The seven greatest Android smartwatches in 2024

After a protracted stretch of slim pickings, the final couple of years have been large 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 remains 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 on the horizon. Nonetheless, the bigger ecosystem remains to be catching up. Some options, like Google Assistant, should not but accessible on sure Put on OS 3 smartwatches, and Put on OS 4 nonetheless isn’t broadly accessible. Even so, the Android wearable ecosystem is barreling forward. Later this month, we’re anticipating to see Samsung’s newest and biggest at its annual Unpacked occasion. Rumor has it that on prime of a refreshed Galaxy Watch 7, Samsung additionally has a beefier, sports-focused Galaxy Watch Extremely on deck.

Should you’d reasonably 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 pay attention to the chip and Put on OS model powering your watch. Mobvoi, as an 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 incredible watch, chances are you’ll wish to wait till there are extra W5 Plus watches to select from. That mentioned, 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 appropriate match, you possibly can at all times take a look at 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: At all times-on OLED / GPS: Constructed-in GPS / Connectivity: LTE (non-compulsory), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi / Water resistance: As much as 50 meters, IP68 / Music storage: 16GB

When you’ve got a Samsung telephone, you’ll get essentially the most mileage out of a Samsung smartwatch. And of the three watches Samsung has in its present lineup, I like to recommend the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Traditional. Whereas Samsung is predicted to launch a brand new Galaxy Watch 7 quickly, we’re not anticipating to see a refresh for the Traditional. Meaning you should be seeing some good offers for the Galaxy Watch 6 sequence quickly — and the bodily rotating bezel is price it.

Mentioned rotating bezel is now 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 barely barely greater at 43mm and 47mm. I’ve small wrists, however the 47mm was nonetheless fairly comfy for on a regular basis put on. It’s launching with Put on OS 4, which provides prolonged battery life, and eventually, cloud backups. One UI 5 Watch additionally provides some minor well being and sleep monitoring enhancements, however it will finally make its approach to older fashions. Whereas I want the Traditional, the bottom Watch 6 mannequin stands out as the higher choice if you need a smaller, lighter, sleeker, and cheaper smartwatch.

Total, the Galaxy Watch 6 sequence is an iterative replace, however I recognize that battery life has improved to the purpose the place I’m not anxious whether or not it’ll final me your complete day. In fact, your mileage will differ relying in your particular person use and which settings you allow. For instance, turning on steady SpO2 sensing at evening could make the battery drain quicker, however utilizing bedtime mode can mitigate that so that you solely lose 10–15 % in a single day as an alternative of 25–30 %.

Should you’re on a funds, there’s the brand new $199.99 Galaxy Watch FE, which is basically a rebadged Galaxy Watch 4. Final 12 months’s $449.99 Galaxy Watch 5 Professional may also get you an incredible total expertise. It’s not an enormous improve from the Galaxy Watch 4, however the primary advantages of the Professional over different fashions are further sturdiness, neat GPS options, and battery life. I like to recommend choosing the Professional for those who’re a weekend warrior or if multiday battery life is your prime precedence. We acquired as much as 65 hours in testing, although for those who allow the always-on show, you’ll extra seemingly get round 48 to 50 hours. Nonetheless, that’s a notable bump over the Galaxy Watch 6 sequence, the bottom Watch 5, and the Watch 4 lineup. Software program updates (and greater batteries on newer fashions) have improved the battery life on these watches, however you’ll nonetheless need to cost them each day or each different day. And the Pixel Watch solely lasts round 24 hours.

The change to Put on OS means you’re getting a way more sturdy third-party app expertise than on Tizen-powered Samsung smartwatches, just like the Galaxy Watch 3 and the Galaxy Watch Lively lineup. You additionally get extra flexibility on providers than with every other Put on OS watch. For instance, if you wish to kick Bixby to the curb in favor of Google Assistant, you possibly can. If you would like a extra in-depth have a look at how the Galaxy Watch 5 stacks up in comparison with the Pixel Watch particularly, you possibly can take a look at our Versus video. (The vast majority of the factors nonetheless apply to the Watch 6, as not an entire lot has modified.)

Samsung Well being additionally delivers an excellent total health monitoring expertise, particularly since you possibly can allow turn-by-turn navigation for climbing and biking actions. Samsung is increasing this to embody walks and runs with One UI 5 Watch. 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. 

We don’t essentially advocate the Galaxy Watch 6 sequence or 5 Professional for those who don’t have a Samsung telephone. EKGs require the Samsung Well being Monitor app, which is proscribed to Samsung telephones. Additionally, when you can customise the buttons to launch your digital assistant of selection, the shortcut for contactless funds is difficult coded to Samsung Pay / Pockets — which can also be gated to Samsung telephones until you sideload the APK — and requires you to enroll in Samsung’s service. You may work round it, however all Samsung watches work greatest with different Samsung units.

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

Sizes: 41mm / Weight: 31g / Battery life: Roughly 24 hours with AOD enabled / Show kind: At all times-on OLED / GPS: Constructed-in GPS / Connectivity: LTE (non-compulsory), 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 total 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 telephone you could have; you’ll get the identical expertise regardless. That mentioned, its name screening characteristic will solely work for those who pair it with a Tensor-equipped Pixel telephone. It’s a little bit disappointing, however in comparison with Samsung, the Pixel Watch 2 doesn’t gatekeep well being options based mostly on what telephone you could have. It’s additionally at all times going to have the most recent updates to Google providers like Google Maps, Google Pockets, YouTube Music, and Google Assistant as a result of, effectively, it’s Google’s smartwatch. With the Pixel Watch 2, Google additionally added Calendar and Gmail to its record 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. 

Crucial improve from final 12 months is that the battery reliably lasts 24 hours with the always-on show enabled. A few of that is as a result of extra power-efficient Put on OS 4 and a brand new Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 processor. (It additionally means zippier efficiency total.) It’s additionally switched to a pin-charging system, which interprets to a lot quicker charging. You may 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 achieved 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 permits 40 % extra correct coronary heart charge monitoring for vigorous workout routines. Plus, you possibly can 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 replicate in your temper, take a stroll, or do a respiratory train. It’s imperfect, however it’s top-of-the-line implementations of mindfulness options we’ve seen up to now.

Google has additionally launched new private security options. Security Examine is a proactive timer that can ship your location to family members for those who’re in a pickle. You set an exercise (i.e., taking public transportation or strolling alone) and a timer period. Should you don’t test in when the timer goes off, your location will robotically be shared along with your emergency contacts. One other neat characteristic is Security Sign. Should you get an LTE watch and have a Fitbit Premium subscription, you don’t want an energetic LTE plan so as to make the most of emergency providers. Talking of security, Google additionally added crash detection in a latest replace and improved fall detection for bicycles.

One factor to be conscious of is sturdiness. Whereas the domed show is gorgeous, we cracked the display on the unique Pixel Watch and acquired 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 could have extra alternative 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 appropriate route.

We’re anticipating to see a brand new Pixel Watch 3 introduced someday in August at the Made by Google occasion. Meaning you would possibly begin seeing Pixel Watch 2 reductions within the subsequent few weeks. Should you’re hoping for an even bigger measurement, chances are you’ll wish to maintain off, as rumor has it we may very well be seeing a Pixel Watch 3 XL.

Learn my full Google Pixel Watch 2 evaluate.

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 appears to be like 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 — specifically, 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 product of sturdy chrome steel and sapphire crystal. Plus, it homes a 500mAh battery. That, plus a dual-chip structure and novel twin OS system, leads to tremendous lengthy battery life. How lengthy a smartwatch lasts will in fact rely in your particular person utilization, however I acquired almost 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 most recent 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 strong app ecosystem. On the health facet of issues, OnePlus added dual-frequency GPS. That’s a plus for those who’re outdoorsy and frequent difficult GPS environments like dense forests or crowded cities.

The primary stuff you’re giving up are LTE connectivity and a few options like EKGs, atrial fibrillation detection, native interval monitoring, and fall detection. The dearth 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 well worth the tradeoff given battery life.

Learn my evaluate 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 acquired an estimated 80 hours of battery life with commonplace use, a secondary ultra-low energy show, and a large (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 stable 48-60 hours even with heavy GPS use. That outclasses a lot of the watches on this class (besides the OnePluS watch 2) and is helpful for backpackers and endurance athletes. It won’t maintain a candle to a top-of-the-line Garmin, however it’s additionally a wiser look ahead to a fraction of the worth.

Battery life apart, the Professional 5 is an effective 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 facet button additionally reduces the chance of unintentional presses.

The Professional 5 additionally has an ingenious methodology of displaying coronary heart charge. Once you carry up your arm, the backlight modifications colour relying on which coronary heart charge zone you’re in. Meaning you possibly can 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 have 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 flexibility to take calls. It’s additionally the one Android smartwatch accessible within the US with the most recent Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 Plus chip, which is a plus by way of futureproofing. The one main considerations are the 50mm case that won’t go well with smaller wrists and the dearth of a digital assistant.

The excellent news is Mobvoi lately opened up functions for a Put on OS 4 beta program for this watch. It’s not the large 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 evaluate 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 approach to hold issues easy and delicate. The $249.95 Withings ScanWatch Gentle will get you the fundamentals like push notifications, timers, and alarms. On the well being entrance, you possibly can monitor steps, sleep, menstrual cycles, and GPS exercises. (That mentioned, GPS is tethered out of your telephone, not in-built.) The design jogs my memory of a classier Swatch, significantly for those who get the extra colourful choices in a minty inexperienced or pale blue. However the huge cause the Gentle has dethroned our earlier decide, 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 acquired 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 can even 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 appears to be like 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 remains to be an excellent 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 evaluate of the Withings ScanWatch 2 and Gentle.

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 greatest recognized for making rugged GPS watches which have wonderful 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 acquired 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 possibly can 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 assume extra health trackers would do that, however they don’t. It labored effectively in testing, although digital assistants aren’t at all times the neatest at understanding instructions.

The Venu 3 doesn’t have one of the best third-party app ecosystem, however it has Spotify, Deezer, and Amazon Music for offline playback. Android customers also can 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, dwell monitoring, and contactless funds.

As for well being options, it has Garmin’s newest coronary heart charge sensor, which allows 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 essentially the most hardcore Garmin that cash should purchase, however 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.

Learn my Garmin Venu 3S evaluate.

Measurement: 46mm w/ 22mm straps / Weight: 34g / Battery life: As much as 14 days / Show kind: OLED touchscreen / GPS: Twin-frequency and 6 GNSS methods / 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 persistently impressed by the GTR line of smartwatches through the years, 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 characteristic that Apple and Garmin solely lately launched to their higher-end smartwatches. Or, for those who wish to plan your personal path runs or hikes, you possibly can import your personal GPS routes, too. It tracks 150 sports activities and options all-day steady coronary heart charge monitoring. You can even monitor stress, sleep, and SpO2 ranges. For sensible options, you possibly can take calls on the wrist, and it has two digital assistants: Alexa and a proprietary offline assistant. The gadget additionally syncs with Strava and Adidas Operating. 

The GTR 4 isn’t one of the best smartwatch round. Flagship watches can do every little thing the GTR 4 can do however in a sleeker, extra polished package deal. Nonetheless, they will’t do it at this value. If value is your foremost precedence, this will get you unimaginable bang in your buck. Plus, you possibly can steadily discover Amazfit units on sale. The icing on the cake is it really works simply as effectively on Android because it does on iOS.

Learn my full evaluate of the Amazfit GTR 4.

Replace, July 2nd, 1:41PM ET: Added new details about forthcoming Samsung Galaxy Watches and Pixel Watch 3.