the Apple Watch.
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Premium design and construct high quality -
Brilliant and crisp LTPO show -
Very good AOD battery life
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Restricted app ecosystem stays -
Not top-level exercise HR accuracy -
X-Faucet sensor feels extra novel than important
Garmin Fenix 8
Finest outside sports activities watch different
The Garmin Fenix 8 is the most recent addition to the favored sports activities watch vary. It brings the perfect of the model’s monitoring smarts and rugged design specs into one premium bundle.
The vary contains solar-powered and AMOLED editions, with the latter the identical show tech discovered within the Apple Watch vary. There are additionally a number of case measurement variations, show glass decisions, and finishes to decide on between.
The Fenix 8 is outlined by its insane array of sports activities monitoring modes, top-notch analytics, mapping on the wrist, coaching estimates, and restoration insights. It’s extremely complete and an outstanding match for mega-active customers—backed up by class-leading AMOLED battery effectivity.
Even with the always-on show enabled, the Fenix 8 persistently lasts seven days, and power-saving modes might help you stretch that to a number of weeks. On this regard, it’s in a distinct league to the Apple Watch and goes into one other stratosphere in the event you select the solar-powered mannequin.
The one areas the place the Fenix 8 monitoring falters barely are within the presentation of stress and the accuracy of sleep assessments – however even Apple isn’t a lot better on this regard. It’s additionally considerably restricted as a smartwatch. You get assist for integrations like Spotify, however there’s no LTE or full-fledged app retailer assist such as you’ll get with Apple.
However, in brief, the Fenix 8 is the closest we’ve seen to a no-compromise sports activities watch – even when it comes with a price ticket that eclipses most rivals. As a less expensive different, don’t rule out the Garmin Fenix 7 Professional or Epix Professional, both – each of which now you can find great discounts on.
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Nice AMOLED battery life -
Class-leading mapping and navigation assist -
A extra considerate strategy to energy coaching
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It is much more costly than the Fenix 7 Professional -
Core efficiency not too dissimilar to earlier Fenix -
Coronary heart fee monitoring throughout train nonetheless not flawless
Withings ScanWatch 2
Finest hybrid smartwatch different
In case your eye has been caught by the superior health-tracking capabilities of the Apple Watch Collection 10, then the ScanWatch 2 is a suitable different.
The important thing distinction is that the ScanWatch 2 is an analog watch that hides its smarts away. There’s a small display: a monochrome OLED panel with fundamental stats and notifications on the dial.
When it comes to options, sturdy coronary heart fee monitoring, sleep monitoring, and ECG for detecting Afib spherical out a health-focused smartwatch. We achieved good accuracy and gained quite a few insights throughout testing.
Furthermore, ScanWatch 2 will search for respiration points throughout sleep and detect excessive/low coronary heart charges. It would additionally nonetheless monitor exercises and even GPS in the event you take your telephone together with you.
We did discover just a few points. Automated exercise detection is poor, and sleep accuracy lagged behind Oura and Whoop. And, in fact, you don’t get issues like funds or apps.
But, the 30-day battery life can also be the antithesis of a single day on Apple Watch. In case you don’t need a pc on the wrist, the ScanWatch 2 is a robust and discreet well being smartwatch.
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Strong and glossy design -
High battery life -
Respiratory and temp knowledge
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Insights barely lagging rivals -
Sleep knowledge not finest at school -
Rogue exercise detection
Amazfit Energetic 2
One other finances different for iPhone customers
If value is your principal situation with the Apple Watch lineup, then the Amazfit Energetic 2—new for 2025—is a must-consider smartwatch.
The model additionally presents the Bip 6 for many who favor a square-case design, however the $99 Energetic 2 represents unimaginable worth for cash. It boasts full offline mapping, an AI-powered assistant, and loads of exercise insights.
We nonetheless had the odd situation with coronary heart fee monitoring accuracy throughout exercises, although you possibly can pair exterior screens to treatment this. The Energetic 2 additionally carried out solidly in GPS-tracked outside exercises.
It lacks hardcore well being insights, however components like sleep monitoring and readiness insights persistently matched the likes of Oura and Garmin in our evaluation. The Zepp Well being app can also be an ever-improving place to evaluation your knowledge.
The battery life has lowered for this technology, which is a little bit of a disgrace, nevertheless it nonetheless blows the Apple Be careful of the water on this regard. Even with the always-on show enabled (and with comparatively heavy GPS utilization), we discovered it may final 4 or 5 days earlier than needing a recharge.
Whereas not a looker, the Energetic 2 continues to be slim, mild, and comfy regardless of a big redesign for this second technology. Plus, the complete AMOLED show presents good usability in a bundle that far surpasses the asking worth.
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There are tons of options for the value -
Full mapping and talent to pair exterior sensors -
Sensible options and health monitoring works nicely
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The makeover will not attraction to everyone -
Software program lagging continues to be current -
Coronary heart fee accuracy continues to be not nice
Key concerns when selecting an iPhone-ready watch
1. Battery life
The Apple Watch’s Achilles heel is battery life, and Apple solely guarantees 18 hours between expenses (though we often get nearer to 36 hours). You may be shocked to be taught that it’s a relative outlier on this regard.
Most smartwatches provide per week or extra away from the charger, a substantial draw away from Apple’s smartwatch. Nevertheless, the Apple Watch Extremely 2 will final round three days in the event you’re prepared to half with extra money.
2. Worth
Apple Watch pricing begins at $269/£299 for the SE (2nd gen) and $399/£419 for the Collection 10. The Apple Watch Extremely 2 prices a whopping $799/£849.
Alternate options can be found for lower than $99/£99, albeit with extreme options and display tech sacrifices. Nevertheless, high quality Apple Watch alternate options can be found for beneath $200/£200, must you need to maintain prices down.
3. Apps and iOS
The Apple Watch is likely one of the few smartwatches with a burgeoning App Retailer, and no rival on this facet that can work with the iPhone.
By choosing an Apple Watch different, you would possibly miss out in your favourite third-party companies, comparable to Spotify, Google Maps, or your favourite workout-tracking app. That additionally extends to options like Apple Pay or LTE, which Apple does higher than its rivals.
