Paying for something with your watch is incredibly convenient and a pretty nifty thing to do, only there isn’t just one single payment provider. So, while Google Wallet is available on any Android phone with a Near-Field Communication (NFC) chip, not all of the best smartwatches have it. That could be because the makers are pushing their own payment platform or using their own tailor-made bespoke OS (we’re looking at you, Garmin), or maybe because certain wearables don’t support contactless payments.
If having a smartwatch with Google Wallet is a priority, we’ve got your back by compiling a list of the best smartwatches that currently support Google Wallet. The choices go far beyond Google’s own Pixel Watch 2 with prices as low as $200, giving you a chance to find an option whatever your budget happens to be.
Pull out your Google Wallet and pay with these smartwatches
Google Pixel Watch 2
The Google connection
The stylish-looking Pixel Watch 2 integrates seamlessly with Google Wallet and its other services on top of Fitbit’s health tracking. It’s got a vibrant, yet dimmer, display compared to others, but this watch is the major showpiece for what Wear OS can do.
- Tight Wallet integration
- Works with other Android phones
- Stylish design
- Not as rugged as other models
- Display is dimmer compared to competitors
You could look at the Pixel Watch 2 as having a distinctive edge over others because Google makes the watch, but Google Wallet has more to do with Wear OS than who makes the hardware. Setting up your Wallet on your Android phone essentially sets up the Pixel Watch 2 to make Google Pay readily available at any contactless point-of-sale terminal. An improved digital crown makes it easier to cycle through your cards, and the screen will be responsive even though it lags behind in brightness compared to other models on this list.
Google Pixel Watch 2 review: The watch we wanted last year
Reliable battery life and improved fitness tracking, wrapped up in a near-identical package
On top of Wallet, you also get direct access to Gmail and Calendar, plus the ability to use Google Assistant directly from the watch. Not to mention the Fitbit integration for health and fitness tracking. It looks so similar to the previous Pixel Watch that accessories for that model will work with the Pixel 2 just the same. Even better, Wear OS 4 means you won’t have to reset the watch when transferring to a new phone.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic
All in the bezel
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic brings back the physical rotating bezel that makes nagivating the watch so much easier, including when it’s time to nake a payment straight from your wrist.
- Physical rotating bezel is back
- Excellent Wear OS integration
- Samsung Pay is also readily available
- Limited improvements over previous gen
- Pricey
Samsung straddles a line with the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic as it relates to payments because you have both Google Wallet and Samsung Pay to choose from. The differences between them are varied, but both tap-to-pay platforms enjoy a lot of support from banks and credit card companies. The biggest contrast is that Google Wallet works on all the watches on this list, whereas Samsung Pay is exclusive to Galaxy Watches. Samsung wisely brought back the physical rotating bezel that makes navigating the interface so easy, including cycling through menus and your cards when it’s time to pay.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic review: Iteration with a twist
Mostly minor improvements from the Watch 5, but a fan-favorite feature returns
The build and bezel make the Classic a little on the bigger side with 43mm and 47mm size options. It has one of the brightest screens you’ll find on any smartwatch, and Wear OS gets a different look and feel through Samsung’s own One UI overlay. There’s a lot to use, like tracking dozens of exercises, along with health and sleep tracking by way of the ECG (electrocardiogram), blood oxygen (SpO2), and skin temperature sensors. Like the Pixel Watch 2, there is an LTE variant for this watch to keep it connected independent of your phone. Just watch out for battery life, which may struggle to hit two days with the smaller of the two sizes.
Mobvoi TicWatch E3
Product subtitle, as short as possible (no more than a sentence length), with clear descriptive words to indicate the target buyer.
Despite the lower cost, the Mobvoi TicWatch E3 still includes NFC, so Google Wallet is ready to go. So is Wear OS, which is more effective on this watch now that it’s running Wear OS 3.
- Wear OS 3 makes a difference
- Wide app availability, including Wallet
- Stronger battery life
- Hardware shows its age
- Switching phones requires a reset
Mobvoi gave the TicWatch E3 a new lease on life when it finally delivered the long-awaited update to Wear OS 3, and while it’s still unclear what the future holds for it running Wear OS 4, Google Wallet works on it, nonetheless. It unfortunately leaves Google Assistant out, leaving you only Alexa as an option — assuming you’re cool with sideloading it. Either way, the improved software situation now smooths things over in many ways, not least of which is getting around and avoiding any issues at point-of-sale.
Mobvoi TicWatch E3 review: All dressed up with nowhere to go
An artificially long wait for Wear OS 3.0 could be a hindrance
Better health and fitness tracking adds automatic exercise tracking for a small select number of exercises, bolstered further outdoors by built-in GPS. Mobvoi doesn’t shy away from offering a number of its own applets to cover activity tracking, health, and other features, like audio playback controls and phone calls. Battery life should hold up well, lasting up to two days with the always-on display and constant GPS tracking. With those off, you can expect up to five days per charge.
OnePlus Watch 2
Big, bold, and bountiful
The OnePlus Watch 2 is the first from the brand to run on Wear OS, and that brings a host of apps and features to your wrist, including Google Wallet. You also don’t need a OnePlus phone to use it.
- Longer battery life
- Google Wallet ready to go
- OnePlus phone not required
- Crown rotates, yet does nothing
- Software needs tweaking
The OnePlus Watch 2 marks a return for OnePlus to wearables and a debut in that it’s the company’s first running Wear OS. Supporting Wear OS means Google Wallet is available, letting you conveniently pay for things from your wrist while wearing it. Just keep your phone handy because there is no LTE variant here. The good news is you will likely do it for longer than you could with any other Wear OS watch, as this model offers the best battery life of the bunch, going for up to four days per charge. The big reason why is because it combines the Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 processor with a low-power BES2700 co-processor running RTOS (Real Time Operating System), the latter of which handles background processes related to the health sensors and connectivity with your paired phone.
OnePlus Watch 2 review: Worth it for the battery alone
With two chipsets and two operating systems, the OnePlus Watch 2 offers revelatory battery life — but not much more
You won’t need a OnePlus phone to take advantage of all the features available because none of them are held back with any exclusivity. You may have to at least consider the 47mm size, which is bigger than most in the same sub-category. Plus, you’ll be touching the screen a lot because the digital crown doesn’t scroll in spite of the fact it rotates with ease. Software and health tracking are pretty good, though could be better if OnePlus commits to software and firmware updates to close any gaps.
Fitbit Sense 2
Pay like all the others do
Google’s acquisition of Fitbit means certain Google apps will work on devices like the Sense 2, and that includes Google Wallet, ensuring you have a way to pay while wearing it on your wrist.
- Google Maps and Wallet onboard
- Good health tracking features
- Solid battery life
- No third-party app support
- No music functionality
The Sense 2 is the most feature-rich of Fitbit’s current lineup, though it attempts to add by subtraction. For instance, it tracks workouts like any Fitbit does, taking it another level if you stick with Fitbit Premium and all the content it offers. It also has more onboard sensors to monitor heart health, stress levels, skin temperature, blood oxygen, and sleep patterns, keeping tabs on them all to give you an idea of your overall health with a readiness score so you know when to work out or rest for recovery.
Fitbit Sense 2 review: Just buy a smartwatch
This fitness tracker has no business costing $300 in 2022
All of that comes with changes in that you don’t get the same level of third-party app support of previous Fitbit smartwatches. YouTube Music is the only music app available, though Google integrates Google Wallet and Maps into the Sense 2, making it a rarity in that it supports the platform despite not running on Wear OS. Once you’re set up, you can pay through it just like any other watch on this list. Additionally, you benefit from stellar battery life to the tune of up to six days per charge.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 6
Samsung’s best watch without the bulk
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 is a premium Wear OS smartwatch that only differs from the Classic in its smaller and svelte design. A deep software experience ensures you can do plenty while wearing it.
- Bigger and brighter screen
- Google Pay and Samsung Pay
- Smooth overall software performance
- Not a big upgrade over Watch 5
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 is what you get if you don’t want the heft and weight of the Galaxy 6 Classic. The haptic bezel on this watch won’t match the precision of the Classic, but you don’t lose out on anything else from a functional perspective. It comes in two sizes, 40mm and 44mm, appealing to a wider range of wrist sizes. It shares the same boost in screen brightness as its larger sibling, and effectively runs the same software combination of Wear OS with Samsung’s One UI overlay. Health and sleep tracking is the same, as are the ECG (electrocardiogram), blood oxygen (SpO2), and skin temperature sensors.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 review: Bright but never bold
Call it boring, but it’s still the best Android smartwatch, hands down
You have the choice to go with Google Wallet or Samsung Pay, but if you choose the former, you can expect it to work like a charm. There is an LTE variant for this watch as well, letting you pay for things even when your phone isn’t nearby. Battery life won’t wow you at up to two days per charge. Nor should you expect a big hardware or software upgrade over the Galaxy Watch 5, which received many of the same software upgrades via its own software update from Samsung.
Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5
This one’s a two-for-one deal
The Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 is a versatile smartwatch with a broader set of features and compatibility, right down to the ability to use Google Wallet. A dual-layer display also serves as battery-saving tool.
- Effective dual-layer display
- Good set of features
- Excellent battery life
- Still no Wear OS 4
- Still no Google Assistant
The TicWatch Pro 5 is a more premium option from Mobvoi, running on Wear OS 3.5. What makes this watch interesting is that it uses a proprietary dual-layer display consisting of a low-power LCD panel and primary OLED display to improve battery life. The LCD sticks to basics, like time and date, step count, heart rate, and other quick numbers, while the OLED shows everything from Wear OS, including apps and notifications. This is also the screen that will always display Google Wallet whenever you need it.
Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 review: Battery bliss
The TicWatch Pro 5 offers great performance and battery life, but it’s not without its flaws
Unfortunately, the upgrade to Wear OS 3.5 silenced Google Assistant, so you’re left without the popular voice assistant until (or unless) Mobvoi brings it back with a subsequent software update. At least battery life benefits greatly from the dual-layer display, getting you to three days between charges. That’s good for the health and fitness tracking available, where there are over 100 sports and exercises to choose from.
Fitbit Versa 4
Run with your wallet on your wrist
The Fitbit Versa 4 is slightly below the Sense 2 because it’s missing the additional sensors in that device, but one thing they share in common, aside from fitness features, is access to Google Wallet.
- Good fitness tracking features
- Google Wallet works just fine
- Solid battery life
- Missing Sense 2’s additional sensors
- No emergency SOS
In fairness, the Versa 4 functions more like part-smartwatch, part-fitness tracker because it lacks the additional sensors in the Fitbit Sense 2, and offers no other third-party support. Where it excels is in tracking exercise, thanks to built-in GPS and a slew of exercise modes that only expand further when using Fitbit Premium to follow an instructor or training regimen to keep pushing yourself. With Google Maps, you can also keep track of a route as you go along. When not working out, it still tracks heart rate and sleep quality, syncing all the data to the Fitbit app.
It does, however, run Google Wallet the same way, making it and the Sense 2 the only non-Wear OS smartwatches capable of doing so. By extension, it’s the only thing resembling a sole fitness tracker that can do it. Battery life is superb by comparison to the smartwatches here, going up to a week per charge depending on how you use it.
Tap to pay with Google Wallet
After a dicey few years when Wear OS devices were few and far between, smartwatches with Google Wallet are finally coming into their own. Spurred by Google’s entry into the market with the original Pixel Watch and the newer Watch 2, plus Samsung’s abandonment of its own Tizen operating system, Wear OS continues to evolve, but Google’s acquisition of Fitbit also shows that Google Wallet can run on other platforms as well.
The number of devices worth recommending is getting longer, albeit slowly, and the Google Pixel Watch 2 is our best overall pick for the simple fact that it was built to integrate Google’s own apps and services. The feature-packed, premium Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic is a lovely pick if money is no object, complete with a nifty rotating physical bezel, and if you prefer something less hefty, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 provides the same excellent performance and value. Hopefully, we’ll see more Google Wallet-supporting smartwatches in the years ahead, but if you’re buying today, there are plenty of solid options to choose from.
Google Pixel Watch 2
Easy way, easy pay
The Google Pixel Watch 2 largely sticks with the same design of the previous model, running on Wear OS 4 with easy access to Google Wallet for convenient tap-to-pay from your wrist.
