The 7 greatest Android smartwatches in 2023

After an extended stretch of slim pickings, 2022 was an enormous 12 months for Android smartwatches. That power has carried into 2023, and now Android customers have extra watch choices than ever earlier than.

However that is nonetheless a transitional period. Put on OS 3 is a piece in progress, and whereas we’re inspired by the stronger third-party app choices, the market continues to be fragmented. Some options, like Google Assistant, might not be obtainable but on sure Put on OS 3 smartwatches — although that one might come through an replace someday sooner or later. And since Google is gonna Google, Put on OS 4 is already right here even if Put on OS 3 hasn’t rolled out to each attainable smartwatch simply but.

In case 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. At this level, I don’t advocate shopping for a Put on OS 2 watch that may’t be upgraded, even when the reductions are tempting. Put on OS 4 is right here, however Google hasn’t mentioned but whether or not Snapdragon Put on 4100-powered units will help the replace — or, in the event that they do, when upgrades will roll out. In summer season 2022, Qualcomm additionally introduced its Snapdragon Put on 5 Plus chip — a 4nm processor that can give a much-needed increase to the subsequent spherical of Put on OS smartwatches. Mobvoi’s TicWatch Professional 5 was the primary to sport the brand new chip within the US, and whereas it’s a fantastic 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 up to now 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 prime picks, but when none of those is the proper 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 kind: All the time-on OLED / GPS: Constructed-in GPS/ Connectivity: LTE (non-obligatory), 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 2023 lineup, I like to recommend the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Basic.

First off, it’s obtained a rotating bodily bezel — and mentioned bezel is now 15 p.c thinner than the Galaxy Watch 4 Basic. The up to date design is sleeker than its predecessor, and the bigger show is simpler on the eyes and is barely 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 this may finally make its technique to older fashions. Whereas I favor the Basic, the bottom Watch 6 mannequin would be the higher choice if you need a smaller, lighter, sleeker, and cheaper smartwatch.

Total, the Galaxy Watch 6 collection 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 the complete day. After all, your mileage will differ 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 quicker, however utilizing bedtime mode can mitigate that so that you solely lose 10–15 p.c in a single day as a substitute of 25–30 p.c.

Final 12 months’s $449.99 Galaxy Watch 5 Professional may even get you a fantastic total expertise. It’s not a giant improve from the Galaxy Watch 4, however the primary advantages of the Professional over different fashions are further sturdiness, neat GPS options, and battery life. I like to recommend selecting the Professional when you’re a weekend warrior or if multiday battery life is your prime precedence. We obtained as much as 65 hours in testing, although when 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 collection, 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 strong third-party app expertise than on Tizen-powered Samsung smartwatches, just like the Galaxy Watch 3 and the Galaxy Watch Lively lineup. You additionally get extra flexibility on companies than with every other Put on OS watch. For instance, if you wish to kick Bixby to the curb in favor of Google Assistant, you may. If you’d like a extra in-depth take a look at how the Galaxy Watch 5 stacks up in comparison with the Pixel Watch particularly, you may try our Versus video. (Nearly all of the factors nonetheless apply to the Watch 6, as not a complete lot has modified.)

Samsung Well being additionally delivers an excellent total health monitoring expertise, particularly since you may allow turn-by-turn navigation for mountain climbing and biking actions. Samsung is increasing this to embody walks and runs when One UI 5 Watch launches later this 12 months. 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 price notifications, fall detection, emergency SOS options, and EKGs. 

We don’t essentially advocate the Galaxy Watch 6 collection or 5 Professional when you don’t have a Samsung cellphone. EKGs require the Samsung Well being Monitor app, which is proscribed to Samsung telephones. Additionally, whilst you can customise the buttons to launch your digital assistant of alternative, the shortcut for contactless funds is tough 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 may work round it, however all Samsung watches work greatest with different Samsung units.

The Galaxy Watch 6 collection ships on August eleventh, so now is an effective time to make the most of promotional and trade-in gives, particularly since Samsung barely raised the worth of the bottom Watch 6 to $299.99 and the Basic now begins at $399.99. In case you’re okay shopping for refurbished fashions, you may also need to keep watch over upcoming gross sales as retailers attempt to eliminate Galaxy Watch 4 and 5 stock.

Learn my full assessment of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 collection.

Sizes: 41mm / Weight: 31g / Battery life: Roughly 24 hours with AOD enabled / Show kind: All the time-on OLED / GPS: Constructed-in GPS / Connectivity: LTE (non-obligatory), 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 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 will have; you’ll get the identical expertise regardless. That mentioned, Google did say a forthcoming name screening characteristic will solely work when 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 will have. 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 may even get you a six-month trial of Fitbit Premium and a one-month trial of YouTube Music. 

A very powerful improve from final 12 months is that the battery reliably lasts 24 hours with the always-on show enabled. A few of that is as a result of 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 quicker charging. You may get about 50 p.c in half-hour, and a full cost takes about 75 minutes. Due to a firmware replace, the unique Pixel Watch now fees extra slowly — so the distinction is further noticeable.

In comparison with final 12 months, Google has additionally completed a greater job this 12 months of integrating Fitbit’s well being and health options. The Pixel Watch 2 now has a multipath sensor that permits 40 p.c 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 mirror in your temper, take a stroll, or do a respiratory train. It’s imperfect, nevertheless it’s top-of-the-line implementations of mindfulness options we’ve seen to date.

Google has additionally launched new private security options. Security Examine is a proactive timer that can ship your location to family members when you’re in a pickle. You set an exercise (i.e., taking public transportation or strolling alone) and a timer length. In case you don’t examine in when the timer goes off, your location will mechanically be shared together with your emergency contacts. One other neat characteristic is Security Sign. In case you get an LTE watch and have a Fitbit Premium subscription, you don’t want an energetic LTE plan as a way to make the most of emergency companies.

One factor to be conscious of is sturdiness. Whereas the domed show is gorgeous, we cracked the display on the unique Pixel Watch and obtained 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 popular Care prolonged guarantee, so you will have extra substitute choices ought to one thing occur. It’s not excellent because it’s restricted to the US and Canada, nevertheless it’s a step in the proper route.

Learn my full Google Pixel Watch 2 assessment.

Sizes: 44mm w/22mm straps / Weight: 51g / Battery life: 24 hours / Show kind: OLED touchscreen / GPS: Constructed-in GPS / Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi / Water resistance: 5ATM / Music storage: 8GB

You possibly can argue that by placing out a horde of Put on OS watches 12 months after 12 months, Fossil has singlehandedly saved Put on OS afloat throughout its darkest days. On the intense aspect, that dedication to the platform means the $299 Gen 6 is likely one of the most secure buys on this planet of Android smartwatches. Not solely is Fossil in it for the lengthy haul nevertheless it’s additionally taken buyer suggestions into consideration for future designs. 

The Fossil Gen 6 is, out of the field, a Put on OS 2 watch operating on a Snapdragon Put on 4100 chip. That’s a giant cause why yow will discover it on sale fairly usually, often for round $220-$230. It’s a modest low cost, however this can be a smarter decide than a 3100-powered Put on OS watch, just like the Gen 5 and Gen 5E, even when you discover them for a lot much less. However when you do need Put on OS 3, there’s excellent news. In October 2022, Fossil 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 funds through Google Pockets, and entry to the Google Play retailer for third-party apps like Strava and Spotify. Additionally, after an extended and unsure wait, Google Assistant is returning to the Fossil Gen 6 watches.

In late 2022, the corporate additionally lately launched its $299 Gen 6 Wellness Version. In consequence, it’s additionally beefed up obtainable well being options throughout the Gen 6 units. That features SpO2 readings, VO2 Max, automated exercise monitoring, coronary heart price zones, steady coronary heart price monitoring exterior of exercises, and improved sleep monitoring. The Wellness Version comes with Put on OS 3 out of the field, which is a tad extra handy, and the elevated design is kind of fetching. Nevertheless, when you don’t thoughts the additional step of upgrading, selecting up any Gen 6 watch on sale isn’t a foul means to avoid wasting further moolah. Particularly because the Wellness Version has most of the identical flaws because the common Gen 6 anyway.

Learn our full assessment of the Fossil Gen 6.

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 cause: tremendous lengthy battery life. The $249.99 TicWatch Professional 5 isn’t any exception. It’s obtained an estimated 80 hours of battery life with commonplace use, a secondary ultra-low energy show, and a large (for a smartwatch you put on in your wrist, a minimum of) 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 and is helpful for backpackers and endurance athletes. It may not maintain a candle to a top-of-the-line Garmin, nevertheless it’s additionally a wiser look ahead to a fraction of the worth.

Battery life apart, Mobvoi’s watches are a fantastic different 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 danger of unintended presses.

The Professional 5 additionally has an ingenious technique of displaying coronary heart price. While you elevate up your arm, the backlight modifications 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 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 power 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 won’t go well with smaller wrists and the dearth of a digital assistant.

Learn my full assessment of the Mobvoi TicWatch Professional 5.

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 easy health monitoring and notifications in a extra delicate machine, the $179.99 Garmin Vivomove Sport is a superb, inexpensive choice. It appears like a Swatch, full with actual analog fingers, however has a hidden OLED for notifications. Mainly, when you don’t need individuals to know you’ve obtained 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 change 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 fundamental well being stats. Nevertheless, 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 Development. Whereas the Sport is the right worth for a hybrid, there are a number of situations the place shelling out a little bit further for the Development is sensible. For starters, the hidden LCD show fills the complete watchface. (The Sport solely shows info on the underside half of the display.) That’s simpler to learn complete notifications. Plus, it’s extra legible as you profit from bigger fonts. The Development additionally has a dressier look because of the stainless-steel bezel, making it higher suited to enterprise conferences or formal occasions. Lastly, the Development helps Qi charging. In case you’ve already obtained Qi chargers, which means much less litter in your nightstand.

Learn my full assessment of the Garmin Vivomove Sport.

Sizes: 43mm w/20mm straps / Weight: 51g / Battery life: As much as 9 days / Show kind: 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 glorious health options however aren’t so good in any other case. However the $449.99 Venu 2 Plus caters to individuals who need top-notch health monitoring with out sacrificing productiveness options.

It’s obtained a colourful and vibrant always-on OLED show and a whopping 9 days of estimated battery life. It’s additionally added a microphone and speaker, which means it’s one of many few Garmin smartwatches that can allow you to make and take calls from the wrist (so long as it’s in Bluetooth vary of your cellphone; it doesn’t have mobile connectivity). 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 suppose 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 2 Plus doesn’t have the most effective third-party app ecosystem, nevertheless it has Spotify, Deezer, and Amazon Music for offline playback. Android customers may ship fast responses for texts, and the watch works with both iOS or Android for people who need to preserve their choices open. As for well being options, Garmin lately introduced the Venu 2 Plus has an 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. This isn’t probably the most hardcore Garmin that cash can purchase, nevertheless it’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.

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 finances wearables that punch far above their weight. I’ve been constantly impressed by the GTR line of smartwatches through the years, 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 characteristic that Apple and Garmin solely lately launched to their higher-end smartwatches. Or, when you wish to plan your personal path runs or hikes, you may import your personal GPS routes, too. It tracks 150 sports activities and options all-day steady coronary heart price monitoring. It’s also possible to 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 most effective smartwatch round. Flagship watches can do every thing the GTR 4 can do however in a sleeker, extra polished package deal. Nevertheless, they will’t do it at this worth. If worth is your important precedence, this will get you unbelievable bang on your buck. Plus, you may continuously discover Amazfit units on sale. The icing on the cake is it really works simply as nicely on Android because it does on iOS.

Learn my full assessment of the Amazfit GTR 4.

Replace October sixteenth, 5:53PM ET: Swapped out the Google Pixel Look ahead to the Pixel Watch 2.