Records have made a resurgence in recent years, so now there's a lot more choice when it comes to finding a record player. And the choices can be confusing.

I've put in the work to find out — and at the end of my vinyl journey, I've found that the characterful Rega Planar 1 Plus is the best turntable around for most people.

It's well priced, it sounds excellent, and thanks to the built-in pre-amp, you can use it with your Sonos system. I also think it's one of the best-looking Turntables you can buy today. Apart from, perhaps, my pick for the best premium turntable — the Rega Planar 3 RS and its metal-covered plinth look stunning.

I've rounded up my favorite record players available right now, from portable powerhouses for outdoor listening to customizable heroes, like the U-Turn Orbit Special. If you're looking for an all-in-one package that contains everything you need to get spinning, then make sure you check out the Pro-Ject Colorful Audio System — It's one of the best things I've tested.

Remember that Vinyl is completely analog as well — to that end, there are certain devices to keep things clean and to get the best sound, that you should also invest in.

Meet the testing team

Record players — what does it all mean?

Despite their burgeoning popularity, there's an awful lot of complex language surrounding turntables and their functions. If you don't know your cartridge from your lift arm, I'm here to help.

Platter
This is what your record sits on, and lets your record spin. The material it's made out of can affect the sound of the player — ideally, you want something heavy that's not going to resonate with vibrations. Glass is considered excellent, although most are plastic or cast metal.

Plinth
This is the surface that the platter and the rest of the player sit on. You want this to be isolated from vibration as much as possible, so you'll often find vibration-damping feet underneath.

Tonearm
This is where all the magic happens — it's the long arm that you move over the record. These can be made of metal, or even more exotic materials like Carbon Fiber. You want this to be as light as possible, but also very rigid.

Cartridge
You'll find this at the end of the tone arm. It houses the audio wizard bits that take the wiggly groove on your record and make it into a sound. These are sometimes upgradeable.

Stylus
This is the bit that sits on the record and reads the groove for the cartridge. There are different kinds of styluses, but the most common you'll find are conical and elliptical. These get worn out over time and need replacing after a certain number of uses. Sometimes called a needle.

Best turntable overall

Rega is a household name in my native U.K., making excellent turntables since the 1970s. The Planar 1 Plus is the brand's level deck, and it includes a phono pre-amp so that you can get up and running straight out of the box.

It's a manually operated turntable, so it needs a bit more work than the other models on the list, but that results in a very tactile, satisfying experience. It's not too fiddly either, thanks to some excellent design touches.

In my mind, one of the best bits about the player is the way that it looks. The Walnut finish I tested looked far more premium than its price would suggest, and fitted in well with more expensive equipment.

Sound is really where it's at, though. Rega is all about energy, and the Planar 1 Plus has boundless enthusiasm when you get spinning. It's a beautiful deck, and sounds better and more characterful than anything else in its price range.

There are decks that sound better and cost a whole lot more than those with more money and stronger audiophile tendencies will like slightly more (mostly from Rega). But the package you get here is undeniably incredible.

Design
The Rega Planar 1 Plus is a very simple turntable. From the top, the only thing you see is the tone arm mechanism and the "Rigid phelonic resin platter" onto which you place your records.

There are a couple of color options. The Walnut I tested is a veneer on top of MDF, and then there are Black and White Matte options. Whichever you choose looks great, although I'm partial to the wood-like finish of the Walnut deck.

It sits on three damped feet to mitigate vibrations, and the clear dust cover slips over the top. The hinge mechanism is part of the lid itself, so you don't notice the slots as much if you don't want to use it.

Setting up
Everything is nice and easy with the Planar 1 Plus. You lift the platter from the deck, where you'll find the belt pre-attached to the spindle. Pull the belt from the spindle to the motor, and then put the platter back on top.

The tonearm is easy to set up as well. The counterweight comes separately in the box, but you don't need to adjust it to get it working. Just slide it onto the end of the tone arm.

Plug in the power cable and the RCA connectors of your chosen speaker system, and you're away. If you're using an amp with a phono channel, make sure you don't use it. Instead, use a line input.

Ease of use
As a completely manual turntable, it's slightly more involved to use. You'll need to change the speed by lifting the platter and changing the position of the belt on the motor. It's then hidden again by the platter.

Otherwise, it's the same as another turntable. Turn it on with the switch on the lower left-hand corner, raise the queuing lever, and then move the tonearm over the record. Lower the queuing lever. When the record is finished, there is no auto stop — you'll need to raise the arm with the queuing lever and bring it back to rest.

There's a helpful clip on the tonearm rest, so there's no chance of accidentally knocking it out of place.

Sound
This is where the Rega Planar 1 Plus really sings. There's some excellent detail and resolution out of the homegrown Rega cartridge, and the built-in phono pre-amp takes a great signal and keeps it excellent before it reaches your amplifier or speakers.

It's perhaps lean, edging on the side of energetic as opposed to muscular, but it sounds excellent no matter what you play it through. I found a turntable that sounded better than its price would suggest, with plenty of control and engagement.

Dua Lipa got me dancing, and Bloodbath got me headbanging — I couldn't ask for more.

• Read the full Rega Planar 1 Plus review

Best turntable under $1000

Fluance is generally known for making fairly solid budget-oriented decks. They don’t set the world on fire, but neither do they intend to. That’s until the RT87 — this is a premium turntable in all but price, and it feels mighty impressive when you spin those black discs.

The floating plinth design not only looks cool, but serves to reduce pesky vibrations that can get in the way of listening. The acrylic platter is thick and weighty, again reducing vibrations. There’s a carbon fibre tonearm, and loads of extras to make this turntable feel like it's worth a whole lot more than its price might suggest.

The sound is, as you might expect, excellent. You’ll need a phono pre-amp, mind you — this model doesn’t have a built-in option. That does drive the price up, but it doesn’t dampen the luster of this otherwise exquisite piece of audio kit. Just remember to unscrew the transport screws (I initially did not — queue disapointment).

All things taken into consideration — and our very few critisms out of the way — the RT87 is one of the best turntables you can buy right now. The only reasons its not further up the list is because it’s just a bit too expensive if you’re starting your vinyl journey. Otherwise, this would be a shoe-in.

Design
There’s only one thing that I’d hold against the RT87 — it attracts dust and fingerprints from across the room thanks to its otherwise very lovely gloss finish. Other than that, this is a wonderfully styled piece of audio equipment.

The dual-layer floating plinth has to be seen to be believed — that is a proper gap between those two pieces of wood, and it looks epic in person. Add on that lovely wood finish that we’ve got on ours, and you’ve the recipe for a fine turntable design.

The carbon fibre tonearm and acrylic platter are both fine details that nail home the look. It feels and looks like it could be worth more than a grand, but costs $200 less. Impressive indeed.

Setting up
Thanks to its floating plinth, there’s a little extra work to do here. First, you’re going to unscrew the transport screws that secure the two parts of the plinth so that they don’t come apart during shipping. That allows the plinth to float.

Now you’re onto the normal stages of turntable setup. Run the belt around the platter and the motor pulley — there’s no slot on the platter, so it can be a pain. Once on, though, you won’t be moving it thanks to the electronic speed control.

Then you need to balance the tonearm, which is much easier than it sounds. Dial in the tracking force, and then you just need to plug the cables in the back. Then you can listen to your favorite records.

Ease of use
This is a manual deck, but it's still relatively easy to use. You’re going to be raising and lowering the tonearm yourself, and placing the needle onto the record depending on the track you want to play — or whether you want to just listen to the whole thing.

Speed control is electronic, so you select your speed by turning the power knob to your chosen RPM. Then you use the cueing lever to raise the tonearm. Move the tonearm over the record, and lower it with the cueing lever to play the record.

Once you’ve finished, make sure you lift the tonearm and move it back to the rest position. There is an auto-stop mechanism, but you should turn it off — otherwise your stylus will sit, unmoving in the runout groove. That’s not good. Better you just watch the record before it completely finishes, and move the tonearm back yourself.

Sound
The chainsaw guitars of death metal, the disco bass from one Dua Lipa — there are few things the RT87 doesn’t excel at playing. I was particularly a fan of the soundstage the turntable played — it was very open and airy.

There’s perhaps a little missing in the low end, and it can come across as treble-heavy, but it still sounds incredible.

• Read the full Fluance RT87 review

Best premium turntable

Another Rega deck, and for very good reason. The Planar 3 RS isn’t the brand's most expensive or impressive deck, but it balances price with performance better than just about any other deck you buy right now.

Just like the Planar 1 Plus above, the Planar 3 RS is a fully manual deck. The speed controller is a separate device, to avoid electronic interference with the sound. The motor is a little noisy on startup, but it very quickly settles down to a constant, accurate speed.

You will need a phono pre-amp with the Planar 3 RS, but the sound from the deck itself is top-notch. Rega’s High Pressure Laminate not only looks incredible, but adds rigidity to the plinth. The plinth itself features phenolic resin pockets in high-rigidity areas to decrease vibrations. It’s all in the pursuit of great sound.

All in all, the Planar 3 RS is one of the most special turntables you can buy today. Sure, it's not cheap, and yes, some aren’t going to appreciate the entirely manual operation, but its undeniable style and spectacular sound should land it a spot on your shortlist.

Design
Just look at it. That stunning aluminum-smothered plinth, with a lovely brushed metal finish. The glass platter that pulls double duty in reducing vibrations and looking super stylish. On the surface, it's very simple — but it hides a heart of pure audiophile bliss.

That circle punch section looks cool, but below that, there’s phenolic resin to make sure the juncture between tone arm and motor is as vibration-free as possible. The lovely aluminum coating adds rigidity, again keeping unwanted vibrations at bay.

The Planar 3 RS is a statement piece. It sticks out a lot more as a piece of enthusiast hardware, and mileage will vary. I think it's one of the most attractive decks you can buy right now, of course.

Setting up
Setting up the Planar 3 RS takes a little longer than some other decks, but it's no great ordeal. First, you’ll want to get the small belt around the spindle and the motor. From there, you can place the glass platter down over the spindle.

Now, you’ll need to set up the tone arm. Everything comes separately, so you’ll need to add the counterweight to the tone arm and balance everything properly. Balance the tone arm, and set the tracking force with the dial on the side.

Now you need to plug everything in. It’s super easy — just connect the power supply and speed controller to the wall, and then connect that to the turntable. Then, connect the pre-attached RCA cables to your phono pre-amp. It’s all a little more involved than other options, but still simple enough.

Ease of use
As with most modern turntables that aim to make the best sound possible, the Planar 3 RS is a completely manual deck. That means you have to lift the tone arm yourself, and carefully choose tracks if you want to skip around an album.

Still, it's a straightforward turntable to use. Press the power button on the speed controller to get the platter spinning, and then choose your speed with the other button. Raise the queuing lever, and move the tone arm over the record. Lower the tonearm onto the record with the queueing lever. Once the record is finished, lift the tonearm with the queuing lever.

When you’re not listening to a record, don’t worry about the tonearm falling out of place or being knocked — there’s a helpful clip to keep it in place.

Sound
I’m yet to have a better time with a turntable when it comes to sound. It’s got all the sonic hallmarks of Rega — loads of energy, buckets of detail — but where the Planar 1 Plus was around an “8” on the sound scale, the Planar 3 RS knocks everything up a notch to 11.

Some might not appreciate the obsessive attention to detail and the eager sound, but to me, it sounds amazing no matter the genre you play on it, be that an R&B classic or a death metal great.

• Read the full Rega Planar 3 RS review

Best value turntable

The Crosley C65 is great for a couple of reasons. First, it's a full system in a box, with solid-sounding speakers to go with your new disc spinner. Second off, it costs around $300, which makes it the cheapest turntable on the list. Which really brings the first point into perspective.

If you’re looking for the best sound quality possible, this isn’t the turntable for you. But for beginners who’ve just inherited Grandad's music collection or those looking to dip their toes into the world of vinyl, it’s a great option. At the very least, it's a step up over the classic Crosley briefcase turntables.

The sound is plenty good enough for most listeners, bringing that lovely vinyl warmth to proceedings. We loved the way that the turntable sounded when we tested it, especially considering how little everything cost.

There were a couple of issues. The biggest was the vibration-damping feet — or the fact that they didn’t. Bumping the table next to the turntable disturbed the playback, which is irritating. Otherwise, this is an excellent turntable package at a very affordable price.

Design

If there’s one thing that Crosley has really got nailed down, it’s the way that the C65 looks. It’s got a wonderful retro aesthetic, throwing back to a time when everyone had some form of turntable in the house. But there are still some lovely modern touches to make it feel contemporary, like the knurled dials.

The speakers are similarly retro without being too in your face. The whole package together feels like a stylish version of something you might have bought 50 or 60 years ago, and that’s pretty cool.

Setting up

Setup is nice and easy, although there are a couple of extra steps, thanks to the speakers. Everything on the turntable side is pre-attached, though, which is nice.

The speakers just need to be hooked up to the turntable thanks to the binding posts on the back. And then you’re done!

Ease of use

It doesn’t really get easier to use a manual turntable than this. The speed control is electronic, changed with a dial on the front of the deck.

You do have to move the arm over the record and drop it on the disc, and then remove it when you’re finished listening. It’s all fairly easy if you’ve used a turntable before.

Sound

We weren’t expecting much from the Crosley, but the little deck that could surprised us with its sonic capability. Those looking for an impressive audio experience are going to look elsewhere, but if you want something to spin those special edition Taylor Swift records, then you’re going to be very happy.

Music sounds as it should, with very little to complain about, considering the price.

• Read the full Crosley C65 review

Best customizable turntable

One of the most fun things about turntables is the customization that so many options offer. None, however, are quite as customizable as the U-Turn Orbit special. I can't think of a turntable with so many options available straight from the factory.

There are an incredible number of options available for the turntable, from the normal Orbit basic all the way up to the most expensive Orbit Theory model. You can choose the material of the platter, the plinth, and even the kind of feet the turntable has.

My Orbit Special lives in the middle of the line, and it's the blue model (one of seven different color options), and it has some great specs for the price. It sounds excellent too, and it barely needed any setting up when it arrived into my eager fingers.

My choice gives me solid electronic speed control, a high-mass acrylic platter, and the Ortofon 2M red cartridge. It all adds up to a very solid platform that you can upgrade with different components down the line, should you want to.

Design
I really like the way that the Orbit family of turntables look, with a comparable style that's consistent through the range. That not only ties the line together, but also makes it trickier for the unaware to detect if you've spent less on your turntable, which is cool.

They're all put together very well, with a good quality of craftsmanship from the U.S. factory in Woburn. My favorite finishes are the Blue or the Walnut, with the acrylic platter. Bear in mind that different finishes and platter materials will cost more.

Setting up
Depending on how you've specced out your turntable, you'll find a different setup process. Up to the Special, you need only set the platter on the spindle, and then wrap the belt around the motor.

If you've bought the Theory, you'll have to set up the counterweight, which adds a little complexity to the deck. Alongside that, you'll also have to dial in the feet to make sure the deck is flat. There's a spirit level in the box to help you do this.

Ease of use
This will depend on whether you chose an option with an electronic speed controller or not. If you've gone for a fully manual deck, you'll need to swap the belt between the 33 and 45 rings on the motor side.

Electronic speed control is managed with a switch on the front left corner of the deck. From there, you just need to move the tonearm over the record and lower the tracking lever down to bring the stylus onto the groove.

There's no auto start stop, so you'll need to use the quieing lever to lift the arm back out of place when you're finished listening.

Sound
Thanks to well-damped components and the excellent Ortofon 2M red cartridge, our Special sounded excellent. It was warm and welcoming, and no matter the genre you spin up, you'll find an engaging, fun listening experience.

You can opt for more impressive cartridges the further up the range you go, into the 2M Blue and Bronze cartridges. These are both stellar options, although the bronze will only really make a difference if you've invested in your audio setup.

• Read the full U-Turn Orbit Special review

Best portable turntable

Audio Technica has a long history of making turntables, and the Sound Burger is a larger part of that legacy than you might expect. It was first released in 1983, and then in 2022, the firm released this — an identical model that housed some modern convenience.

Look, I love this thing. There's something crocodilian about its shape, as it snaps open and closed to swallow your records. In the review I said "It’s not trying to look retro, because it is retro." It's the 80s reborn in the best way.

It's also a very solid turntable beneath its colorful plastic shell, thanks to the AT cartridge at its core. It's a slightly edgier sound, with less low-end on offer, but there's plenty to enjoy with the Sound Burger.

It's the portability that lands it here though. There's a 12-hour battery on board, as well as the 3.5mm output. Bluetooth rounds out the feature set and makes it perfect for trips to record fairs.

Design
I mean, just look at it. When I had the turntable sitting on the dining room table, my mom asked me if it was something old — and then remarked that it looked "like a round crocodile." I love the way it looks, especially in yellow.

To some, it might seem a bit plasticky, but it's still built very well. It certainly doesn't feel like it's going to fall apart in use, or when you put it in your backpack. There are a couple of foibles — the transport screw, the losable record clamp — but it's almost certainly earned its 'design icon' status.

Setting up
This is about as easy as they come — from the moment you get it out of the box, there's no adjustment to do at all. There are speed adjustment screws in the bottom if things are running a bit fast or slow, but everything else is set up from the factory.

That does mean there's no customization. You can't change out the cartridge for example, and there's no way to change the slightly weighty tracking force.

Ease of use
It's a very simple turntable to use, but it's fiddly in places. First of all, you need to remove the travel screw at the back of the player. Then, you need to open the player, move the tonearm to its rest position, and place the record on the platter. Clamp it down with the clamp-cum-adapter.

It starts spinning when you move the tonearm over the record — and then you need to carefully place the stylus onto the record. Don't drop it — it'll skip, and potentially damage the record or the stylus. That's the fiddly bit. Once the record is finished, you have to do everything in reverse.

And make sure you remember the travel screw, otherwise the tonearm might slip while in transit, risking potential breakage.

Sound
The Sound Burger sounds good. Will it stand up to the other options on the list? No, but then it's also far cheaper than both of them. There's a focus on the high-range frequencies in the Sound Burger, making for a more detailed listen.

Playing over Bluetooth doesn't diminish the sound very much either, which is a big bonus. I had a lot of fun listening to my test vinyls on the Sound Burger, and I reckon you will too.

• Read the full Audio Technica Sound Burger review

Best forever turntable

So first off, what do I mean by forever turntable? I’m thinking of the kind of turntable that gives you everything you need, so that you want to upgrade. The turntable that might not be the cheapest, but will last you for years and years. The Goldring GR3 and its lovely glossy plinth are just that turntable. It’s a little costly, but you’ll love it so much that you’re unlikely to want to change it out.

The built-in pre-amp makes sure that it sounds really good, but also means you can plug it into any kind of speaker without worry (or spending on an extra device). The hidden belt drive works smoothly and accurately, but doesn’t take too much effort to adjust.

Then there are the looks. It’s a simple thing, but the materials make it feel as expensive as the price would suggest. It’ll fit right in, no matter where in the house it ends up, or the audio hardware you pair with it.

It’s a great deck if you’re just looking for something to buy and never upgrade. You’ll be happy from day one with the way that it spins your records — and I’m not sure that praise gets much better than that.

Design
The GR3 is simple and understated, but it still manages to make an impact on the visual senses. I really like the shiny black plinth, even if it does attract fingerprints from every corner of the known universe, and beyond. Just make sure you’ve got a cloth handy.

The only thing that might hold it back is the phenolic resin platter, because it looks slightly plasticky. Still, the whole deck is marvelously well put together, and the gold accent logo is a lovely touch.

Setting up
Out of the box, you’ve got your fairly standard setup. The counterweight needs to be twisted onto the tone arm, and then adjusted once you’ve got the belt in place under the platter. That’s easy enough as well, thanks to the proximity of the spindle wheel and the motor.

Once you’ve hooked everything up, you just plug the RCA cable in and away you go — super simple.

Ease of use
The GR3 is about as easy to use as any of the other turntables on the list — turn it on, drop the needle with the queuing lever, and away you go. The only strange thing here is that the speed adjustment is under the platter — it’s no great usability problem, as long as you remember you need to lift the platter before changing it around.

Sound
It sounds great. It’s a shame that you can’t change out the pre-amp for your own device later on down the line, but it sounds so good, you won’t have to worry. There’s plenty of detail retrieved from your discs, giving you a wonderfully musical experience. There’s perhaps a little lacking in the low end, with slightly less drive than some of the competition, but it still sounds epic.

• Read the full Goldring GR3 review

Also Tested

The all in one solution

One of the most intimidating parts of choosing a new record player is often the thought of having to align all of the correct parts of a stereo system so that you can get the very best out of your vinyl.

The Colorful Audio System E makes this selection a whole load easier, As you can get everything you need in one box. That's an amplifier, a pair of passive bookshelf speakers, the turntable, and some top-quality cables to connect everything together.

Does it save you money over buying everything separately? No, but it does mean that everything matches well, with complementary design touches and color schemes.

The turntable at the core of the system, the Debut E, is a gorgeous piece of kit, and it sounds excellent when paired with the Speaker Box 5 E Carbon. I loved playing my vinyl through them during my testing.

The amplifier is very flexible as well. There are extra inputs, should you want to add in other devices at a later date, and the remote control in the box is very intuitive. I particularly liked the Bluetooth connection, so you could play streamed music from your phone over your fancy speakers.

• Read more about the Pro-Ject Colorful Audio System E

Don't forget to buy

Vinyl is a tricky beast — there's plenty of extra stuff you should consider picking up so that you get the best out of your records, and that they last for a lifetime. These accessories will maximise your vinyls potential.

Where (and how) to find great vinyl

Finding vinyl is a fine art — you have to have some idea of what you’re looking for, and whether it's even still available to buy brand new. I find the best way to check all the details of an album or a single is to check it out on Discogs. This will tell you all the printings of an album so that you can go and find it and add it to your collection. You can even buy on site and create a collection digitally, so you can track and make wishlists.

As for buying albums, your first port of call should be Amazon. It’s not perfect, but it's a good starting place to find albums that are released right now. You won’t find some older albums, however, and you might not get the best pressings.

Sometimes, it's best to go to the source — see if the band you like has albums available on their merch store. They tend to have good-quality pressings.

Then there are the old classics. Head to a record store and meet people, fellow vinyl fans. They might be able to share the best places to get the records you’re looking for — and they’re always up for a nice chat. Alternatively, head to a vinyl show or event, where you’ll often find second-hand records. Make sure you evaluate them before buying, of course, checking for warping and the amount of dust it might have accumulated.

Buying and collecting vinyl is a wonderful hobby, even if it is expensive. Hopefully, this has given you a good idea of how to get started!

More vinyl jargon busted

Some of the language in the guide still causing you some confusion? No problem, here's more of everything you need to know about vinyl records. You'll be an expert in no time!

Phono stage/pre-amp
The signal directly from the stylus and the tonearm is actually very weak, and you need to make that signal louder. That's where a pre-amp, or phono stage, comes in. It takes the signal and boosts it for your speakers or main amplifier to play. Some players have this built in, while others need a separate unit.

Tracking weight
This is the force with which the stylus presses into the groove of the record. This changes depending on the cartridge, although it's usually between 1.5-3g. Some very heavy tracking forces are said to damage records, although this is mostly anecdotal.

Anti-Skate
Because vinyl spins, the stylus can often find itself moving to the outside of the record. This is called skating. To counteract this, turntables often have anti-skate devices that pull the stylus into the groove, to stop things from skipping around. This has to be adjusted. It's usually a dial, or a counterweight that sits at the end of the tonearm.

Vibration-dampening
Vibrations can cause a lot of problems during vinyl playback, and you want to make sure that they don't make their way to the stylus. To this end, many turntables are filled with vibration-damping devices to make sure that the sound is as good as it can be.

33/45 RPM
These are the speeds at which your records play. Make sure you choose the right one for your record, otherwise, you'll be in for a comedic audio performance. Some players change between these speeds manually, where you adjust the drive belt, while some are electronic. These you change with a button, or a switch.

Belt drive/Direct drive
This is the method that drives the platter, and thus, spins the record. Belt drive is the most common, and it uses a belt from a smaller motor to move the larger platter like a bike chain moves a wheel. A direct drive motor sits directly under the platter to drive the movement. This is often more reliable, but also a lot more expensive and difficult to fix if things go wrong.

FAQ

Still got some questions? No worries, I'm here to help!

How we test

I'm extremely thorough in our testing of turntables, making sure that I look at every single facet of the performance of the device.

Setting up
I want to evaluate how easy it is to get the turntable situated and playing. That means testing how easy it is get the tracking weight, anti-skate, and other features dialled in, and how much stuff you have to screw in. Does it come ready to go from the box, or did I have to build the turntable when it arrived?

Features
What extras does the turntable offer, and do they work well? Is there a special tonearm, is there interesting anti-skate, or is there a built-in phono pre-amp? I evaluate what they actually add to the deck, and their function.

Build
These tend to be expensive devices, so we want to make sure that they're constructed and that they're going to last. I look at the tonearm mechanisms, the materials that the plinths and platters are made of, and even how the dust cover hinges function. If it's not built well, I don't want to see it.

Sound
I listen to it! The turntable joins the Tom's Guide testing audio system for a whole two weeks, so that I can really evaluate its quality. It's then compared to the turntables on this list, so that we can work out where it should sit on the list, or whether it even makes it at all. The Tom's Guide testing system is:

• iFi Zen Phono 3 pre-amp
• Cambridge Audio EXA-100 Amplifier
• KEF LS50 Meta speakers

It's the best fitness tracker you can buy right now, because it focuses on the essentials, strips away the smartwatch features and doesn't require a subscription. And without a display, it's never a distraction, as it just passively gathers data about your activity and wellbeing throughout the day.

If you're looking to keep costs down further, then I'm a big fan of the Xiaomi Smart Band 10, which is half the the price of the Air, but with a display and many of the features you'd find on the (more expensive) Fitbit Charge 6. Like the Air, you don't need a subscription either, and the battery lasts for a few weeks between charges.

The best fitness trackers you can buy today

Best fitness tracker overall

It took three years for Google to follow up the Fitbit Charge 6, but that time away seemed to remind the company of the brand's strengths, and it ended up releasing the best fitness tracker to come from Fitbit in a very long time. And it's an unusual little device, with no screen, no phone notifications and no subscription.

The pebble-sized tracker sits inside a wrist strap (there are lot of options for you to customize the look too), pairs to your iPhone or Android phone and the data syncs to the new Google Health app, which has replaced the Fitbit app. The Air is a return to the core of what make Fitbit a success in the first place; activity tracking.

While it looks a lot like my old Fitbit One from 2013, the Air benefits from years of progress and includes more sensors, so that you can track your steps, activity, heart rate and blood oxygen levels. The only feature you'd miss from higher end trackers is the built-in GPS for recording running or outdoor workouts without your phone.

Although it's a great tracker in its own right, the Air may have been at least a little inspired by the recent success of the Whoop 5.0, a screen-less tracker worn inside a wristband. The Air is cheaper and doesn't require a subscription (as you do with Whoop), yet held up well against the Whoop 5.0 in our testing.

We also directly compared the Air against the recently-released Garmin Forerunner 70 for sleep. The numbers didn't quite match, but were pretty close, showing the Air can hold its own against more expensive devices. The only downside we found with the Air is that it takes 15 minutes to begin auto-tracking activities.

• Read our full Fitbit Air review

Best budget fitness tracker

The Xiaomi Smart Band 10 is a great option if you're looking for a capable fitness tracker on a budget. It's not as discreet as the Fitbit Air, but the design isn't awkward either, with a comfortable strap and fairly small color screen for interacting with the menus and starting/stopping activities.

If I was to compare it against a tracker from Fitbit's range, it looks most like the Inspire 3, but it's half the price of that tracker (and the Air) for close to the same experience (admittedly with less Google too, which could be a bonus depending on your thoughts about that Big Tech company).

The Smart Band 10 can track 159 activities, including rogue ones like card and board games. We wore it alongside the Oura Ring and found both reported similar step counts. Plus, the on-screen running metrics like heart rate, pace and distance were clear, even though the display is relatively small.

One of its more...interesting features is how it analyzes sleep. You get all the usual graphs, but after an initial week of sleep, you get an animal to reflect your sleep quality. In our reviewer's case, that animal was a shark. It's a novelty, sure, but why can't some features just be for fun, anyway?

The only thing missing from this affordable fitness tracker is actionable insights. What's on offer here is an extremely competent wearable, but most premium trackers now offer (often AI-based) insights into your data, which you can use to adjust your behaviors to effect how you feel throughout the day.

Compared to something like the Oura Ring 4, which really popularized in-app insights and recommendations, the Smart Band 10 feels of an older generation. But, if what you want from a fitness tracker is to learn more about how you sleep and move throughout the day, there's little better at this price.

• Read our full Xiaomi Smart Band 10 review

Best fitness tracking smart ring

The Oura Ring 5 was released earlier in 2026, but I still believe the Oura Ring 4 is the best smart ring. It also makes for a fantastic and discreet fitness tracker. The Fitbit Air also doesn't look like a bit of tech on your wrist, but the Oura Ring actually looks fashionable, like wearing a bit of jewellery to track your metrics.

I wore the older Oura Ring Gen 3 for a while and found that I mostly forgot I even had it on. The Ring 4 is slimmer than that model and we found it was even more comfortable too, as the sensors on the internal surface are now flush with the ring, so you barely notice you're wearing a smart ring.

We reviewed the Oura Ring 5, and while it is thinner and longer-lasting than its predecessor, it's the Oura app which is actually the most valuable part of the ring, making it hard to recommend spending more on the Ring 5. We've got more used to personalized advice, but Oura was among the first to nail the format.

The data from the ring syncs to your iPhone or Android phone. The app takes all that information and turns it into easy to understand graphs and summaries. So you can just open the app and see a snapshot of your health and activity at a glance. And in 2025, the company launched the AI-powered Oura Advisor.

This in-app feature is designed to make it easier to get actionable insights from your data, so instead of just telling you how you have been, the app can let you know how to improve your sleep, recover from workouts and even suggest when you should take a break if the ring has spotted signs that you might be getting ill.

This kind of insight extends to fertility and cycle tracking. Your Oura Ring can sync temperature data to Natural Cycles for dedicated fertility tracking. And the app was even able to tell that our fitness editor was pregnant, even before she did. It's impressive, but just be sure you're okay with the privacy implications of that.

• Read our full Oura Ring 4 review

Also tested

How we test the best fitness trackers

For each new fitness tracker, we evaluate its hardware design and comfort; you need to be able to wear the device all day, and we’ve found that some larger trackers don’t fit well on smaller wrists.

If the device has a touchscreen, we look to see how readable it is, especially in bright sunlight. We also examine how easy it is to navigate the fitness trackers' menus; you don't want to have to dig through multiple screens to change your music if you're out running.

We also evaluate features such as step counting and sleep monitoring, distance calculations, and when applicable, GPS and heart rate accuracy. And, we see how well a manufacturer's battery life claims hold up in real-world testing.

Finally, we test how well a device pairs with its companion app, and evaluate the experience of using the two together. We also look to see what features the device's app supports, such as coaching and diet tracking, and if it can sync data with third-party apps, such as MyFitnessPal.

How to choose the best fitness tracker

I know you've landed on a page dedicated to the best fitness trackers, but before you dig too deep in your research, it's worth taking a step back and considering why you want a fitness tracker and what you need it to do.

The line between a fitness tracker and a smartwatch has got a bit blurry, but for me, a fitness tracker is a small device that focuses on monitoring your steps, activity, heart rate and sleep. If it's main purpose is to record those, it's a fitness tracker.

I first bought a Fitbit in 2013 because I was going through some medical issues and wanted to have something that could track how much I was moving but also keep me motivated to work toward my step goal, as walking helps manage the symptoms.

So for me, steps and heart rate are the main priorities, and anything else is a bonus. Deciding which elements or metrics are most important to you will help you filter down the list of devices and stop you overpaying for things you don't need.

If monitoring your health or menstrual cycle is the top priority, then a device like the Oura Ring 4 might suit you best, as the device and Oura app are more focused on building a picture of your overall health and wellbeing, more than movement.

You also want to think about whether you need it to work on different platforms. While the Fitbit range are designed for iPhone and Android phones, Google's other fitness tracker-adjacent wearables like the Pixel Watch 4 only work on Android.

And the same is true of the Apple Watch, which only works on iPhone. But the trackers I've included in the main roundup all work on both platforms, so you won't have to change your tracker if you upgraded your phone, for example.

We've defined a fitness tracker as focusing on the core functions of activity, steps, sleep and heart rate. The benefit of this is that keeping things focused generally means you get better battery life too; trackers last a week or more, watches generally a few days.

FAQs

One of the remaining holdouts is Amazfit, who launched the excellent Active 3 Premium that works on iPhone and Android. It's half the price of Apple or Google's watches, but you wouldn't know it from it's impressive fitness tracking features.

It's incredible value, but if you're looking for the closest integration you can get with your phone or smart features like emergency or health alerts, then I'd recommend the Apple Watch Series 10 (iPhone) or Google Pixel Watch 4 (Android) right now.

The best smartwatches you can buy right now

Best smartwatch overall

The Amazfit Active 3 Premium is the smartwatch I recommend for most people, and not just because it works with whichever phone you have. It's a fantastic fitness-tracking watch that easily holds it's own against the Apple Watch Series 10 and Google Pixel Watch 4, without locking you to a specific platform or phone.

It is also incredible value — coming in at around half the price of the two flagship watches — and all the features are free with no subscription (unless you need Zepp Aura, the sleep-focused AI wellness app that generates audio to relax you). It has offline maps, tracks more than 170 activities and comes with built-in GPS.

It has a smaller footprint (wristprint?) than many other smartwatches, with a 1.3-inch display, compared to the 1.6-inch Apple Watch Series 10. It's not a huge amount on paper, but it makes a big difference, as it felt smaller and less noticeable on our wrist. It's a shame it doesn't come in a few more vibrant colors, though.

While you don't get the smarts of Apple and Google's watches (emergency alerts, on-watch calls, third-party apps), fitness and activity tracking is where the Active 3 Premium really shines, with metrics to rival the best Garmin watches, like heart rate, blood oxygen, stress levels, cycle tracking, sleep quality and skin temperature.

The data all syncs to your phone and you can view it and get insights in the Zepp app, available for Android and iPhone. If you ever used a Fitbit before the Google takeover, the Zepp app is the closest thing to that now-gone experience; easy to understand, straightforward to use, and guides you through all the different metrics.

This is particularly helpful if you're just getting into running, as the running features on the Active 3 Premium are almost as detailed as those you'd find on Garmin watches, yet everything is explained clearly, even for more complex topics like your lactate threshold and ground contact time, which assess how your foot strikes the floor.

Amazfit says that the Active 3 Premium should last 12 days between charges. Like most other smartwatches, that doesn't work out in the real world; we found that it'd generally last just over a week or eight days. That's down a bit on the spec, but still miles ahead of the 18-hour battery life on the Apple Watch Series 10.

• Read our full Amazfit Active 3 Premium review

Best smartwatch for iPhone

You might be wondering why I'd recommend the Apple Watch Series 10 when the company released the Series 11 last year, but it comes down to performance and price. The older Series 10 has almost the exact same hardware as the newer model, including the same processor (S10), and runs the same software, watchOS 26.

The Series 10 was finally the moment where the most fully realized version of the Apple Watch came into the world, with the perfect blend of smartwatch features, like notifications, calls and apps on your wrist, with some of the most impressive and comprehensive health and fitness tracking you can get on an iPhone.

It launched in the fall of 2024 with watchOS 11, but was included in Apple's watchOS 26 upgrade in 2025 (it didn't jump 15 editions — it's a new year-based naming convention). This added all the features that launched with the Series 11, including the headline additions like hypertension alerts and Liquid Glass interface.

While it easily goes toe-to-toe with the Amazfit Active 3 Premium on fitness features, the Apple Watch stands out for its health focus. There's an ECG app for monitoring your heart health, cycle tracking, sleep apnea warnings, fall detection and a blood oxygen monitoring app.

The Apple Watch Series 10 also comes with all the things I like about the Series range, like the ability to download Watch-specific versions of your favorite apps, take calls from your wrist (or away from your phone if you choose the cellular version), and mirror notifications. Plus, it has a built-in speaker for playing music and podcasts.

As with all the best Apple watches, the most disappointing part is always the battery. The Series 10 is rated for 18 hours of use, so you should get through a waking day; the Series 11 can reach 24 hours, but that means charging it every day too, which is why I still recommend the (near identical, but cheaper) Series 10.

• Read our full Apple Watch Series 10 review

Best smartwatch for Android

Google's attempts at hardware have been mixed, but fortunately the company really excelled with the Pixel Watch 4, and we found that is easily the best Android smartwatch you can buy right now. It is, finally, Google's answer to the Apple Watch but for Android phones, with only a few small features locked to Pixel phones.

The headline feature at launch was access to Google's AI platform, Gemini, but I wouldn't buy the watch for that (it's not very useful). Instead, it's main strengths are that you can pair and use the watch with any Android phone, and the Fitbit-powered fitness tracking features are some of the most accessible around.

The watch has dual-band GPS for improved outdoor location tracking (this is useful in densely-packed cities or remote green spaces), and when we tested the Pixel Watch 4 against a manual step tracker and the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 (its closest competitor), the Pixel Watch 4 was just 29 steps out from the manually tracked total.

Unusually, the Pixel Watch 4 actually exceeded our battery life expectations during testing. Google reckons you get 40 hours from the larger 45mm edition, but we found it came closer to 60 hours. It's a rare, and welcome, surprise, and means it lasts almost three times as long as the Apple Watch Series 10.

The thing I really like about the Pixel Watch 4 is that Google could have tied many of the features just to Pixel phones (in the way that Apple and Samsung often do), but the only Pixel-exclusive features are: call screening, secure phone unlock and the ability to use your watch as a remote viewfinder for your phone's camera app.

And while it doesn't come naturally to me to praise Google (have you seen the Google Graveyard of all the products and services it discontinued?), I do think it's genuinely a huge step forward that the Pixel Watch 4 has a replaceable battery and display, so you can send the watch in for repair to extend its life, a first for Pixel Watch.

• Read our full Google Pixel Watch 4 review

Also consider

If you're after the best smartwatch for your phone, the three models I recommend above are going to cover most use cases, whichever phone you have. But there are a lot more smartwatches around right now.

Not every model can be the best, but some come pretty close. If you need a few more options, these are the smartwatches I still think are worth your money, and may fill a need we didn't cover in the wearables from Amazfit, Apple or Google.

How we test the best smartwatches

We reviewed the first Apple Watch more than a decade ago, and we've been testing the best smartwatches ever since. The devices have got more complex, last longer and have way more features now, but the core of our testing has remained the same: we wear the watches, just as you would, to see how they hold up in the real world.

We look at how easy it is to set up, whether it has compatibility issues with specific phones and spend hours poking around in the software, looking for settings, apps and other features that make the device worth your money. Over the years, these watches have transitioned from phone companions to health and wellbeing trackers.

So we also focus on how these tools work, whether the tracking is accurate, how it compares to the competition and whether there's value in measuring what the company says you should. We wear the best smartwatches out on runs, during workouts, while sleeping and going about our day to see how they cope.

Over the past few years, brands have added more safety features to their watches, like irregular heart beat notifications, sleep apnea alerts, crash and fall detection and hypertension alerts. These are things we can't practically test, so we can't verify that these work as intended or described.

In the U.S., health features are regulated by the FDA, so there is some degree of verification, but because we can't check that ourselves, I wouldn't recommend that you buy any of these watches specifically for these safety features. At the very least, they should be secondary to some other safety check.

It's not something you can predict, but sometimes a health issue does come along when you're testing a smartwatch. This happened to one of our writers — her Garmin watch alerted her to a potential heart problem she didn't know about, and that prompted her to go to the hospital to get checked out.

How to choose the best smartwatches

Before you go too far into your journey for a new smartwatch, first you need to work out which ones will work with your phone. The Apple Watch only works with iPhones, and some Android-focused watches have features that are exclusive to specific phones (I'm thinking of offerings from Google and Samsung here).

There are plenty of options that'll work with both platforms, but they generally aren't the flagship models that get a lot of attention every summer and fall. Just like the watch I rate as the best smartwatch right now, the Amazfit Active 3 Premium. It's more of a fitness smartwatch, but can do a lot of what the others can do for a lot less.

And that's one of the other big choices you have to make; do you want a fitness watch that has smartwatch features, or a smartwatch as a companion to your phone that can track your fitness? These sound similar — and they are — but the difference is how much of the focus is put on either the smartwatch or fitness features.

Fitness smartwatches evolved from the best fitness trackers, with larger displays and more sensors. The best smartwatches started life as Bluetooth-connected extensions of your phone and over time became devices that keep you connected to your digital life, even when you're away from your phone working out.

The Apple Watch Series 10 and Google Pixel Watch 4 are the best compromise between the two, but there are plenty of other options in our Also Consider section that also straddle that line or lean one way or the other. Though, if you need a cellular connection in your watch, those are pretty much limited to the flagship models.

Our mini PC expert, Anthony Spadafora, has been using many of the best mini PCs as an alternative to a laptop or a big, bulky desktop for the past seven years, and he's never looked back. Right now, the Mac mini M4 continues to be our top recommendation as the best mini PC, but if you're a fan of Windows, you'll be happy to know there are plenty of fantastic options to choose from today, like the recent Lenovo Yoga Mini.

Whether you want a mini PC you can slip in your pocket or bag to travel with, something closer to a game console or as much power as possible in a tiny package, there’s something here for every budget and use case. With years of testing these compact desktops under our belt, here are the best mini PCs you can buy today.

The best mini PCs to buy now

The best mini PC overall

Besides being the smallest Mac, the Mac mini has always offered excellent value and is the perfect entryway into Apple’s ecosystem. Now with the Mac mini M4, though, Cupertino has outdone itself as this latest entry in the Mac mini lineup is faster and far more capable than its predecessor.

Our mini PC expert, Anthony, spent several weeks testing the Mac mini M2 before the Mac mini M4 was released, and the performance and usability difference between the two is night and day. While the workload struggled to keep up with the former’s memory constraints, that’s no longer a problem thanks to the fact that the base model Mac mini M4 now comes with 16GB of RAM as the standard. The jump from Apple’s M2 to M4 chip also makes a noticeable difference, whether you’re browsing the web with loads of tabs open simultaneously or doing some light photo or video editing.

Mac mini M4 Performance Results

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Geekbench single-core

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Mac mini (M4)

3838

01,0002,0003,0004,000

Geekbench single-core Data

Product	Value
Mac mini (M4)	3838

Mac mini (M4)

14838

03,7507,50011,25015,000

Geekbench multi-core Data

Product	Value
Mac mini (M4)	14838

Mac mini (M4)

3017

01,0002,0003,0004,000

MBps

25GB File Copy (MBps) Data

Product	Value
Mac mini (M4)	3017

Mac mini (M4)

04:42

01.534.56

minutes

Handbrake (mm:ss) Data

Product	Value
Mac mini (M4)	4.7

Mac mini (M4)

52.4

015304560

FPS

Sid Meier's Civilization VI (1080p) Data

Product	Value
Mac mini (M4)	52.4

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In terms of usability, Apple has made the Mac mini M4 more accessible by putting two USB-C ports up front along with a headphone jack. These new front ports are great for charging your accessories and being able to quickly plug in a pair of wired headphones is a nice touch too. Around back, you get three Thunderbolt 4 ports, an HDMI port and a Gigabit Ethernet port.

At 5 x 5 x 2 inches, the Mac mini M4 now feels more in line with Windows-based mini PCs in terms of size, and it’s very easy to find a spot on your desk for this computer. However, Apple did do something a bit strange with its design by putting its power button on the bottom left side of the device. Fortunately, there are plenty of accessories like the Satechi Mac Mini M4 Hub & Stand, which not only give you extra ports and the option to add more storage but also come with a workaround for this hard-to-press power button.

If you want even more power, you can always upgrade to the Mac mini M4 Pro (now with a higher price point, thanks to Apple's price hikes), which has a faster CPU with more GPU cores, comes with 24GB of RAM, uses Thunderbolt 5 and has a larger 512GB SSD. Still, for most people, the standard base version of the Mac mini M4 will be more than enough, especially if you’re upgrading from an older version.

Note: In May 2026, Apple discontinued the base Mac mini M4 with 256GB of storage, raising the starting price to $799 / £799 with a 512GB SSD. However, Apple's price hikes are now official as of June 2026, meaning the M4 Pro model now starts at $1,599 / £1,599 rather than $1,399 / £1,399. It's a hard blow, but at least the now-new base model hasn't shot up in price again. It still remains our top recommendation as the best mini PC overall, but if you can find it at a discount at third-party retailers, that's better value!

• Read our full Mac mini M4 review

The best mini PC on a budget

The Geekom A5 2025 Edition is our top pick for the best budget mini PC, thanks to its surprisingly affordable price and just how much performance you get for $300. While our previous pick is impressive, the Kamrui E3B, this mini PC is $100 cheaper and just as capable for browsing the web, office work and even some light gaming. Just like with the E3B, Anothny used this refreshed version of the Geekom A5 as his daily driver for a month with a dual-monitor setup, and despite his more demanding workload, it held its own even with a less powerful AMD Ryzen 5 chip, Radeon Vega 7 integrated graphics and 16GB of DDR4 memory.

In addition to its excellent price-to-performance, Geekom decided to do something different with the A5 by giving it a rose gold colorway instead of the typical silver and black you see on most other mini PCs. It also has a pattern of lined cutouts on either side for extra ventilation, along with a reflective chrome edge up top, which gives it a more premium look overall. While Geekom does include a VESA mounting bracket so that you can tuck the A5 behind a monitor, its sleek and colorful design makes it much better suited for a well-earned place on your desk.

Geekom A5 2025 Edition Performance Results

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Geekbench single-core

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Geekom A5 2025 Edition (AMD Ryzen 5 7430U)

1932

05001,0001,5002,000

Geekbench single-core Data

Product	Value
Geekom A5 2025 Edition (AMD Ryzen 5 7430U)	1932

Geekom A5 2025 Edition (AMD Ryzen 5 7430U)

6492

02,0004,0006,0008,000

Geekbench multi-core Data

Product	Value
Geekom A5 2025 Edition (AMD Ryzen 5 7430U)	6492

Geekom A5 2025 Edition (AMD Ryzen 5 7430U)

1092

03757501,1251,500

MBps

25GB File Copy (MBps) Data

Product	Value
Geekom A5 2025 Edition (AMD Ryzen 5 7430U)	1092

Geekom A5 2025 Edition (AMD Ryzen 5 7430U)

09:31

02.557.510

minutes

Handbrake (mm:ss) Data

Product	Value
Geekom A5 2025 Edition (AMD Ryzen 5 7430U)	9.516666666666667

Geekom A5 2025 Edition (AMD Ryzen 5 7430U)

26.2

07.51522.530

FPS

Sid Meier's Civilization VI (1080p) Data

Product	Value
Geekom A5 2025 Edition (AMD Ryzen 5 7430U)	26.2

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At 4.61 x 4.41 x 1.94 inches, the Geekom A5 is slightly larger than the A6 but still smaller than Apple’s Mac mini M4. Despite its small footprint, this mini PC comes packed with ports at the front and back, but there’s also an SD card reader on the right side and a Kensington lock on the left side. Up front, you get two USB-A ports and a headphone jack, but it’s around back where things really get impressive, especially for a budget mini PC. The A5 has two more USB-A ports there, along with dual HDMI 2.0 ports, two USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 ones and something you rarely see at this price, a 2.5 gigabit Ethernet port.

Add it all up, and this little mini PC can power a quad-monitor setup. While it comes with a 512GB SSD and 16GB of memory, it’s really easy to open up the case and upgrade its existing components, but you can also add another M.2 SSD as well as a 2.5-inch HDD or SSD.

If you’re looking to downsize from a bulky desktop or ditch an older laptop, the Geekom A5 is an excellent choice, especially at this price granted your workflow isn’t too demanding. However, if it is, we'd suggest saving up a bit more for the A6, which is significantly faster but also a bit smaller, too. For those who want to dive into the world of mini PCs without overpaying or just want a capable device with a pop of color, the A5 is easy to recommend.

• Read our full Geekom A5 2025 Edition review

The best mini PC for power users

The Geekom A9 Max 2025 Edition was already a powerhouse, but the latest model steps it all up a notch — all while staying impressively cool and quiet under pressure.

The Geekom A9 Max 2026 Edition may look compact, but don’t let its minimal footprint fool you; this is a genuine powerhouse built for demanding multitaskers, with an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 at its core and more front-facing ports than any other mini PC we’ve tested. Four USB-A ports line the front for easy access, with a further two USB-A, two HDMI 2.1, and dual USB4 ports on the rear, making it one of the most connectivity-rich options available.

Under the hood, Geekom loads the A9 Max with 32GB of DDR5 RAM and its upgraded IceBlast 3.0 cooling — a combo that kept performance reliably high in our extended testing. Using it as his daily workstation, Anthony found it impressively responsive even under heavy multitasking, with the Radeon 890M integrated graphics delivering a very playable experience in titles like Death Stranding 2 at 1080p. Better yet, the new cooling system meant the internal fan stayed whisper-quiet, even as the system powered through real-world workloads.

Geekom A9 Max 2026 Edition Performance Results

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Geekom A9 Max 2026 Edition (AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470)

2910

07501,5002,2503,000

Geekbench single-core Data

Product	Value
Geekom A9 Max 2026 Edition (AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470)	2910

Geekom A9 Max 2026 Edition (AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470)

12476

03,7507,50011,25015,000

Geekbench multi-core Data

Product	Value
Geekom A9 Max 2026 Edition (AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470)	12476

Geekom A9 Max 2026 Edition (AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470)

1731

05001,0001,5002,000

25GB File Copy (MBps) Data

Product	Value
Geekom A9 Max 2026 Edition (AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470)	1731

Geekom A9 Max 2026 Edition (AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470)

3.5

01234

Handbrake (mm:ss) Data

Product	Value
Geekom A9 Max 2026 Edition (AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470)	3.5

Geekom A9 Max 2026 Edition (AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470)

72.8

020406080

Sid Meier's Civilization VI (1080p) Data

Product	Value
Geekom A9 Max 2026 Edition (AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470)	72.8

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Note: In our testing, last year's original A9 Max actually outperforms this newer model. However, this is due to the single channel 32GB of DDR5 RAM the 2026 Edition offers, as opposed to the dual-channel 2x 16GB on the 2025 Edition. The latest model is more upgradeable, though, as it lets you add another 32GB DRR5 RAM stick (which translates to even better performance).

All that said, upgradeability is a bit of a headache. The Wi-Fi antenna cables are taped in such a way that opening the case and putting it back together can be tedious, so prepare to take your time here. However, the latest model now offers a single 32GB stick of DDR5 RAM, instead of the previous model's dual-channel configuration (2x 16GB). That means it can be upgraded to 64GB far more easily, making it more open to upgrades.

If you’re looking for a mini PC that can truly replace a full-fledged desktop workstation for real creative, developer or multitasking workloads, and want more ports than any Mac or budget PC, the A9 Max is our go-to. Yes, it's a much steeper price than the Geekom A5 2025 Edition, but you’re buying into a tier of performance and extensibility that budget and ecosystem-focused machines simply can’t match.

• Read our full Geekom A9 Max 2026 Edition review

The best mini PC for gaming

The Minisforum G1 Pro doesn't just look awfully familiar in design to a certain gaming console (the PS5, if that wasn't obvious), it does one better: delivering console-killer performance thanks to its desktop-grade Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 GPU. And from our testing, it outclasses every mini PC in its class when it comes to raw gaming performance.

The G1 Pro is remarkably sleek with its uniform design, and there's no fuss with a bulky power supply to try and hide, thanks to its internal power supply (just like the Mac mini M4). Its compact form factor makes it a great fit on any desk, and easy enough to slip into a living room for some couch-ready gameplay (or productivity!).

Speaking of, while the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX CPU it holds isn't as strong as others on this list according to our benchmarks, it still offers plenty of performance for workflows that juggle multiple apps and browser tabs, along with editing photos or videos. In fact, while its 32GB of DDR5 RAM is already more than enough for many, it can be upgraded to a jaw-dropping 96GB, along with up to 8TB for storage.

Minisforum G1 Pro Performance Results

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Minisforum G1 Pro (AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX)

2806

07501,5002,2503,000

Geekbench single-core Data

Product	Value
Minisforum G1 Pro (AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX)	2806

Minisforum G1 Pro (AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX)

11612

03,7507,50011,25015,000

Geekbench multi-core Data

Product	Value
Minisforum G1 Pro (AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX)	11612

Minisforum G1 Pro (AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX)

1659

05001,0001,5002,000

MBps

25GB File Copy (MBps) Data

Product	Value
Minisforum G1 Pro (AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX)	1659

Minisforum G1 Pro (AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX)

03:12

01234

minutes

Handbrake (mm:ss) Data

Product	Value
Minisforum G1 Pro (AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX)	3.2

Minisforum G1 Pro (AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX)

45.2

015304560

FPS

Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p) Data

Product	Value
Minisforum G1 Pro (AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX)	45.2

1 of 5

However, since this is a Windows-based mini PC after all, you can add more memory and storage down the line; it supports up to 128GB of RAM and up to 8TB of storage space thanks to the extra M.2 2230 slot inside. Be warned, though: having opened up more than a half-dozen Geekom mini PCs, this one was the trickiest so far.

Besides its wealth of front-facing ports, you also get plenty more around back, including two more USB-A ports, two HDMI 2.1 ports, two USB4 ports, dual 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet ports and a barrel power connector. If you aren’t running a quad-monitor setup, you can use the left USB4 port for power instead, though you will need a 100W or higher GaN charger to do so. There’s even an SD card reader on the side to quickly get photos off your camera — a feature I found incredibly handy during testing.

If you want the power of the Framework Desktop but with a much smaller footprint, the Geekom A9 Max absolutely delivers and then some. Having used it as his daily driver for two months, our expert can easily say it’s the ideal mini PC for power users who want to downsize without compromising on connectivity or performance.

• Read our full Geekom A9 Max review

The best mini PC for portability

The Khadas Mind 2S delivers on its promise of being a pocketable powerhouse, and it's unlike any mini PC I've tested. We were already impressed by the original Khadas Mind, but with the upgrades that the 2 and 2S models manage to fit into their super compact, 5.75 x 4.13 x 0.79-inch size (at just under 1 pound), this PC is now a truly portable workstation.

Featuring an Intel Core Ultra 7 255H CPU, a whopping 64GB of DDR5X RAM and a 2TB SSD, the Khadas Mind 2S got the uplift in power it deserves, and is able to blitz through raw performance and heavy-duty multitasking. That's something power users will appreciate, and even pulls up to 115W for reliable, sustained performance from the likes of a full-blown desktop.

Khadas Mind 2S Performance Results

Slide through to see each benchmark

< Prev

Geekbench single-core

Next >

Khadas Mind 2S (Intel Core Ultra 7 255H)

2890

07501,5002,2503,000

Geekbench single-core Data

Product	Value
Khadas Mind 2S (Intel Core Ultra 7 255H)	2890

Khadas Mind 2S (Intel Core Ultra 7 255H)

14532

03,7507,50011,25015,000

Geekbench multi-core Data

Product	Value
Khadas Mind 2S (Intel Core Ultra 7 255H)	14532

Khadas Mind 2S (Intel Core Ultra 7 255H)

2501

07501,5002,2503,000

MBps

25GB File Copy (MBps) Data

Product	Value
Khadas Mind 2S (Intel Core Ultra 7 255H)	2501

Khadas Mind 2S (Intel Core Ultra 7 255H)

04:29

01.534.56

minutes

Handbrake (mm:ss) Data

Product	Value
Khadas Mind 2S (Intel Core Ultra 7 255H)	4.483333333333333

Khadas Mind 2S (Intel Core Ultra 7 255H)

58.4

015304560

FPS

Sid Meier's Civilization VI (1080p) Data

Product	Value
Khadas Mind 2S (Intel Core Ultra 7 255H)	58.4

1 of 5

Its port selection is also outstanding, being able to fit two high-speed USB-A ports, Thunderbolt 4, USB4 and HDMI 2.1 in its tiny form factor. That actually beats many laptops! What's more, there's a free M.2 2230 slot hidden away by a magnetic cover, meaning you can instantly expand the mini PC's storage by another 2TB.

Another perk? The Mind 2S's "reserve" battery. Instead of powering down your mini PC while taking it abroad or from room to room, the Mind 2S features a built-in 5.55Wh battery designed to keep the system in standby mode for up to 25 hours. A handy trick for when, well, putting it in your pocket.

The Khadas Mind 2S can be expanded with the Mind Graphics 2, which features an RTX 5060 Ti GPU for gaming and more. That's a lot to love about this mini PC, but be warned, it can get loud when put under pressure from demanding apps, and it comes at a steep price at $1,599 for the 2S (from $799 for the regular Mind 2). Regardless, if you're after portable power, the Khadas Mind 2S is an absolute beast that's worth the investment.

• Read our full Khadas Mind 2S review

The best mini PC for quiet

The Lenovo Yoga Mini lives up to its slot as our top pick for quiet operation, combining near-silent performance with a compact footprint that barely registers on your desk. In a month of daily use, our mini PC expert, Anthony, was impressed by how the Yoga Mini stayed virtually silent, even as it powered through workdays with dozens of Chrome tabs open and the occasional bout of photo editing. What stood out most was not just how fast the Yoga Mini felt, but how it remained whisper-quiet under load, making it an ideal choice if you want peace and quiet for video calls, focus work or movie nights.

Performance-wise, the base Yoga Mini handled everything we threw at it and more. Over weeks of hands-on use with the Intel Core Ultra 5 325 CPU and 16GB RAM configuration (it goes up to an Intel Core Ultra X7 358H and 32GB if you're after more power), the system kept up smoothly through heavy multitasking, never once becoming a distraction due to fan noise. That means you can confidently rely on it as your everyday desktop for productivity, web browsing and media playback without worrying that ramped-up cooling will interrupt your workflow or concentration.

Lenovo Yoga Mini Performance Results

Slide through to see each benchmark, including Geekbench, data transfer speeds and gaming performance

< Prev

Geekbench single-core

Next >

Lenovo Yoga Mini (Intel Core Ultra 5 325)

2667

07501,5002,2503,000

Geekbench single-core Data

Product	Value
Lenovo Yoga Mini (Intel Core Ultra 5 325)	2667

Lenovo Yoga Mini (Intel Core Ultra 5 325)

10850

03,7507,50011,25015,000

Geekbench multi-core Data

Product	Value
Lenovo Yoga Mini (Intel Core Ultra 5 325)	10850

Lenovo Yoga Mini (Intel Core Ultra 5 325)

1457

03757501,1251,500

MBps

25GB File Copy (MBps) Data

Product	Value
Lenovo Yoga Mini (Intel Core Ultra 5 325)	1457

Lenovo Yoga Mini (Intel Core Ultra 5 325)

06:12

01234567

minutes

Handbrake (mm:ss) Data

Product	Value
Lenovo Yoga Mini (Intel Core Ultra 5 325)	6.2

Lenovo Yoga Mini (Intel Core Ultra 5 325)

43.4

015304560

FPS

Sid Meier's Civilization VI (1080p) Data

Product	Value
Lenovo Yoga Mini (Intel Core Ultra 5 325)	43.4

1 of 5

And yes, the Yoga Mini is quite the outlier with its unique, sleek circular design, but there are no sacrifices made here. At just 5.12 x 5.12 x 1.91 inches, it's ultra-compact and easy to tuck beside a monitor or in a living room setup. Lenovo’s port selection is generous for the size: you get a 3.5mm headphone jack, two USB-C ports (including one Thunderbolt 4 and one with video out), HDMI 2.1, Gigabit Ethernet, and a USB-A port. Anthony particularly appreciated the move to USB-C power, which means you’re not tied to a proprietary brick and can swap in your own charger for flexible placement or travel.

Of course, no machine is perfect. It runs quieter than the Mac mini M4, but can’t match Apple’s raw performance. You're also paying more for its form factor, but let it be known that its base model can be picked up for $699, as Lenovo often beefs up the price to then offer major discounts to make it far more enticing.

Also, while you can swap out the SSD, RAM is capped at 16GB for the base model, and you'll need your own suction cup (yes, really) to make tweaks. Still, if what you value most is a mini PC you can keep in sight and forget it’s even running — because it’s that quiet — the Yoga Mini is the one to beat.

• Read our full Lenovo Yoga Mini review

The best mini PC for customization

The Framework Desktop gives you almost the same experience as building your own PC, but without the hassle. And to top it all off, it's an incredibly fast and powerful mini PC for work, gaming or even running AI models locally. Building on its expertise in creating upgradeable and repairable laptops, Framework decided to create a desktop computer that follows the same formula. After testing it out for two weeks, we were very impressed with not just its excellent performance, but also how much fun it is building and customizing it.

Unlike some other mini PCs like the MSI Cubi NUC or the Asus Nuc 14 Pro, where you have a ton of different CPU options to choose from, the Framework Desktop only gives you one: the Ryzen AI Max. Sure, you can go with the entry-level Max 385 chip or the more powerful Max+ 395 one, but the biggest choice you’ll have to make is how much memory to equip your machine with. The Framework Desktop starts with 32GB of LPDDR5x RAM, but you can also get this mini PC with 64GB or even a whopping 128GB of memory. Besides running demanding AI models locally, you can allocate some of this extra RAM to the Ryzen AI Max’s integrated GPU for better graphics or gaming performance.

Framework Desktop Performance Results

Slide through to see each benchmark

< Prev

Geekbench single-core

Next >

Framework Desktop (AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395)

2966

07501,5002,2503,000

Geekbench single-core Data

Product	Value
Framework Desktop (AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395)	2966

Framework Desktop (AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395)

17574

05,00010,00015,00020,000

Geekbench multi-core Data

Product	Value
Framework Desktop (AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395)	17574

Framework Desktop (AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395)

2976

07501,5002,2503,000

MBps

25GB File Copy (MBps) Data

Product	Value
Framework Desktop (AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395)	2976

Framework Desktop (AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395)

02:28

00.751.52.253

minutes

Handbrake (mm:ss) Data

Product	Value
Framework Desktop (AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395)	2.466666666666667

Framework Desktop (AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395)

22.2

07.51522.530

FPS

Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p) Data

Product	Value
Framework Desktop (AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395)	22.2

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The Framework Desktop’s magnetic front panel is another area where you can truly make this mini PC your own since it has slots for 21 tiles. These tiles come in a variety of colors, but there are also custom ones, and we're almost certain you’ll be able to design your own down the line. Then, underneath the front panel, there are two Expansion Card slots, which let you customize the Framework Desktop’s front ports to your liking. For instance, we went with a USB-A port and an SD card reader, but there’s also USB-C, microSD card readers and more.

The Framework Desktop is the only mini PC that I know of that you not only build but also get to customize yourself. It is on the expensive side with a starting price of $1,099, which doesn’t include essential components like a case fan and storage or a Windows license, but this mini PC has plenty of power under the hood. Likewise, if you decide its current design isn’t working for you anymore, it’s incredibly simple to mix things up as well as to add extra storage or swap out its case fan.

The Framework Desktop is certainly on the large size for a mini PC, but compared to a traditional desktop or even most small form factor PCs, it’s quite compact and portable, too.

• Read our full Framework Desktop review

Mini PC tests compared

At Tom's Guide, we put each mini PC we review through a series of benchmarks to measure their performance, including single-core (basic tasks) and multi-core (multitasking and complex tasks) performance via Geekbench, transcoding a 4K video to 1080p in our Handbrake test and transfer speeds.

Wondering how a mini PC you have your eye on stacks up against another from this guide? Here's a look at our test results in our versus table below to help you find the machine that's right for your setup.

Best Mini PCs Performance Results Compared

Select a mini PC to compare benchmarks
from our testing lab

Versus Comparison Data

Attribute	Mac mini (M4)	Geekom A5 2025 Edition (AMD Ryzen 5 7430U)	Geekom A9 Max 2026 Edition (AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470)	Minisforum G1 Pro (AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX)	Khadas Mind 2S (Intel Core Ultra 7 255H)	Lenovo Yoga Mini (Intel Core Ultra 5 325)	Framework Desktop (AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395)
Geekbench single-core	3838	1932	2910	2806	2890	2667	2966
Geekbench multi-core	14838	6492	12476	11612	14532	10850	17574
25GB File Copy (MBps)	3017	1092	1731	1659	2501	1457	2976
Handbrake (mm:ss)	4.7	9.516666666666667	3.5	3.2	4.483333333333333	6.2	2.466666666666667
Sid Meier's Civilization VI (1080p)	52.4	26.2	72.8	-	58.4	43.4	-
Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p)	-	-	-	45.2	-	-	22.2

Mac mini (M4)Geekom A5 2025 Edition (AMD Ryzen 5 7430U)Geekom A9 Max 2026 Edition (AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470)Minisforum G1 Pro (AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX)Khadas Mind 2S (Intel Core Ultra 7 255H)Lenovo Yoga Mini (Intel Core Ultra 5 325)Framework Desktop (AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395)

VS

Mac mini (M4)Geekom A5 2025 Edition (AMD Ryzen 5 7430U)Geekom A9 Max 2026 Edition (AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470)Minisforum G1 Pro (AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX)Khadas Mind 2S (Intel Core Ultra 7 255H)Lenovo Yoga Mini (Intel Core Ultra 5 325)Framework Desktop (AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395)

Geekbench single-core

+99%3,838

1,932

Geekbench multi-core

+129%14,838

6,492

25GB File Copy (MBps) (MBps)

+176%3,017

1,092

Handbrake (mm:ss) (minutes)

04:42

09:31+102%

Sid Meier's Civilization VI (1080p) (FPS)

+100%52.4

26.2

Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p)

-

-

Note: The Minisforum G1 Pro and Framework Desktop are more gaming mini PCs with a dedicated RTX 5060 GPU and AMD Radeon 8060S integrated GPU, so while you won't see the Sid Meier's Civilization VI benchmarks, rest assured that these can play the likes of Cyberpunk 2077 with up to 45 frames per second (FPS) at Ray Tracing Ultra settings, and up to 132 FPS with DLSS 4 upscaling.

More mini PCs we've tested

Mini PCs are experiencing a surge in popularity, and we here at Tom's Guide test and review as many of the latest tiny desktops as we can get our hands on. That means finding all-new top recommendations, but that doesn't mean the others we've put through our testing process aren't worth considering.

Here are the other mini PCs we've tested and reviewed, which may suit your style despite their flaws. It's important to note that some of these machines aren't in stock anymore (which is a shame), but it's a good idea to have a look at them to compare them to the one you have your eye on.

• ▲ Back to the top

Meet our expert

How to choose the best mini PC for you

Mini PCs range from small project PCs for under $50 to compact desktops that can cost anywhere between $500 to $1,500 or even more.

Stick PCs are the most versatile, and generally cost between $100 (£100/AU$150) and $200 (£200/$AU300), and will work with most TVs or monitors, though we don't normally recommend them.

Mini PC prices vary considerably based on their hardware and come in all sorts of different form factors, but for the most part, the small, rectangular-shaped ones are the most popular, and you won't have a hard time finding one to fit your own particular needs.

Know what you want

Finding the right mini PC for you starts with knowing what you're looking for. Do you want something small enough to tuck behind a TV as a dedicated streaming box, or are you looking for something with gaming capabilities? Do you want a basic internet-browsing machine, or do you need serious processing and graphics capabilities?

Our best picks above do a good job of highlighting the use cases different systems are best suited to, and that should help you narrow down your choices.

Find the right size

Then there's the question of form factor. Mini PCs are all small, but there is a range of options within the category, from PCs small enough to slip into your pocket to desktop towers that are still compact enough to stow out of sight.

You'll sacrifice power for a smaller system, but you can still get a capable desktop that's small enough to carry in a backpack, even if you're after one well-suited for gaming or workstation performance.

Make sure you like your configuration and upgrade options

Finally, you want to look at configuration options and upgradability.

Many mini PCs have two or three configuration options, which can change everything from the amount of included storage to the presence of high-end processors and discrete graphics cards.

There's also the question of upgrades. Many of the smallest mini PCs leave no room for future hardware changes, but others are designed to let you add memory or storage, or even come outfitted with ports that allow you to attach an external GPU for better graphics and gaming performance.

When in doubt, check our reviews, which include configuration details and will discuss the potential for future upgrades.

• ▲ Back to the top

How we test the best mini PCs

We put every mini PC we review through a series of benchmark tests and weeks to months of real-world use to get the clearest picture we can of how well it performs, what use cases it's best suited to and what sort of capabilities you get for the price.

For performance, we use the Geekbench processor test to measure a system's overall capabilities. We then test a device's file transfer speeds, copying large files to see how long it takes to copy multimedia files, documents and other content.

To test graphics capabilities, we run several benchmark tests from 3DMark. If a system is properly equipped, we'll also run individual game tests to assess how well a particular mini PC handles the demands of modern gaming across a variety of resolutions and graphics settings.

Most importantly, we spend a lot of time simply using each mini PC for everyday activities. We do work, browse the web, transfer files, play games and more, all to get a better sense of which ones are really worth your money.

For more information on our testing process, check out how we test here at Tom’s Guide.

• ▲ Back to the top

Maybe it's because you like the classic design that's more like a traditional watch than something like the Apple Watch. Or maybe you're happy with core smartwatch features like calls, texts, and notifications. Though, in that case, you might prefer one of the best Android smartwatches instead.

But for those of you wanting to dive into Samsung's ecosystem and get arguably some of the most health-focused wearables around right now on your wrist, I'd recommend the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 to most people. It was released in late 2025, easily clears a day on a single charge and has an impressive swathe of wellbeing tools.

Though if you want to bring the cost down, you can still buy the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7, which until late 2025, was the best Samsung watch. Feature-wise, it pretty much stacks up against the Watch 8, just without the AI running coach and vascular load score. Unless you really need those, save yourself $100 and pick the Watch 7.

The best Samsung watch available right now

Best Samsung watch overall

If you're looking for the best Samsung watch right now, the Galaxy Watch 8 is it. It's got the top brightness of the range (matched only by the Galaxy Watch Ultra), around a day and half between charges and the most health and wellbeing features.

There's the standard Galaxy Watch 8, and the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic. The software is the same, but the Classic version only comes in 46mm (vs. 40 or 44mm) and has a rotating bezel for interacting with the display and various menus.

If I had to pick one of the three Watch 8 editions as the best Samsung watch, it'd be the Classic. It's a bit more of a acquired taste with the larger size and bezel, but I mainly put it above the other two because it hit more than 40 hours of battery in our testing.

Considering that we found the standard versions achieved around 30 hours, it's a massive step up. The display and battery aside, all three are the same watch in pretty much every way, from sensors through to software and health analysis.

The past few years have seen Samsung AI-ify its Health app, so the data your watch records — like heart rate, workouts, steps and sleep and ECG — is fed into the app's analysis tools to create actionable insights, in a similar way to the Galaxy Ring.

But unlike the smart ring, the Watch 8 has a display, so you can see these reports directly on your wrist without relying on your phone all the time (arguably one of the strongest reasons to buy a smartwatch in the first place).

The Watch 8 has a few exclusive features, like the new Running Coach, and a post-launch update enabled blood pressure recordings on the Galaxy Watch 4 and newer. Plus, it can monitor for sleep apnea and atrial fibrillation (AFib).

• Read our full Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 review

Best budget Samsung watch

Most annual tech upgrades are incremental; they add a smattering of features, improve the hardware a bit and often increase the price. So if you want to keep costs down, then the older Galaxy Watch 7 might be the best Samsung watch for you.

And if I'm being honest, it's not really much of a compromise — it's basically the same watch as the Galaxy Watch 8 in a different form. The Galaxy 7 has the more traditional circular display, which we actually found makes it more comfortable to wear.

And although it launched with Wear OS 5 (the Android smartwatch platform), it got upgraded to Wear OS 6, so has pretty much the same software as the Watch 8, and access to Gemini (though I don't count that as a win).

The main difference between the two watches, other than the rectangular design of the Watch 8, is that you can't get the AI-powered Running Coach, the display is 33% less bright on the Watch 7 and the Vascular Load metric is locked to the Watch 8.

Looking at it through that lens, it's almost too easy to recommend the Watch 7 at the moment, given that it's close to half the price of the Watch 8. The main area I wish was better was battery life, which we found generally maxed out at a day between charges.

That's about in line with the best Apple Watches, but seems a bit low considering that the Watch 8 managed to achieve almost 50% more just a year later. If you're comfortable with a daily charging routine, the Watch 7 feels like a steal at its new price.

• Read our full Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 review

Best Samsung watch for battery life

If you like your battery life long and watch face big, then the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is going to be the best Samsung watch for you. It's basically the Samsung version of the Apple Watch Ultra 3; a larger display than the standard watch, improved battery life, and a water temperature sensor.

So while in most product ranges, the most expensive model (as this one is) often means its the best overall, that's not quite true here; unless you really need the larger display, extra battery life or ability to go deep sea diving (thanks to its 10ATM rating), you'd probably be better off with the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8.

Not that I think this isn't a fantastic Samsung watch, because it definitely is. But it's made for a specific use case, so unless you find yourself in that demographic, you can save money on a different model. Though if you are set on the Ultra, the experience of actually wearing it sets it apart from the others too.

It has a titanium body (instead of the standard aluminum), which is more durable if you're going to be adventuring outdoors. But it also makes it heavier; at 60g, it's pretty much double the weight of the Galaxy Watch 7, so it may take some getting used to if you're upgrading from a standard size smartwatch.

It's a tough watch to recommend with my whole chest, though. It was released alongside the Galaxy Watch 7, and was a lot brighter than that watch. But then a year later, Samsung let the Watch 8 out into the world with the same 3,000 nits of brightness.

Plus, in most cases, if you're an outdoorsy type that needs improved battery life, durability and precision GPS, you'd be better off with one of the best Garmin watches. But if you're a Samsung user through and through, and need an adventure watch that plays well with the brand's phones and apps, the Galaxy Watch Ultra is for you.

• Read our full Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra review

Also consider

How we test the best Samsung watches

To help you decide between all of the best Samsung smartwatches, we wear them for several weeks to test out all the wearables' health and fitness tracking features and to see how the battery fares over an extended period.

Once strapped to our wrists, we see how well the watches fit, and how easy the displays are to navigate and read, especially in sunlight. Depending on its capabilities, we also test the watches' sensors, such as GPS and heart rate monitors.

As sleep tracking is a key feature on many of the brand's watches, we also wear them overnight to see if it's actually comfortable to wear in bed (and if it squishes into your face and leaves a watch-shaped outline on your face in the morning).

Since we also test the best Android smartwatches, we compare the performance against competitor models to see how consistent the Samsung watches are, within the brand's range and compared to the competition.

We play around with settings, install apps, and set up Samsung Pay for contactless payments to check everything works as it should and that these features are more convenient (or at least not more of a hassle) than just getting your phone out to complete a task.

The connection to your phone needs to be consistent and reliable, so we pair the watches with Samsung phones and other Android devices, checking to see whether the experience is comparable or if Samsung optimizes for its own devices.

How to choose the best Samsung watch for you

In most cases, the best Samsung watch will be the latest model. Generally, Samsung keeps its lineup pretty tight with a flagship device and a premium model. The latest iteration of the Galaxy Watch will have the latest features and generally the best performance.

But that doesn't mean you don't have other options to consider. If you're considering the Galaxy Watch 8, the Galaxy Watch 7 has similar features across the board. You miss out on some new health tools, like the Vascular Load and Antioxidant Index, but it does support Google's Gemini AI assistant.

That's not your only consideration, though. There's also the Galaxy Watch Ultra — a larger, longer-lasting version of the Galaxy Watch 7. It has the same sensors and the same features but double the battery life (48 hours), a larger display, and a titanium case design.

It's also a lot more expensive, so you need to balance your budget against how much you value these additions. And, generally, we don't recommend going more than a generation back on any Samsung watch, as it won't be supported for much longer, but may cost almost the same as the more recent models.

That's why we'd also never suggest picking up a Samsung Gear 2, the first Samsung watch we reviewed in 2014, unless you're looking for an experiment to see if you can get it working with modern phones.

Like most other tech firms, Samsung gives its watches an annual refresh, often in late July. So if you're looking to pick up the most feature-packed model in the summer, I'd wait until we get confirmation of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 9. And even if you're not worried about the most recent watch, once the new model is out, the older ones drop in price, making it a great time to pick up a watch without breaking the bank.

To test these watches, we go running in them! Several members of the team run regularly, and we even have a resident marathon runner who puts these watches to the test during training and longer endurance sessions.

After combining all of our experiences, the best running watch you can buy right now is the Garmin Forerunner 570. It's not the most feature-packed Garmin, but it has everything you need to comprehensively track your runs and improve your performance, and it won't break the bank.

If you're working on a budget, our favorite cheap running watch is the Coros Pace 3. It offers a Garmin-like training experience, but jettisons that brand's smartwatch features, to make a watch that is truly focused just on helping you train.

But these are not your only choices. We've rounded up the five best running watches we've tested from Garmin, Polar, Coros and Apple to help you find the right one to hit your goals. And if these don't quite hit the mark, check out all the other running watches we've tested too for more options.

Best running watches available right now

Best running watch overall

Our pick for the best Garmin watches is also our top running watch: the Garmin Forerunner 570. It comes in two sizes (44mm, 47mm) with a bright and vibrant AMOLED display that we found you can easily see, even in sunny conditions, while out running. And it's lightweight and comfortable enough to wear all day.

Garmin watches are a popular choice for runners, and you could make the argument that the whole range could appear in this roundup. But what makes the Forerunner 570 standout is its features-to-price ratio. It's not the most premium watch (that'd be the $1,100 Fenix 8) but it also has more insights and data than the Forerunner 55.

Central to the whole experience is the Elevate V5 heart rate sensor, which is the most recent and accurate in Garmin's range, and the dual-band GPS that creates detailed records of your runs, even on busy, dense city streets or twisting, wood-lined trails.

Plus, the Forerunner 570 comes with Garmin's Incident Detection and LiveTrack safety features. If the watch detects that you fall while on a run, it'll alert your emergency contacts. While LiveTrack lets you share your location with specified contacts during your workout once you activate it by holding down the light button on the watch.

We found that the heart rate readings were as accurate as a chest strap and the battery lasted around five days with heavy use and daily runs (and was partly run down by the bright display). It is a little disappointing that the 8GB of onboard storage is only for music, though, and not offline maps (which are available on other Garmin models).

Finally, not that it makes a difference to the running experience, but the Forerunner 570 is also one of the most colorful in Garmin's lineup. The company isn't known for bold or vivid designs, but the 570 comes with several color options for the bezel, helping it standout among the (slightly boring) rest of the range.

• Read our Garmin Forerunner 570 review

Best budget running watch

Coros isn't as well-known as Garmin, but it should be, because the Coros Pace 3 is easily the best budget running watch you can buy right now. It comes with reliable tracking, accurate multi-band GPS and near week-long battery life in real-world settings.

Like the Polar Vantage V3 (which we feature later on this guide), the Pace 3 is a multi-sport watch that has dedicated (and useful) running modes, and is comfortable and lightweight to wear throughout the day and during workouts.

To support your training analysis, there's an optical heart rate sensor, pulse oximeter for measuring blood oxygen levels and a barometric altimeter to track elevation. You can also connect a Bluetooth heart rate chest strap, but the (relatively) common ANT+ standard isn't supported here.

All of this data feeds into Coros' EvoLab, which gives you an overview of your weekly training load, and analysis of your longer term training and fitness level, so you can work out if you're doing the right amount of exercise to hit your fitness goals.

The EvoLab analysis is available on all Coros watches, even the more expensive ones, so the Pace 3 is a more affordable way to get these insights. And, like the Garmin Forerunner 570, you also get a recovery advisor and race time predictor, which are useful if you're training for a specific event.

We tested the Pace 3's heart rate accuracy against the Polar H10 chest strap during warm conditions, where the optical readings are generally better than in cold weather, but it was impressively close to the Polar strap's readings. It's still worth pairing a strap with the watch, but even if you don't, you'll still get accurate insights.

• Read our full Coros Pace 3 review

Best running watch for beginners

If you're just starting to get into running, there's no need to spend hundreds of dollars on watches that have more features than you really need. What'll serve you best is something that is a step up from a fitness tracker, focused on running and won't break the bank. In short, you need the Garmin Forerunner 55.

It is designed to be an entry-level Garmin and it replaced the Forerunner 45, which served a similar purpose. The watch looks quite a lot like other Garmin watches, but with less flourish, which is partly why it's also a fraction of the price of the Forerunner 570.

You still get many essential Garmin features though, like the PacePro training tool, which gives you gentle speed and cadence suggestions on your run. And the more you track, the better the watch's recovery recommendations become. This kind of coaching it what separates the Forerunner 55 from the best fitness trackers.

What you won't find here is third-party apps, music storage (for phone-free runs) or mobile payments through Garmin Pay. Plus, the display is relatively small at just 1.08 inches. So long as those aren't dealbreakers for you, the Garmin Forerunner 55 is an excellent way to ease yourself into running.

• Read our full Garmin Forerunner 55 review

Best adventure running watch

The Polar Vantage V3 is probably the best value running watch (not the cheapest, but with the most features for your money). We were impressed by the range and diversity of activities you can track and the volume of sensors packed into a watch that is half the price of the Garmin Fenix 8, but offers a similar experience.

It's an outdoor adventure watch at heart, which is why you can record more than 150 activities, including things as varied as badminton and jazz dance. Each of these modes are actually customized for the activity, as we found when we tried the Vantage V3 on a snowboarding trip, and it showed distance, speed and session maps.

All of this is sort of par for the course with sports watches, but what makes the Vantage V3 really stand out is its training metrics. This is an area Garmin used to dominate, but it lost a lot of goodwill from the running community when it launched a paywall for some digital features.

Polar puts them all out there for you to access, and the training plans and metrics are easy to digest, while the recovery insights are genuinely actionable and helpful. There's the Leg Recovery test, which tells you how long to wait until your next tough run. And it factors in things like your sleep to create more personalized recommendations.

The only drawback on the Polar Vantage V3 is that it's not a smartwatch. You can't store music, use it for mobile payments or download a wide range of third party apps. But Polar seems to be happy not to compete with Apple here, and was comfortable designing an incredibly impressive sports watch at a good price.

• Read our full Polar Vantage V3 review

Best running watch for iPhone

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is the best running watch if you're after a multi-functional option that can track your runs, keep tabs on your health and integrate well with your iPhone. Unlike Garmin, Coros and Polar devices, which are running watches with smart features, the Ultra 3 is a smartwatch that can track your runs.

Of course, many of the best smartwatches can do that, but the dual-band GPS here pits it against the top Garmin models and makes it reliable enough to run out in wooded areas and dense urban areas like cities.

Plus, the customizable Action button can be used to take laps, which puts it ahead of the standard Apple Watch 11 (which was released at the same time in late 2025). The main thing you miss out on compared to Garmin et al is the detailed training analysis. Apple's is fine, but it's surface-level, and doesn't give you in-depth insights.

And you may have heard that Apple watches have terrible battery life, and most of them do, only lasting around a day between charges. The same isn't true of the Ultra 3, which makes use of its larger body to increase the battery capacity to up to 42 hours. Still a fraction of the weeks you can get elsewhere, but it's better.

So it depends what you need from a running watch. If you have an iPhone, like the sound of an Apple Watch, and do some runs (but aren't aiming for elite tracking/training analysis), then the Ultra 3 is a fantastic option that can support your daily activities and outdoor workouts.

• Read our full Apple Watch Ultra 3 review

Also tested

There are a lot of running watches out there, and even from those we test, not every model can be the best. So these are the models that didn't quite hit the mark, but are worth considering if you're after more options.

How we test the best running watches

We take our testing seriously because runners rely on accurate, reliable data to train smarter, stay healthy, and improve performance. Even today’s entry-level running watches pack in features like GPS, heart rate monitoring, and step tracking, but we go deeper than the spec sheet.

Our reviewers are experienced runners who put each watch through its paces in real-world conditions, including open parks, urban streets with tall buildings, and forested trails. We look at core performance factors like GPS accuracy, heart rate tracking, and battery life, and also assess advanced features such as VO2 Max estimates, recovery time, sleep tracking, and music storage.

To ensure heart rate data is accurate, our tester Nick tests the watch against a chest strap monitor, which is widely regarded as the gold standard for heart rate accuracy, and includes this comparison data in his reviews.

We also consider how intuitive the watch is to use mid-run, how comfortable it is to wear for long periods, and how well its companion app presents and stores training data.

How to choose the best running watch for you

The type of running watch you need largely depends on how often you run and your running goals. Casual runners should find they have all they need in a simpler model with GPS and heart rate tracking, while runners and athletes training for marathons or triathlons may need advanced features like interval training, VO2 max monitoring, and recovery suggestions to aid their training.

For beginners, basic tracking of distance, pace, and heart rate should be enough to monitor progress and stay motivated. Those who consider themselves as a more intermediate runner looking to improve performance may want watches with metrics like cadence, stride length, and heart rate zones to help fine-tune their training.

Meanwhile, for those training for races or aiming for specific fitness goals, advanced features such as lactate threshold, VO2 max, and interval training support can offer more detailed insights.

Battery life is key if you’re running long distances or doing multi-day events. Watches designed for ultra runners or adventurers can last for days on a single charge, while others may need daily charging if you use GPS and other features regularly.

FAQs

Quite a few of these are also platform-locked to Android, and some have features restricted to the brand's phones. On the one hand, that makes them less versatile or flexible if you change phone, but also gives you the most seamless experience.

So it's no surprise that we found the Google Pixel Watch 4 is the best Android smartwatch by some margin. Since Google develops the operating system, the Pixel Watch 4 is deeply tied into almost everything Android (especially on Pixel phones) does.

If you want something that has a consistent experience no matter which phone you use, our favorite fitness-focused Android smartwatch is the Garmin Forerunner 265. The watch is packed with tools for runners and other exercisers, though it is a little light on 'traditional' smart features, like voice commands and on-watch messaging.

But these are just two of your choices. I've rounded up the best Android smartwatches we've tested for a range of phones, budgets and uses, so you'll find something to suit your needs. Plus, there are a few others we tested that didn't quite make the roundup but are great additional options if you need them.

The best Android smartwatches you can buy today

Best Android smartwatch overall

The Google Pixel Watch 4 is the best smartwatch for Android users right now because it’s longer lasting than the Galaxy Watch 8 with easier access to Google’s excellent Gemini AI voice assistant via a simple (and exclusive to Google) wrist raise gesture.

While the standard Galaxy Watch 8 lasted roughly 30 hours in our testing, and the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic lasted for 40 hours, the 45mm Pixel Watch 4 easily surpassed 60 hours of juice per charge.

Similarly easy-wearing to the Galaxy Watch 8, but arguably sleeker, both device boasts ultra-bright displays that max out at 3,000 nits. You also get similarly comprehensive sleep tracking and fitness insights. The latest Pixel and Galaxy Watches also sport dual-band GPS and onboard altimeters for accurate outdoor adventure tracking

However, only the Google Watch offers Loss of Pulse Detection, which can call for help if a cardiac event is registered. Similarly, only the Pixel Watch 4 (LTE models) boasts the latest smartwatch safety feature, satellite SOS messaging, which you’ll only find on the $799 Apple Watch Ultra 3 right now.

Finally, while the Samsung Galaxy Watch used to be somewhat of a bargain compared to the Pixel Watch, that’s no longer the case now that Samsung has increased pricing by $50 across the lineup. As a result, both the Galaxy Watch 8 and Pixel Watch 4 start at $349.

With the Pixel Watch 4 offering just a little more pizazz than the Galaxy Watch 8, all for the same amount of dough, it claims our top spot in this guide.

• Read our full Google Pixel Watch 4 review

Best budget Android smartwatch

With the launch of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8, it's easier than ever to find the Galaxy Watch 7 on sale for well under $300. Despite being one generation from the newest model, the Galaxy Watch 7 remains a competent Android smartwatch with the same best-in-class sleep tracking insights and most of the same features.

(Here's an in-depth comparison of the Galaxy Watch 7 vs. Galaxy Watch 8 across eight key categories.)

The Galaxy Watch 7 is a little less bulky than the newer model, which features a cushion case compared to the 7's circular case design. Like the latest model, the Galaxy Watch 7 comes in 40mm and 44mm, but there's no bezel-sporting 46mm "Classic" edition for the Galaxy Watch 7.

Battery life is good for roughly 24 hours per charge in our testing; however, you can stretch that to 40 hours per charge by using low-power mode.

In addition to detailed sleep reports, which are generated after just one night of wearing the device, the Galaxy Watch 7 also offers a useful daily Energy Score to help plan your exertion levels for the day. It also tracks a huge range of physical activities with impressive accuracy, offers recommendations for rest and recovery, and monitors for health anomalies like sleep apnea and irregular heartbeats.

Better yet, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 supports Google's Gemini AI voice assistant if you're running the latest software.

• Read our full Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 review

Best looking Android smartwatch

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 series is nearly as good as the Google Pixel Watch 4. Both smartwatch lines boast best-in-class health and fitness tracking tools, useful safety features, and access to a Gemini-based voice assistant that's surprisingly handy.

AI-powered fitness coaching is all the rage in 2026, and Samsung's personalized Running Coach tool, aimed at beginners and the marathon-curious, is both comprehensive in its training recommendations and encouraging in its delivery of data and tips.

While the Pixel Watch 4 delivers better battery performance, if you opt for the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic edition — the classy one with the rotating bezel — you can expect over 40 hours per charge (or closer to 30 hours for the standard models).

That's a lot better than the latest Apple Watch Series 11, which lasts roughly 30 hours per charge in my testing, but still well behind the 45mm Pixel Watch 40, which surpasses 60 hours per charge.

Design-wise, the Galaxy Watch 8 embraces the cushion case introduced with the Galaxy Watch Ultra a year earlier. On the standard 40mm and 44mm models, the now rectangular-ish case feels slightly bloated. However, the updated aesthetic works much better, IMHO, on the Classic edition.

All of the Galaxy Watch 8 models deliver an impressive maximum screen brightness of 4,000 nits, the same as the Pixel Watch 4 series, making the watch highly visible in bright light. However, the Classic model boasts a tougher, albeit heavier, stainless steel case compared to aluminium. You also get an additional customizable button and that lovely, lovely clicky bezel.

• Read our full Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 review

Best Android smartwatch for runners

The Garmin Forerunner 265 is the best Android-compatible smartwatch for runners and workout enthusiasts in 2026, with excellent battery, a durable, sporty design, and loads of fitness tools.

Lightweight and comfortable, the 265 offers everything you’d want in a running watch, including a wealth of accurate tracking metrics, music controls, customizable workout routines, and more. You also get access to Garmin’s wide range of training insights, which can help you plan workouts and periods of recovery.

During testing, we found the Garmin Forerunner 265's beautiful AMOLED screen easy to view in direct sunlight. Users can navigate the watch's interface via touchscreen or physical buttons; I prefer the latter when I'm sweaty. Battery life is ample enough for marathons, even while listening to music.

The 265 supports tracking complex multisport training sessions using the triathlon mode. Plus, users have access to advanced features usually reserved for Garmin’s more expensive running watches, like Training Readiness Score and Morning Report.

One thing the Forerunner 265 doesn't offer is a wealth of smart features (like the other devices here). Sure, you can view smartphone notifications, support for offline music, and NFC payments, but that's about it.

Ultimately, the Forerunner 265 is a fantastic improvement on an already fantastic watch and a great buy for all levels of runners and fitness-focused individuals. However, for something nearly as competent but a little more wallet-friendly, check out the Garmin Forerunner 165.

• Read our full Garmin Forerunner 265 review

Best rugged Android smartwatch

The Galaxy Watch Ultra is the best rugged Android smartwatch for adventures thanks to a tough-built, lightweight titanium case, ultra-bright 3,000 nit screen, accurate GPS tracking, offline maps, and Samsung's latest BioActive health monitoring tech.

It also has a Track Back feature to help you find your way home, a customizable Action button that can be set up as a flashlight, and up to 48 hours of battery life, behind only the 45mm Pixel Watch 4.

Sleep analysis and insights are industry-leading (and a match with the Galaxy Watch 7 and 8). You also get AI-powered tips and suggestions for improving your health, along with monitoring for conditions including sleep apnea and irregular heartbeats.

Water resistance is 100 meters, though Samsung advises against wearing it while diving or during other high-pressure water activities. Still, the thing is built to take a beating with its screen protected by the metal bezel and side buttons guarded by bumpers.

Finally, similar to the Galaxy Watch 7, those running the latest firmware version can unlock access to Google's powerful Gemini voice assistant.

• Read our full Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra review

Also tested

There are a lot of great Android smartwatches out there, but not every model we test can be The Best. So these are the watches we think are still worth considering if you need more options than we've listed in the main roundup.

How we test the best smartwatches for Android

The simple answer to how we test the best Android smartwatches is that we wear them. Sorry, that's not very exciting, but it's the most important aspect of how we check to see if they're actually worth your money.

Just like headphones, these are items that you can't really gauge until you have them in your hand (or on your wrist), so the first thing we look for is how the materials feel against your skin, whether the watch feels too (for want of a better word) bulky and if it's comfortable to wear, even when you're sleeping or working out.

Once its set up, we use it in the same way you would. We connect it to our phone, mirror notifications, test out how easy and useful it is to take calls or issue voice commands to the onboard mic, and whether any notable smart features work in the way they should.

One of the areas we can't feasibly test are the watch's safety features, like crash or fall detection and medical alerts like the Pixel Watch 4's Loss of Pulse detection. And since we can't check whether these actually work reliably as intended, I don't recommend that you buy a watch solely on the strength of those features alone.

Smartwatches are useful for the way they connect to your phone, but increasingly they are fitness and health trackers too. Since we also test the best fitness trackers, we put the best Android smartwatches through similar paces, measuring heart rate and blood oxygen readings, comparing workouts and looking at sleep scores.

Then, one of the most significant specs, we look at battery life. Brands often overestimate on the best-case, least-power scenario, so we run them through cycles to see how long the watch actually lasts between charges in everyday scenarios with a bit of fitness tracking, some GPS recordings and leaving the screen on.

How to choose the best smartwatch for Android for you

Some of the best Android smartwatches actually work with iPhones too, not that you need to worry about that for now. But it's important to consider whether you're likely to switch phones at any point so that you buy a smartwatch that'll work with either.

Likewise, even from the Android-only watches, some are locked (or have exclusive features) to specific phones, like the Pixel Watch 4 and Google's Pixel range or the Samsung Galaxy Watch and Samsung Galaxy phones.

There are often two sizes to choose from too, so you can find one that best works for your wrist. Though, smartwatches are quite bulky anyway, so you may find them slightly awkward to sleep with compared to a fitness tracker. Still, the larger screen makes it easier to read what's on the display, like notifications and messages.

Then you need to decide are you looking for a smartwatch with fitness features, or a fitness watch with smart features? These sound like I'm saying the same thing twice, but the latter is best if you primarily need something to track your exercise and health stats, but they'll often be lighter in traditional phone-linked smart features.

But the smartwatch with fitness tracking niche can also be a great option, especially if you want to casually track workouts, but also need the watch to blend in during social events or with work outfits as it won't look quite so, well, sporty.

Battery life is important, but you'll find most smartwatches generally last a day or two between charges. If you need something more than that, I'd recommend checking out the best sports watches instead, as those are designed to get several days or weeks between top ups.

Frequently asked questions