The very best smartwatches for Android proper now

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

However that is nonetheless a transitional period. Whereas we’re inspired by the stronger third-party app choices, the market continues to be fragmented. Put on OS 4 is right here for Samsung’s Galaxy Watches and each variations of the Pixel Watch — and now, the OnePlus Watch 2. Put on OS 5 is right here. Nevertheless, the bigger ecosystem continues to be catching up. Some options, like Google Assistant, will not be but obtainable on sure Put on OS 3 smartwatches, and Put on OS 4 nonetheless isn’t broadly obtainable. Even so, the Android wearable ecosystem is barreling forward. Samsung simply launched the Galaxy Watch FE, Galaxy Watch 7 and Galaxy Watch Extremely. Later this month, we’re additionally anticipating to see a brand new Pixel Watch 3.

If you happen to’d reasonably wait till Put on OS settles down a bit, there are platform-agnostic smartwatches and health watches you should buy within the meantime. In any other case, you’ll need to pay attention to the chip and Put on OS model powering your watch. Mobvoi, for example, solely simply began rolling out Put on OS 3 to its eligible Put on OS 2 watches. Talking of Mobvoi, its TicWatch Professional 5 was the primary to sport the brand new Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 Plus within the US, and whereas it’s an excellent watch, you could need to wait till there are extra W5 Plus watches to select from. That stated, the bottom W5 chip can also be fairly good. The Pixel Watch 2 and OnePlus Watch 2 each sport the W5 and have notably higher 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 proper match, you may at all times try our health tracker information. 

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

In case you have a Samsung cellphone, 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 simply launched the Galaxy Watch 7, there wasn’t a refresh for the Traditional. Which means you should be seeing some good offers for the Traditional quickly, if not already. It’s not usually that I like to recommend a last-gen machine however such is my deep love for the bodily rotating bezel.

However, if you’d like the newest and biggest, the Galaxy Watch 7 provides an upgraded 3nm Exynos W1000 chip and a brand new 3-in-1 BioActive sensor. It’s a marginal enchancment over final 12 months’s fashions, however I don’t really feel like Samsung launched something this 12 months that requires having them. It additionally has Put on OS 5 and One UI 6 Watch, however that’ll ultimately make its approach again to the older watches, too. Largely, I like to recommend the 7 if you happen to want a smaller measurement, don’t care in regards to 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 greater 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 at last, cloud backups. One UI 5 Watch additionally provides some minor well being and sleep monitoring enhancements, however this may ultimately make its strategy to older fashions. Whereas I want the Traditional, the bottom Watch 6 mannequin will be the higher choice if you’d like a smaller, lighter, sleeker, and cheaper smartwatch.

For extra outdoorsy people, the $649.99 Galaxy Watch Extremely may be the extra good choice. Of all Samsung’s watches, it has the perfect 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 mainly an Apple Watch Extremely for Android.

In the meantime, if you happen to’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 general health monitoring expertise, particularly since you may allow turn-by-turn navigation for mountain climbing and biking actions. We weren’t too impressed with nightly SpO2 readings, however Samsung’s general 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’s added a brand new Vitality rating, AI-powered wellness insights, FDA-cleared sleep apnea detection, and a complicated AGEs Index metric for metabolic well being. Whereas the Vitality 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 suggest the Galaxy Watches if you happen to don’t have a Samsung cellphone. EKGs and sleep apnea detection require the Samsung Well being Monitor app, which is restricted to Samsung telephones. You’ll be able to work round it, however all Samsung watches work finest with different Samsung units.

Learn my full overview of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 sequence.

Sizes: 41mm / Weight: 31g / 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 2 is a big enchancment over the unique. The Galaxy Watch 6 lineup will nonetheless get you a extra polished general expertise, however the Pixel Watch 2 is the higher selection for Android customers who aren’t on a Samsung smartphone.

That’s due to ecosystems. Some options of Samsung’s watches solely work with Samsung telephones. Broadly talking, the Pixel Watch doesn’t care what Android cellphone you’ve gotten; you’ll get the identical expertise regardless. That stated, its name screening function will solely work if you happen to pair it with a Tensor-equipped Pixel cellphone. It’s somewhat disappointing, however in comparison with Samsung, the Pixel Watch 2 doesn’t gatekeep well being options based mostly on what cellphone you’ve gotten. It’s additionally at all times going to have the newest updates to Google companies like Google Maps, Google Pockets, YouTube Music, and Google Assistant as a result of, properly, it’s Google’s smartwatch. With the Pixel Watch 2, Google additionally added Calendar and Gmail to its listing of supported apps. Talking of which, shopping for the Pixel Watch 2 may also get you a six-month trial of Fitbit Premium and a one-month trial of YouTube Music. 

A very powerful improve from final 12 months is that the battery reliably lasts 24 hours with the always-on show enabled. A few of that is because of the extra power-efficient Put on OS 4 and a brand new Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 processor. (It additionally means zippier efficiency general.) It’s additionally switched to a pin-charging system, which interprets to a lot quicker charging. You will get about 50 % in half-hour, and a full cost takes about 75 minutes. Due to a firmware replace, the unique Pixel Watch now expenses extra slowly — so the distinction is further noticeable.

In comparison with final 12 months, Google has additionally finished a greater job this 12 months of integrating Fitbit’s well being and health options. The Pixel Watch 2 now has a multipath sensor that allows 40 % extra correct coronary heart charge monitoring for vigorous workouts. Plus, you may make the most of coronary heart charge zone and tempo coaching — options different health smartwatches have had for a very long time. The train views are additionally simpler to learn. It additionally now has a pores and skin temperature sensor and the Fitbit Sense 2’s steady electrodermal exercise sensor (cEDA). This implies the Pixel Watch 2 is now able to proactive stress monitoring. When indicators of physiological stress are detected, you’ll be prompted to mirror in your temper, take a stroll, or do a respiration train. It’s imperfect, however it’s among the best implementations of mindfulness options we’ve seen up to now.

Google has additionally launched new private security options. Security Test is a proactive timer that may ship your location to family members if you happen to’re in a pickle. You set an exercise (i.e., taking public transportation or strolling alone) and a timer period. If you happen to don’t test in when the timer goes off, your location will mechanically be shared together with your emergency contacts. One other neat function is Security Sign. If you happen to get an LTE watch and have a Fitbit Premium subscription, you don’t want an energetic LTE plan as a way to make the most of emergency companies. Talking of security, Google additionally added crash detection in a current replace and improved fall detection for bicycles.

One factor to be aware of is sturdiness. Whereas the domed show is gorgeous, we cracked the display screen on the unique Pixel Watch and received deep scratches on the Pixel Watch 2. Google doesn’t supply any restore choices, however with the Pixel Watch 2, it has began providing its Most popular Care prolonged guarantee, so you’ve gotten extra substitute choices ought to one thing occur. It’s not perfect because it’s restricted to the US and Canada, however it’s a step in the proper course.

We’re anticipating to see a brand new Pixel Watch 3 introduced on August thirteenth at the Made by Google occasion. Which means you would possibly begin seeing Pixel Watch 2 reductions within the subsequent few weeks. If you happen to’re hoping for a much bigger measurement, you could need to maintain off, as rumor has it we might be seeing a Pixel Watch 3 XL.

Learn my full Google Pixel Watch 2 overview.

Sizes: 47mm w/22mm straps / Weight: 49g case, 80g w/ 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 like. Whereas the unique OnePlus Watch was horrible, this watch helps fill the void that Fossil left when it stated it was pulling out of Android smartwatches — particularly, a viable different to Google and Samsung.

The 47mm case is huge for petite wrists, and sadly, it solely is available in one measurement, however it’s made from 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 working the newest software program. It has Google Assistant from the get-go — an enormous 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 aspect of issues, OnePlus added dual-frequency GPS. That’s a plus if you happen to’re outdoorsy and frequent difficult GPS environments like dense forests or crowded cities.

The principle stuff 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 preserve your cellphone on you if you’re out and about. Nonetheless, the $300 price ticket is a aggressive one and could also be well worth the tradeoff given battery life.

Learn my overview of the OnePlus Watch 2.

Sizes: 50mm w/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 isn’t any exception. It’s received an estimated 80 hours of battery life with customary use, a secondary ultra-low energy show, and an enormous (for a smartwatch you put on in your wrist, at the least) 628mAh battery. I didn’t fairly get 80 hours in my testing, however I did get a strong 48-60 hours even 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, however it’s additionally a better look ahead to a fraction of the value.

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 means of menus with sweaty fingers. The flatter aspect button additionally reduces the danger of unintended presses.

The Professional 5 additionally has an ingenious methodology of displaying coronary heart charge. While you raise up your arm, the backlight modifications colour relying on which coronary heart charge zone you’re in. Which means you may immediately gauge whether or not to up the depth or sluggish 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 varieties, it additionally has entry to a number of GNSS programs, 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 general 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 flexibility to take calls. It’s additionally the one Android smartwatch obtainable within the US with the newest Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 Plus chip, which is a plus by way of futureproofing. The one main issues are the 50mm case that won’t swimsuit smaller wrists and the shortage of a digital assistant.

The excellent news is Mobvoi just lately opened up functions for a Put on OS 4 beta program for this watch. It’s not the huge improve rollout we maybe hoped for, however it’s a signal that Put on OS 4 is probably going on the best way.

Learn my full overview of the Mobvoi TicWatch Professional 5.

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 superb strategy to preserve issues easy and refined. The $249.95 Withings ScanWatch Mild will get you the fundamentals like push notifications, timers, and alarms. On the well being entrance, you may observe steps, sleep, menstrual cycles, and GPS exercises. (That stated, GPS is tethered out of your cellphone, not in-built.) The design jogs my memory of a classier Swatch, notably if you happen to get the extra colourful choices in a minty inexperienced or pale blue. However the huge cause the Mild 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.

In order for you a bit extra out of a hybrid, you too can 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 a bit extra elegant on the wrist, partly due to a secondary dial that tracks your each day step progress.

If neither matches your model, the Vivomove Sport continues 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.

Learn my full overview of the Withings ScanWatch 2 and Mild.

Sizes: 41mm w/ 18mm straps; 45mm w/ 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 may 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 cellphone. You’d suppose extra health trackers would do that, however they don’t. It labored properly in testing, although digital assistants aren’t at all times the neatest at understanding instructions.

The Venu 3 doesn’t have the perfect third-party app ecosystem, however 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 folk who need to preserve their choices open. It additionally has fall detection, reside 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 can purchase, however it’s positively the neatest. The worth is a bit excessive in comparison with most smartwatches, however by Garmin requirements, it’s middle-of-the-pack.

Learn my Garmin Venu 3S overview.

Measurement: 46mm w/ 22mm straps / Weight: 34g / Battery life: As much as 14 days / Show kind: OLED touchscreen / GPS: Twin-frequency and 6 GNSS programs / Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi / Water resistance: 5ATM / Music storage: 2.3GB

Amazfit’s made a reputation for itself making funds wearables that punch far above their weight. I’ve been constantly impressed by the GTR line of smartwatches over time, and the $199.99 GTR 4 isn’t any exception. 

Not solely does it have a traditional look, however you additionally get 14 days of battery life and a colour, always-on OLED show. New to the GTR 4 is dual-band GPS — a function that Apple and Garmin solely just lately launched to their higher-end smartwatches. Or, if you happen to wish to plan your individual path runs or hikes, you may import your individual GPS routes, too. It tracks 150 sports activities and options all-day steady coronary heart charge monitoring. You too can monitor stress, sleep, and SpO2 ranges. For sensible options, you may take calls on the wrist, and it has two digital assistants: Alexa and a proprietary offline assistant. The machine additionally syncs with Strava and Adidas Working. 

The GTR 4 isn’t the perfect smartwatch round. Flagship watches can do the whole lot the GTR 4 can do however in a sleeker, extra polished bundle. Nevertheless, they will’t do it at this value. If value is your important precedence, this will get you unimaginable bang in your buck. Plus, you may incessantly discover Amazfit units on sale. The icing on the cake is it really works simply as properly on Android because it does on iOS.

Learn my full overview of the Amazfit GTR 4.

Replace, August 1st: Added new information in regards to the Galaxy Watch 7 and Extremely.