One of the best smartwatches for Android proper now

After an extended stretch of slim pickings, the final couple of years have been big for Android smartwatches. Now there are extra good choices than ever.

However the market is fragmented. Put on OS 5 is right here for Samsung’s Galaxy Watches, Google’s Pixel Watch 3, and shortly, the OnePlus Watch 3 when it ships subsequent month. Nonetheless, the bigger ecosystem is catching up. Some options, like Google Assistant, are usually not but out there on sure Put on OS 3 smartwatches, and Put on OS 4 nonetheless isn’t extensively out there. Even so, the Android wearable ecosystem is barreling forward.

In case you’d somewhat wait till Put on OS settles down a bit, there are platform-agnostic smartwatches and health watches you should purchase within the meantime. In any other case, you’ll need to concentrate on the chip and Put on OS model powering your watch. Mobvoi, for example, has typically been a step behind Google and Samsung in rolling out the newest model of Put on OS. In the meantime, you would possibly wish to take note of whether or not a watch is operating the newest Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 Plus or the bottom W5 chip. The W5 Plus has some further processing benefits, however for the document, the bottom chip isn’t dangerous. The Pixel Watch 3 and OnePlus Watch 2 each sport the W5 and have notably improved efficiency and battery life.

As long as you retain the aforementioned caveats in thoughts, Android customers have extra smartwatch choices than ever earlier than. I’ve rounded up my prime picks, but when none of those is the best match, you’ll be able to all the time try our health tracker shopping for information.

Greatest smartwatch for Samsung telephones

Sizes: 43mm, 47mm / Weight: 77g, 85g / Battery life: As much as 30 hours with AOD, 40 with out AOD / Show kind: All the time-on OLED / GPS: Constructed-in GPS / Connectivity: LTE (elective), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi / Water resistance: As much as 50 meters, IP68 / Music storage: 16GB

When you’ve got a Samsung telephone, you’ll get probably the most mileage out of a Samsung smartwatch. And of the 4 watches Samsung has in its present lineup, I like to recommend the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Traditional. Though Samsung launched the Galaxy Watch 7 in August, there wasn’t a refresh for the Traditional. Which means you must be seeing some good offers for the Traditional quickly, if not already. It’s not usually that I like to recommend a last-gen gadget, however such is my deep love for the bodily rotating bezel.

If you would like the newest and biggest, the Galaxy Watch 7 presents an upgraded 3nm Exynos W1000 chip and a brand new 3-in-1 BioActive Sensor. It’s a marginal enchancment over the 2023 fashions, however I don’t really feel like Samsung launched something final yr that requires having them. It additionally has Put on OS 5 and One UI 6 Watch, although Samsung is rolling out the newer OS to older watches (together with the Galaxy Watch 6). Principally, I like to recommend the 7 in the event you desire a smaller measurement, don’t care concerning the rotating bezel, and need one thing a smidge extra futureproof.

The Traditional’s rotating bezel is 15 % thinner than the Galaxy Watch 4 Traditional. The up to date design is sleeker than its predecessor, and the bigger show is simpler on the eyes and is simply barely larger at 43mm and 47mm. I’ve small wrists, however the 47mm was nonetheless fairly snug for on a regular basis put on. It’s launching with Put on OS 4, which provides prolonged battery life, and — lastly — cloud backups. One UI 5 Watch additionally provides some minor well being and sleep monitoring enhancements, however this can finally make its option to older fashions. Whereas I desire the Traditional, the bottom Watch 6 mannequin will be the higher choice if you need a smaller, lighter, sleeker, and cheaper smartwatch.

For extra outdoorsy of us, the $649.99 Galaxy Watch Extremely could be the extra good selection. Of all Samsung’s watches, it has one of the best battery life, lasting round three days in our testing. (Although, we by no means received the complete 100-hour estimated battery life.) It’s received dual-frequency GPS, a brand new multisport exercise, an emergency siren, elevated sturdiness, 10ATM of water resistance, and a Fast Button, which acts as a customizable shortcut button. It’s principally an Apple Watch Extremely for Android.

In the meantime, in the event you’re on a funds, there’s the brand new $199.99 Galaxy Watch FE, which is basically a rebadged Galaxy Watch 4.

The Samsung Well being app additionally delivers a superb total health monitoring expertise, particularly since you’ll be able to allow turn-by-turn navigation for mountaineering and biking actions. We weren’t too impressed with nightly SpO2 readings, however Samsung’s total sleep monitoring continues to enhance. You additionally get built-in GPS, physique composition evaluation, irregular coronary heart charge notifications, fall detection, emergency SOS options, and EKGs. Most just lately, Samsung added a brand new Power rating, AI-powered wellness insights, FDA-cleared sleep apnea detection, and a complicated AGEs Index metric for metabolic well being. Whereas the Power rating is broadly correct, I discovered the AI-generated options to be hit and miss and the AGEs Index to be extra gimmicky than helpful. The latter function can also be restricted to the Galaxy Watch 7 and Extremely.

We don’t essentially advocate the Galaxy Watches in the event you don’t have a Samsung telephone. EKGs and sleep apnea detection require the Samsung Well being Monitor app, which is restricted to Samsung telephones. You may work round it, however all Samsung watches work finest with different Samsung gadgets.

Greatest Android smartwatch for non-Samsung customers

Sizes: 41mm, 45mm / Weight: 31g for 41mm, 37g for 45mm / Battery life: Roughly 24 hours with AOD enabled / Show kind: All the time-on OLED / GPS: Constructed-in GPS / Connectivity: LTE (elective), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Security Sign with Fitbit Premium / Water resistance: 5ATM / Music storage: 32GB

The $349.99 Google Pixel Watch 3 is finished taking part in catch-up. It’s an annoying reality that you probably have a Samsung telephone, a Samsung smartwatch might be the only option for you. Nonetheless, for everybody else, I extremely advocate the Pixel Watch 3.

There are a number of updates to the Pixel Watch 3, however the gist is that it’s a extra refined watch that additionally expands into new territory. One main replace is that there are actually two sizes: 41mm and 45mm. You get further display actual property on the bigger watch, however the bezels are additionally smaller on the 41mm mannequin. (In case you’re attempting to select between sizes, I desire the 45mm.) The shows are brighter as effectively, starting from a minimal of 1 nit to a most of two,000 nits.

Well being and health additionally get a number of updates, particularly for runners. There’s a brand new Cardio Load metric that gauges the cardiovascular depth of the workout routines you’ve been doing over a set time period. It’s just like Garmin’s Coaching Load metric. You’re additionally given a Cardio Load goal based mostly in your health objectives, readiness, and present exercise. Runners additionally get a brand new dashboard filled with kind evaluation metrics in addition to the power to program customized exercises. As well as, you may get AI-generated steered exercises. And in the event you’re in Europe, the Pixel Watch 3 can now detect in the event you now not have a pulse and name emergency providers.

The Pixel Watch 3 additionally provides a bunch of nifty Google integrations. It’s glorious you probably have a Google-powered sensible residence as a result of now you can immediately view and work together along with your Nest Doorbell or digicam feeds. You may as well use the watch as a distant in your Google TV, and there are new Google House Tile / problems that make controlling your property out of your wrist a breeze. Additionally new are offline Google Maps, the power to unlock Pixel telephones, and a Name Help function that lets a caller know you want an additional minute to select up your telephone.

That mentioned, whereas the Pixel Watch was initially framed as a look ahead to any Android telephone, a number of updates this time round imply you’ll get one of the best expertise with a Pixel telephone. However in comparison with Samsung, there isn’t fairly as a lot lock-in. Well being options, for instance, can be found to everybody as long as you could have a Fitbit account. Additional excellent news: Google eliminated sure metrics, just like the Day by day Readiness Rating, from the Fitbit Premium paywall. Principally, the options locked to Pixel telephones are the Recorder app and issues like the power to unlock your telephone with the watch.

One factor to be aware of is sturdiness. Whereas the domed show is gorgeous, we cracked the display on the unique Pixel Watch and received deep scratches on the Pixel Watch 2. (Fortunately, we haven’t tousled the Pixel Watch 3.) Google doesn’t supply any restore choices, however you may get the Most popular Care prolonged guarantee if you wish to be ready ought to one thing occur. It’s not ideally suited because it’s restricted to the US and Canada, nevertheless it’s a step in the best path.

Greatest various to Google and Samsung smartwatches

Sizes: 47mm with 22mm straps / Weight: 49g case, 80g with strap / Battery life: As much as 100 hours in sensible mode, 48 with AOD on, and 12 days in power-saving mode / Show kind: OLED touchscreen / GPS: Twin-frequency GPS, Beidou, GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, QZSS / Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi / Water resistance: 5ATM / Music storage: 32GB

The $299.99 OnePlus Watch 2 is what a glow-up seems to be like. Whereas the unique OnePlus Watch was horrible, this watch helps fill the void that Fossil left when it mentioned it was pulling out of Android smartwatches — particularly, a viable various to Google and Samsung.

The 47mm case is massive for petite wrists, and sadly, it solely is available in one measurement, nevertheless it’s product of sturdy stainless-steel and sapphire crystal. Plus, it homes a 500mAh battery. That, plus a dual-chip structure and novel twin OS system, ends in tremendous lengthy battery life. How lengthy a smartwatch lasts will, after all, rely in your particular person utilization, however I received practically 4 days with regular use. That’s unimaginable for a flagship.

It additionally has Put on OS 4, making it the one third-party Put on OS watch operating the newest software program. It has Google Assistant from the get-go — a giant achievement since that’s been an issue with different third-party Android watches. Plus, you get entry to the Google Play Retailer for a sturdy app ecosystem. On the health facet of issues, OnePlus added dual-frequency GPS. That’s a plus in the event you’re outdoorsy and frequent difficult GPS environments like dense forests or crowded cities.

The principle belongings you’re giving up are LTE connectivity and a few options like EKGs, atrial fibrillation detection, native interval monitoring, and fall detection. The shortage of mobile is a bummer, because it means you actually ought to hold your telephone on you whenever you’re out and about. Nonetheless, the $300 price ticket is a aggressive one and could also be definitely worth the trade-off given battery life.

That mentioned, OnePlus additionally just lately introduced the OnePlus Watch 3, which can have Put on OS 5, a rotating crown that truly scrolls, higher battery life, an improved GPS antenna, and a bunch of recent well being options. I’m nonetheless within the technique of testing it, so keep tuned for that overview. (Within the meantime, right here’s my hands-on.) You may want to remember, nonetheless, that the Watch 3 is $30 dearer. On the brilliant facet, this additionally means we’ll most likely see reductions on the remaining OnePlus Watch 2 stock within the coming weeks.

Greatest health smartwatch for Android

Sizes: 50mm with 24mm straps / Weight: 44.3g / Battery life: As much as 80 hours / Show kind: OLED touchscreen and secondary ultra-low energy show / GPS: GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, Beidou / Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi / Water resistance: 5ATM / Music storage: 32GB

Mobvoi’s TicWatch lineup has its devoted followers for a cause: tremendous lengthy battery life. The $249.99 TicWatch Professional 5 is not any exception. It’s received an estimated 80 hours of battery life with normal use, a secondary ultra-low energy show, and an enormous (for a smartwatch you put on in your wrist, not less than) 628mAh battery. I didn’t fairly get 80 hours in my testing, however I did get a strong 48-60 hours with heavy GPS use. That outclasses many of the watches on this class (besides the OnePluS Watch 2) and is helpful for backpackers and endurance athletes. It may not maintain a candle to a top-of-the-line Garmin, nevertheless it’s additionally a wiser look ahead to a fraction of the worth.

Battery life apart, the Professional 5 is an efficient choice for fitness-focused individuals who aren’t eager on giving up sensible capabilities for a Garmin or Polar. It’s additionally extra sturdy. This time round, Mobvoi has additionally added a digital crown so that you don’t have to fret about scrolling by menus with sweaty fingers. The flatter facet button additionally reduces the chance of unintended presses.

The Professional 5 additionally has an ingenious methodology of displaying coronary heart charge. While you carry up your arm, the backlight adjustments coloration relying on which coronary heart charge zone you’re in. Which means you’ll be able to immediately gauge whether or not to up the depth or gradual your roll. The Professional 5 additionally provides new coaching metrics, like VO2 Max and restoration time.

The TicWatch helps stress monitoring, all-day blood oxygen monitoring, fatigue assessments, in addition to atrial fibrillation and irregular heartbeat detection. For outdoorsy sorts, it additionally has entry to a number of GNSS methods, and there’s a brand new barometer and compass app, in addition to a one-tap measurement app that offers you a fast take a look at 5 metrics (coronary heart charge, blood oxygen, stress, respiratory charge, and total coronary heart well being).

It’s additionally fairly succesful on the productiveness entrance. You get contactless funds, entry to the Play Retailer, notifications, and the power to take calls. It’s additionally the one Android smartwatch out there within the US with the newest Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 Plus chip, which is a plus by way of futureproofing. The one main considerations are the 50mm case that will not go well with smaller wrists and the dearth of a digital assistant.

And excellent news! Mobvoi introduced the rollout of Put on OS 4 in September, which means all Professional 5 gadgets must be operating the newer working system at this level.

Sizes: 37mm with 18mm straps / Weight: 45g / Battery life: As much as 39 days / Show kind: OLED show / GPS: Tethered GPS / Connectivity: Bluetooth / Water resistance: 5ATM / Music storage: N/A

Hybrid smartwatches are a wonderful option to hold issues easy and refined. The $249.95 Withings ScanWatch Gentle will get you the fundamentals like push notifications, timers, and alarms. On the well being entrance, you’ll be able to observe steps, sleep, menstrual cycles, and GPS exercises. (That mentioned, GPS is tethered out of your telephone, not inbuilt.) The design jogs my memory of a classier Swatch, significantly in the event you get the extra colourful choices in a minty inexperienced or pale blue. However the massive cause the Gentle has dethroned our earlier choose, the Garmin Vivomove Sport, is its extra-long battery life. Withings estimates it lasts as much as 30 days on a single cost, and I received fairly near that in testing with 25 days. Regardless of the Vivomove’s extra interesting $180 price ticket, it solely lasts about 5 days.

If you would like a bit extra out of a hybrid, you may also go for the ScanWatch 2. It’s an additional $100, however you get EKGs and atrial fibrillation detection, temperature sensors, SpO2 readings, and an altimeter for measuring elevation. It additionally seems to be a bit extra elegant on the wrist, partly due to a secondary dial that tracks your every day step progress.

If neither matches your model, the Vivomove Sport remains to be a superb choice that will get you entry to Garmin’s in-depth platform. Its Vivomove Pattern is a barely extra upscale choice that additionally helps Qi charging.

Greatest platform-agnostic health smartwatch

Sizes: 41mm with 18mm straps; 45mm with 22mm straps / Weight: 40g for the 3S; 47g for the three / Battery life: As much as 10 days for 3S; 14 days for 3 / Show kind: OLED touchscreen / GPS: GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO / Connectivity: Bluetooth, Ant Plus, Wi-Fi / Water resistance: 5ATM / Music storage: 8GB

Garmin is finest identified for making rugged GPS watches which have glorious health options however aren’t so sensible in any other case. However the $449.99 Venu 3 caters to individuals who need top-notch health monitoring with out sacrificing productiveness options.

It’s received a colourful and vibrant always-on OLED show and is available in two sizes: 41mm and 45mm. Like its predecessor, the Venu 2 Plus, it additionally has a microphone and speaker so you’ll be able to take and make calls immediately from the wrist. It additionally has a intelligent workaround for digital assistants — it makes use of Bluetooth to work with no matter assistant is already in your telephone. You’d suppose extra health trackers would do that, however they don’t. It labored effectively in testing, although digital assistants aren’t all the time the neatest at understanding instructions.

The Venu 3 doesn’t have one of the best third-party app ecosystem, nevertheless it has Spotify, Deezer, and Amazon Music for offline playback. Android customers may ship fast responses for texts, and the watch works with both iOS or Android for people who wish to hold their choices open. It additionally has fall detection, stay monitoring, and contactless funds.

As for well being options, it has Garmin’s newest coronary heart charge sensor, which permits its FDA-cleared EKG app to detect atrial fibrillation. In any other case, you get built-in GPS, steady coronary heart charge monitoring, the entire superior teaching options within the Garmin Join app, and Garmin’s well-known in-depth well being knowledge. The Venu 3 additionally improves sleep monitoring with nap detection and provides audio-guided meditation periods. There’s additionally a brand new wheelchair mode.

This isn’t probably the most hardcore Garmin that cash should buy, nevertheless it’s positively the neatest. The value is a bit excessive in comparison with most smartwatches, however by Garmin requirements, it’s middle-of-the-pack.

Greatest funds Android smartwatch

Measurement: 43mm w/ 20mm straps / Weight: 29.5g for traditional, 31.7g for premium / Battery life: As much as 10 days / Show kind: OLED touchscreen / GPS: 5 GNSS methods / Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi / Water resistance: 5ATM / Music storage: N/A

Amazfit’s made a reputation for itself making funds wearables that punch far above their weight. The $99.99 Amazfit Energetic 2 is not any exception.

The Energetic 2 is a surprisingly spiffy watch contemplating its value. The usual model has a chrome steel case with tempered glass, and in the event you shell out $30 further, you may get the premium mannequin with sapphire crystal and an additional leather-based strap. Usually I don’t get compliments whereas carrying funds smartwatches, however I received a number of whereas carrying this one.

Whereas it doesn’t run Put on OS, its proprietary Zepp OS makes for a platform-agnostic smartwatch. Characteristic-wise, you get all of the fundamentals after which some. That features issues like steady coronary heart charge monitoring, blood oxygen charge, coronary heart charge variability, stress monitoring, alerts for abnormally excessive and low coronary heart charge, and pores and skin temperature monitoring. You additionally get offline maps with turn-by-turn navigation, 160 completely different sport exercise profiles, and a brand new power coaching exercise that routinely tracks reps. The Energetic 2 doesn’t have dual-frequency GPS, nevertheless it has the following neatest thing: entry to all 5 of the key GNSS satellite tv for pc methods. So far as well being monitoring goes, it additionally emphasizes stylish metrics like a readiness rating and has a revamped sleep monitoring algorithm. Battery life is estimated at about 10 days, although as a heavy consumer, I received round eight to 9 in my testing.

One thing that units the Energetic 2 aside at this value vary is entry to an AI assistant on wrist and AI chatbots throughout the Zepp app. The Zepp Move assistant (on wrist) is somewhat finicky, however you should use it to regulate your watch’s on-device settings and fundamental queries like asking for the climate. The Zepp Aura AI bot prices an additional $77 yearly, and you may ask it to ship insights into your readiness and sleep scores. I discovered it hit and miss, however not less than it’s well-integrated into the app, snappy, and most significantly, elective. Extra helpful is the Zepp Coach, which you should use to generate customized coaching plans.

All in all, I don’t have a lot to gripe about this watch, which is wild given how inexpensive it’s. It actually delivers an outsized bang in your buck. Simply ensure you wipe off any sweaty fingers, since its touchscreen doesn’t deal with them effectively.

Replace, March 4th: Adjusted pricing/availability and added professionals/cons to a number of watches.