Which smartwatches might hit the market in 2026?

Tags: News | Smart

17.1.2026 | 8 MIN

2025 was packed with new models. But where is the smartwatch segment heading in 2026? Which specific models might we see? Let’s daydream a bit.

I did a bit of smartwatch fantasizing last year, but I figured—why not get a little more specific?

In the article below I focused more on features than models, so let’s fix that.

Garmin

This American brand has had a demanding few years. It feels to me like they advance slowly yet consistently—and I mean that positively. That’s precisely why they are where they are today. They’ve worked this way in wearables for a long time and are a textbook case of the “tortoise approach.”

I assume you know the fable of the hare and the tortoise. Since the turn of the millennium they’ve been taking small steps, but in the smartwatch segment it has taken them further than many would-be sprinters. Sure, it helps that they entered the “race” earlier than some, but you get the point. :)

Getting this far has one downside—it can suddenly look like there’s no real progress. There simply isn’t much headroom left.

That’s why I think 2026 will be more of a “refinement” year for them.

What their watches struggle with (read: what annoys me):

• sluggish system
• high price
• case thickness

Honestly, I’m not sure they’ll do anything about pricing, because people keep buying their watches regardless. It’s worth mentioning, though, because it was arguably the most resonant topic across the community last year. And to be fair, Garmin still manages to justify its price tag—mainly because it probably bridges the smart and sport worlds better than anyone else.

Let’s get specific.

Fenix 9. Could it arrive? Garmin usually keeps a two‑year cadence between generations, but the Fenix 8 Pro hit the market fairly recently. Even so, I believe Garmin could introduce a new generation to the lineup.

I don’t think microLED will make it to all sizes, but something tells me Garmin might opt for a more efficient flavor of AMOLED—namely LTPO. It can dynamically adjust refresh rate to save battery.

A new model would also deserve a new processor, because if there’s one word that rarely applies to Garmin’s UI, it’s “smooth.”

We could also expect LTE to expand across all case sizes, and I can easily imagine a larger display on the 51 mm version—up to 1.5". And a new optical heart rate sensor? I don’t feel Elevate 5 has been that convincing, so I think the optics could be tuned up.

And if they sprinkled some magic dust to shave off a bit of case thickness, that would be lovely!

There’s a ton that could be improved on Fenix 9. Luckily, I have a dedicated article for that.

Enduro 4. I don’t have sky‑high expectations for a breakthrough here; rather, I expect a doubling down on existing strengths—even longer battery life, even more efficient solar charging. I also expect Garmin to shift the MIP (memory-in-pixel) display from the Fenix line to Enduro, and that Fenix will no longer use it.

Forerunner 170. It kind of feels like Garmin is missing a truly affordable sports model. I don’t want to sound harsh, but the Forerunner 570 didn’t really pan out, and the older Forerunners—the FR 265, FR 255, or, heaven forbid, FR 55—are simply getting too long in the tooth. It’s time to assemble something budget‑friendly.

Of course, the question is whether the expected Vívosmart 6 might fill that role, but for now we can only speculate.

7.1.2026
Garmin Vívosmart 6 — Could this be the first truly capable fitness band with GPS?

Venu SQ 3. It probably won’t happen, but if Garmin took the feature set of Vívoactive 6 and put it in a square case, I’d say: why not? That would do.

There could certainly be more models—Garmin released a hefty slate in 2025 alone. MARQ 3 comes to mind, but let’s see.

Apple and Samsung

I’ve deliberately put these two players in the same “bucket,” because both brands reliably announce new models in the fall.

So we can be fairly certain something will show up.

But how might they surprise us? What are their pain points?

Battery life deserves a mention. I think Samsung will tinker with that more, whereas Apple tends to invest in performance rather than pure power savings.

Let’s take them one by one.

For Apple, I don’t expect any major hardware leap. If Apple has proven anything over the years, it’s caution. They won’t implement a sensor until they’re sure it measures correctly. And that pays off—Apple has long ranked among the most accurate.

I do think they’ll improve health and sports insights, and especially the interplay between the two. Frankly, it feels like it’s time to rely less on paid apps and lean more on Apple’s own algorithms. Tips to improve sleep? Training Readiness? More comprehensive work with HRV? Apple has huge scope here, and I believe they can make it meaningful.

Macworld even toys with the idea of glucose monitoring, but I’m skeptical. Apple is extremely cautious on that front. What I do agree with is the theoretical possibility of Touch ID on Apple Watch. Many users unlock their watch using Face ID on the iPhone today, but there are situations where the phone simply isn’t at hand.

There’s also talk of expanding AI features that could better distinguish the base line from the SE.

Samsung is bolder in this regard and I wouldn’t hesitate to say they’ll “jump into the unknown.” Realistically, I expect longer battery life and maybe—just maybe—noninvasive blood glucose monitoring. Samsung has already shown blood pressure and body composition... They’re running out of new health metrics to tackle. :)

CES 2026 helped the predictions a bit too, with Samsung unveiling a new brain health feature designed to flag potential signs of dementia.

Coros

For Coros predictions I’ll lean on a very good video by Chase the Summit, whose key point can be summed up simply: Coros will remain what it is—and that’s its biggest advantage.

Coros has long focused tightly on endurance athletes, and I get the feeling they aren’t chasing folks with a wild hairdo riding an e‑scooter to the gym just to flex. I don’t want to lean on stereotypes; I just wanted to lighten the tone.

They target outdoor enthusiasts who want better maps and more detailed training metrics. That said, with the Apex 4 they did step a bit away from the core concept—adding calling. And let’s be honest, that’s handy in the field when you’re wearing gloves and don’t want to fish your phone out of a jacket or pack.

29.12.2025
Coros Apex 4 review – Calling from the Wild

Personally, I’d expect Coros to add a health feature that better links health monitoring and sport—something akin to Garmin’s Training Readiness. Yes, Coros makes primarily sports devices, but recovery is so crucial they can’t avoid it forever.

Let’s be specific. Coros was quite active in 2025, so what might they bring in 2026?

Vertix 4. I think it’s basically imminent. What do I expect? Above all, another step forward in connectivity—building on calling with LTE. Premium materials like sapphire and titanium should be a given, rounded off with truly outstanding battery life plus solar charging. Long enough to challenge the likes of Vertical or Enduro 3.

Honestly, I’m not expecting much else, because Coros was so active in the second half of the year that a single new model could easily suffice this year. Pace Pro 2 seems unlikely, and I don’t see Coros going down the display‑less smart band path.

Suunto

I underestimated this brand for years, but I wouldn’t hesitate to call their last year a “comeback.” Every model they released landed well. They even showed they can implement a flashlight and adopt modern LTPO tech for battery savings. Honestly—Suunto was a pleasant surprise. No, they don’t set the direction, but they clearly try to keep pace.

Suunto Race 2 and Vertical 2 in smaller sizes. I don’t expect Suunto to unveil something completely new in 2026, but I dare say they’re missing a smaller outdoor model in the lineup. And I’m not alone—5krunner points to the same gap.

Amazfit

Well, I won’t hide that I was looking forward to this section. We didn’t hide it in our podcast either, where we named Amazfit the most forward‑moving brand of 2025.

Chinese brands typically release on a yearly cadence, so we can look forward to a hefty batch of new models this year. I wouldn’t be surprised to see something new in every existing line—T‑Rex, Active, Bip, Balance, or Helio (Ring or Band)—so I won’t dive into each model here.

What I do think Amazfit finally needs is a UI facelift. Let’s be honest, it’s been the same tune for years. Basic—even primitive—widget graphics, menus, almost everything. Compared with another Chinese brand like Huawei, the difference is stark. The visuals practically scream “we’re a budget smartwatch.”

Another area Amazfit can build on is artificial intelligence. I expect a bigger push with Zepp Aura, Zepp Flow, and Zepp Coach.

Even if they only moved in that direction, I think it would be more than enough as an evolution for 2026. Functionally, they’re well positioned across smart, sport, and health. And yes, from a local‑market perspective, broader bank support would be welcome—I hope we finally see progress there.

Polar

Polar, Polar, Polar… What to say. Picture a running race where everyone else is sprinting—and Polar is swimming. The dogs are the competition; Polar is the sea lion.

Not to sound harsh—I like Polar as a brand, and there were times when they truly pulled the strings. Today, though, they come across as if they’re unsure where to go. Like they’re stuck in a loop they can’t escape. They’re almost certainly selling far less than before, which means far fewer resources.

Let’s briefly recap 2025. They essentially just shrank the Grit X2 Pro and released the Grit X2. Then came something interesting—the Polar Loop. A direct Whoop competitor, and without a subscription. What ruins it, in my opinion? The Polar Flow app.

Just about every reviewer has been calling for an update for ages, so I’d label this less a prediction and more a wish: Polar, build a new app.

We’ll see if it stays a wish. There’s already chatter online that we might see something new in Q1 2026.

As for specific models, all the flagships launched in 2023 and 2024. That opens the door for something new, with the logical candidate being Vantage V4. For a better shot at success, it might only need a new UI and—yes—that app.

Huawei

Huawei, Huawei… They make great devices but are still mired in legal wrangling. The U.S. keeps them at arm’s length, and now there are issues with verification SMS for Huawei ID, which complicates creating the account that’s key to pairing the watch.

There are plenty of rumors swirling online, so we can get specific right away.

Watch Fit Ultra. I honestly don’t know how far they can push the Watch Fit line, but word is another Fit sub‑line is coming. Allegedly it will bring enhanced golf and diving features and deeper health insights. No more concrete info yet.

Women’s Watch Fit Ultimate. Let’s face it, Huawei has always done women’s smartwatches well. The women’s Watch GT models have long been among the best‑looking on the market, and women should now get an even bigger dose of premium flair.

A smartwatch with glucose monitoring. Multiple sources agree on this, and frankly it makes sense. The Huawei Watch D2 earned praise for accurate blood pressure tracking, so the Chinese giant clearly aims at another health domain—this time glucose.

Overall, Huawei should focus on developing AI for more comprehensive analysis of health and training data.

And which smartwatches are you expecting in 2026?