Apple Watch SE 3 and Pixel Watch 4 Lead New Wave of Health-Tracking Smartwatches
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For as long as I've been covering health and fitness trackers, which is basically since the dawn of the category, they've been synonymous with the wrist: Apple Watch, Fitbit, Garmin, Samsung Galaxy Watch. Sure, exceptions exist, but most wearables are designed for the wrist, likely for the same reason the pocket watch moved there a century ago: convenience. Nobody really questioned it, least of all me.
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ZDNetUsing a wearable is a practical way to keep tabs on your movement and ensure you don't stay sedentary for too long. Whether worn on your wrist or as a ring, these gadgets act as constant nudges to stay active, using haptic alerts to prompt a walk or digital dashboards that track your momentum in real time.
The VergeTo me, that’s worth the trade-off in battery life since I constantly switch between wearables anyway. But in another life, one where I don’t do this job and spend more time training, I think I’d be a Garmin Forerunner gal. - You don’t needan Oura Ring, but it is kinda helpful if you really want to prioritize recovery metrics and are committed to a Garmin, Coros, or some other smartwatch. (Garmin’s sleep tracking has never been my favorite, though it’s improved over the years.) I’ve run the numbers, and even with the subscription, I find dual-wielding an Oura and a smartwatch more cost-effective for my needs over a period of three to five years than a Whoop. And since I know you Garmin heads tend to keep your devices for an average of eight years, I think the math works out similarly.
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The Apple Watch SE 3 is a solid entry-level smartwatch that offers a lot of the same features and capabilities as its premium cousin, the Apple Watch Ultra 3. With a 40mm OLED display, 18-hour battery life, and robust health and safety features, you can streamline your workflow even if your iPhone isn't handy.
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CNETSeries 11 vs. Ultra 3, SE 3 battery life One surprise with the new Apple Watch lineup is improved battery life in the Series 11 and Ultra 3, plus a fast-charge option on the SE 3 that lets you top up for a night's sleep after a full day.
The VergeI recommend the $249 SE 3 because it offers the best bang for your buck feature-wise of all the new Apple Watches. If you want the bigger screen and advanced health features like EKGs, look for a refurbished Series 10 in a nicer material. (The Series 11 is fiiiiine, but the difference from the Series 10 is negligible and you might as well save a lil extra.) However, I don’t recommend the Apple Watch Ultra 3 for most people unless that’s the look you’re going for, you work out a lot, and you want the biggest battery / screen possible.
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Writer's verdict The Google Pixel recorded the most accurate steps among the three devices during my trials. I have already sung the Pixel Watch 4's praises, and this quick test adds another to the list. The Oura Ring and Apple Watch are still competitive devices, and I'd still easily recommend them to iOS users and anyone uninterested in purchasing a smartwatch.
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The VergeNow for Android. Arguably, if you have a Samsung phone, you could go for the Galaxy Watch 8. But I was more impressed by the Pixel Watch 4’s approach to repairability, feature updates, and AI implementation. As a caveat, I’m not a fan of AI fitness and health features, but of the ones I’ve tested so far, Google’s is among the best.
CNETHeart rate is the clearest example. In my own 30-mile accuracy test comparing five smartwatches against a Polar H10 chest strap, the Apple Watch Series 11 came out on top, with an error rate under 1%. Part of that comes down to how it handles intensity.
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This year's standout health feature is the ability to analyze data and detect signs of hypertension, or high blood pressure. "It's not the full on-the-spot blood pressure monitoring Apple fans have long hoped for," wrote Hand Orellana, "but it's a major step forward -- one that Apple says could help 1 million people get diagnosed with hypertension in the first year alone."
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Independent claims that didn't surface elsewhere in our corpus. Treat as supplementary — not corroborated across outlets.
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01 The Verge Why do you want a fitness tracker? This is the first question I ask any time I’m asked to recommend a device.
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02 ZDNet The Samsung Galaxy S26 is an excellent edition of the brand's flagship smartphone, offering extended battery life and improved performance over its predecessor. And right now at Verizon, you can get one for free when you add a new line to a qualifying plan. You'll also get a free Galaxy Watch 8 and Samsung Tab S10 FE tablet, and, if you order online, Verizon will also give you a $100 e-gift card to use on your next purchase.
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03 CNET That is, until I reviewed the Whoop band. The Whoop appeared like any other wrist tracker, except it had no screen, and its sensor could be placed in different locations to passively measure health data. After realizing the arm band was more comfortable for sleep, I started exploring other ways to wear it. The same sensor can be worn on your bicep, tucked into a sports bra or even clipped into underwear.
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Sources (3)
- cnet
- verge
- zdnet