5 smartwatches you should buy instead of the Moto Watch Ultra
There are a lot of great options out there.
The Moto Watch Ultra, Motorola's latest smartwatch offering, is a unique device with a blend of features at a competitive price point of $350. It includes LTE eSIM support, Wear OS 6, a 1.5-inch pOLED display, and Polar's health and fitness tracking algorithms. However, the processor is not top-tier and only two OS upgrades are provided. This presents an opportunity to explore other smartwatch options available in the market.
Among the alternatives, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra (2025 model) stands out as the best alternative if you already own a Samsung phone. It offers a refreshed design with double the storage and a new color. Priced at $330 on Amazon, it provides excellent value. The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2025 boasts a rugged design similar to the Moto Watch Ultra, a 1.5-inch AMOLED display, 64GB storage, LTE, and a larger battery.
It is also more durable with sapphire crystal glass and MIL-STD-810H certification. Its health and fitness tracking features are solid, with accurate GPS tracking, and the battery lasts for two or more days on a single charge.
Google's Pixel Watch 4 remains a solid choice. Although it shares a similar design to the Moto Watch Ultra, it is lighter and has a brighter display. It also offers a faster chipset and two sizes to choose from, with optional LTE connectivity. The 41mm model can be found for as low as $230, while the 45mm model with LTE costs $530.
Google also provides three years of OS upgrades, ensuring support until October 2028. Although the Pixel Watch 5 has replaced it, the new starting price of $499 does not offer the best value for money.
For those who prioritize future-proofing, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 is a good option, starting at $380. This 2026 model features a new Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear Elite SoC and will receive five generations of Wear OS updates. It also supports the Raise to Talk feature, exclusive to the Pixel Watch. The Galaxy Watch 9 is slimmer, lighter, and features tougher scratch-resistant glass.
Its health and fitness tracking features are excellent, similar to those of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8. However, using all the health-tracking features requires a Samsung Galaxy phone, and the charging speed is only 10W.
The Garmin Venu 4 is another excellent choice for health and fitness tracking. It offers a refined design, vivid display, and advanced fitness and training tools. With up to 12 days of battery life, it outperforms the Moto Watch Ultra in this regard. However, features like on-device Gemini are absent, and the variety of watch apps is limited. It also lacks LTE connectivity and costs more than the Moto Watch Ultra.
Lastly, the Amazfit Balance 2 is a budget-friendly option that offers a sleek design, a bright 1.5-inch AMOLED screen, and a robust suite of health and fitness-tracking tools. Powered by Zepp OS 6, it offers a wide array of fitness training metrics and can last up to 21 days on a single charge. The Balance 2 checks many boxes for those looking for a robust fitness watch at a great price.
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