The seven best Android smartwatches in 2024

After an extended 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. Nevertheless, the bigger ecosystem remains to be catching up. Some options, like Google Assistant, are usually not 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. Later this month, we’re anticipating to see Samsung’s newest and best at its annual Unpacked occasion. Rumor has it that on high of a refreshed Galaxy Watch 7, Samsung additionally has a beefier, sports-focused Galaxy Watch Extremely on deck.

For those who’d quite 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 concentrate on 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 excellent watch, you might need 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 high picks, but when none of those is the best match, you may all the time 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 sort: At all times-on OLED / GPS: Constructed-in GPS / Connectivity: LTE (optionally available), 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 three watches Samsung has in its present lineup, I like to recommend the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Traditional. Whereas Samsung is anticipated to launch a brand new Galaxy Watch 7 quickly, we’re not anticipating to see a refresh for the Traditional. Which means you should be seeing some good offers for the Galaxy Watch 6 sequence quickly — and the bodily rotating bezel is value 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 just 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 at last, cloud backups. One UI 5 Watch additionally provides some minor well being and sleep monitoring enhancements, however it will finally make its method to older fashions. Whereas I desire the Traditional, the bottom Watch 6 mannequin could be the higher possibility if you need a smaller, lighter, sleeker, and cheaper smartwatch.

Total, the Galaxy Watch 6 sequence is an iterative replace, however I admire that battery life has improved to the purpose the place I’m now not anxious whether or not it’ll final me your entire day. After all, your mileage will range 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 sooner, however utilizing bedtime mode can mitigate that so that you solely lose 10–15 % in a single day as a substitute of 25–30 %.

For those who’re on a funds, there’s the brand new $199.99 Galaxy Watch FE, which is basically a rebadged Galaxy Watch 4. Final yr’s $449.99 Galaxy Watch 5 Professional will even get you an excellent total expertise. It’s not a giant improve from the Galaxy Watch 4, however the principle advantages of the Professional over different fashions are additional sturdiness, neat GPS options, and battery life. I like to recommend choosing the Professional in the event you’re a weekend warrior or if multiday battery life is your high precedence. We acquired as much as 65 hours in testing, although in the event you 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 larger batteries on newer fashions) have improved the battery life on these watches, however you’ll nonetheless should cost them each day or each different day. And the Pixel Watch solely lasts round 24 hours.

The swap 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 Energetic lineup. You additionally get extra flexibility on companies than with some other Put on OS watch. For instance, if you wish to kick Bixby to the curb in favor of Google Assistant, you may. In order for you a extra in-depth take a look at how the Galaxy Watch 5 stacks up in comparison with the Pixel Watch specifically, you may try our Versus video. (The vast majority of the factors nonetheless apply to the Watch 6, as not a complete lot has modified.)

Samsung Well being additionally delivers a superb total health monitoring expertise, particularly since you may allow turn-by-turn navigation for mountaineering and biking actions. Samsung is increasing this to incorporate 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 fee notifications, fall detection, emergency SOS options, and EKGs. 

We don’t essentially advocate the Galaxy Watch 6 sequence or 5 Professional in the event you don’t have a Samsung cellphone. 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 alternative, 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’ll be able to work round it, however all Samsung watches work greatest with different Samsung gadgets.

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

Sizes: 41mm / Weight: 31g / Battery life: Roughly 24 hours with AOD enabled / Show sort: At all times-on OLED / GPS: Constructed-in GPS / Connectivity: LTE (optionally available), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Security Sign with Fitbit Premium / Water resistance: 5ATM / Music storage: 32GB

The $349.99 Google Pixel Watch 2 is a major 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 alternative 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 mentioned, its name screening characteristic will solely work in the event you pair it with a Tensor-equipped Pixel cellphone. It’s slightly disappointing, however in comparison with Samsung, the Pixel Watch 2 doesn’t gatekeep well being options primarily based on what cellphone you’ve gotten. It’s additionally all the time going to have the most recent updates to Google companies like Google Maps, Google Pockets, YouTube Music, and Google Assistant as a result of, nicely, 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 will even get you a six-month trial of Fitbit Premium and a one-month trial of YouTube Music. 

A very powerful improve from final yr 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 total.) It’s additionally switched to a pin-charging system, which interprets to a lot sooner 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 prices extra slowly — so the distinction is additional noticeable.

In comparison with final yr, Google has additionally achieved a greater job this yr 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 fee monitoring for vigorous workouts. Plus, you may make the most of coronary heart fee 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 respiratory train. It’s imperfect, but it surely’s among the best implementations of mindfulness options we’ve seen to this point.

Google has additionally launched new private security options. Security Examine is a proactive timer that can ship your location to family members in the event you’re in a pickle. You set an exercise (i.e., taking public transportation or strolling alone) and a timer length. For those who don’t test in when the timer goes off, your location will robotically be shared together with your emergency contacts. One other neat characteristic is Security Sign. For those who get an LTE watch and have a Fitbit Premium subscription, you don’t want an lively LTE plan in an effort to make the most of emergency companies. 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 screen 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’ve gotten extra alternative choices ought to one thing occur. It’s not excellent because it’s restricted to the US and Canada, but it surely’s a step in the best route.

We’re anticipating to see a brand new Pixel Watch 3 introduced someday in August on the Made by Google occasion. Which means you would possibly begin seeing Pixel Watch 2 reductions within the subsequent few weeks. For those who’re hoping for an even bigger dimension, you might need to maintain off, as rumor has it we might be seeing a Pixel Watch 3 XL.

Learn my full Google Pixel Watch 2 evaluation.

Sizes: 47mm w/22mm straps / Weight: 49g case, 80g w/ strap / Battery life: As much as 100 hours in good mode, 48 with AOD on, and 12 days in power-saving mode / Show sort: 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 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 large for petite wrists, and sadly, it solely is available in one dimension, but it surely’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, ends in 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 — 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 strong app ecosystem. On the health aspect 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 primary 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 preserve your cellphone on you if you’re out and about. Nonetheless, the $300 price ticket is a aggressive one and could also be definitely worth the tradeoff given battery life.

Learn my evaluation of the OnePlus Watch 2.

Sizes: 50mm w/24mm straps / Weight: 44.3g / Battery life: As much as 80 hours / Show sort: 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 motive: tremendous lengthy battery life. The $249.99 TicWatch Professional 5 is not any exception. It’s acquired 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, no less than) 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 beneficial for backpackers and endurance athletes. It may not maintain a candle to a top-of-the-line Garmin, but it surely’s additionally a better look ahead to a fraction of the value.

Battery life apart, the Professional 5 is an effective possibility for fitness-focused individuals who aren’t eager on giving up good 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 aspect button additionally reduces the danger of unintended presses.

The Professional 5 additionally has an ingenious methodology of displaying coronary heart fee. While you elevate up your arm, the backlight modifications colour relying on which coronary heart fee zone you’re in. Which means you may 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 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 fee, blood oxygen, stress, respiratory fee, 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 obtainable 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 will not swimsuit smaller wrists and the dearth 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 vast 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 evaluation of the Mobvoi TicWatch Professional 5.

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

Hybrid smartwatches are a superb method to preserve issues easy and delicate. The $249.95 Withings ScanWatch Mild will get you the fundamentals like push notifications, timers, and alarms. On the well being entrance, you may monitor steps, sleep, menstrual cycles, and GPS exercises. (That mentioned, GPS is tethered out of your cellphone, 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 large motive the Mild 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.

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

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

Learn my full evaluation 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 sort: OLED touchscreen / GPS: GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO / Connectivity: Bluetooth, Ant Plus, Wi-Fi / Water resistance: 5ATM / Music storage: 8GB

Garmin is greatest identified for making rugged GPS watches which have wonderful health options however aren’t so good 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 may take and make calls straight 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 assume extra health trackers would do that, however they don’t. It labored nicely in testing, although digital assistants aren’t all the time the neatest at understanding instructions.

The Venu 3 doesn’t have the perfect third-party app ecosystem, but it surely has Spotify, Deezer, and Amazon Music for offline playback. Android customers can even ship fast responses for texts, and the watch works with both iOS or Android for people who need to preserve 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 fee sensor, which permits its FDA-cleared EKG app to detect atrial fibrillation. In any other case, you get built-in GPS, steady coronary heart fee 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 purchase, but it surely’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 evaluation.

Measurement: 46mm w/ 22mm straps / Weight: 34g / Battery life: As much as 14 days / Show sort: 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 persistently impressed by the GTR line of smartwatches through the years, and the $199.99 GTR 4 is not 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 just lately launched to their higher-end smartwatches. Or, in the event you 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 fee monitoring. You may as well monitor stress, sleep, and SpO2 ranges. For good 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 Operating. 

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

Learn my full evaluation of the Amazfit GTR 4.

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