Android smartwatches can now compete with the best wearables in the business — including the Apple Watch. It no longer matters as much what software the watch runs on, thanks to better features, improved phone integration, more accurate sensors, and tracking you can trust. Staying on top of your health and fitness has never been easier when wielding today’s best Android phones, especially when app support only gets better and better.
The best smartwatches offer tools you can use, like GPS tracking, long battery life, and accurate health monitoring. That’s why you could just as easily view them as some of the best fitness trackers as well. It doesn’t hurt that they look better, too, with sleeker and more refined designs. To help you decide what’s next for your wrist, check out some of the best Android smartwatches available now.
Must-have smartwatches for an Android phone
Samsung Galaxy Watch 6
All-around excellence
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 boasts a complete feature set, including an accurate sensor and a convenient user experience, making it the best smartwatch for most people today. It’s not quite as premium as the Watch 6 Classic, but is a better value and only sacrifices a few features.
- Most of the perks of the Watch 6 Classic
- Bigger display than the Watch 5
- A well-priced, top-shelf Wear OS experience
- Extremely similar to last gen
- No more rotating bezel
The standard Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 offers almost everything the Watch 6 Classic does for considerably less cash, starting at $300 MSRP and now consistently discounted. The two watches share nearly everything, including performance, display, battery life, and software. The standard Watch 6 lacks the 6 Classic’s rotating bezel, though. A minor difference on paper, but many find it a big deal — it’s fun, useful, and helps protect the display from cracks and scratches.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 review: Bright but never bold
Call it boring, but it’s still the best Android smartwatch, hands down
But the option to skip that single feature to save $100 is very appealing — the standard Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 represents a top-shelf Wear OS experience for a lower price. The previous-generation Galaxy Watch 5 and even the Galaxy Watch 4 that came before also closely resemble the newer Watch 6, but their availability and precision don’t quite match. So, if you’re buying a current-generation watch, the Galaxy Watch 6 is the best way to spend your money right now.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic
King of the Wear OS hill
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic is the best Wear OS watch you can buy if you can stomach the relatively high cost. It runs the latest Wear OS 4, has better-than-average battery life, offers great performance with Samsung’s Exynos W930 chipset, and has a bright, vivid screen. It also reintroduces the rotating bezel we missed in the Galaxy Watch 5 series.
- Great display
- Better battery life than the last generation
- Wear OS 4 in tow
- $100 upcharge for that clicky rotating bezel
- Limited improvements from last gen
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic is our favorite Wear OS watch overall. It’s yet another light generational refresh of Samsung’s tried-and-true Wear OS platform, but it’s the most refined version yet, featuring a slimmer build, larger displays, slightly faster performance, and longer battery life than the Galaxy Watch 5. It also brings back Samsung’s trademark rotating bezel for navigating menus — not an essential feature, but one we sorely missed in the Watch 5 series.
All the fundamentals are rock solid here: the Watch 6 Classic has strong battery life (especially in the larger 47mm version), the smoothest performance of any Wear OS watch you can get right now, and great, vibrant displays across both sizes. Along with the standard Galaxy Watch 6, it also marks the debut of Wear OS 4 — though, for now, that doesn’t mean a lot compared to the Wear OS 3.5 some other watches on this list are running.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic review: Iteration with a twist
Mostly minor improvements from the Watch 5, but a fan-favorite feature returns
If you’re rocking a Galaxy Watch 5 or even a Galaxy Watch 4 and its battery is holding up, there isn’t a lot of incentive to jump on the Watch 6 Classic. However, if you’re coming from an older wearable or buying your first, this is as good as it gets in Wear OS today.
Mobvoi TicWatch E3
Inexpensive with great battery life
While it’s nowhere near new, the Ticwatch E3 sports capable hardware and a reasonable price, in addition to frequent discounts that bring it well below $200. Its 2023 update to Wear OS 3 is also clear evidence that it’s still an excellent choice, offering great performance and convenience for years to come.
- Snappy Wear 4100 chipset
- Two full days on a charge, even with the always-on display
- Runs Wear OS 3.5
- Thicker than we’d like
- LCD doesn’t quite match competing OLEDs
With Qualcomm’s Wear 4100 chip, a whole gig of RAM, and a January 2024 update to Wear OS 3.5, Mobvoi’s TicWatch E3 offers a lot of value for a relatively modest $200. Mobvoi went with a lower-cost LCD to hit that low price, which means lower contrast and no perfect OLED blacks. Still, even with that less efficient display type, battery life stretches well into a second day. An optional Essential Mode also limits the watch’s functionality but boosts battery life significantly.
Mobvoi TicWatch E3 review: All dressed up with nowhere to go
An artificially long wait for Wear OS 3.0 could be a hindrance
The TicWatch E3 has an MSRP of $200 but is regularly available for less. If you’re looking for a super affordable way to try Wear OS and you catch a good sale on the E3, you’ll be getting a decent experience — but we’d encourage you to save a little longer for something more robust if you can.
Google Pixel Watch 2
Google’s watch is a looker
The Google Pixel Watch 2 is the sequel to Google’s first self-branded smartwatch. The second generation doesn’t reinvent the wheel, instead offering a handful of low-key improvements like a redesigned digital crown, Wear OS 4 out of the box, and a newer chipset that should offer better performance and battery life.
- Super stylish
- Genuine all-day battery life
- Wear OS 4 out of the box
- Display is slower (30Hz) and dimmer (1,000 nits peak) than some options
- Screen still has those big bezels
- A little spendy
If you’re out for something with a little more panache, the Google Pixel Watch 2 might be up your alley. At an MSRP of $350, the Pixel Watch 2 is less expensive than our top pick, the $400 Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic, but looks like it could cost much more.
It’s not just looks, the Pixel Watch 2 is also a good smartwatch: it’s responsive, has a solid fitness tracker with deep Fitbit integration, and has totally acceptable battery life. While the first-generation Pixel Watch often struggled to make it 24 hours away from a charger, the Pixel Watch 2 can much more easily make it through a full day and night of use, even with the always-on display active.
In addition, Google is constantly adding functionality with feature drops, and you can expect closer integration with the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro, making for an impressive Google ecosystem package.
But realistically, the premium price you’re paying here is mostly for the style. The Pixel Watch 2 shares the original’s distinctive domed design and proprietary rotating band mechanism, creating a look that’s very distinct from what other smartwatch manufacturers are offering. Whether it looks good is subjective (we certainly think it does), but it’s hard to argue it’s not interesting.
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
The second generation still has a 30Hz display with relatively chunky bezels, and it still only comes in one size, but the Pixel Watch 2 should be on your shortlist if you want a sleek-looking wearable.
Garmin Venu 3
A balanced approach
This Garmin smartwatch has a vibrant 1.4-inch AMOLED display, and with the slew of tracking features, the Venu 3 checks off a lot of boxes. With superb app support, outstanding battery life, and satellite connectivity, there is a lot to work with when it’s time to work out.
- Solid GPS to track outdoor runs, walks
- Store audio for remote playback
- Outstanding battery life
- No crown controls
- No built-in maps
- Proprietary charger
Garmin’s smartwatches aren’t known for being flashy, but they have a well-earned reputation for keeping you honest as an athlete. This isn’t a focused running watch like a Forerunner, nor a super rugged model like a Fenix — it feels more like a smartwatch that’s easier for first-time Garmin users.
A large 1.4-inch AMOLED display gives the Venu 3 a more visual presence, even if the crown doesn’t really do anything to augment the touchscreen. There’s no Wear OS here, thus limiting third-party app support, but you can expect Garmin Pay to work, and to take phone calls using the onboard speaker and microphone.
Where the Venu 3 truly shines is in the sheer amount of health and fitness tracking available. A key one is Body Battery, which takes activity, sleep, and stress metrics to come up with a score to help you gauge how ready you are for the next run or workout. There are women’s health features to track menstrual cycles, as well as the ability to take on workout plans and training regimens through Garmin Coach and the Garmin Connect app.
You can also track over 30 different sports and activities that range in focus, be it major sports or workouts, like cardio, yoga, HIIT, and Pilates, among others. Unfortunately, the built-in GPS doesn’t mean you get built-in maps, so you can track distance, but not necessarily see the route you took on the watch.
Garmin Venu 3 smartwatch review: The best Venu yet
Garmin added an onboard speaker and third side button, but the real superstar is the Venu 3’s battery
The built-in heart rate monitor stays accurate, while the SpO2 sensor keeps tabs on blood oxygen saturation levels at all times. Intuitive sleep tracking can tell when you’re sleeping well — or not well at all — influencing your overall score to determine the right time to break a sweat again.
When you’re ready, you can download music from Spotify, Amazon Music, and Deezer to keep your phone away during any run or workout. With all this going on, battery life holds up extremely well at 7–14 days per charge, depending on how much you use GPS tracking and the always-on display. Just try to avoid losing the proprietary charger.
OnePlus Watch 2
Wear more, charge less
This is OnePlus’ second watch, but first foray into Wear OS, and it largely works out with a solid mix of hardware and software. Outstanding battery life underpins the entire experience, though some updates will be necessary to iron out some kinks.
- Four-day battery life
- Wonderful design, good performance
- OnePlus phone not required
- Crown rotates but does nothing
- Still kinks to work out on software
OnePlus returned to wearables after a few years on the sidelines by releasing the OnePlus Watch 2 at an MSRP of $300, its first Wear OS device. It’s a unique design combines Wear OS with RTOS, an older interface running in tandem to handle background tasks, like monitoring health sensors and communicating with your phone to let Wear OS focus on everything else.
While the AMOLED display is large and responsive to touch, the digital crown rotates without doing anything — not even scrolling — which is a surprising twist (pun intended) for this watch. The software and health tracking experiences are mixed bags, but also open to improvement with proper software updates, so we’ll see how OnePlus approaches any shortcomings going forward.
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
The OnePlus Watch 2 only comes in one 47mm size, and without an LTE variant to consider, you will need your phone handy to take advantage of all connected features. The big win for this watch is in battery life, where it outlasts all other Wear OS models before a recharge is necessary. There is plenty of internal storage with most of the 32GB available out of the box, leaving space for apps and music to save.
Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro
Unique display opportunity
The Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro takes much of what worked on the previous model and adds some tweaks to make it more refined and reliable. This Wear OS watch offers some snappy performance and incredible battery life thanks to its dual-layer display tech.
- Fast performance
- Killer battery life
- Nifty dual-layer display
- On the large side
- No Google Assistant
- Still no Wear OS 4
The Mobvoi Ticwatch Pro 5 Enduro isn’t a makeover from the previous TicWatch Pro 5, but it does cut a more refined look to make it among the most appealing Wear OS watches available right now. It retains the top-shelf performance and battery life (a full three days on a single charge) that made the previous one such an interesting alternative from other big name competitors.
Some notable changes this time around include sapphire crystal to protect the display, a fluororubber band, and fast charging that provides two days of battery life from a 30-minute charge. While slightly thinner, it’s a touch heavier as well. It’s still a big watch, too, and its multi-day battery life is facilitated by a secondary LCD layer that can be tough to read in some situations.
Possibly worse, there’s still no Google Assistant access, and Mobvoi hasn’t said when (or if) that’ll change. We’re also eager to hear Mobvoi’s plans for Wear OS 4 support, given this one comes with 3.5 out of the box.
Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro review: An iterative update to a great watch
A refined TicWatch Pro 5 experience, but some lingering flaws remain
At $350, the TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro is another premium option, but its better durability and battery life make it a more practical purchase for many buyers. If you can live without Google Assistant on your wrist, and you’re comfortable not knowing when (or if) you’ll see Wear OS 4, Mobvoi’s latest should be a contender for your next Wear OS watch.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro
Great battery life and exclusive features
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro doesn’t have Samsung’s Classic-style rotating bezel, but it does support GPX mapping for outdoor athletes, making it a unique Wear OS option.
- Large screen, large battery
- Durable titanium case
- GPX map support
- Very expensive at MSRP
- No rotating bezel
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 series launched in August, but the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is still readily available. Unlike the standard Galaxy Watch 5, which was replaced by the newer Watch 6 as Samsung’s default Wear OS option, the Watch 5 Pro offers features that you can’t get in Samsung’s newer watches.
Samsung bills its Watch 5 Pro as being made for outdoor adventure, and it’s got quite a few features that help with that. Its case is made of titanium, a more durable metal than the aluminum or stainless steel many competing watches are made of; you can also load GPX files onto the Watch 5 Pro for custom navigation away from named roads — a useful feature for hikers and trail runners.
It also has the battery life to back it up. In normal use, the watch can make it two to three days between charges, so it should be able to handle most runs or hikes mere mortals might attempt. It’s already been updated to the latest, Wear OS 4-based One UI 5 Watch, too.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro review: All-star battery, minor league fitness tracker
Maybe this pro should have stayed an amateur
At a very-premium $450 list price, the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is more of an investment than many of our other top picks, but if you want its unique blend of features — Wear OS 4, a titanium case, killer battery life, and GPX support — you can’t get it anywhere else. It’s been on sale more often as we get farther from its release, though, so keep an eye out for deals.
What’s the best Android watch you can buy?
Two smartwatches sit at the top of the Android lineup: the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 and Watch 6 Classic. Both integrate cutting edge software with top-of-the-line hardware, which is noticeable when you consider their bright displays, excellent health tracking features, and decent battery life.
Prefer a more unique design? The Google Pixel Watch 2 is a good choice. A sleek design and speedy internals guarantee a slick user experience, even if the display isn’t quite as bright as the Samsung competition. Oversized bezels take away some of the immersion when interacting with the screen, but on the flip side, the watch guarantees a clean and updated user experience.
Do you prefer long battery life over aesthetics? OnePlus’s Watch 2 will go for a while running Wear OS because of how it runs a nifty combination of Wear OS with RTOS to help the battery last an extra couple of days.
You could also look at the Garmin Venu 3, which trounces most competitors by several days in battery life, and features some of the most comprehensive fitness tracking features available. Even though it runs on a different OS, you’ll have a hard time finding another watch that can go for over a week before it needs a recharge.
You could also save yourself some cash by going for the Mobvoi TicWatch E3. It offers some solid features, but make that move with the knowledge that it may be a bridge to a better device down the line.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 6
The right choice, if you don’t care about the bezel
Shipping with Wear OS 4 and driven by some of the best hardware in the industry, Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 6 remains the top choice among Android smartwatches. It’s not even super expensive anymore. But if you want a slightly more premium body and the novel, tactile, rotating bezel, the slightly more costly Watch 6 Classic is right there.
