The best Android smartwatch 2024: Wearables by Google, Samsung and more

Google Pixel Watch 3 on TechRadar background
(Image credit: Future / Google)

The best Android smartwatches are a great choice if you want one of the best smartwatches around but would rather avoid Apple Watches. Many different tech companies make their own Wear OS wearables, which means there's something for everyone. You'll find a range of options in our best Android smartwatch guide below, but do take a look at our best running watches and best cheap smartwatch guides if you want something specific. 

We've tested our share of Wear OS-powered wearables, reviewing them on an Android phone for full functionality. Below we've selected the best Android smartwatches, giving you an overview of each and weighing up their pros and cons, along with a link to the full review if you want to find out more. If you need to pair it with one of the best iPhones, you'll be limited. But, if you're sticking to Android, these are the best Wear OS smartwatches to consider in 2024.

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Do you want to go straight to the best Android smartwatches around? You can find a roundup of our top choices below. It's easy to jump to a more in-depth write-up for each product, and see the latest deals, just click on the links.

The best Android smartwatch 2024

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In our guide below, you'll find full write-ups for each of the best Android smartwatches. We've tested each of these devices extensively, which means our recommendations can be trusted.

The best Android smartwatch overall

Google Pixel Watch 3 side dial and button

(Image credit: Future/Lance Ulanoff)
The best Android smartwatch overall

Specifications

OS: Wear OS
Compatibility: Android 10 or later
Display: 320ppi always-on display AMOLED
Processor: Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 / Cortex-M33 co-processor
Onboard storage: 32GB
Battery duration: 36 hours with battery saver enabled, 24 hours always-on display
IP rating: WR50, IP68
Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, LTE

Reasons to buy

+
Still a sleek, modern build
+
Excellent optimizations within wearOS to take advantage of bigger screens
+
Choice of two sizes

Reasons to avoid

-
No change to the band attachment mechanism
-
Battery life isn't stellar on the smaller 41-millimeter size

The Google Pixel Watch 3 is our top smartwatch recommendation for most Android users, offering impressive performance, a sleek design, and a wealth of health and fitness features. One of the standout upgrades from Google's Pixel Watch 2 is the introduction of two sizes. The same 41mm model and a bigger 45mm version. This is great news for those with larger wrists or anyone who wants more screen real estate. 

Performance-wise, the Google Pixel Watch 3 is among the best smartwatches we’ve tested. In our review, we praised the watch for being “zippy and responsive,” and noted that it “feels as smooth as using an Apple Watch.” The biggest drawback is battery life. During testing, the 41mm version lasted about a day, meaning you’ll likely need to charge it overnight or first thing in the morning if you use sleep tracking. The 45mm model offers closer to two days of battery life.

Health and fitness tracking are at the core of the Google Pixel Watch 3. With six months of Fitbit Premium included, you can monitor daily activity, heart rate, stress levels, and even take an ECG reading. The new Morning Brief feature provides an activity readiness score and sleep score each day, keeping you informed and motivated. For more serious fitness enthusiasts, the advanced metrics like Cardio Load and Target Load allow for personalized running workouts. 

Visually, the Pixel Watch 3 looks great, with its minimal circular design and an ultra-bright screen that can reach 2,000 nits. The 41mm and 45mm versions both offer more screen space, with the smaller model benefitting from a 16% bezel reduction compared to the Pixel 2. This means it’s not only easier to read but also more functional. Overall, the Google Pixel Watch 3 is an excellent choice for anyone with a Google Pixel or a top Android phone.

Read our full Google Pixel Watch 3 review

The best Android smartwatch for battery life

A close-up of the OnePlus Watch 2 screen while someone is holding it up to the camera.

(Image credit: Luke Baker)
The best Android smartwatch for battery life

Specifications

OS: Wear OS 4 + RTOS
Compatibility: Android 8.0 or later
Display: 466 x 466px, AMOLED
Processor: Snapdragon W5 Gen 1
Onboard storage: 32GB storage
Battery duration: 100 hours
IP rating: Yes, IP68 / 5ATM
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0 and BLE

Reasons to buy

+
Excellent battery life
+
Full Wear OS functionality
+
Sapphire crystal screen coating
+
Dual-frequency GPS tracking

Reasons to avoid

-
Will be too large for some wrists
-
No rotating crown control
-
No wireless charging

The OnePlus Watch 2 solves one of the biggest problems with smartwatches: battery life. So if you want a new Android watch but you’re tired of charging it every night, this is a good solution. 

With up to 100 hours of battery, the OnePlus Watch 2 can run for three full days with all features enabled. In power-saving mode, it extends to an impressive 12 days, tracking steps, heart rate, and sending basic notifications – though that’s with advanced features disabled. Even at full power, its three day battery life doubles that of many competitors.

Running on Wear OS, the watch integrates smoothly with Google services and the Play Store, giving you access to plenty of apps. It also offers 32GB of storage, perfect for offline Spotify listening.

Performance is solid, with a stable phone connection, reliable notifications, and robust fitness tracking covering 100 types of exercises. If your routine isn't covered, you can easily download another app. It also provides detailed sleep data, including sleep stages, heart rate, and breathing patterns.

Design-wise, in our review we described the OnePlus Watch 2 as “dense, heavy, and shiny,” delivering a high-end feel. But it can sometimes feel a bit chunky, as it's only available in a 46mm size. The mostly circular design is minimal yet a little plain, featuring a 1.43-inch AMOLED display with a steel chassis and sapphire crystal case. It’s built to last, with a durable design and 5ATM water resistance, making it adventure-ready. If you want an Android smartwatch that ticks all of the boxes and brings you some of the best battery life, this is a solid option. 

Read our full OnePlus Watch 2 review

The best Samsung Android smartwatch

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra pictured on a notebook with an orange strap.

(Image credit: Future / Matt Evans)
The best Samsung Android smartwatch

Specifications

OS: Wear OS 4 (One UI Watch 5)
Compatibility: Android (Samsung phones)
Display: 480 x 480 full-color AMOLED
Processor: 3nm Exynos W1000 processor
Onboard storage: 32GB of storage
Battery duration: 590mAh, up to 100 hours
IP rating: 10ATM + IP68
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi

Reasons to buy

+
Tough titanium exterior
+
New programmable Quick button
+
Tons of features

Reasons to avoid

-
Battery could still be beefier

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is a durable wearable that we described as “a beast of a smartwatch” in our review, and should suit those who love fitness and the outdoors, as well as anyone who has a Samsung smartphone and wants to stay in the ecosystem. 

When we tested the Galaxy Watch Ultra, we said this is definitely the best smartwatch from Samsung to date – at least from a technical standpoint. It has a round, 1.43-inch AMOLED screen with a Sapphire Crystal always-on display – this can be switched to a new infrared style Night mode. Build quality is excellent with a tough, scratch-proof titanium exterior that’s designed to bring you a rugged look and feel. This casing is dive-proof with IP68 and 10ATM ratings, and designed for extreme low and high temperatures to a “military grade” standard, too. This does mean it looks big. In our review we commented it’s “bulky and cumbersome in any setting other than an activity one,” although at 60g it’s not heavy for a smartwatch.

In our review, we said the Galaxy Watch ultra is “easy and ergonomic to use” as well as being super responsive. To make it even more straightforward, there’s a ‘quick button’ that you can programme to automatically start workouts – one of the many ways the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is eerily similar to Apple’s Ultra smartwatch range.

As you’d expect from such a rugged smartwatch, there are a lot of health and fitness tracking features here, including heart rate, blood oxygen, temperature and body composition analysis. Samsung’s Galaxy AI also brings upgraded sleep and recovery scores. There are also features specifically for the outdoors, like GPS, a dive mode, an emergency siren and a TrackBack feature to help you retrace your steps if you deviate from your planned route.

Battery life isn’t fantastic and caps out at 100 hours in low-power mode. With all of the features enabled, it barely lasted into day three during our testing, which was disappointing. But if you don’t mind charging it often and like the look and feel of a bulkier wearable, then this is the best Samsung watch around right now.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra review

The best Android fitness smartwatch

The Ticwatch Pro 5 displaying the time, worn on someone's wrist

(Image credit: Lloyd Coombes)
The best Android smartwatch for sports

Specifications

OS: Wear OS 4
Compatibility: Android 8.0 or later
Display: 466 x 466 px, always-on OLED
Processor: QualComm Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1
Onboard storage: 32GB
Battery duration: 80 hours
IP rating: 5ATM
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.2

Reasons to buy

+
Powerful processor
+
Accurate fitness tracking metrics
+
Looks classy

Reasons to avoid

-
Android only - for now
-
Quite pricey

The TicWatch Pro 5 isn’t the cheapest option, but it stood out in our testing as the top pick for fitness enthusiasts or anyone serious about improving their health.

You’ll find Snapdragon’s W5+ chip under-the-hood, which is what makes this watch snappy and responsive and gives it an impressive battery life at 80 hours, even with all of the sensors and settings enabled. It has a rotating crown navigation, which you’ll be familiar with if you’ve ever tested an Apple Watch, and this makes navigation easy along with the touchscreen. You’ll find all of the Wear OS features here, like Google Wallet and access to apps – although there’s no Google Assistant available yet. 

The TicWatch Pro 5 excels when it comes to fitness tracking. There’s a robust set of sensors here that detect all sorts of metrics, including heart rate, skin temperature, Sp02, and GPS. In fact, we tested it side-by-side with the Apple Watch Ultra and got near identical results. All of your important health and fitness data is sent to the Mobvoi Health app, which isn’t particularly exciting but works well. 

Looks-wise, the TicWatch Pro 5 has a more classic design than many rivals. In our review, we wrote: “It’s a gorgeous watch, looking closer to an analog timepiece than many on the market.” It has a 1.43-inch AMOLED display, which is actually made up of two screens, one displays the basics, like steps, calories and heart rate. We described this as “a pleasing minimalist feel, like an old Casio watch” in our review. Tap the screen and you’ll drop into Wear OS functionality. 

It’s not as durable as the more rugged options in this list, like the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra, but the screen does have a Corning Gorilla Glass coating, which should help against accidental knocks and scrapes. Overall, the TicWatch Pro 5 is an attractive, high-performing smartwatch, particularly suited to fitness lovers who prioritize accuracy and longevity from their wearable. 

Read our full TicWatch 5 Pro review

The best Android smartwatch for value

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 worn on someone's wrist, displaying apps on the home screen.

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)
The best Android smartwatch for value

Specifications

OS: Wear OS 5.0
Compatibility: Android 11 or later
Display: 1.3-inch (1.4-inch in 44mm) Super AMOLED Always-On display
Processor: Exynos W1000
Onboard storage: 32GB
Battery duration: 30 hours
IP rating: 5ATM + IP68 / MIL-STD-810H
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi with optional LTE

Reasons to buy

+
A sleek, circular design with no visible bezel
+
New AI-powered wellness features provide more context
+
Fast performance from a new Exynos chip

Reasons to avoid

-
Classic model with a rotating bezel is missing
-
No improvement to battery life this time around

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 is a well-rounded smartwatch that may not have the novelty of Samsung’s Galaxy Ring or the ruggedness of the Ultra, but it offers great value for money and a sleek design.

Powered by Samsung’s first 3-nanometer Exynos chip, the watch delivers fast, intuitive performance. In our review, we wrote: “applications, be they Spotify, Messages, or Workout, open quickly, and processes wrap up pretty fast.” A new double pinch gesture is also good for hands-free control, especially for calls and timers. One downside is the watch’s battery life, which only lasted a day during testing. 

You’ll find hundreds of workouts and health metrics are tracked, which is thanks to Samsung’s new BioActive Sensor. This lives on the back of the watch and delivers data we found to be highly accurate compared to other wearables. You can take a heart rate measurement, ECG and track AGEs, or advanced glycation end products, which indicate overall metabolic health. It’s also certified for detecting sleep apnea, a great addition considering the Galaxy Watch range is already excellent at tracking sleep. The Galaxy Watch 7 also introduces a new energy score. This is part of Samsung’s new suite of AI health features, which improve data accuracy and offer new insights. Although you’ll need a Galaxy smartphone to use them. 

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 looks good. It has a sleek, circular build with a vibrant AMOLED display and no visible bezel. There’s an easy band-swapping mechanism, so you can easily switch out the band it comes with for different colors and materials. 

You could argue this is an Iterative update with minor improvements over previous models. But in our review, we wrote: “Compared to the Ultra, it's the one for everyone”. So if you’re after a solid wearable that pairs seamlessly with Samsung Galaxy phones without the premium price of the Ultra, the Galaxy Watch 7 is our top pick.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 review

How to choose the best Android smartwatch

When you’re choosing the best Android smartwatch for you, it’s important to consider your needs and how the wearable you want will fit into your lifestyle. There are a few key factors to help you make a decision.

The first is compatibility. You’ll need to make sure the smartwatch you want is compatible with your Android phone. Most of the best Android smartwatches use Wear OS. This works well with Google’s apps and services. However, some of the watches below have their own operating system, like Samsung’s One UI. 

Next you’ll need to think about the features you need. For example, do you want an Android smartwatch that’s primarily going to track your fitness? In which case you’ll need solid heart rate tracking and GPS functionality. Some watches focus more on notifications, music control and payments. You’ll need to figure out which features you want to use daily. 

We’d also recommend considering battery life. This is a significant factor for most people. Some of the best smartwatches that are packed with features (like always-on displays) may have a shorter battery life than you’d expect. You’ll need to decide whether you’re happy to charge a device every day or need one that lasts several days on a single charge. 

Because most people wear their smartwatches everyday, you’ll want to be sure you like the design and how comfortable it is. Choose one that has an aesthetic and a size that’ll suit you. There are a wide range of options, from sleeker and more minimal designs to chunky, rugged models. Some brands also allow you to switch out bands to change their look and feel. 

Finally, think about your budget. The best Android smartwatches are available for a range of prices, from the more budget-friendly options through to premium watches packed with high-end features. We recommend setting a budget based on how many of the features we’ve outlined above are important to you – remember that the more expensive doesn’t always mean the best. 

Do these smartwatches also work with an iPhone?

Some of the best Android smartwatches will work with an iPhone. However, those that do will often work with limited functionality compared to one of the best Android phones

It'll depend on which smartwatch you choose, but you'll generally still be able to receive notifications, track fitness data, and use some apps. However, features like replying to messages, accessing some apps, or using voice assistants may not work as seamlessly as it would with an Android phone. 

This means that if you’re an iPhone user, an Apple Watch is generally going to be the best option for you, giving you full compatibility. However, if you do prefer an Android smartwatch for whatever reason, it'll work well, you'll just need to expect fewer features when it's used with iOS.

How we test the best Android smartwatches

When testing a smartwatch we pair it to our phones and use it for days, so we can tell you what it's like for everyday use. This includes working out its true battery life, seeing how it handles notifications, and appreciating all of the extra features it offers.

We also take it for workouts with us, so we can see if it's accurate at measuring distances and time, and to see if the fitness modes bring any cool extras.

To create our ranking we considered our review score, the specs, features, performance, price, and how they stack up to alternatives.

Becca Caddy

Becca is a contributor to TechRadar, a freelance journalist and author. She’s been writing about consumer tech and popular science for more than ten years, covering all kinds of topics, including why robots have eyes and whether we’ll experience the overview effect one day. She’s particularly interested in VR/AR, wearables, digital health, space tech and chatting to experts and academics about the future. She’s contributed to TechRadar, T3, Wired, New Scientist, The Guardian, Inverse and many more. Her first book, Screen Time, came out in January 2021 with Bonnier Books. She loves science-fiction, brutalist architecture, and spending too much time floating through space in virtual reality.