The 7 highest Android smartwatches in 2024

After an extended stretch of slender pickings, the ultimate couple of years had been massive for Android smartwatches. Now there are extra excellent choices than ever.

However that is nonetheless a transitional technology. Whilst we’re inspired via the more potent third-party app choices, the marketplace continues to be fragmented. Put on OS 4 is already right here for Samsung’s Galaxy Watches and each variations of the Pixel Watch, however the better ecosystem continues to be catching as much as Put on OS 3. And a few options, like Google Assistant, don’t seem to be but to be had on sure Put on OS 3 smartwatches — regardless that that one might come by means of an replace someday at some point. 

In the event you’d somewhat wait till Put on OS settles down a little bit, there are platform-agnostic smartwatches and health watches you’ll be able to purchase within the interim. Differently, you’ll need to pay attention to the chip and Put on OS model powering your watch. Mobvoi, as an example, best simply began rolling out Put on OS 3 to its eligible Put on OS 2 watches. Talking of Mobvoi, its TicWatch Professional 5 used to be the primary to game the brand new Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 Plus in america, and whilst it’s a super watch, chances are you’ll need to wait till there are extra W5 Plus watches to choose between. The Pixel Watch 2 has the W5 (no Plus) chip, and the outcome thus far has been zippier efficiency and higher battery existence.

As long as you stay the aforementioned caveats in thoughts, Android customers have extra smartwatch choices than ever prior to. I’ve rounded up my height choices, but when none of those is the fitting have compatibility, you’ll be able to consistently take a look at our health tracker information. 

Sizes: 43mm, 47mm / Weight: 77g, 85g / Battery existence: As much as 30 hours with AOD, 40 with out AOD / Show kind: All the time-on OLED / GPS: Integrated GPS / Connectivity: LTE (non-compulsory), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi / Water resistance: As much as 50 meters, IP68 / Song garage: 16GB

You probably have a Samsung telephone, you’ll get probably the most mileage out of a Samsung smartwatch. And of the 3 watches Samsung has in its present lineup, I like to recommend the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Vintage.

First off, it’s were given a rotating bodily bezel — and mentioned bezel is now 15 p.c thinner than the Galaxy Watch 4 Vintage. The up to date design is sleeker than its predecessor, and the bigger show is more uncomplicated at the eyes and is best reasonably larger at 43mm and 47mm. I’ve small wrists, however the 47mm used to be nonetheless reasonably at ease for on a regular basis put on. It’s launching with Put on OS 4, which provides prolonged battery existence, and in the end, cloud backups. One UI 5 Watch additionally provides some minor well being and sleep monitoring enhancements, however this may increasingly in the end make its solution to older fashions. Whilst I favor the Vintage, the bottom Watch 6 type could also be the easier possibility if you wish to have a smaller, lighter, sleeker, and less expensive smartwatch.

Total, the Galaxy Watch 6 sequence is an iterative replace, however I admire that battery existence has stepped forward to the purpose the place I’m now not fearful whether or not it’ll ultimate me all of the day. In fact, your mileage will range relying to your particular person use and which settings you allow. As an example, turning on steady SpO2 sensing at night time could make the battery drain quicker, however the usage of bedtime mode can mitigate that so that you best lose 10–15 p.c in a single day as an alternative of 25–30 p.c.

Final yr’s $449.99 Galaxy Watch 5 Professional can even get you a super total enjoy. It’s no longer a large improve from the Galaxy Watch 4, however the principle advantages of the Professional over different fashions are further sturdiness, neat GPS options, and battery existence. I like to recommend selecting the Professional when you’re a weekend warrior or if multiday battery existence is your height precedence. We were given as much as 65 hours in trying out, regardless that when you allow the always-on show, you’ll much more likely 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. Instrument updates (and larger batteries on more moderen fashions) have stepped forward the battery existence on those watches, however you’ll nonetheless need to rate them day by day or each different day. And the Pixel Watch best lasts round 24 hours.

The transfer to Put on OS manner you’re getting a a lot more tough third-party app enjoy than on Tizen-powered Samsung smartwatches, just like the Galaxy Watch 3 and the Galaxy Watch Energetic lineup. You additionally get extra flexibility on products and services than with some other Put on OS watch. As an example, if you wish to kick Bixby to the curb in want of Google Assistant, you’ll be able to. If you wish to have a better take a look at how the Galaxy Watch 5 stacks up in comparison to the Pixel Watch particularly, you’ll be able to take a look at our As opposed to video. (Nearly all of the issues nonetheless practice to the Watch 6, as no longer a complete lot has modified.)

Samsung Well being additionally delivers a excellent total health monitoring enjoy, particularly since you’ll be able to allow turn-by-turn navigation for mountain climbing and biking actions. Samsung is increasing this to come with walks and runs with One UI 5 Watch. We weren’t too inspired with nightly SpO2 readings, however Samsung’s total sleep monitoring continues to give a boost to. You additionally get integrated GPS, frame composition research, abnormal center charge notifications, fall detection, emergency SOS options, and EKGs. 

We don’t essentially counsel the Galaxy Watch 6 sequence or 5 Professional when you don’t have a Samsung telephone. EKGs require the Samsung Well being Track app, which is proscribed to Samsung telephones. Additionally, whilst you’ll be able to customise the buttons to release your virtual assistant of selection, the shortcut for contactless bills is difficult coded to Samsung Pay / Pockets — which may be gated to Samsung telephones except you sideload the APK — and calls for you to join Samsung’s provider. You’ll paintings round it, however all Samsung watches paintings highest with different Samsung units.

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

Sizes: 41mm / Weight: 31g / Battery existence: Kind of 24 hours with AOD enabled / Show kind: All the time-on OLED / GPS: Integrated GPS / Connectivity: LTE (non-compulsory), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Protection Sign with Fitbit Top class / Water resistance: 5ATM / Song garage: 32GB

The $349.99 Google Pixel Watch 2 is an important growth over the unique. The Galaxy Watch 6 lineup will nonetheless get you a extra polished total enjoy, however the Pixel Watch 2 is the easier selection for Android customers who aren’t on a Samsung smartphone.

That’s as a result of ecosystems. Some options of Samsung’s watches best paintings with Samsung telephones. Extensively talking, the Pixel Watch doesn’t care what Android telephone you might have; you’ll get the similar enjoy regardless. That mentioned, its name screening function will best paintings when you pair it with a Tensor-equipped Pixel telephone. It’s just a little disappointing, however in comparison to Samsung, the Pixel Watch 2 doesn’t gatekeep well being options in accordance with what telephone you might have. It’s additionally consistently going to have the most recent updates to Google products and services like Google Maps, Google Pockets, YouTube Song, and Google Assistant as a result of, smartly, it’s Google’s smartwatch. With the Pixel Watch 2, Google additionally added Calendar and Gmail to its checklist of supported apps. Talking of which, purchasing the Pixel Watch 2 can even get you a six-month trial of Fitbit Top class and a one-month trial of YouTube Song. 

A very powerful improve from ultimate 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 manner zippier efficiency total.) It’s additionally switched to a pin-charging machine, which interprets to a lot quicker charging. You’ll get about 50 p.c in half-hour, and a complete rate takes about 75 mins. As a result of a firmware replace, the unique Pixel Watch now fees extra slowly — so the variation is further noticeable.

In comparison to ultimate yr, Google has additionally performed a greater activity this yr of integrating Fitbit’s well being and health options. The Pixel Watch 2 now has a multipath sensor that allows 40 p.c extra correct center charge monitoring for lively workouts. Plus, you’ll be able to make the most of center charge zone and tempo coaching — options different health smartwatches have had for a very long time. The workout perspectives also are more uncomplicated to learn. It additionally now has a pores and skin temperature sensor and the Fitbit Sense 2’s steady electrodermal job sensor (cEDA). This implies the Pixel Watch 2 is now in a position to proactive rigidity monitoring. When indicators of physiological rigidity are detected, you’ll be caused to mirror to your temper, take a stroll, or do a respiring workout. It’s imperfect, however it’s one of the vital highest implementations of mindfulness options we’ve noticed so far.

Google has additionally offered new private security features. Protection Test is a proactive timer that may ship your location to family members when you’re in a pickle. You place an job (i.e., taking public transportation or strolling on my own) and a timer length. In the event you don’t take a look at in when the timer is going off, your location will robotically be shared together with your emergency contacts. Some other neat function is Protection Sign. In the event you get an LTE watch and feature a Fitbit Top class subscription, you don’t want an energetic LTE plan in an effort to make the most of emergency products and services.

Something to take note of is sturdiness. Whilst the domed show is lovely, we cracked the display at the unique Pixel Watch and were given deep scratches at the Pixel Watch 2. Google doesn’t be offering any restore choices, however with the Pixel Watch 2, it has began providing its Most well-liked Care prolonged guaranty, so you might have extra substitute choices must one thing occur. It’s no longer supreme because it’s restricted to america and Canada, however it’s a step in the fitting route.

Learn my complete Google Pixel Watch 2 evaluation.

Sizes: 44mm w/22mm straps / Weight: 51g / Battery existence: 24 hours / Show kind: OLED touchscreen / GPS: Integrated GPS / Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi / Water resistance: 5ATM / Song garage: 8GB

It’s essential argue that via striking out a horde of Put on OS watches yr after yr, Fossil has singlehandedly stored Put on OS afloat all the way through its darkest days. At the brilliant facet, that dedication to the platform manner the $299 Gen 6 is likely one of the higher third-party choices — particularly since it has Google Assistant on Put on OS 3.

The Fossil Gen 6 introduced in 2021 as a Put on OS 2 watch working on a Snapdragon Put on 4100 chip however has since gotten the improve to Put on OS 3. You could simply need to manually replace the tool whenever you purchase it. That’s a large explanation why you’ll be able to in finding it on sale lovely steadily, most often for round $220–$230. In October 2022, Fossil additionally started rolling out upgrades to all of its designer-branded smartwatches, just like the Skagen Falster Gen 6 and the Michael Kors Gen 6. 

The Gen 6 watches have Alexa compatibility, contactless bills by means of Google Pockets, and get right of entry to to the Google Play retailer for third-party apps like Strava and Spotify.

In past due 2022, the corporate additionally just lately launched its $299 Gen 6 Wellness Version. Consequently, it’s additionally beefed up to be had well being options around the Gen 6 units. That incorporates SpO2 readings, VO2 Max, automated exercise monitoring, center charge zones, steady center charge tracking outdoor of workout routines, and stepped forward sleep monitoring. The Wellness Version comes with Put on OS 3 out of the field, which is a tad extra handy, and the increased design is reasonably fetching. On the other hand, when you don’t thoughts the additional step of upgrading, selecting up any Gen 6 watch on sale isn’t a foul method to avoid wasting further moolah. Particularly for the reason that Wellness Version has most of the identical flaws because the common Gen 6 anyway.

My one fear going ahead is that it’s been an extraordinarily very long time, and we’ve but to listen to of a Fossil Gen 7. CES 2024 has come and long past, and Fossil wasn’t provide adore it most often is. Fossil spokesperson Amanda Castelli additionally showed to me that the Skagen Jorn, an E Ink hybrid the corporate makes, is now not to be had. Some Redditors have anecdotally mentioned that Fossil retail workers have informed them the corporate is leaping send, whilst others say the corporate is looking ahead to a brand new chipset. I’ve reached out to Fossil to remark at the rumors more than one instances however have no longer won a reaction. Plans and timelines can exchange, so till we listen reputable phrase, that is all rumour — it’s simply one thing to bear in mind while you see gross sales at the Gen 6.

Learn our complete evaluation of the Fossil Gen 6.

Sizes: 50mm w/24mm straps / Weight: 44.3g / Battery existence: As much as 80 hours / Show kind: OLED touchscreen and secondary ultra-low chronic show / GPS: GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, Beidou / Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi / Water resistance: 5ATM / Song garage: 32GB

Mobvoi’s TicWatch lineup has its trustworthy fanatics for a reason why: tremendous lengthy battery existence. The $249.99 TicWatch Professional 5 is not any exception. It’s were given an estimated 80 hours of battery existence with usual use, a secondary ultra-low chronic show, and an enormous (for a smartwatch you put on to your wrist, a minimum of) 628mAh battery. I didn’t reasonably get 80 hours in my trying out, however I did get a cast 48-60 hours even with heavy GPS use. That outclasses lots of the watches on this class and comes in handy for backpackers and staying power athletes. It would no longer cling a candle to a among the finest Garmin, however it’s additionally a wiser stay up for a fragment of the fee.

Battery existence apart, Mobvoi’s watches are a super choice to the Fossil Gen 6, and the Professional 5 is a great possibility for fitness-focused individuals who aren’t serious about giving up sensible features for a Garmin or Polar. It’s additionally harder than Fossil’s model watches or the Pixel Watch. This time round, Mobvoi has additionally added a virtual crown so that you don’t have to fret about scrolling thru menus with sweaty hands. The flatter facet button additionally reduces the danger of unintended presses.

The Professional 5 additionally has an creative means of exhibiting center charge. Whilst you carry up your arm, the backlight adjustments colour relying on which center charge zone you’re in. That suggests you’ll be able to straight away gauge whether or not to up the depth or sluggish your roll. The Professional 5 additionally provides new coaching metrics, like VO2 Max and restoration time.

The TicWatch helps rigidity monitoring, all-day blood oxygen tracking, fatigue tests, in addition to atrial traumatic inflammation and abnormal heartbeat detection. For outdoorsy sorts, it additionally has get right of entry to to more than one GNSS methods, and there’s a brand new barometer and compass app, in addition to a one-tap dimension app that offers you a snappy take a look at 5 metrics (center charge, blood oxygen, rigidity, breathing charge, and total center well being).

It’s additionally lovely succesful at the productiveness entrance. You get contactless bills, get right of entry to to the Play Retailer, notifications, and the facility to take calls. It’s additionally the one Android smartwatch to be had in america with the most recent Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 Plus chip, which is a plus in the case of futureproofing. The one main considerations are the 50mm case that won’t swimsuit smaller wrists and the loss of a virtual assistant.

Learn my complete evaluation of the Mobvoi TicWatch Professional 5.

Sizes: 40mm w/20mm straps / Weight: 19g / Battery existence: As much as 5 days / Show kind: “Hidden” OLED touchscreen / GPS: Tethered GPS / Connectivity: Bluetooth, Ant Plus / Water resistance: 5ATM / Song garage: N/A

If all you wish to have is unassuming health monitoring and notifications in a extra refined instrument, the $179.99 Garmin Vivomove Recreation is a smart, reasonably priced possibility. It looks as if a Swatch, whole with actual analog arms, however has a hidden OLED for notifications. Mainly, when you don’t need other people to understand you’ve were given a smartwatch on, a hybrid smartwatch is learn how to cross. Plus, it’s well suited with each iOS and Android if you wish to reserve the solution to transfer between each ecosystems. 

You’re giving up sure sensible options, like contactless bills, virtual assistants, and integrated GPS. The hidden show can ship the fundamentals, like notifications, the time, and elementary well being stats. On the other hand, what it lacks in smarts, it makes up for with battery existence. You get an estimated 5 days on a unmarried rate. At the health entrance, it’s a correct tracker regardless of its loss of integrated GPS. As for well being monitoring, you get get right of entry to to a ton of in-depth information from Garmin’s platform. 

Then again, you’ll be able to go for your next step up with the $269.99 Vivomove Pattern. Whilst the Recreation is the very best value for a hybrid, there are a couple of situations the place dispensing just a little further for the Pattern is sensible. For starters, the hidden LCD show fills all of the watchface. (The Recreation best presentations data at the backside part of the display.) That’s more uncomplicated to learn whole notifications. Plus, it’s extra legible as you get pleasure from better fonts. The Pattern additionally has a dressier glance because of the stainless-steel bezel, making it higher suited to trade conferences or formal occasions. Finally, the Pattern helps Qi charging. In the event you’ve already were given Qi chargers, that suggests much less litter to your nightstand.

You may additionally need to imagine the Withings ScanWatch 2 or ScanWatch Mild, which I’m recently reviewing. The $350 ScanWatch 2 has extra fashionable well being monitoring options, like EKG, blood oxygen, and temperature sensors, all whilst keeping up that very same sublime taste. The Mild knocks off about $100 and is a extra one-to-one choice with the Vivomove Recreation in that it makes a speciality of informal job monitoring best. I’ll replace this information when I’ve completed my evaluation.

Learn my complete evaluation of the Garmin Vivomove Recreation.

Sizes: 41mm w/ 18mm straps; 45mm w/ 22mm straps / Weight: 40g for the 3S; 47g for the three / Battery existence: As much as 10 days for 3S; 14 days for three / Show kind: OLED touchscreen / GPS: GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO / Connectivity: Bluetooth, Ant Plus, Wi-Fi / Water resistance: 5ATM / Song garage: 8GB

Garmin is highest identified for making rugged GPS watches that experience very good health options however aren’t so sensible differently. However the $449.99 Venu 3 caters to those who need top-notch health monitoring with out sacrificing productiveness options.

It’s were given a colourful and colourful 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’ll be able to take and make calls at once from the wrist. It additionally has a suave workaround for virtual assistants — it makes use of Bluetooth to paintings with no matter assistant is already to your telephone. You’d suppose extra health trackers would do that, however they don’t. It labored smartly in trying out, regardless that virtual assistants aren’t consistently the neatest at figuring out instructions.

The Venu 3 doesn’t have the most efficient third-party app ecosystem, however it has Spotify, Deezer, and Amazon Song for offline playback. Android customers too can ship fast responses for texts, and the watch works with both iOS or Android for people who need to stay their choices open. It additionally has fall detection, are living monitoring, and contactless bills.

As for well being options, it has Garmin’s newest center charge sensor, which permits its FDA-cleared EKG app to hit upon atrial traumatic inflammation. Differently, you get integrated GPS, steady center charge tracking, the entire complicated training options within the Garmin Attach app, and Garmin’s well-known in-depth well being information. 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 can purchase, however it’s unquestionably the neatest. The associated fee is a little bit prime in comparison to maximum smartwatches, however via Garmin requirements, it’s middle-of-the-pack.

Measurement: 46mm w/ 22mm straps / Weight: 34g / Battery existence: As much as 14 days / Show kind: OLED touchscreen / GPS: Twin-frequency and six GNSS methods / Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi / Water resistance: 5ATM / Song garage: 2.3GB

Amazfit’s made a reputation for itself making finances wearables that punch a ways above their weight. I’ve been persistently inspired via the GTR line of smartwatches over time, and the $199.99 GTR 4 is not any exception. 

No longer best does it have a vintage glance, however you additionally get 14 days of battery existence and a colour, always-on OLED show. New to the GTR 4 is dual-band GPS — a function that Apple and Garmin best just lately offered to their higher-end smartwatches. Or, when you like to plot your individual path runs or hikes, you’ll be able to import your individual GPS routes, too. It tracks 150 sports activities and lines all-day steady center charge tracking. You’ll additionally track rigidity, sleep, and SpO2 ranges. For sensible options, you’ll be able to take calls at the wrist, and it has two virtual assistants: Alexa and a proprietary offline assistant. The instrument additionally syncs with Strava and Adidas Operating. 

The GTR 4 isn’t the most efficient smartwatch round. Flagship watches can do the entirety the GTR 4 can do however in a sleeker, extra polished bundle. On the other hand, they are able to’t do it at this value. If value is your major precedence, this will get you improbable bang on your dollar. Plus, you’ll be able to steadily in finding Amazfit units on sale. The icing at the cake is it really works simply as smartly on Android because it does on iOS.

Learn my complete evaluation of the Amazfit GTR 4.

Replace January twenty third 4:15PM ET: Swapped out Garmin Venu 2 Plus for Venu 3 sequence. Up to date textual content for 2024 and added context in regards to the Fossil Gen 6.