Best smartwatches for fitness in 2025……You ever have that one gadget that makes you feel like you’ve got your life together… even if you’re still running late to everything?
Yeah, that’s how I feel about smartwatches.
I’ve gone through more of them than I’d like to admit. Fitbit, Garmin, Apple Watch, one that was suspiciously cheap from Amazon and died after a week (RIP, you tried). But 2025? Oh, 2025 is a different beast. These watches aren’t just tracking your steps—they’re basically your mini therapist, style statement, and personal trainer all rolled into one shiny wrist accessory.
And let me tell you, I used to think I didn’t need one.
“Why would I want a watch that tells me how lazy I am?” — me, circa 2019.
Now? I’m the person who gets low-key offended if my wrist doesn’t buzz when I hit my step goal.
Apple Watch X — The Show-Off (in the Best Way)
Okay, let’s start with the obvious. Apple dropped the Apple Watch X this year, and yeah… it’s the kind of glow-up that makes your old model look like a flip phone. It’s thinner, lighter, and that new edge-to-edge display? Chef’s kiss.
Here’s what I love (and also kinda hate) about it:
- The new blood pressure monitoring actually works. Like, not “beta feature, check back in 2030” — it’s legit.
- The magnetic strap system means you can swap bands faster than you can say “Does this match my shoes?”
- The battery finally lasts longer than my patience on the MTA—almost two full days now.
But it’s also… $799. Yeah. My wallet cried a little.
Still, if you’re deep in the Apple ecosystem like I am (I’ve got AirPods, iPhone, MacBook, iFridge—kidding), it just works. And I mean that in the magical, frustrating way that Apple does.
Style score: 10/10
Fitness features: 9/10
Battery: 7.5/10 (but we’ll take it)
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 — The Underdog Who Got Hot
You ever run into an old classmate who suddenly got in shape, glowed up, and now everyone’s like, “Wait, when did that happen?”
That’s the Galaxy Watch 7 this year. Samsung went from “decent alternative” to “okay, wow, maybe I don’t need an Apple Watch.”
The round face is sleek, more like a real watch, and the sapphire crystal display looks expensive (because it is).
They’ve nailed the sleep tracking, too — it tells you if you’re actually resting or just lying there scrolling through memes at 1 a.m. (guilty).
Plus, the body composition scanner is back and even more accurate. Mine told me my hydration levels were “low,” which—listen, I try to drink water, okay? Coffee counts, right?
Style score: 8.5/10
Fitness features: 9.5/10
Battery: 9/10 (almost three days, hallelujah)
Garmin Venu 3 — The Athlete’s Soulmate
Alright, if the Apple Watch is the prom king and the Samsung is the glow-up, then the Garmin Venu 3 is the reliable gym partner who never skips leg day.
Garmin doesn’t mess around. It’s built for people who actually go outdoors (unlike me, who considers walking to Dunkin’ a cardio session). The Venu 3 is packed with:
- Detailed workout analytics that make you feel like an Olympian
- Pulse Ox, VO2 max, recovery time, and all that good nerdy stuff
- A battery that can last up to 10 days. TEN. DAYS.
It’s not as fashion-forward as the Apple or Samsung ones, but they’ve gotten better at it. You can actually wear it to brunch now without feeling like you’re in a triathlon ad.
Also, shoutout to the stress tracking. The other day, it buzzed me mid-meeting: “You seem tense. Try breathing.”
I was like, “Yeah Garmin, I know—so is everyone else on this Zoom.”
Style score: 7.5/10
Fitness features: 10/10
Battery: 10/10
Fitbit Charge 7 — Still in the Game
Fitbit’s like that friend who doesn’t need to scream to be cool.
The Charge 7 may not have the flashiest screen or a ton of apps, but it nails the basics beautifully. Steps, sleep, heart rate—it’s solid.
And they’ve stepped it up style-wise this year with new leather bands, metallic finishes, and even a slim version for smaller wrists.
The new AI-powered “Readiness Score” tells you whether to work out or chill out, which honestly saved me from fake guilt more than once.
Style score: 8/10
Fitness features: 8.5/10
Battery: 8/10
Perfect if you want something simple, sleek, and not screaming “tech nerd.”
Google Pixel Watch 3 — The Cool Kid at the Table
The Pixel Watch 3 is like that effortlessly stylish person who shows up to brunch in vintage sneakers and somehow pulls it off. It’s minimal, circular, and smooth as butter when it comes to performance.
It’s got Fitbit tech baked in (Google owns them now), plus the integration with Android is chef’s kiss.
The AI workout coaching feels weirdly personal—like, too personal sometimes. Mine told me: “Maybe try standing up more during your workday.”
Okay, rude, but fair.
Battery life is… meh. A day and a half if you’re lucky. But if you value aesthetics and smarts over marathon-level endurance, it’s a winner.
Style score: 9/10
Fitness features: 8/10
Battery: 6.5/10
Bonus Round: Best smartwatches for fitness in 2025
Because every year, there are those offbeat gadgets that make you go, “Wait, what?” and then… you kinda want one.
Withings ScanWatch 2
Looks like a classy analog watch, but secretly tracks everything from ECG to SpO2. Like a Bond gadget, but for your heart rate.
Oura Ring Horizon
Okay, technically not a smartwatch, but this ring tracks your sleep, stress, and movement. I wore one for a week and forgot it was there—until it told me I was “under-recovered.” Thanks, anxiety ring.
Huawei Watch GT 5
Battery for days (literally two weeks), looks stunning, but yeah—good luck syncing it if you’re in the Apple world. Still, gorgeous.
My Honest Take about best smartwatches for fitness in 2025
At the end of the day, here’s the thing:
You don’t need a smartwatch. You want one. And that’s totally okay.
For me, it’s that tiny buzz on my wrist at 7 a.m. saying, “You’ve got this.”
Sometimes it lies. Sometimes it’s right.
But when I’m walking through Queens, coffee in one hand, Spotify blasting, glancing at my heart rate after running to catch the Q train—yeah, I feel a little like a main character.
If you’re deep in Apple world, the Watch X is your obvious pick.
If you’re Android and love data, go Galaxy Watch 7 or Garmin Venu 3.
If you’re keeping it chill, Fitbit Charge 7 has your back.
And if you’re like me, you’ll probably keep switching every year because—let’s face it—technology’s our new jewelry.
🔗 Suggested Outbound Links:best smartwatches for fitness in 2025
- A relatable lifestyle take: The Verge’s Smartwatch 2025 Overview
- A funny personal blog vibe: Wait But Why
Honestly? Picking a smartwatch in 2025 is like choosing your dating app bio: it’s gotta match your vibe and your habits.
So whether you’re training for a marathon or just trying to close your rings while bingeing Netflix, there’s something out there for you.
Just, you know… maybe skip the $30 knockoff ones this time. Learned that lesson the hard way.
