5 smartwatches you should buy instead of the Google Pixel Watch 5

The Google Pixel Watch 5 is the corporate’s latest smartwatch, that includes recent case and band colours, improved efficiency, bigger batteries, extra native storage, and new well being and health monitoring metrics. On the floor, it appears nearly an identical to the Pixel Watch 4, and that’s not essentially a nasty factor, because the Watch 4 was already a fantastic-looking smartwatch. The Pixel Watch 5 prices extra, although, as is the case with all new tech launches in 2026.

The upper price is especially annoying, provided that the {hardware} within the Pixel Watch 5 will not be very completely different from that of its predecessor. Fortunately, in case you’re disillusioned by the value enhance and restricted modifications, you’re not out of luck.

I’ve chosen my high 5 alternate options to the Pixel Watch 5 that supply related and even higher options, relying on what you prioritize. So, before you purchase Google’s newest, give these different watches a glance.

The Google Pixel Watch 4 from 2025 is the closest competitor to the Pixel Watch 5, and will probably be even higher worth as soon as it will get a everlasting value drop. The multi-day battery life, very quick charging, and spectacular sleep monitoring are amongst my favourite options. The addition of dual-band GPS makes the Pixel Watch 4 a fantastic tool for runners.

Beginning at $350 for the 41mm, Wi-Fi-only variant, the Pixel Watch 4 is at the moment essentially the most inexpensive smartwatch to help Google’s Gemini Intelligence options. Plus, most of the new Well being Guardian and health monitoring options from the Pixel Watch 5 ought to make their strategy to the Watch 4 in future updates.

The Pixel Watch 4 shares quite a lot of {hardware} traits with the Pixel Watch 5. Each have the identical dimensions and weight, and use the identical mechanism for the watch bands. Google can be promising the identical battery life for each watches, regardless of the Watch 5 having a barely bigger battery. The show specs, waterproofing, and well being monitoring sensors are additionally just about an identical throughout each smartwatches. Plus, the Watch 4 will probably be getting software program help till October 2028, on the very least.

Add all of it up, and the Pixel Watch 4 is one of the best Put on OS smartwatch to purchase right now by way of worth and efficiency.

My second-best choose must be the Samsung Galaxy Watch 9. Launched in July 2026, Samsung’s newest smartwatch is a tad cheaper than the Pixel Watch 5, however it one-ups Google by providing a extra trendy SoC, a sapphire crystal show, and a a lot bigger battery within the 40mm mannequin. It’s additionally the primary non-Pixel smartwatch to boast the Raise-to-talk function for Gemini. It runs the newest One UI 9 Watch software program, based mostly on Put on OS 7, which unlocks a ton of AI-powered well being options. The show sizes are additionally barely bigger than these of the Pixel Watch 5.

One of many huge benefits, in my view, of the Galaxy Watch 9 over the Pixel Watch 5 is its use of the newest Snapdragon Wear Elite platform. The Pixel Watch 5 makes use of the Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 Accelerated SoC, which has modest efficiency positive factors over the W5 Gen 2 from the Pixel Watch 4. Comparatively, the Put on Elite platform guarantees as much as 5x CPU efficiency, as much as 7x GPU efficiency, and as much as 30% longer battery life than the earlier era.

Whereas these positive factors may not be that obvious proper now, the Galaxy Watch 9 feels extra future-proof for extra demanding native AI processing down the street. Charging pace is the one actual ache level with the Galaxy Watch 9, because the 10W charging puck is slower than the Pixel Watch 5.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 from 2024 stays a viable possibility and my discount alternative for a Put on OS smartwatch in 2026. It’ll proceed to obtain software program updates till 2028, and a number of the new options from the Galaxy Watch 9, like Each day Cardio Load, will come to the Watch 7 through an replace. It additionally has premium options like sapphire crystal glass over the show, one thing that the Pixel Watch 5 nonetheless lacks.

Costs of the Galaxy Watch 7 maintain fluctuating, and the 40mm model may be laborious to seek out. Nonetheless, the 44mm, non-LTE model often ranges wherever from $220 to $280 on-line, making it a wonderful worth choose. The Galaxy Watch 7 packs loads of helpful Galaxy AI options like Power Rating. The design is glossy and refined, there’s that acquainted Put on OS expertise, and well being monitoring is spot on.

A number of issues price noting are that GPS monitoring may be wonky round tall buildings, and a number of the well being monitoring options require using a Samsung cellphone. However at its present discounted value, I’m keen to miss these niggles.

If the one smarts you’re actually after are health monitoring and coaching, you’re higher off with a smartwatch constructed for the job. The Amazfit Balance 3 checks all the appropriate bins and is at the moment among the best health smartwatches available on the market. It’s nonetheless a bit cheaper than the Pixel Watch 5, however the Stability 3 guarantees as much as 21 days of battery life, has 64GB of storage, a 1.5-inch AMOLED show with sapphire glass, and comes with specialised aggressive coaching instruments for HYROX.

In comparison with the Stability 2, the Stability 3 has a stainless-steel physique, a built-in flashlight, a brighter show, and twice the quantity of storage. The core improve of the Stability 3 contains the brand new HybridCharge Power Intelligence system, which focuses on metrics like LifeLoad and BioCharge to raised predict vitality ranges and readiness rating. Amazfit can be the unique wearable associate for HYROX, and the Stability 3 will get unique HYROX coaching plans, race simulations, and analytics.

The Stability 3 handles common smartwatch duties too, like making and answering calls, viewing notifications, and getting turn-by-turn navigation in your runs.

The COROS PACE 4 is the newest mannequin within the collection and makes for a strong health coaching different to the Pixel Watch 5. The PACE 4 is on the market in a number of variants, beginning at $250 for the plastic construct, $280 for the aluminum casing, and $290 for the Jakob Ingebrigtsen particular version. The PACE 4 incorporates a 1.2-inch AMOLED show, useful crown for navigation, as much as 19 days of battery life with common use, and a redesigned coronary heart price sensor for extra correct readings.

The COROS PACE 4 weighs simply 32 grams and has a 5ATM water resistance ranking. In case you’re a aggressive runner, the PACE 4 can assist precisely monitor your coaching runs due to dual-band GPS, and the built-in microphone enables you to seize voice notes. You even have a set of coaching instruments to assist maintain monitor of your health scores, race predictions, and construct personalised marathon plans.

Total, the PACE 4 is a incredible little smartwatch that tracks all of your vital well being and health vitals, with out weighing your wrist down.