The new Apple Watch 10 was just unveiled this week, with an official release date slated for September 20. From sleep apnea detection to new features for water sports, there’s a lot to be excited about in the latest Apple Watch. But there are also reasons to check out the alternatives before you finalize that preorder. 

Whether you’re an Android phone owner (the Apple Watch is largely incompatible with Android), want a smartwatch designed for a specific sport, like running or one that’s just a bit easier on your wallet, we’ve rounded up six alternatives to the Apple Watch 10 that will serve you well, no matter your needs, wrist size or budget. 

What is the best Apple Watch alternative?

Our in-house team of tech experts has curated this roundup of the best smartwatches that are excellent alternatives to the Apple Watch Series 10. Some of these smartwatch options are less expensive, have more specialized functionality, or just cater well to Android phone users.

Pro Tip: You can always save money by buying a smartwatch without cellular capabilities, but these devices must remain near your smartphone to handle some tasks. Investing in a smartwatch with cellular (LTE) capabilities allows the watch to work autonomously for calling, texting, streaming music, accessing the internet and more.

Best Apple Watch alternative for iPhone users: Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen)

For an iPhone user who’s new to a smartwatch, the Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) is the perfect starter watch — and it’s inexpensive, too. This is a scaled-down version of the Apple Watch 10. However, it still offers all of the most popular features people love about Apple’s smartwatch lineup. 

We highly recommend the GPS + cellular version of this watch for kids or to help monitor an elderly adult. Without the wearer needing their own iPhone, a parent or caregiver can track the watch’s location, plus communicate with the wearer via phone calls or text messages.

The Apple Watch SE GPS/cellular version also has autonomous safety features, including fall detection, Emergency SOS and crash detection. 

This version of the Apple Watch runs the same version of the WatchOS operating system and comes with the same collection of preinstalled apps as all other current Apple Watch models. And there’s a vast selection of apps, watch faces and watch bands available. The phone must initially be paired and then managed using an Apple iPhone. 

Best Apple Watch alternative under $100: Amazfit Bip 5 Unity

While the Amazfit Bip 5 Unity might look a lot like an Apple Watch, its $70 price tag should be a good indicator that this smartwatch does not offer all of the functionality you’d get from the real deal. However, for the price, it does have some impressive built-in features. That’s especially true right now while it’s on sale for as low as $60 at Amazon.

The Bip 5 Unity has a 1.9-inch display and provides up to an 11-day battery life. It also includes more than 120 sports modes, customizable watch faces, heart rate monitoring, stress monitoring, an Oximeter and sleep tracking. 

Beyond the apps that come preinstalled, the Bip 5’s Zepp OS 3.0 operating system provides access to mini apps and games, all of which can be downloaded to the watch from the Zepp app running on your smartphone.

Since this watch works with both iPhones and Android phones, it shares data wirelessly with third-party health and fitness apps, like Strava, Adidas Running, Apple Health, Google Fit, Relive and Komoot.

While you do not get cellular connectivity, when the watch is paired with your smartphone, it performs a wide range of functions outside of what basic fitness trackers and health monitors can do. If you’re on a tight budget and looking for an entry-level smartwatch, the Bip 5 Unity is a viable option for many people.

Best Apple Watch alternative for outdoor adventurers: Apple Watch Ultra 2

Apple Watch Ultra 2 is currently Apple’s most powerful and rugged smartwatch. It’s designed primarily for outdoor adventurers. Among other things, it features a longer battery life and more safety features than the Apple Watch Series 10. However, just about any iPhone user can take advantage of its more advanced features.

Apple Watch Ultra 2 offers a brighter, always-on display. Its casing is made from durable titanium, and the special watch bands available for it are equally hardy. In addition to more precise GPS navigation, the watch has a built-in emergency siren, plus a slew of other health, fitness and safety features.

This smartwatch includes advanced metrics and views in the Workout app, including heart rate displays, custom workouts and cycling workout views. Meanwhile, precision dual-frequency GPS provides incredible accuracy for calculating distance, pace and route maps. The Compass app delivers helpful views and details like elevation, incline, longitude and latitude. 

Mark your location with Compass Waypoints and then backtrack using GPS to retrace your steps. Apple Watch Ultra 2 is also made for recreational water sports, scuba, and free diving for descents to 40 meters.

For scuba divers, the Depth app shows the time, current depth, water temperature, duration under water and maximum depth you’ve reached, while the Oceanic+ app puts a dive computer on your wrist. And that’s just a sampling of what the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is capable of.

Right now, you can get the powerful Apple Watch on sale at Amazon for as low as $689. 

Best Apple Watch alternative for fitness-minded users: Garmin Venue 3

Garmin’s Venue 3 is a smartwatch that comes with a stainless steel bezel and a matching silicone band. It’s a good alternative to an Apple Watch whether you’re an iPhone or Android smartphone user. You can choose between two casing sizes — 41mm or 45mm — and a variety of colors.

One standout feature of the Venue 3 is that the battery can last up to 14 days before needing a recharge. Integrated into this smartwatch are more than 30 activity-specific fitness apps, along with a sleep tracker. 

The watch features a bright, 1.4-inch circular AMOLED touchscreen display. You also get a built-in speaker and microphone, plus the ability to pair the watch with Bluetooth headphones or earbuds. These features are great for participating in hands-free calls or streaming music.

Of course, the watch also offers the usual assortment of sensors that can track heart rate, skin temperature, HRV status, blood oxygen levels and more. This makes it a useful health and fitness tool, along with a general-use smartwatch. In addition to the built-in apps, you can add functionality to the watch using optional apps available from the Garmin Connect IQ store.

Best Apple Watch alternative for Android users: Samsung Galaxy Watch 7

This latest iteration of the Samsung Galaxy Watch takes advantage of Galaxy AI and a more powerful processor to provide new and personalized ways to use and interact with the watch while it’s strapped around your wrist.

Normally, this smartwatch has a starting price of $350, but Samsung has it on sale for an introductory price of just $300. Plus, you can get up to $250 instant trade-in credit with an eligible smartwatch or device. 

Choose between three band styles and multiple casing and band colors. Compared to the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic, this latest version is lighter, has a more powerful processor, a slightly larger display, enhanced sensors, the addition of a body temperature sensor, plus the new AI functionality.

If you like the idea of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 but want a smartwatch that’s a bit less expensive, there’s the scaled-down Samsung Galaxy Watch FE ($200). Its feature set is not as robust, but it’s still a useful health and fitness tool and a well-rounded, but entry-level smartwatch. Either Samsung Galaxy Watch is the perfect companion to any Samsung Galaxy smartphone, but these watches work just fine with any Android smartphone, too.

Right now, the newest Galaxy Watch is on sale at Amazon. Get it for as low as $270 (reduced from $300 and up). Samsung is also offering a deal on the smartwatch right now. Prices there start at $280.

Best Apple Watch alternative with AI integration: Google Pixel Watch 3

The Google Pixel Watch 3 now comes in two sizes — 41-millimeter and 45-millimeter — and four color combinations. The smaller version gives you 10% more on-screen real estate than the Pixel Watch 2, while the larger option provides 40% more screen space to display customized watch faces and personalized information.

Like the previous Pixel smartwatches, this one offers all of the features and functionality of a Fitbit health and fitness tracker integrated seamlessly into the watch. You also get an always-on Actua AMOLED display that’s brighter than ever (up to 2,000 nits), but it can easily be dimmed to a mere 1 nit when you’re in a theater or trying to sleep. 

Battery life is now up to 24 hours. Thanks to the AI, the watch can better manage incoming calls and detect spam more efficiently. You can also use the Recorder app from the watch to record your thoughts, meetings, classes or conversations, and then have a transcript and summary delivered right to your smartphone. Plus, if you have a smart TV that runs using the Google TV OS, you can use the Pixel Watch 3 as the TV’s remote. 

One feature we love is that if you have a Nest Cam or Nest video doorbell, you can see its live video feed right on your watch and communicate with anyone at your door. A new Safety Check feature shares your location with pre-selected people, at a pre-set time when you’re out on your own. Fall Detection, SOS Emergency Sharing and the watch’s ability to share your medical details in an emergency are also built into the watch.

Both watch sizes are available with either just Bluetooth/Wi-Fi connectivity (which means it relies heavily on your smartphone that must remain nearby) or with 4G LTE + Bluetooth/Wi-Fi. We highly recommend the 4G LTE + Bluetooth/Wi-Fi version of the Pixel Watch 3. That way you can communicate and work autonomously from your smartphone — handle calls and texts, have Gemini Assistant pull info from internet, stream music or video, and more. You can use the watch anywhere, even if you leave your phone behind.

The Google Pixel Watch 3 starts at $350, which currently makes it one of the best values compared to other smartwatches with premium features.

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Jason R. Rich

Jason R. Rich (www.JasonRich.com) is an internationally recognized consumer technology expert with more than 30 years’ writing experience. He’s also an accomplished author and photographer. Two of his most recently published books, “iPhone 16 Pro Max Digital Photography” ($19.99) and
The Remote Worker’s Handbook: How to Effectively Work From Anywhere” ($24.99, Entrepreneur Books) are now available from Amazon and wherever books are sold.