Google rolled out Android Wear, now referred to as Wear OS, in 2014, with Samsung, LG, and Motorola the primary firms to supply an official Google expertise in your wrist. Samsung branched off into Tizen OS for a few years, however as we noticed at Google I/O in 2021, Samsung and Google are partnering again as much as launch watches that share the best of each firms.
While smartwatches at this time are closely centered on detailed 24/7 well being and wellness monitoring, most additionally present different superior options, resembling a companion Android utility, touchscreen shows, name and/or textual content messaging assist, installable purposes and watch faces, and voice assistants.
Starting in 2021, there are a number of highly effective choices accessible that will help you get work performed by way of a wearable gadget. With Wear OS 3 powered by Samsung, the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic is clearly the best smartwatch accessible for Android cellphone users with Samsung setting the bar for different Wear OS smartwatch makers.
And with the vacations upon us, we figured now is a wonderful time to supply the best smartwatches for Android users.
Also: Best smartwatches
Pros
- Sleek, minimalist design
- Vibrant AMOLED show
- Affordable
- Enhanced sleep and health options
Cons
- Cannot entry pores and skin temperature sensor information but
Display: 1.4 inch 450×450 pixels AMOLED | Battery Life: Two days | Dimensions: 44.4×43.3×9.8 mm | Weight: 30 grams (w/o strap) | Water Resistance: 5 ATM+IP68 | LTE Cellular Option: Yes
Samsung used to have the Galaxy Watch Active line that supplied a smaller choice with no rotating bezel and this 12 months we’ve got that mannequin labeled because the Galaxy Watch 5. It is obtainable in 40mm and 44mm dimension choices so it can enchantment to extra folks than the bigger Galaxy Watch 4 Classic. It can also be lighter with aluminum reasonably than stainless-steel building.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 gives enhanced sleep and health monitoring options. You can obtain very important stats, resembling physique fats readings and your Body Mass Index. And the watch earned a IP68 score, permitting you to submerge it as much as 5 toes of water. While it pales in comparability in water score to the Apple Watch Ultra, it is usually considerably cheaper, making it a extra cheap buy in case you do a lot in the way in which of lap swimming.
Pros
- A slick rotating bezel design
- High-quality stainless-steel materials
- Broad assist for well being and health options
- New model of Wear OS with expanded third-party app choice
Cons
- 2-day battery life
- Large dimension not appropriate for smaller wrists
- Blood strain certification taking longer than anticipated
Display: 1.4 inch 360×360 pixels AMOLED | Battery Life: Two days | Dimensions: 45.5×45.52×11.0 mm | Weight: 52 grams (no strap) | Water Resistance: 5 ATM+IP68 | LTE Cellular Option: Yes
Samsung is clearly not standing by as Apple continues to replace and enhance the Apple Watch. Samsung’s newest Galaxy Watch 4 Classic gives most of the similar superior well being monitoring options, resembling blood oxygen monitoring, ECG, and sleep monitoring.
We additionally see the addition of physique composition measurements in the Galaxy Watch 4, together with blood strain monitoring in choose international locations. Hopefully, Samsung can ship on blood strain assist in the US, however it’s been greater than a 12 months previous its final estimated approval by regulatory companies.
The main change for the Galaxy Watch 4 is the partnership with Google in order that the watch is now not powered by Tizen, however is a Google Wear OS 3 powered by Samsung watch. This means it nonetheless seems to be like a Samsung smartwatch, but additionally helps Google Pay, Google Play Store, and plenty of extra Google apps with the potential of Google Assistant in a future replace.
It has a glossy rotating bezel and an working system optimized for the spherical watch design. Fall detection, messaging, cellphone calls, and extra can be found on the watch, with superior health information resembling VO2 Max and superior operating dynamics information additionally supported.
Pros
- Innovative dual-display design
- Google Assistant and Google Pay
- Solid third-party app assist
- Lightweight and comfy
- Affordable
Cons
- Duplicated well being apps
- No offline music assist
Display: 1.4 inch 454×454 pixels AMOLED and FSTN secondary show | Battery Life: 72 hours | Dimensions: 47x48x12.2 mm | Weight: 41.9 grams | Water Resistance: IP68 | LTE Cellular Option: No | Starting Price: $200
While Google has not put a lot effort into growing its Wear OS platform, firms like Mobvoi proceed to supply stable smartwatch opponents operating Wear OS. The newest watch from Mobvoi is the TicWatch Pro 3, the primary smartwatch sporting Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Wear 4100 platform.
The TicWatch Pro 3 is the best non-Samsung Wear OS gadget accessible with a novel layered show design with an LCD show on high of an AMOLED show so users can have prolonged battery life, as much as 30 days extra restricted watch expertise.
While not as properly supported because the Apple Watch, Wear OS continues to be a really succesful wearable platform with an intensive variety of accessible watch faces, loads of common third-party apps, Google Assistant voice assist, superior well being monitoring, and rather more. The TicWatch Pro 3 has all the newest superior well being metrics, resembling blood oxygen monitoring, and can also be a really succesful GPS sports activities watch.
At simply $200, it is also powerful to beat the TicWatch Pro 3. It works with Android and iOS smartphones, too, so if you’re contemplating a smartwatch for a number of platforms, it is a very succesful choice.
Why not learn our full evaluate of TicWatch Pro 3.
Pros
- Bright AMOLED show
- Long battery life
- Low worth
- Onboard music assist
- Call assist
Cons
- No third-party apps
- Limited watch faces
Display: 1.39 inch 454×454 pixels AMOLED | Battery Life: 14 days | Dimensions: 46.4×46.4×10.7 mm | Weight: 34 grams | Water Resistance: 5 ATM | LTE Cellular Option: No | Starting Price: $179.99
Amazfit has some very compelling smartwatches powered by a RTOS (real-time working system) optimized for the watch in order that prolonged battery life is supplied.
There is a companion Android utility, Zepp, that gives entry, assortment, and evaluation of an intensive quantity of well being and wellness information.
After we reviewed the GTR 2 and sister GTS 2, Amazfit launched an replace that added Amazon Alexa voice assistant assist. It’s uncommon to see a voice assistant on a watch that’s not from Google, so it is a good addition to a particularly reasonably priced wearable.
The GTR 2 additionally has a microphone and speaker on the watch in order that cellphone calls could be managed instantly from the watch by way of a Bluetooth connection to your Android smartphone.
Pros
- Elegant {hardware}
- High-resolution AMOLED show
- Extensive well being assist
Cons
- Limited third-party assist
- Expensive
Display: 1.43 inch 466×466 pixels AMOLED | Battery Life: Three days with LTE, 14 days with out mobile | Dimensions: 46.2×46.2×12.15 mm | Weight: 54 grams (with out strap) | Water Resistance: 5 ATM | LTE Cellular Option: Yes
The Huawei Watch 3 was launched in June 2021 and is the primary watch operating Huawei’s personal Harmony OS. Like different smartwatches at this time, it’s closely centered on capturing information 24/7 that’s associated to your well being and wellness.
It helps all types of GPS and can be utilized to trace greater than 100 actions.
A rotating crown works with the touchscreen that will help you navigate the watch. Smartwatches assist Google Assistant, Samsung Bixby, and Amazon Alexa, however the brand new Huawei Watch 3 helps Celia because of its Harmony OS basis.
Huawei’s older technology Android Wear watch was one of many best accessible, and it seems to be like this {hardware} is designed to compete with the best. Unfortunately, it isn’t accessible in the US. It is obtainable in Europe and the Middle East.
Pros
- Vibrant show
- Google Assistant and Google Pay accessibility
- Solid third-party assist
- Affordable
Display: 1.28 inch 416×416 pixels AMOLED | Battery Life: 24 hours | Dimensions: 44x44x12 mm | Weight: 99 grams | Water Resistance: 3 ATM | LTE Cellular Option: No | Starting Price: $189
Fossil is the most important identify model nonetheless releasing smartwatches powered by Google’s Wear OS. The Fossil Gen 6 lineup was not too long ago revealed and gives some new internals with the older model of Wear OS.
The Fossil Gen 6 Smartwatch is obtainable in varied colours with completely different band choices, beginning at simply $189. The Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 4100 powers this Fossil smartwatch lineup, and with Wear OS, users benefit from the energy of Google Assistant on the wrist. Google Pay is supported, so you may pay wirelessly together with your cellphone in your pocket. Integrated GPS additionally means you may observe your outside train with the Fossil Gen 6 Smartwatch.
New options in this newest technology embody a SpO2 blood oxygen sensor, an improved coronary heart fee sensor, and quick charging.
Pros
- Bright AMOLED show
- Lightweight and comfy for 24/7 put on
- Google Assistant and cellphone name assist
- Smart alarm assist
- Extensive well being and wellness assist
Cons
- A solid-state button shouldn’t be dependable as bodily one
- Limited third-party assist
Display: 1.58 inch 336×336 pixels AMOLED | Battery Life: Six days | Dimensions: 40.5×40.5×12.35 mm | Weight: 48 grams | Water Resistance: 5 ATM | LTE Cellular Option: No | Starting Price: $130
The Fitbit Sense has a stainless-steel ring across the watch face and extra sensors on the again in order that it gives assist for ECG, pores and skin temperature, and some extra superior well being metrics. If you need to save $70, then you should buy the Fitbit Versa 3 and lose out on just a few superior wellness metrics.
A major enchancment in this watch in comparison with earlier Fitbit watches is the built-in GPS receiver that can show you how to observe your exterior actions extra precisely.
The Fitbit ecosystem is properly supported, with many individuals on the platform to assist inspire you towards attaining your day by day exercise and health objectives. The smartphone app is unbelievable and gives a ton of perception, suggestions, and understanding of the information collected by the watches. Android smartphone users get pleasure from a greater expertise with assist for fast textual content message replies.
Google Assistant can also be now accessible for the Fitbit Sense, so we see a bit extra of Google’s affect now that it owns Fitbit.
We selected the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic. It gives a glossy design and the stainless-steel materials ensures sturdiness and a trendy put on. And for its high quality, it is moderately priced. However, it is not the one Android smartwatch accessible. This tables compares the highest fashions primarily based on pricing and particular options:
|
Best smartwatches for Android users |
Price |
Special options |
|
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 |
$75 |
Vibrant Super AMOLED show, enhanced sleeping and health monitoring instruments. |
|
Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic |
$162 |
A slick rotating bezel design, high-quality stainless-steel materials. |
|
Mobvoi TicWatch |
$200 |
Innovative dual-display design, Google Assistant and Google Pay in your wrist. |
|
Amazfit GTR 2 |
$180 |
Onboard music assist, name assist from watch. |
|
Huawei Watch 3 |
$430 |
Elegant {hardware}, intensive well being assist. |
|
Fossil Gen 6 smartwatch |
$229 |
Vibrant show, Google Assistant and Google Pay in your wrist. |
|
Fitbit Sense |
$130 |
Lightweight and comfy, intensive well being and wellness assist. |
Choosing the correct match is dependent upon how a lot you need to spend and the functionalities you deem important. If you are on a finances, however nonetheless desire a high quality watch, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 is an distinctive worth. Meanwhile, if you’d like a primary providing that aids you in health monitoring, the Fitbit Sense is a smart alternative. This shopping for tree may also help you make sense of your choices:
|
Choose this smartwatch for Android users |
If you need or are… |
|
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 |
The best general Android smartwatch |
|
Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic |
Best Android watch with a standard design |
|
Mobvoi TicWatch |
Best non-Samsung smartwatch for Android users |
|
Amazfit GTR 2 |
Best ROS choice for Android users |
|
Huawei Watch 3 |
Best Harmon OS smartwatch for Android users |
|
Fossil Gen 6 smartwatch |
Best style smartwatch for Android users |
|
Fitbit Sense |
Best primary smartwatch for Android users |
We have spent weeks, generally months, with most of those wearables whereas connecting them to varied Android smartphones. We have run, walked, hiked, biked, slept, labored, traveled, performed, and extra with these watches on our wrists.
We additionally learn different evaluations and reviewer guides supplied by the smartwatch makers to ensure we’ve got explored all the accessible options.
You can use a Samsung Galaxy watch with a non-Galaxy Android smartphone. You might want to set up a few Samsung companion purposes in your smartphone, together with Galaxy Wearable and watch plug-in. The Galaxy Wearable app is used to handle the connection, settings, and apps on the watch. Samsung Health additionally gives you with a richer well being and wellness expertise.
Samsung Galaxy watches are optimized for Samsung telephones, together with assist for Samsung Pay and the Samsung ecosystem.
Samsung, Mobvoi (solely in the TicWatch Pro 4G/LTE), and Huawei have mobile assist. An further service plan is required for mobile connectivity instantly on the watch. Unlike the Apple Watch, your Android cellphone shouldn’t be required to be on for the service to work.
While the watch can act as a stand-alone cell gadget, a cellphone is required to arrange the watch for mobile connectivity totally. A world together with your watch as your cellphone shouldn’t be but an choice, however expertise is advancing, and we’ll get there sometime.
Health and health monitoring have been the areas with probably the most improvements and enhancements in the final couple of years. While these watches will not be medical gadgets, they’ve sensors, algorithms, and purposes that show you how to observe traits in your coronary heart fee, stress ranges, blood oxygen ranges, and extra. You can use it as a primary ECG to verify if additional investigation is required.
All of those smartwatches may function succesful GPS sports activities watches to trace the main points of your outside actions. Exercise steering is supplied on the watch with related well being purposes in your smartphone so you may hold observe of your progress too.
We selected ample choices to fulfill completely different functions and budgets. In saying that, listed below are different worthy issues: