The 7 finest Android smartwatches in 2023

After a protracted stretch of slim pickings, 2022 was an enormous 12 months for Android smartwatches. The Google Pixel Watch lastly launched after what felt like a decade. Samsung launched its second-gen Put on OS smartwatches. And Fossil introduced its first native Put on OS 3 watch and began updating its myriad Gen 6 gadgets to the brand new platform. A pair months into 2023, it appears like that vitality will proceed all through this 12 months too.

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, will not be out there but on sure Put on OS 3 smartwatches — although that one will probably come by way of an replace someday sooner or later. 

For those who’d somewhat wait till Put on OS settles down a bit, there are platform-agnostic smartwatches and health watches you should purchase within the meantime. A reduced Put on OS 2 watch may be a wise selection for first-time patrons uncertain about smartwatches typically. For those who go this route, nonetheless, we implore you to ensure that it’s at minimal a Snapdragon Put on 4100-powered smartwatch. These watches might be upgraded to Put on OS 3 — older watches operating on the 3100 chip can’t. In summer season 2022, Qualcomm additionally introduced its Snapdragon Put on 5 Plus chip — a 4nm processor that may give a much-needed increase to the subsequent spherical of Put on OS smartwatches. For those who can wait, you would possibly need to maintain off till these smartwatches begin displaying up on cabinets.

As long as you retain the aforementioned caveats in thoughts, Android customers have extra smartwatch choices than ever earlier than. We’ve rounded up our high picks, but when none of those is the fitting match, you’ll be able to all the time take a look at our health tracker information. 

Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Professional

You probably have a Samsung telephone, you’ll get probably the most mileage out of a Samsung smartwatch. And of the 2 watches Samsung launched in 2022, the $449.99 Galaxy Watch 5 Professional will get you one of the best total expertise. It’s not an enormous improve from the Galaxy Watch 4, but it surely’s fashionable, lasts longer on a single cost, and provides some neat GPS options. The Professional edges out a win over the common Galaxy Watch 5, due to its battery life. We obtained as much as 65 hours in testing, although if you happen to allow the always-on show, you’ll extra probably get round 48 to 50 hours. Nonetheless, that’s a notable bump over both the 40mm Galaxy Watch 5 or the Galaxy Watch 4 lineup. Software program updates have improved the battery life on these watches, however you’ll nonetheless need to cost them day by day or each different day. And the Pixel Watch solely lasts round 24 hours.

The 45mm Professional wears surprisingly small for a health watch of its measurement, and the larger sapphire crystal show makes textual content simpler to learn. And whereas it’s too dangerous Samsung did away with the bodily rotating bezel, the Professional’s raised lip makes the contact bezel simpler to make use of than the flat one on the vanilla Watch 5. We additionally just like the deployant clasp, which is each safe and comfy to put on. If you would like mobile connectivity, you’ll be able to pay $50 further plus your service’s month-to-month charge for the LTE model. The watch additionally has twin SIM help (as long as you’ve gotten a telephone that additionally helps twin SIM.).

Put on OS 3 is snappy on the Professional, and Samsung’s model of Put on OS is intuitive to make use of and makes higher use of the watch’s round show than Google’s default UI. Samsung additionally added some neat accessibility options, like colour filters and the power to rebalance audio.

The change 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 Lively 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’ll be able to. The identical goes for Samsung Pay and Google Pockets. If you would like a extra in-depth take a look at how this watch stacks up in comparison with the Pixel Watch specifically, you’ll be able to take a look at our Versus video.

Samsung Well being additionally delivers total health monitoring expertise, particularly since you’ll be able to allow turn-by-turn navigation for mountain climbing and biking actions. We weren’t too impressed with nightly SpO2 readings, however Samsung’s total sleep monitoring is sweet. 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 suggest the Galaxy Watch 5 or 5 Professional if you happen to don’t have a Samsung telephone. EKGs require the Samsung Well being Monitor app, which is restricted to Samsung telephones. Additionally, whilst you can customise the buttons to launch your digital assistant of selection, the shortcut for contactless funds is difficult coded to Samsung Pay — which can also be gated to Samsung telephones except 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 finest with different Samsung gadgets.

The Galaxy Watch 5 can also be a stable various, each within the 40mm ($279.99) and 44mm ($309.99) sizes. You’ll worsen battery life, it’s not as sturdy, and there’s no turn-by-turn navigation. Nevertheless, the additional financial savings could also be a worthwhile tradeoff. 

The $349.99 Google Pixel Watch is a beautiful smartwatch, however it’s a first-gen machine with some notable rising pains. The Galaxy Watch 5 lineup will get you a extra polished expertise, however the Pixel Watch is the higher selection 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. The Pixel Watch doesn’t care what Android telephone you’ve gotten; you’ll get the identical expertise regardless. Broadly talking, it’s additionally all the time going to have the newest updates to Google companies like Google Maps, Google Pockets, YouTube Music, and Google Assistant as a result of, nicely, it’s Google’s smartwatch. Talking of which, shopping for the Pixel Watch may also get you a six-month trial of Fitbit Premium and a three-month trial of YouTube Music. 

Whereas it makes use of a last-gen Samsung chip, the Pixel Watch has snappy efficiency, due to 2GB of RAM and a co-processor that helps optimize battery life. Its redesigned Put on OS 3 interface can also be simple to make use of, and belief us: you received’t be bothered a lot by the bezels. Whereas thick, they’re not that noticeable, due to the darkish backgrounds and watch faces. 

For those who’re a long-time Fitbit consumer, that is the smartwatch you’ve been ready for — not the Fitbit Sense 2 or Versa 4. Not solely does it have Fitbit integration, however you’ve additionally obtained the choice of mobile connectivity for $50 extra, higher third-party apps than Put on OS 2 watches, and Google Assistant. (Google Assistant is lacking from Fitbit’s Sense 2 and Versa 4. Google Maps isn’t out there but on these gadgets both.) The Pixel Watch lacks some staple well being options — irregular coronary heart rhythm notifications, computerized exercise monitoring, and nightly SpO2 percentages are the massive omissions — however the bulk of Fitbit’s well being platform is there. The Pixel Watch additionally helps EKG readings, has built-in GPS, and permits you to obtain offline playlists from YouTube Music.

One factor to be aware of is sturdiness. Whereas the domed show is gorgeous, we cracked certainly one of our assessment items in every week. (The others had been high quality, nonetheless!) You additionally received’t get one of the best battery life at 24 hours — much less if you happen to use the always-on show — however it’s pretty commonplace for this class. It’s additionally obtained a proprietary strap mechanism, although we’re starting to see third-party straps hit the market. These tradeoffs are an enormous motive why this first-gen machine isn’t our total choose. Nevertheless, it’s nonetheless a promising machine that’s a good selection for first adopters. 

You could possibly 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 without doubt one of the most secure buys on the earth of Android smartwatches. Not solely is Fossil in it for the lengthy haul, but it surely’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 an enormous motive why yow will discover it on sale fairly typically, normally for round $220-$230. It’s a modest low cost, however it is a smarter choose than a 3100-powered Put on OS watch, just like the Gen 5 and Gen 5E, even if you happen to discover them for a lot much less. However if you happen to do need Put on OS 3, there’s excellent news. Fossil started rolling out upgrades final October 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 by way of Google Pockets, and entry to the Google Play retailer for third-party apps like Strava and Spotify. There’s no timeline simply but for Google Assistant if you happen to improve to Put on OS 3, and it’s been faraway from Put on OS 2.

The corporate additionally not too long ago launched its $299 Gen 6 Wellness Version. In consequence, it’s additionally beefed up out there well being options throughout the Gen 6 gadgets. That features SpO2 readings, VO2 Max, computerized exercise monitoring, coronary heart fee zones, steady coronary heart fee 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, if you happen to don’t thoughts the additional step of upgrading, choosing up any Gen 6 watch on sale isn’t a foul manner to avoid wasting further moolah. Particularly for the reason that Wellness Version has most of the similar flaws because the common Gen 6 anyway.

Mobvoi TicWatch Professional 3 Extremely GPS

Just like the Fossil Gen 6, the $299.99 Mobvoi TicWatch Professional 3 Extremely GPS is a Put on OS 2 watch operating on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 4100 chip. Meaning it’s eligible for an improve to Put on OS 3, although Mobvoi hasn’t begun rolling that out simply but. Nonetheless, the TicWatch lineup has its devoted followers for a motive. Mobvoi’s watches are an amazing various to the Fossil Gen 6, and this one, specifically, is sweet for fitness-focused individuals who aren’t eager on giving up good capabilities for a Garmin or Polar. It’s additionally extra sturdy. Whereas it lacks a sapphire crystal show, you do get military-grade sturdiness, which is stronger than smartwatches with out it.

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 GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, and Beidou. Plus, you get 72 hours of battery life. 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 worth.

If all you need is easy health monitoring and notifications in a extra refined machine, the $179.99 Garmin Vivomove Sport is a superb, reasonably priced choice. It appears like a Swatch, full with actual analog arms, however has a hidden OLED for notifications. Mainly, if you happen to 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 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. 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 knowledge from Garmin’s platform. 

Alternatively, you’ll be able to go for the subsequent step up with the $269.99 Vivomove Pattern. Whereas the Sport is the right worth for a hybrid, there are a number of eventualities the place shelling out a bit of further for the Pattern is sensible. For starters, the hidden LCD show fills the complete watch face. (The Sport solely shows data on the underside half of the display screen.) That’s simpler to learn complete notifications. Plus, it’s extra legible as you profit from bigger fonts. The Pattern additionally has a dressier look due to the chrome steel bezel, making it higher fitted to enterprise conferences or formal occasions. Lastly, the Pattern helps Qi charging. For those who’ve already obtained Qi chargers, which means much less litter in your nightstand.

Garmin is finest 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 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, that means it’s one of many few Garmin smartwatches that may allow you to make and take calls from the wrist (so long as it’s in Bluetooth vary of your telephone; 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 telephone. 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 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. As for well being options, Garmin not too long ago 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 fee monitoring, the entire superior teaching options within the Garmin Join app, and Garmin’s well-known in-depth well being knowledge. This isn’t probably the most hardcore Garmin that cash should buy, 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.

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 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 colour, always-on OLED show. New to the GTR 4 is dual-band GPS — a characteristic that Apple and Garmin solely not too long ago launched to their higher-end smartwatches. Or, if you happen to prefer to plan your personal path runs or hikes, you’ll be able to import your personal GPS routes, too. It tracks 150 sports activities and options all-day steady coronary heart fee monitoring. You too can monitor stress, sleep, and SpO2 ranges. For good options, you’ll be able to 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 Working. 

The GTR 4 isn’t one of the best smartwatch round. Flagship watches can do all the pieces the GTR 4 can do however in a sleeker, extra polished bundle. Nevertheless, they’ll’t do it at this worth. If worth is your essential precedence, this will get you unbelievable bang on your buck. Plus, you’ll be able to steadily discover Amazfit gadgets on sale. The icing on the cake is it really works simply as nicely on Android because it does on iOS.