Dan Bracaglia is the Tom’s Guide editorial lead for all things smartwatches, fitness trackers and outdoor gear. With 15 years of experience as a consumer technology journalist testing everything from Oura Rings to instant cameras, Dan is deeply passionate about helping readers save money and make informed purchasing decisions. In the past year alone, Dan has assessed major product releases from the likes of Apple, Garmin, Google, Samsung, Polar and many others.
An avid outdoor adventurer, Dan is based in the U.S. Pacific Northwest where he takes advantage of the beautiful surroundings every chance he gets. A lover of kayaking, hiking, swimming, biking, snowboarding and exploring, he also makes every effort to combine his day job with his passions. When not assessing the sleep tracking and heart rate accuracy of the latest tach gadgets, you can find him photographing Seattle’s vibrant underground music community.
Latest articles by Dan Bracaglia

I just went hands-on with the Suunto Vertical 2 — and it beats my favorite Garmin in 5 big ways
By Dan Bracaglia published
The Suunto Vertical 2 could be my new favorite rugged outdoor smartwatch. Here’s why I may swap out my Garmin Instinct 3.

I wore the Circular Ring 2 for three weeks and wanted to love it — but one big thing held it back
By Dan Bracaglia published
Subscription free and brimming with wellness tools but let down by its companion app

I walked 5,000 steps with the Apple Watch 11 vs Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra — and there's a clear winner
By Dan Bracaglia published
Which smartwatch is better at tracking a basic outdoor workout — the Apple Watch Series 11 or the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra? I decided to find out.

Oura just launched the Oura Ring 4 Ceramic in four new colorways — and I’m obsessed with the new ‘Tide’ color
By Dan Bracaglia published
The new Oura Ring 4 Ceramic boasts a super-durable and eye-catching ceramic exterior in your choice of four colors for $499.

Best Garmin watch 2025 tested and rated: Top picks to hit your fitness goals this year
By Nick Harris-Fry last updated
We put Garmin's best fitness and adventure watches to the test, and these are our top picks for runners, hikers, marathoners, triathletes and casual exercisers alike.

Apple Watch 11 vs Garmin Instinct 3 — which $400 smartwatch should you buy?
By Dan Bracaglia published
I’ve compared two of my favorite smartwatches of 2025, the Apple Watch Series 11 and Garmin Instinct 3, across seven categories. Though they cost the same, it turns out, they’re very different.

Does the Apple Watch Series 11 really last 24 hours? Oh yeah.... and then some
By Dan Bracaglia last updated
I wore the Apple Watch 11 for 24 hours to test battery life claims. The results blew me away.

Apple Watch finally gets a sleep score — here's how to unlock yours
By Dan Bracaglia last updated
Here's a step-by-step guide to help you turn on the new sleep score feature on your Apple Watch.

I walked 6,000 steps with the Apple Watch 11 vs Garmin Instinct 3 — and the winner is clear
By Dan Bracaglia published
Which smartwatch is better at tracking a basic outdoor workout — the Apple Watch Series 11 or the Garmin Instinct 3? I decided to find out.

Oura Ring 4 vs Circular Ring 2 — which smart ring should you choose for tracking your health?
By Dan Bracaglia last updated
Oura vs. Circular: Which brand makes the better flagship smart ring? I compared the Oura Ring 4 to the Circular Ring 2 across six categories to find out.

Forget the Apple Watch 11 — 5 reasons to buy the new Garmin Venu 4 instead (and 2 reasons to skip it)
By Dan Bracaglia last updated
The Apple Watch Series 11 may be new, but so is the Garmin Venu 4. And it has Apple's flagship watch beat when it comes to battery, fitness tools, and more.

Apple Watch SE 3 — 6 reasons to buy Apple's new entry-level watch (and 2 reasons to skip)
By Dan Bracaglia last updated
Apple’s entry-level watch got a massive update. Here are five reasons to buy the SE 3, including new features and tech updates, and two reasons to skip it.

Garmin Instinct Crossover AMOLED announced — a rugged, high-tech sports watch with old-school mechanical timekeeping
By Dan Bracaglia last updated
The new Garmin Instinct AMOLED combines state-of-the-art fitness tracking with old-school timekeeping, and it's also tough as heck.

Apple Watch 11 vs Ultra 3 vs SE 3 — here's how all the new Apple Watch models compare
By Dan Bracaglia last updated
Here's how the Apple Watch Series 11, Ultra 3 and SE 3 compare across seven categories, including price, design, battery and features.

watchOS 26 is live — and these are my 7 favorite new Apple Watch features
By Dan Bracaglia last updated
I’ve been using watchOS 26 since August — now that the full update is ready, these are the biggest Apple Watch upgrades to check out, from Liquid Glass to Workout Buddy.

Best running watches 2025: which one is right for you?
By Jessica Downey last updated
We’ve done the legwork to find the right watch for your training. Here's our guide to the best running watches in 2025.

Your Apple Watch has a new, smarter way to adjust the volume — here's how to enable it in watchOS 26
By Dan Bracaglia last updated
watchOS 26 delivers a more refined Apple Watch audio experience that automatically adjusts the volume of alerts and phone calls based on the noisiness of your environment.

Your Apple Watch finally has the Notes app — here's how to unlock it
By Dan Bracaglia last updated
The Notes app is now live in watchOS 26, but there's one annoying limitation.

How to use Apple's new wrist flick gesture to dismiss notifications
By Dan Bracaglia last updated
Apple’s new wrist flick gesture, launched in watchOS 26, makes dismissing notifications a hands-free breeze.

Best Apple Watch in 2025: Each model tested and rated by our experts
By Jane McGuire last updated
Apple Watch Series 11 vs. Ultra 3 vs. SE 3: Based on our team's tests and reviews, these are the best Apple Watch models for fitness, battery life and value.

Apple Watch 11 vs Apple Watch 10 — biggest upgrades explained
By Dan Bracaglia last updated
Apple Watch Series 11 vs. Apple Watch Series 10: Which Apple smartwatch is best? I've compared the two across seven categories to help you choose.

Apple Watch Ultra 3 vs Apple Watch Ultra 2 — biggest upgrades explained
By Dan Bracaglia last updated
Here's how the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and 2 compare across a variety of categories, from safety features to battery life.

watchOS 26 is here — and these Apple Watch models are eligible for an upgrade
By Dan Bracaglia published
Apple’s latest software overhaul is live and available for download. Free for all users, these Apple Watch models are eligible for the watchOS 26 upgrade.

How to download watchOS 26 — your guide to installing the latest Apple Watch software
By Dan Bracaglia published
Here's a step-by-step guide to help you install the latest Apple Watch software, watchOS 26, like a pro.

I biked 11 miles with the Coros Nomad vs Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro — and the results surprised me
By Dan Bracaglia published
Which rugged GPS smartwatch is the more accurate tracker, the Coros Nomad or the Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro? I decided to find out by wearing both for an eleven-mile bike ride.
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