Tech
The 7 best smartwatches of 2025 include some surprises
After a very busy fall, we finally have the new lineup of smartwatches from Apple, Samsung, and Google. And so whether you're team Apple or team Android, you have excellent choices for your wrist. Now that we've tested the major new releases, we're ready to name the best smartwatches of 2025. We have good news: As long as you stick to the flagship smartwatches from these three brands, you really can't go wrong.
Apple Watch SE 3
Apple Watch Series 11
Google Pixel Watch 4
Nothing CMF Watch 3 Pro
Apple Watch Ultra 2
(save $150)
Fitbit Charge 6
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8
(save $20)
The smartwatch market is getting very crowded, and that's good news
In just the past few months, Samsung, Google, and Apple all released new flagship smartwatches. On top of that, the Venn diagram of the best smartwatches and the best fitness trackers is fast becoming an almost perfect circle. While brands like Garmin and Fitbit are more tailored to athletes than everyday use, the Apple Watch Series 11 and Ultra lines are packed with fitness-focused features. And don't forget, you can also opt for smart rings and sleep trackers for true 24/7 health tracking.
There's also a huge range in price. Recently released smartwatches include the relatively affordable Apple Watch SE 3 ($239.99 ) all the way up to the ultra-pricey Garmin Fenix 8 Pro ($1,199.99 to $1,999.99). However, you don't have to spend very much to get a kick-ass smartwatch. In fact, even if your budget caps out at $100, you still have good options. Case in point: The ChatGPT-connected Nothing CMF Watch 3 Pro, priced at $99 but often available for $79.
Which wearables deserve a spot on your wrist? We're ready to render a verdict, and let's just say we have strong feelings and a couple of picks that might surprise you.
Yes, we chose not to include the new Apple Watch Ultra 3 (for now). Yes, we think the $99 Nothing Watch is a smarter buy than the new Galaxy Watch 8 (which we also love). No, we really don't think we can recommend the $1,999.99 microLED Garmin smartwatch, no matter how cool it is.
The best smartwatch for most people: Apple Watch SE 3
Credit: Apple
We're still in the process of testing the Apple Watch SE 3, but it's an Apple Watch — you know what you're getting. And here's the truth about the SE series: You get 98 percent of what you need from an Apple Watch or fitness tracker, and at a much better price. Unfortunately, you do take a hit on battery life. With 18 hours (versus 24 hours in the Series 11), you can't really call this an all-day smartwatch. And while you also miss out on blood oxygen monitoring, is that really crucial to the average user? We don't think so.
Add to that the fact that the SE 3 is the first Apple Watch SE to include an always-on display, and you have to wonder why you'd buy the Series 11 in the first place. In addition to its gorgeous OLED display, it has the same S10 chip inside the Ultra 3, the same water resistance as the Series 11, and all the necessary features you're looking for in a smartwatch — all for $150 less than the Series 11.
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The best Apple upgrade: Apple Watch Series 11
Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable
OK, so you really, really do want all-day battery life? Then you really do need to upgrade to the $399 Apple Watch Series 11. As Mashable's Stan Schroeder said in his review, it takes everything we loved about the Apple Watch Series 10 and adds a new processor and longer battery life. To be honest, there's not a lot to say beyond that. Apple can once again monitor your blood oxygen (after a legal dispute took away the feature), and now offers hypertension notifications as well.
Read our full review of the Apple Watch Series 11.
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The best Android watch: Google Pixel Watch 4
Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable
The Google Pixel Watch 4 looks really similar to the Pixel Watch 3 at first glance, but look more closely, and you'll notice a slightly more domed Actua display. It's a subtle change, but we think it makes the new smartwatch look absolutely gorgeous. We don't hate the "squircle" design of the Galaxy Watch 8 like some folks, but after comparing it to the Pixel Watch 4, let's just say Google takes this round.
We were also impressed by its feature set. Mashable senior reporter Christianna Silva is currently training for the New York City Marathon (and simultaneously testing 10+ smartwatches in the process), and they said the Pixel Watch 4 is a true runner's watch. That means it's elegant enough to wear to the office, but comfortable and smart enough to monitor workouts.
With a modern feel and a brighter display than the Pixel Watch 3, it's our current top choice as the best Android smartwatch.
Read our full review of the Pixel Watch 4.
The Budget Pick: Nothing CMF Watch 3 Pro
Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable
Mashable readers have been going a bit gaga for this smartwatch ever since it was announced in July. And after testing it out for ourselves, we get it. We'll have an in-depth review of this budget smartwatch coming soon, but our reviewer had this to say: "I'm shocked by how awesome it is for the price." If you're looking for the best smartwatch under $100, nothing else comes close.
The British brand Nothing is known for its unique designs, which somehow look both retro and futuristic at the same time. CMF is the brand's budget line (which will soon be spinning off into its own company), but this doesn't perform like most cheap smartwatches. First of all, it offers direct ChatGPT integration, which even the Apple Watch can't do. Samsung and Google are eager to make you use their own AI tools, but if you prefer ChatGPT (and we know you probably do), then you'll love this watch.
Key specs include an extra-long battery life (Nothing promises 13 days), blood oxygen monitoring, stress tracking, and precise heart-rate monitoring and location tracking. For a smartwatch that often goes on sale for $79, that's frankly hard to believe.
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The Dark Horse Pick: Apple Watch Ultra 2
Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable
Wait… the Ultra 2? Yes, the Ultra 2, not the latest flagship Ultra 3. Hear us out…
First, so long as you upgrade to the new watchOS 26, you can enjoy almost all of the new features that come with the pricier Apple Watch Ultra 3 (priced at $799, or $779.99 at Amazon). Plus, you can now pick up the past-gen Ultra 2 on sale for just $649, a big difference over the new version.
Look, if you're the type of person who always wants the newest Apple gadget, spend more on the new model, which does have some upgrades. The display is a teensy bit better, as is the battery life. But honestly? That's about it. The new Ultra arrived with the most iterative possible improvements. At the time, our resident Apple reviewer called it "a very minor upgrade." So, for our money, we're going with the Ultra 2, which has a killer OLED display, 36 to 72 hours of battery, and 3,000 nits of brightness.
Read our review of the Apple Watch Ultra 2.
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The best budget fitness tracker: Fitbit Charge 6
Credit: Dylan Haas / Mashable
The Fitbit Charge 6 is… fine. We included this popular Fitbit in our guide to the best fitness trackers of 2025 for a reason. For the average, casual athlete, it does a fine job of tracking your steps, heart rate, and activity.
Once upon a time, Fitbit was synonymous with fitness trackers. But to be honest, the brand has been slacking. The most recent Fitbits aren't as comfortable as you'd expect, especially for long workouts, and they can't compete with Apple, Garmin, or Pixel watches in the features department. For instance, it's lacking features like an altimeter, but on the plus side, we are big fans of the Fitbit app. So much so that some of our reviewers buy a different smartwatch but still use the Fitbit app to track workouts.
So, our verdict on the Fitbit Charge 6 is simply this: if you must.
The Best Samsung Smartwatch: Galaxy Watch 8
Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable
Let's be clear: The new Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 is a fantastic and smart wearable, especially if you use Gemini. It's a Mashable Choice product for a reason. It has a well-rounded feature set that offers everything you need in a smartwatch, fitness tracker, and sleep tracker. And we like the signature squircle design more than most people. It also benefits from Samsung's on-point design and technology.
While it was narrowly edged out by the Pixel Watch 4, we think you'll be happy with this watch, especially if you're already in the Samsung product ecosystem. It has a bright display, great software, and smart health features, including a new Sleep Coach. It also integrates Gemini in some clever ways. Our reviewer's only real complaint was the battery life, which is fine, but not great.
Read our full review of the Galaxy Watch 8.
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Apple iPad Air (M4 chip, 128GB, WiFi)
(save $40)
Samsung Galaxy S11
(save $120)
Amazon Fire 7 Kids with six months Amazon Kids+
(save $40)
Amazon's Big Spring Sale has arrived. The seasonal sale, which runs March 25 through 31, focuses on seasonal transition items — think cleaning supplies to freshen up your home and camping supplies to get outdoors. However, it wouldn't be a sale without tech deals, too.
We've spotted solid savings on tablets, good timing considering Apple just released a brand new one. The Apple iPad Air with M4 chip just dropped this month, and it's already on sale. But if iPads aren't your thing, don't worry, there are plenty of other tablet deals to shop.
Here are all the best tablet deals to shop during Amazon's Big Spring Sale.
Best iPad deal
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Read our full review of the Apple iPad Air (M4).
Apple's latest iPad drop is the iPad Air with M4 chip. It's one of the brand's speediest, most efficient tablets, scoring 13,176 on the Geekbench 6 test, which puts it ahead of most laptops. When Apple released the new iPad Air, they didn't raise the price, keeping the midrange tablet at $599. However, it already received a price cut at Amazon.
During the Big Spring Sale, get the Apple iPad Air with M4 chip for just $559. While that's only $40 in savings and less than 10% off its list price, it's still a great deal considering it's a brand-new tablet.
So while we might like this deal best, if you want some bigger savings, there are plenty more deals to shop.
More iPad deals
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Apple iPad, 11-inch (A16 chip, 128GB, WiFi) — $299 $349 (save $150)
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Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M4 chip, 256GB, WiFi) — $649.99 $699 (save $49.01)
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Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M3 chip, 1TB, WiFi) — $979 $1,099 (save $120)
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Apple iPad Pro, 13-inch (M5 chip, 256GB, WiFi) — $1,199 $1,299 (save $100)
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Apple iPad Pro, 13-inch (M4 chip, 512GB, WiFi) — $1,299.99 $1,499 (save $199.01)
Best Android tablet deal
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The best Android tablet to compete with Apple's iPad is the Samsung Galaxy S11. It's more expensive than Apple's iPads, but it has everything we want in a tablet. Speedy processing for gaming and streaming, gorgeous displays and crystal clear resolution, adjustable app windows, and an included stylus for note-taking or drawing. We've previously tested the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra, which is a step up from the S11.
During Amazon's Big Spring Sale, get the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 for just $739.99. That saves you $120 off its $859.99 list price for 14% savings.
Samsung tablet deals
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Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+ (WiFi) — $209.99 $249.99 (save $40)
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Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+ (5G) — $239.99 $279.99 (save $40)
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Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Lite — $299.99 $349.99 (save $50)
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Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 5 — $409.98 $499.99 (save $90.01)
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Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE with 256GB SD Card — $405 $499.99 (save $94.99)
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Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+ (5G) — $999.99 $1,149.99 (save $150)
TCL tablet deals
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TCL Tab 10 Gen 4 — $139.99 $199.99 (save $60)
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TCL NXTPAPER 11 Plus — $229.99 $369.99 (save $140)
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TCL NXTPAPER 14 — $329.99 $469.99 (save $130)
Lenovo tablet deals
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Lenovo Idea Tab — $179.99 $249.99 (save $70)
Kids tablet deals
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Amazon Fire 7 Kids with six months Amazon Kids+ — $59.99 $99.99 (save $40)
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Amazon Fire HD 10 Toy Story Anniversary Edition — $175.99 $219.99 (save $44)
Hackers have found their way into a large number of internet e-commerce sites.
This latest cybersecurity threat targets web stores running on the Magento or Adobe Commerce platforms, according to BleepingComputer, which cited the security firm Sansec as first publicizing the exploit. That was just over a week ago, and since Sansec exposed the vulnerability, known as PolyShell, the firm claimed that 56 percent of vulnerable stores have been experienced attacks.
You can check out Sansec's analysis for the full technical details of what's going on, but in the simplest terms possible, it seems hackers have managed to insert a credit card skimmer into the API for Magento, an open-source e-commerce platform acquired by Adobe several years ago. Sansec says it spotted the attack being used on an unnamed "major car manufacturer."
We have contacted Adobe for comment and will update this story if they respond.
Adobe has released a fix for this in the beta branch of its software, but that doesn't help the presumably vast majority of sites running the non-beta version of the software. Until the fix goes public, this will be an issue for any site running Magento or Adobe Commerce.
Tech
Walmart is running its own Spring Sale — save on Apple, Dyson, Shark, Ninja, and more top brands
Apple AirTags (1st Gen, 4-pack)
(save $39.01)
JLab JBuds Lux ANC Headphones
(save $38)
Dyson V12 Detect Slim
(save $250)
Lenovo Legion 5i (Intel Core i9-14900HX, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD)
(save $400.99)
Dreo 42-inch Tower Fan
(Save $63.99)
Beautiful 1-Liter Electric Gooseneck Kettle
(Save $13)
Now that Amazon's Big Spring Sale has kicked off, we're watching all the savings roll in. And deals are going far beyond Amazon — other retailers are joining in too. Target and Best Buy got in on the savings early, and now Walmart is catching up.
Amazon's Big Spring Sale is surprisingly good: We found 111+ deals on Apple, DJI, Sony, and Dyson
Walmart's deals are admittedly the least impressive of all the retailers running spring sales. But we've found some gems, including discounts on a Dyson stick vacuum and a Lenovo gaming laptop that you won't see on Amazon. Beyond those, Walmart is also price-matching some of Amazon's Big Spring Sale offers, which is good to keep in mind in case they wind up selling out there.
Read on to see our list of all the best deals worth shopping during Walmart's Spring Sale.
Best Apple deal
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Apple launched the new AirTag 2 in January, which, of course, means the original AirTags are priced to move. Walmart and Amazon are both selling four-packs of them for the record-low price of $59.99 (normally $99), which works out to just $15 per tracker. That's a steal.
More Apple deals
AirPods
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Apple AirPods 4 — $99.99 $129.99 (save $30)
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Apple AirPods 4 with ANC — $149 $179 (save $30)
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Apple AirPods Pro 3 — $199 $249 (save $50)
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Apple AirPods Max (1st Gen, USB-C) — $449.99 $549 (save $99.01)
iPads
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Apple iPad (A16, 128GB, WiFi) — $299 $349 (save $50)
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Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M4, 128GB, WiFi) — $559 $599 (save $40)
Best headphones deal
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Our favorite budget headphones are the JLab Jbuds Lux ANC headphones, which bring excellent active noise cancellation and 70 hours of battery life. While they won't deliver the best sound you've ever heard, it is going to be clear, well-balanced sound. They're an unbeatable value even when they're not on sale, but right now, you can score a pair for just $41.99 (a $38 savings). Amazon is matching that deal.
More headphone deals
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JBL Tune 760NC — $129.95 $144.95 (save $15)
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Sonos Ace — $299 $399 (save $100)
Earbud deals
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JLab Go Pop — $18.99 $24.99 (save $6)
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Samsung Galaxy Buds3 — $118.50 $162 (save $43.50)
Best vacuum deal
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Why we like it
Our resident cleaning expert thinks the V12 Detect Slim is the best Dyson vacuum for most people, especially folks who live in small spaces. (It has a runtime of about one hour per charge.) There's a green laser on the front of it that spotlights easily missable crumbs and hairs, and it's light enough to wield with one hand. Walmart has it marked down to $479.99, normally $729.99, which matches a deal on Dyson's website. It's not available on Amazon, on sale or not.
More vacuum deals
Robot vacuums
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Ecovacs Deebot N30 Omni — $299 $669.99 (save $370.99)
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Ecovacs Deebot T30S Pro — $439.99 $759.98 (save $319.99)
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Ecovacs Deebot X8 Pro Omni — $599 $1,099.99 (save $500.99)
Stick vacuums
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Shark Stratos Cordless Vacuum — $278 $499.99 (save $221.99)
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Dyson V15 Detect Absolute (Refurbished) — $329.99 $579.99 (save $250)
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Dyson V15 Detect Total Clean (Refurbished) — $349.99 $599.99 (save $250)
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Dyson V15 Detect Absolute — $649.99 $849.99 (save $200)
Best laptop deal
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at Walmart
$1,849.99
Save $400.99
Why we like it
This 15-inch gaming laptop features a sharp and vibrant OLED display with a silky-smooth 165Hz refresh rate. Walmart is selling it for 22% off, which brings it down to $1,449 (normally $1,849.99). Amazon also has a Lenovo Legion 5i with RTX 5070 graphics, 16GB of RAM, and a terabyte of storage on sale right now, but it has a worse processor — and it's $20 pricier.
More laptop deals
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HP OmniBook 7 16 (Intel Core Ultra 5 226V, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $599.99 $1,199.99 (save $600)
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Asus ROG Strix G16 (AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,399 $1,749.99 (save $350.99)
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Lenovo Legion 5i (Intel Core i9-14900HX, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,449 $1,849.99 (save $400.99)
Best home and outdoor deal
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With spring in full swing, warmer temperatures are underway. If things are getting too hot, it might be time to reconsider your cooling setup. A fan is more than a quick fix, but an essential way of keeping cool. Dreo makes our favorite tower fan, which is powerful but safe with its bladeless design. During Walmart's Spring Sale, you can get it for just $79.99. That saves you 44% on its $143.98 list price.
More home and outdoor deals
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Best Choice Products Outdoor Umbrella — $39.99 $93.99 (save $54)
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Dreo Large Room Air Purifier — $65.99 $119.99 (save $54)
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Coleman 316 Series 150-quart Cooler — $89 $99 (save $10)
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Shark Pet Cordless Stick Vacuum — $158 $259.99 (save $101.99)
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Better Homes & Gardens Mira Swivel Accent Chair — $218 $248 (save $30)
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Blackstone Original 4-Burner 36-inch Outdoor Griddle — $297 $344 (save $47)
Best kitchen deal
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Drew Barrymore's Beautiful collection at Walmart earns its name with affordable yet stunning appliances and furniture. During Walmart's Spring Sale, grab the Beautiful 1-Liter Electric Gooseneck Kettle for just $24.96, saving you $13 off its list price. This kettle catches your eye right away with its vibrant tomato red color. It looks far more expensive than it really is.
More kitchen deals
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Simple Modern 40oz Tumbler — $24.97 $33.97 (save $9)
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Ninja Foodi PossibleCooker Multi-Cooker (8.5 quarts) — $98 $162.48 (save $64.48)
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Ninja Foodi Digital Air Fry Oven — $139 $169 (save $30)
The best tablet deals from Amazons Big Spring Sale 2026: Score deals on the new iPad Air
Hackers are exploiting a vulnerability in lots of e-commerce sites
Walmart is running its own Spring Sale — save on Apple, Dyson, Shark, Ninja, and more top brands
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