Testing the Pixel Watch 5 and discovering Google’s best smartwatch
The smartwatch landscape is currently a wild, competitive arena, but the real question isn’t just about new features—it’s about who truly owns the crown.
One of the biggest contenders in this ongoing battle is the Google Pixel Watch 5. The question on everyone’s mind is whether it has secured the title of the best smartwatch of 2026. As the industry watches, the anticipation for a definitive answer is building, especially while major players like Apple remain deliberately silent on the matter.
While the giants hold court, the true action is happening in the hands-on competition. We are already seeing major challengers emerge, particularly from Samsung, which continues to throw sophisticated devices onto the market. These competitors are pushing boundaries and redefining what a mainstream smartwatch can offer.
This dynamic shift is perhaps the most surprising element of the current market: despite the rapid technological advancements, there aren’t many other major brands actively engaging with the mainstream smartwatch category anymore. The ecosystem is crowded, yet genuine, wide-ranging competition remains a niche, leaving the field intensely focused on a few dominant players.