Looking for a smartwatch or fitness tracker? Find the best one for you with our reviews and buying guide. We've tested models from Apple, Garmin, Samsung and more.
On this page
- Buy the best smartwatch or fitness tracker for your needs
- Best smartwatches & fitness trackers of 2026
- What you need to know when buying a smartwatch or fitness tracker
- Smartwatch reviews
- People's Choice
- More technology
- Which smartwatch brands are most reliable?
- How we test smartwatches and fitness trackers
Buy the best smartwatch or fitness tracker for your needs
We've tested a range of smartwatches and fitness trackers to find which ones perform the best.
Our assessment covers:
Fitness tracking
Smart functions
Battery
and more.
See our reviews to help decide between a cheap fitness tracker, the best smartwatch, or something in between to match your budget.
Best smartwatches & fitness trackers of 2026
Shopping for a watch with the best smart functions, or a fitness tracker you can use to get fit for summer? Our expert recommendations help you find the best smartwatch for your lifestyle, considering functions, features, performance and budget.
Best cheap smartwatch for iOS
Best cheap smartwatch for Android
Best fitness tracking smartwatch for Android
Best fitness tracking smartwatch for iOS
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What you need to know when buying a smartwatch or fitness tracker
The difference between a fitness tracker and a smartwatch is how much they can do. Fitness trackers have simple features such as step counters and heart rate monitors, while smartwatches have complex functions such as contactless payment and music streaming.
Our buying guide helps you learn about the key features to look out for so you can choose one that's right for you.
Smartwatch reviews
People's Choice
Our People's Choice awards are granted to brands that consistently rate above average for customer satisfaction and meet out other performance criteria. Become a member and see which brands have earned a People’s Choice award.
More technology
Which smartwatch brands are most reliable?
We ask thousands of Consumer members about their products to find out which brands are most reliable and satisfying to own. The results are available to members and Digital Pass holders.
How we test smartwatches and fitness trackers
We test a range of smartwatches and fitness trackers that are available in New Zealand to find the best models for you.
The test involves scoring:
Fitness tracking - the accuracy of fitness trackers such as step count, distance and heart rate.
Smart functions - measures calling and texting capability.
Battery performance - how long a full charges battery lasts.
And more.
Read our full guide to testing below, or watch our lab footage to see the test in action.
