The 6 greatest Android smartwatches in 2024

By admin Last updated Jan 27, 2024

Editor’s word: Fossil confirmed to us this week that it’s leaving the smartwatch enterprise. Because of this, we’ve eliminated their Gen 6 smartwatch from this checklist as we consider different choices.

After a protracted stretch of slim pickings, the final couple of years have been big 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 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 bigger ecosystem continues to be catching as much as Put on OS 3. And a few options, like Google Assistant, should not but out there on sure Put on OS 3 smartwatches — although that one could come by way of an replace someday sooner or later.

a:hover]:shadow-highlight-franklin darkish:[&>a:hover]:shadow-highlight-franklin [&>a]:shadow-underline-black darkish:[&>a]:shadow-underline-white”>What we’re searching for

Android smartwatches have lengthy been foiled by outdated processors. Is the chip beneath the hood highly effective sufficient to run Put on OS / proprietary RTOS easily?

Does a watch work higher inside one firm’s product ecosystem versus one other? Will you need to purchase a brand new watch in the event you change telephones?

Nowadays, most wearables are succesful health trackers. Nonetheless, they’re not all able to controlling your good house, contactless funds, or interacting with digital assistants.

Is that this gadget prone to final you some time, or will you should improve before you’d like? How communicative is the OEM about forthcoming adjustments?

Are you able to get by way of the day with out reaching for a charger? If not, does it assist fast charging?

When you’d quite wait till Put on OS settles down a bit, there are platform-agnostic smartwatches and health watches you should purchase within the meantime. In any other case, you’ll need to pay attention to 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 important watch, you could need to wait till there are extra W5 Plus watches to select from. The Pixel Watch 2 has the W5 (no Plus) chip, and the end result to date has been zippier efficiency and higher 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 suitable match, you may at all times try our health tracker information.

The rotating bezel returns on the Galaxy Watch 6 Traditional. Whereas the updates are iterative, you now get Put on OS 4, One UI 5 Watch, bigger batteries, and a bigger show because of the 15 % thinner bezel.

Sizes: 43mm, 47mm / Weight: 77g, 85g / Battery life: As much as 30 hours with AOD, 40 with out AOD / Show kind: At all times-on OLED / GPS: Constructed-in GPS / Connectivity: LTE (non-compulsory), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi / Water resistance: As much as 50 meters, IP68 / Music storage: 16GB

When you’ve got 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.

First off, it’s acquired a rotating bodily bezel — and stated 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 comfy for on a regular basis put on. It’s launching with Put on OS 4, which provides prolonged battery life, and eventually, cloud backups. One UI 5 Watch additionally provides some minor well being and sleep monitoring enhancements, however this can ultimately make its technique to older fashions. Whereas I desire the Traditional, the bottom Watch 6 mannequin will be the higher choice in order for you a smaller, lighter, sleeker, and cheaper smartwatch.

a:hover]:text-gray-63 [&>a:hover]:shadow-underline-black darkish:[&>a:hover]:text-gray-bd darkish:[&>a:hover]:shadow-underline-gray [&>a]:shadow-underline-gray-63 darkish:[&>a]:text-gray-bd darkish:[&>a]:shadow-underline-gray”>Photograph by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

Total, the Galaxy Watch 6 sequence is an iterative replace, however I respect that battery life has improved to the purpose the place I’m not anxious whether or not it’ll final me your complete day. After all, your mileage will fluctuate relying in your particular person use and which settings you allow. For instance, turning on steady SpO2 sensing at night time 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 %.

Final yr’s $449.99 Galaxy Watch 5 Professional can even get you an important general expertise. It’s not an enormous 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 selecting 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 doubtless 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 greater 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.

Samsung’s top-of-the-line flagship smartwatch has EKG readings, physique composition evaluation, turn-by-turn navigation, and a brand new physique temperature sensor. Learn our Galaxy Watch 5 evaluation.

The change to Put on OS means you’re getting a way more strong 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 another Put on OS watch. For instance, if you wish to kick Bixby to the curb in favor of Google Assistant, you may. If you would like 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 general 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 general sleep monitoring continues to enhance. You additionally get built-in GPS, physique composition evaluation, irregular coronary heart price 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 restricted 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 join Samsung’s service. You’ll be able to work round it, however all Samsung watches work greatest with different Samsung units.

a:hover]:shadow-highlight-franklin darkish:[&>a:hover]:shadow-highlight-franklin [&>a]:shadow-underline-black darkish:[&>a]:shadow-underline-white”>Greatest Android smartwatch for non-Samsung customers

The brand new Google Pixel Watch 2 now achieves a dependable 24 hours on a single cost with the always-on show enabled. It sports activities a brand new processor, multipath well being sensor, Put on OS 4, and new security options, throughout a considerable replace.

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

The $349.99 Google Pixel Watch 2 is a big enchancment over the unique. The Galaxy Watch 6 lineup will nonetheless get you a extra polished general 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; you’ll get the identical expertise regardless. That stated, its name screening function will solely work in the event you pair it with a Tensor-equipped Pixel cellphone. It’s a little bit disappointing, however in comparison with Samsung, the Pixel Watch 2 doesn’t gatekeep well being options primarily based on what cellphone you’ve. It’s additionally at all times going to have the newest updates to Google companies like Google Maps, Google Pockets, YouTube Music, and Google Assistant as a result of, properly, 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, shopping for the Pixel Watch 2 can 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 general.) 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 expenses extra slowly — so the distinction is additional noticeable.

The Pixel Watch doesn’t care what Android cellphone you’ve

In comparison with final yr, Google has additionally finished 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 price monitoring for vigorous workout routines. Plus, you may make the most of coronary heart price 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 replicate in your temper, take a stroll, or do a respiratory train. It’s imperfect, but it surely’s top-of-the-line 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 may 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. When you don’t examine in when the timer goes off, your location will mechanically be shared together with your emergency contacts. One other neat function is Security Sign. When you get an LTE watch and have a Fitbit Premium subscription, you don’t want an lively LTE plan as a way to make the most of emergency companies.

One factor to be aware of is sturdiness. Whereas the domed show is gorgeous, we cracked the display on the unique Pixel Watch and acquired deep scratches on the Pixel Watch 2. Google doesn’t provide any restore choices, however with the Pixel Watch 2, it has began providing its Most well-liked Care prolonged guarantee, so you’ve extra alternative choices ought to one thing occur. It’s not superb because it’s restricted to the US and Canada, but it surely’s a step in the suitable route.

a:hover]:shadow-highlight-franklin darkish:[&>a:hover]:shadow-highlight-franklin [&>a]:shadow-underline-black darkish:[&>a]:shadow-underline-white”>Greatest health smartwatch for Android

Close-up of person pressing the TicWatch Pro 5’s digital crown

Mobvoi’s long-awaited TicWatch Professional 5 has superior battery life, wonderful health monitoring, and Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon W5 Plus chip.

Sizes: 50mm w/24mm straps / Weight: 44.3g / Battery life: As much as 80 hours / Show kind: 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 isn’t any exception. It’s acquired an estimated 80 hours of battery life with normal use, a secondary ultra-low energy show, and a large (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 a lot of the watches on this class and is beneficial for backpackers and endurance athletes. It won’t maintain a candle to a top-of-the-line Garmin, but it surely’s additionally a wiser look ahead to a fraction of the value.

Battery life apart, Mobvoi’s watches are an important various to the Fossil Gen 6, and the Professional 5 is an effective choice for fitness-focused individuals who aren’t eager on giving up good capabilities for a Garmin or Polar. It’s additionally extra sturdy than Fossil’s style watches or the Pixel Watch. This time round, Mobvoi has additionally added a digital crown so that you don’t have to fret about scrolling by way of menus with sweaty fingers. The flatter aspect button additionally reduces the chance of unintended presses.

The Professional 5 additionally has an ingenious technique of displaying coronary heart price. While you raise up your arm, the backlight adjustments coloration relying on which coronary heart price zone you’re in. Which means you may immediately 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 stress monitoring, all-day blood oxygen monitoring, fatigue assessments, in addition to atrial fibrillation and irregular heartbeat detection. For outdoorsy sorts, 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 price, blood oxygen, stress, respiratory price, and general 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 power to take calls. It’s additionally the one Android smartwatch out there within the US with the newest Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 Plus chip, which is a plus by way of futureproofing. The one main considerations are the 50mm case that will not go well with smaller wrists and the shortage of a digital assistant.

a:hover]:shadow-highlight-franklin darkish:[&>a:hover]:shadow-highlight-franklin [&>a]:shadow-underline-black darkish:[&>a]:shadow-underline-white”>Greatest hybrid smartwatch

$180

The Garmin Vivomove Sport is an inexpensive, trendy hybrid-analog tracker. It’s not as beefy as Garmin’s different trackers and is properly fitted to informal exercise.

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

If all you need is straightforward health monitoring and notifications in a extra delicate gadget, the $179.99 Garmin Vivomove Sport is a superb, inexpensive choice. It seems like a Swatch, full with actual analog palms, however has a hidden OLED for notifications. Principally, in the event you don’t need folks to know you’ve acquired a smartwatch on, a hybrid smartwatch is the way in which to go. Plus, it’s suitable with each iOS and Android if you wish to reserve the choice to modify between each ecosystems.

You might be giving up sure good options, like contactless funds, digital assistants, and built-in GPS. The hidden show can ship the fundamentals, like notifications, the time, and primary well being stats. Nonetheless, what it lacks in smarts, it makes up for with battery life. You get an estimated 5 days on a single cost. On the health entrance, it’s an correct tracker regardless of its lack of built-in GPS. As for well being monitoring, you get entry to a ton of in-depth information from Garmin’s platform.

Alternatively, you may go for the subsequent step up with the $269.99 Vivomove Pattern. Whereas the Sport is the proper value for a hybrid, there are just a few situations the place shelling out a little bit additional for the Pattern is smart. For starters, the hidden LCD show fills your complete watchface. (The Sport solely shows data on the underside half of the display.) That’s simpler to learn total notifications. Plus, it’s extra legible as you profit from bigger fonts. The Pattern additionally has a dressier look because of the stainless-steel bezel, making it higher fitted to enterprise conferences or formal occasions. Lastly, the Pattern helps Qi charging. When you’ve already acquired Qi chargers, which means much less litter in your nightstand.

You may also need to take into account the Withings ScanWatch 2 or ScanWatch Mild, which I’m at the moment reviewing. The $350 ScanWatch 2 has extra fashionable well being monitoring options, like EKG, blood oxygen, and temperature sensors, all whereas sustaining that very same elegant fashion. The Mild knocks off about $100 and is a extra one-to-one various with the Vivomove Sport in that it focuses on informal exercise monitoring solely. I’ll replace this information as soon as I’ve completed my evaluation.

a:hover]:shadow-highlight-franklin darkish:[&>a:hover]:shadow-highlight-franklin [&>a]:shadow-underline-black darkish:[&>a]:shadow-underline-white”>Greatest platform-agnostic health smartwatch

Person looking at Garmin Venu 3 on their wrist showing calendar widget.

$450

The Garmin Venu 3S provides a brand new coronary heart price sensor, a wheelchair mode, and much-improved sleep monitoring and nap detection.

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 kind: OLED touchscreen / GPS: GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO / Connectivity: Bluetooth, Ant Plus, Wi-Fi / Water resistance: 5ATM / Music storage: 8GB

Garmin is greatest recognized 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 instantly 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 properly in testing, although digital assistants aren’t at all times the neatest at understanding instructions.

The Venu 3 doesn’t have one of the best 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 folk who need to hold their choices open. It additionally has fall detection, dwell monitoring, and contactless funds.

As for well being options, it has Garmin’s newest coronary heart price sensor, which allows its FDA-cleared EKG app to detect atrial fibrillation. In any other case, you get built-in GPS, steady coronary heart price monitoring, all the superior teaching options within the Garmin Join 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 should purchase, but it surely’s undoubtedly the neatest. The worth is a bit excessive in comparison with most smartwatches, however by Garmin requirements, it’s middle-of-the-pack.

$200

The Amazfit GTR 4 is a platform-agnostic smartwatch that delivers loads of bang on your buck. It has dual-band GPS, is Alexa-compatible, and has 14 days of battery life.

Dimension: 46mm w/ 22mm straps / Weight: 34g / Battery life: As much as 14 days / Show kind: 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 constantly impressed by the GTR line of smartwatches over time, and the $199.99 GTR 4 isn’t any exception.

Not solely does it have a basic look, however you additionally get 14 days of battery life and a coloration, always-on OLED show. New to the GTR 4 is dual-band GPS — a function that Apple and Garmin solely just lately launched to their higher-end smartwatches. Or, in the event you prefer 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 price 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 gadget additionally syncs with Strava and Adidas Operating.

The GTR 4 isn’t one of the best smartwatch round. Flagship watches can do every little thing the GTR 4 can do however in a sleeker, extra polished package deal. Nonetheless, they will’t do it at this value. If value is your essential precedence, this will get you unbelievable bang on your buck. Plus, you may steadily discover Amazfit units on sale. The icing on the cake is it really works simply as properly on Android because it does on iOS.

Replace January twenty fifth 6:35PM ET: Eliminated Fossil Gen 6 from the shopping for information as Fossil has confirmed to us that it’s pulling out of the market.

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