zdnet.com

The best Android smartwatches in 2024: Expert tested and reviewed

In my early days of writing about mobile technology, I thought my MSN Direct SPOT watch was the future of wearables. Twenty years later, we now have incredible smartwatches from brands like Apple, Samsung, and Google that make the clock the least impressive feature.

While Android smartwatches today typically include detailed 24/7 health and wellness tracking, many have other advanced features, like a companion Android app, touchscreen display, call and text messaging support, installable applications, customizable watch faces, and voice assistants.

Also:Best smartwatches: Expert tested

What is the best Android smartwatch right now?

At ZDNET, we have tested every popular Android smartwatch powered by Google's Wear OS on the market, evaluating battery life, display, durability, and health tracking features. Our pick for the best Android smartwatch overall is the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra, thanks to its unique design, advanced safety features, running dynamics, and much more. But the new Pixel Watch 3 is available in two sizes, and as Google continues to roll out software updates, it may soon be our pick for best Android smartwatch. Here's how the rest stack up against each other and on your wrist.

The best Android smartwatches of 2024

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra

Best Android smartwatch overall

Apple took a shot across the bow of serious GPS sports watch brands with the Apple Watch Ultra series, and now Samsung joins the party with the large Galaxy Watch Ultra. Samsung branded it the same way as Apple, along with a familiar orange button and waterproof silicone band. A few other advanced features found in Apple's model are present in the Samsung model, which is a great thing for Android phone owners, especially Samsung Galaxy phone owners.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra has a unique square design with a round watch face, an interesting magnetic lug system, three buttons on one side, gesture support, advanced running dynamics, and more. Samsung's Galaxy AI is present in the form of wellness insights that combine into a daily score to help guide you to optimal performance, including healthy sleep levels.

First look:The Galaxy Watch Ultra convinced me to replace my Apple Watch in less than a week. Here's why

The Watch Ultra runs the Samsung-powered Google Wear OS 5.0 with One UI Watch 6.0, meaning it still looks like a Samsung smartwatch but also supports Google Assistant, Google Maps, Google Wallet, Google Play Store, and more Google apps.

It has an operating system optimized for the round watch design with a virtual rotating bezel. Fall detection, messaging, phone calls, and more are available on the watch, with advanced fitness data such as VO2 Max and advanced running dynamics data also supported. The lack of support for external sensors is the only reason I do not wear it daily on one of my wrists.

At $649, it is the most expensive Samsung Galaxy watch, but it is still $150 less than Apple's competing Apple Watch Ultra 2. Make sure to check out the Samsung website since there are major sales and generous trade-in offers that may make the Galaxy Watch Ultra an easy purchase decision.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra

Show Expert Take Show less

Amazfit Balance

Best budget Android smartwatch

One company that continues to push the limits of what you can buy for just over $200 is Amazfit. The Amazfit Balance offers an elegantly designed smartwatch with Amazon Alexa support and the ability to answer calls via a Bluetooth connection to your watch, just like all other non-cellular smartwatches. It runs the latest Zepp OS 3.0 operating system, built for a lean and mean experience.

It's tough to beat the low $220 price, and I continue to push the watch to see the flaws that could justify such a low price, but they don't exist. The Amazfit Balance has a brilliant AMOLED display, integrated mic and speaker, GPS, various advanced health/wellness sensors, and a battery life that lasts up to two weeks between charges. The battery life alone is something modern smartwatches cannot match, and if you want to charge your watch just twice a month rather than every other day, then you might want to consider this watch.

Review: Amazfit Balance: Why I wear this $220 smartwatch even after testing Garmin and Apple watches

Amazfit provides the Zepp smartphone application that provides an exhaustive experience to track every detail of the data captured by the various sensors. The one flaw is that the application may be overwhelming for some users. Thankfully, Amazfit continues to refine and simplify the application to make it more useful for Amazfit Balance owners. Amazfit recently updated its smartphone application to be easier for people to use while still providing an incredible amount of data and guidance on what to do with the data collected by the watch.

Phone calls sound good, and it is convenient to make and accept calls from your wrist when your phone is secured in a pocket or backpack. There is support for more than 150 sports, and the available watch faces look awesome.

amazfit-balance

Show Expert Take Show less

Samsung Galaxy Watch FE LTE

Best Samsung watch for smaller wrists

If you have small wrists or are a bit hesitant about jumping into the smartwatch market, the Galaxy Watch FE LTE is a great option with a low price and the backing of the Samsung Health ecosystem. The 40mm form factor is sure to please, and while it may be a slightly older processor, it is the same that powered the very capable Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro.

The Watch FE LTE is only 25.9 grams, compared to the Galaxy Watch Ultra, which weighs 61.5 grams. The Watch Ultra has a 47mm main dimension, while the Watch FE is only 40.4mm. This means the Watch FE LTE feels tiny on my wrist, but I find the silicone band very comfortable, and the size makes it very easy to use for sleep tracking.

Also: One of the cheapest Android smartwatches I've tested isn't made by Google or OnePlus

The Galaxy Watch FE LTE is affordable at $250 and cellular plans from your carrier give you the ability to use your watch as a communication companion. Make sure to check out the Samsung website during holiday sales, as the price is currently as low as $200.

The watch is great for tracking steps, indoor activities, and other workouts that don't require precise positioning. Samsung Health works with the Samsung Wearable app to provide a full health and wellness experience based on the data the Watch FE LTE collects. Samsung Health also includes loads of fitness programs for free, so you can enjoy various workouts at three fitness levels and with different selected fitness goals.

Samsung Galaxy Watch FE LTE

Show Expert Take Show less

Google Pixel Watch 3

Best Android smartwatch from Google

The third time is the charm, and it looks like Google's third-generation Pixel Watch 3 is sure to please the masses with two size options, improved displays, and software enhancements that provide a richer user experience. This watch integrates several Fitbit features, including improved heart rate sensors and GPS tracking, making it secretly the best watch available for both Fitbit and Google Pixel fans.

One of the best functions of the Pixel Watch 3 that even beats out the Apple Watch is the focus on safety. While the Apple Watch can appear in your Find My application, and you can share your location with family and friends, that's a passive setting that requires people to physically check the app to find you. The Pixel 3's Safety Check feature allows you to set a check-in timer whenever you're moving from point A to B and want your emergency contacts to be notified if anything goes wrong -- the most reliable feature I've seen on any wearable I've tested. It also supports immediate emergency alerts/SOS and fall detection alerts, similar to the latest Apple Watches.

Coming later to select countries is the new Loss of Pulse Detection feature that is sure to save lives and could have had a direct impact on my family life if it had been around a few years ago.

Review: One of the best Android smartwatches I've tested made me consider switching to the Pixel

Bottom line: If you're a Fitbit fan and are looking for the latest and greatest Fitbit in a watch form factor, then the Google Pixel Watch 3 is the wearable for you. If you also enjoy Google's take on wearables and want years of updates then this is the watch to consider.

**Google Pixel Watch 3 tech specs: Display:**1.2-inch (41mm) and 1.45-inch (45mm) AMOLED | Battery life: 24 hours with AOD | Dimensions: 41 x 41 x 12.3mm and 45 x 45 x 12.3mm | Weight: 31 g (without band) and 37 g | Water/Dust resistance: 5 ATM/IP68 | LTE cellular option: Yes

Google Pixel Watch 3 with live feed from Google Nest

Show Expert Take Show less

OnePlus Watch 2

Best Android smartwatch for battery life

You would think that the best smartwatch to support Google's WearOS would be the Pixel Watch, but that award may be more fitting with OnePlus Watch 2. After releasing a terrible smartwatch a couple of years ago, OnePlus hit it out of the park with its new Watch 2 model, which is available now for just $250 after the $50 trade-in offer for any watch you send the company.

In addition to a powerful operating system strategy, OnePlus hit it out of the park with one of the most elegant smartwatches available today. It incorporates stainless steel in the watch body, a 2.5D smooth sapphire crystal watch face, and a durable silicone watch band. The right side buttons are stylishly incorporated into the bezel with a round button on top and an oval one on the bottom.

Review: OnePlus Watch 2: From zero to hero and with room to improve

OnePlus states the watch will last for 100 hours in Smart Mode, 48 hours with heavy usage, and up to 12 days in power saver mode. It has a 500 mAh battery, and in my two weeks of testing, I was able to wear it 24/7 and charge it up every 3-4 days. I wore it for running and walking with GPS tracking turned on, indoor rowing for active heart rate tracking, and more.

oneplus-watch-23

Show Expert Take Show less

Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro

Best dual-screen Android smartwatch

After spending weeks running, rowing, biking, and sleeping with the new TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro smartwatch, I found that its marathon battery life solves my biggest issue with Wear OS smartwatches.

The Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro's massive 628mAh battery has a unique dual display design for low-power standby use. That equates to an advertised 90 hours -- nearly four days -- of battery life in smart mode, and up to 45 days in Essential Mode. Even better yet, just 30 minutes of fast charging provides up to two days of battery life.

Review: The Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro is one of the best Android watches I've tested

The Snapdragon W5 Plus Gen 1 Wearable Platform contributes to the impressive battery life, and will support a future upgrade to Wear OS 4, despite it currently running on Wear OS 3.5. This caveat is one thing to note, as, unfortunately, Mobvoi hasn't displayed a track record of timely updates. Given that Wear OS was released in the fall of 2023, this new model should have launched with Wear OS 4 out of the box.

Beyond battery life, the dual-display technology with interactive and customizable ultra-low power display options is exceedingly useful. You can choose from 18 background colors to highlight the always-on display, and that display on the top layer of the watch will show you key metrics such as number of steps taken, heart rate, battery life, time, and date. Spinning the large rotating crown button brings up a full display heart rate reading, blood oxygen level, and compass heading in this dual display mode.

mobvoi-ticwatch-pro-5-enduro

Show Expert Take Show less

Tag Heuer Calibre E4 Golf Edition

Best luxury Android smartwatch

People spend thousands on luxury watches and Tag Heuer is a well-known brand for those who enjoy high-end watches. The Tag Heuer Calibre E4 provides an enhanced experience on more than 41,000 courses around the world and looks great in the office too.

The titanium case material has a matte, sandblasted DLC finish that looks expensive and feels smooth. Sapphire glass covers the brilliant 1.39-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 454x454 pixels. It's a lovely touchscreen that transitions, flat, out to the Golf Edition bezel, where we find numbers representing 18 holes, though starting at 4 since the words Golf Edition cover where 1 through 3 would be found. White numerals and green marks accent the black bezel.

Also:Tag Heuer Calibre E4 Golf Edition review

While golf is clearly the focus of having this watch on your wrist, it also can be used for tracking your running with GPS, rowing on a Hydrow, hiking in the mountains, sleeping, working, and more. The one concern with a luxury model is that the technology moves fast so the hardware is likely to last far longer than the operating system and sensors inside the watch.

Tag Heuer Connected E4 Golf smartwatch

Show Expert Take Show less

When it comes to choosing which Android smartwatch is the best, you'll realize right away that the options are limited. Samsung leads the way in developing smartwatches that rival the Apple Watch, but you sometimes pay a premium for powerful smartwatches.

This table compares the top models based on price, screen size, and battery life, which can all dramatically impact your experience.

Best Android smartwatch Starting price Screen size Battery life Water resistance LTE suppor t

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra $650 1.5 inches 2 days 10 ATM Yes

Amazfit Balance $220 1.5 inches 14 days 5 ATM No

Samsung Galaxy Watch FE LTE $250 1.2 inches 40 hours 5 ATM Yes

Google Pixel Watch 3 $350 1.2 inches (41mm) and 1.45 inches (45mm) 24 hours 5 ATM/IP68 Yes

OnePlus Watch 2 $300 1.43 inches 5 days 5 ATM No

Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro $350 1.43 inches 4 days 5 ATM No

Tag Heuer Calibre E4 $2,500 1.39 inches 24 hours 50m No

Every Android smartwatch in this list includes different features, designs, and best-use cases. That being said, there's a smartwatch for everyone. If you want the best overall Android smartwatch, go with the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra. But if you want a powerful smartwatch on a budget, the Fitbit Versa 4 could make the perfect choice.

Before you purchase the newest accessory for your wrist, consider our recommendations based on priorities.

Choose this Android smartwatch… If you want…

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra Samsung's newest Galaxy watch that takes on the Apple Watch Ultra 2 with similar design elements. It's the most powerful Android smartwatch available today and gives Android users a watch they can be proud of.

Amazfit Balance An affordable smartwatch that punches far above its price. Its powerful smartphone application provides access to a wealth of health/fitness data while supporting calls and Amazon Alexa.

Samsung Galaxy Watch FE LTE One of the smallest and lightest smartwatches available for Android phone users. It supports Google Assistant, Google Maps, Google Wallet, Google Play Store, and more Google apps.

Google Pixel Watch 3 One of the smaller smartwatches on the market that integrates both Google and Fitbit's comprehensive ecosystems. With a beautiful display encased in a Corning Gorilla Glass screen, the watch is both aesthetic and durable.

OnePlus Watch 2 A smartwatch with the latest WearOS features, an elegant design, and battery endurance to match. Thanks to a dual processor architecture and OnePlus battery magic, the Watch 2 can last up to five days per charge.

Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro Long battery life, useful fitness features, and high quality at a good price.

Tag Heuer Calibre E4 A luxury smartwatch focused on helping you improve your golf game. It's a lovely wearable, but is now running an older version of Google's Wear OS.

If you're interested in buying an Android smartwatch, you should consider the following factors:

Display: While all of our picks have comprehensive app compatibility, most smartwatch interaction happens directly on the watch interface. We factored in each watch's screen size, resolution, and display type so that you're assured to have a navigable smartwatch experience.

Battery life: Don't get left behind on telling time or tracking your activities. Longer battery life is essential for a reliable smartwatch.

Durability: As most smartwatches are activity and health trackers, you'll probably want something that can withstand the outdoors, water, or inevitable drops and dings.

Health suite: Smartwatches track more than just time, but can monitor your activity and overall health. We selected watches that encompass effective health-tracking sensors and can serve as a health-monitoring tool.

All of the Android smartwatches included in this list were chosen based on how they performed when tested in the real world by the ZDNET team. When we test smartwatches, we typically follow the same routine for each one to see which performs best. We test for:

Daily wear: We wear the smartwatch as our primary watch with communications, applications, and other elements being tested as if it was our only smartwatch.

Application selection and performance: One aspect that makes smartwatches different than standard watches is the support for applications. We load up the watch with apps and then test the performance and functionality of those applications. Google's Play Store continues to increase the number of applications and quality of those applications so it can serve as a faithful companion to your Android smartphone.

Workouts: Smartwatch makers have embraced health and fitness so we take our smartwatch out for running with GPS, rowing on the Hydrow, biking on trails, and walking with the family. GPS and heart rate data is tracked and then we evaluate the accuracy against proven GPS sports watches.

Sleep and activity tracking: Sleep tracking has improved with Android smartwatches over time and we evaluate them as compared to smart rings and other watches.

For a deeper look at our testing process, check out our comprehensive smartwatch testing methodology.

You can use a Samsung Galaxy watch with a non-Galaxy Android smartphone. You will need to install a couple of Samsung companion applications on your smartphone, including Galaxy Wearable and Watch plug-in. The Galaxy Wearable app is used to manage the connection, settings, and apps on the watch. Samsung Health also provides you with richer health data.

However, Samsung Galaxy watches are optimized for Samsung phones, including support for Samsung Pay and the Samsung ecosystem.

Samsung and Google do. An additional service plan is required for cellular connectivity directly on the watch. Unlike the Apple Watch, your Android phone is not required to be on for the service to work.

While the watch can act as a standalone mobile device, a phone is required to set up the watch for cellular connectivity. A world where your entire watch lives on your phone is not yet an option, but technology is advancing -- we'll get there someday.

The most innovations in the last couple of years have been in health and fitness tracking. While smartwatches are not medical devices, they have sensors, algorithms, and applications to help you track trends in your heart rate, stress level, blood oxygen levels, and more. You can use it as a basic ECG to check if further investigation is needed.

All of these smartwatches can also serve as capable GPS sports watches to track the details of your outdoor activities. Exercise guidance is provided on the watch with connected health applications on your smartphone so you can keep track of your progress, too.

Each person has a unique reason as to why they want to purchase a smartwatch. Most people are interested in the health-tracking features that a smartwatch can offer. Health tracking, coupled with calling, texting, and all of the capabilities found on a smartphone, typically encourage people to pull the trigger.

We chose the best Android smartwatches for a variety of price points and preferences. That said, these Android smartwatches are also worth considering:

ZDNET Recommends

Read full news in source page