The Best Android Smartwatches To Track Everything, Including Time

An Android smartwatch is the perfect complement to an Android phone. More than a simple timepiece, the best Android smartwatches are like having a miniature computer on your wrist. They have their own operating system, can run a plethora of apps, pack a selection of sensors for tracking your health and can even connect to the internet.

Google Wear OS or Samsung’s Tizen OS.

Illustration: Forbes / Photos: Retailers

As their name implies, all the watches in this roundup are for use with an Android phone. All the smartwatches in this roundup run the Google Wear OS operating system or Samsung Tizen OS. (Other smartwatches, like those from Fitbit or Garmin, are compatible with Android phones, but run have smaller app ecosystems.)

The best Android smartwatchesincluding the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, our pick for best Android smartwatch overall, and the Google Pixel Watch, our pick for the best unisex Android smartwatchare incredibly versatile wearables that can handle a wide range of communications, productivity, organization, entertainment-oriented, health, fitness and medical-related tasks. And yes, they tell time, too.

After research and testing, these are our picks for the best Android smartwatches running Wear OS that you can wrap around your wrist right now.

Samsung

Samsung Galaxy Watch5 Pro

Battery life: Up to 80 hours | Waterproof rating: IP68 | Case size: 45mm | Cellular connectivity: Yes | Color options: Black or gray

Best for: Health and fitness tracking for Samsung Galaxy smartphone users with larger wrists.

Featuring a full-color, extra-bright, Super AMOLED display (450 x 450-pixel resolution), the always-on Samsung Galaxy Watch5 Pro sits atop Samsungs lineup of smartwatches. Its designed to work seamlessly with any Android phone, but it offers extra functionality if youre using a Samsung Galaxy phone. The watchs titanium casing has a smooth, sophisticated look that fits in with business and leisure wear. At 45mm, the watch is among the larger Android smartwatches available and a good choice if you want a larger display, and you have the wrist to support it. Plus, you can customize the look via a wide range of watchbands. This model lacks the rotating bezel of previous generations; instead, it relies on finger swipes and two side buttons for navigating its functions. An array of built-in sensors monitors your health and fitness, measuring heart rate, blood oxygen levels, body temperature and more. When used with the right apps, this watch becomes an ideal workout companion and sleep monitor.

The Galaxy Watch5 Pro is a productivity and communications tool that works with Google Maps for navigation, Google Assistant to answer your questions and YouTube Music for streaming your favorite tunes. We recommend upgrading to the 4G LTE version, so you can use the watch for calling and messaging, independent from your phone if you get a separate data plan. When you buy from Samsung, you can save a ton of cash if you trade in an older smartwatch at the time of purchase.

Pros:

Access to thousands of optional apps
Works with Samsung Pay
Sleek design with long battery life

Cons:

Only available in one size

Battery life: Up to 50 hours | Waterproof rating: IP68 | Case size: 40mm or 44mm | Cellular connectivity: Yes | Color options: Silver, graphite or pink gold

Best for: Anyone with a smaller wrist who wants the power of a Samsung Galaxy smartwatch.

Just like the Samsung Galaxy Watch5 Pro, the Samsung Galaxy Watch5 is chock full of useful features that make it a powerful communication, health/fitness and productivity tool. And like its big cousin, this watch has optimizations for use with Samsung phones, but can work smoothly with any Android phone. What sets it apart is its smaller sizes and additional color options. While battery life is not as good as the Pro model, its still plenty usable throughout the day and well into the night before needing a recharge. The 40mm casing of the Galaxy Watch5 comes in at a low enough price to deliver excellent value; plus, its size is more appropriate for smaller wrists.

If you need to improve your sleep, the watch has built-in Sleep Coaching to guide you. And you can track your workouts and physical, regardless of the weather or environment, since the watch has excellent IP68 water and dust resistance. This model also has a version that adds 4G LTE connectivity, so you can get a separate data plan for the watch and use all its features without having your smartphone nearby. When you buy from Samsung, you can save a ton of cash if you trade in an older smartwatch at the time of purchase.

Pros:

Ideal for smaller wrists
Excellent selection of apps
Durable, yet comfortable

Cons:

Battery doesnt last as long as on the larger Galaxy Watch5 Pro

Battery life: Up to 24 hours | Waterproof rating: 5 ATM | Case size: 41mm | Cellular connectivity: Yes | Color options: Champagne gold, black or silver

Best for: A full-featured Android smartwatch with integrated Fitbit functionality.

Now that Google owns Fitbit, it makes perfect sense that the latest Google smartwatch would use Google Wear OS, with a dash of Fitbit fitness tracker capabilities, too. The Google Pixel Watch includes a 6-month Fitbit Premium subscription, along with 3 months of YouTube Music Premium for music streaming. Best of all, you get full access to Googles services right from your wrist, whether its Google Maps for navigation, Google Pay for easy checkout at your favorite stores, or access to Google Assistant.

For safety, the watch offers fall detection and emergency SOS, while the 4G LTE + Bluetooth/Wi-Fi version allows you to make and receive calls, communicate via text messaging and handle so much more without your phone (requires a separate data plan for the watch). With more than 20 watchband colors and styles, you can personalize the watchs look when its wrapped around your wrist. And with a casing size of 41mm, the watch fits well on wrists of all sizes.

Pros:

Customizable design
Vast selection of apps
Built-in Fitbit health and fitness features

Cons:

Battery life: Up to 72 hours | Waterproof rating: IP68 | Case size: 33mm | Cellular connectivity: No | Color options: Black

Best for: An inexpensive unisex smartwatch alternative with a focus on activity tracking.

The Mobvoi TicWatch E3 is a low-cost Wear OS smartwatch with over 100 workout modes. It also works as a speakerphone or with a Bluetooth headset for calls. The watchs sensors include a blood oxygen monitor, a heart rate monitor, barometer, sleep tracking and more to track health and fitness. However, this watch lacks a cellular data option.

The Mobvoi TicWatch E3 runs on Qualcomms Snapdragon Wear 4100 and Mobvois own chip, for a dual-processor approach. It includes a silicone rubber strap watchband in your choice of colors. The watch has built-in GPS, Glonass and Beidou for handling navigation. And since it runs Google Wear OS, the watch supports Google Pay, Google Maps, Google Assistant and Google Fit, plus gives you access to thousands of optional apps. The full-color LCD display offers a 360 x 360-pixel resolution, but it isnt as bright as the higher-resolution OLED displays of its Samsung competitors.

Pros:

Long battery life
Wear OS compatibility with plenty of app options
Built-in sleep and heart tracking

Cons:

LCD display, not OLED
Not as versatile as other Wear OS smartwatches
No cellular option

Battery life: Up to 24 hours | Waterproof rating: 3ATM | Case size: 42mm or 44mm | Color options: Black, smoke, silver

Best for: Using as a general-purpose smartwatch.

The Fossil Gen 6 Smartwatch looks and feels very much like a traditional timepiece, only instead of having physical hands, it has a circular OLED touchscreen display with a choice of watch faces, and it runs Google Wear OS. Thanks to the two case sizes (42mm or 44mm) and a selection of watchband colors and styles, the watch can comfortably fit any wrist and any lifestyle situation. The metal bands are more suited for work environments and dressier attire, while the silicone bands are perfect for workouts and outdoor activities.

While the Fossil Gen 6 does not offer a cellular option, it provides a handful of built-in sensors that handle heart rate tracking, blood oxygen level and more. It also has built-in GPS for navigation, and it can stream audio or answer calls when a smartphone is nearby. It works with the Amazon Alexa voice assistant, too.

Pros:

Runs Wear OS, and supports Amazon Alexa
Great selection of apps
Two casing size options

Cons:

Not as advanced as other smartwatches currently available

Battery life: Up to 24 hours | Waterproof rating: 5 meters | Case size: 41mm | Color options: Black, silver, rose gold, smoke, blue

Best for: Using as a general purpose smartwatch.

Designed in Denmark, the Skagen Falster Gen 6 has a timeless design that supports a wide range of popular featuresranging from Google Pay to health and fitness tracking. The problem is, unlike the Samsung Galaxy Watch5 or Google Pixel watches, this one gets updated annually, so the technology within the watch is several years old. That said, you can upgrade the Wear OS yourself, plus use a wide range of optional apps. Its health and fitness features include heart rate tracking and blood oxygen sensor.

The always on display can be customized to showcase specific informationnot just the time, while the internal GPS will keep you from getting lost while helping to monitor your movement throughout the day. Theres no cellular option, so you need to keep your smartwatch nearby to use this smartwatchs communications capabilities, for example. We love the look of the Skagen Falster Gen 6, but would like to see more advantaged featured integrated into it. At its now discounted price (around $150 at Amazon), it offers a great deal for someone who doesnt need cutting-edge technology wrapped around their wrist.

Pros:

Runs Wear OS
Plenty of apps available
Classy and contemporary design

Cons:

Uses older technology
Battery life could be better

What To Consider When Buying A Smartwatch

The smartwatches featured in this roundup all run Googles Wear OS operating system, so they fully integrate with Android phones. However, if you consider all of the smartwatches that run proprietary operating systems, but that are compatible with Android smartphones, these only scratch the surface of the many models and permutations available across a wide range of prices. Most smartwatches today can handle the same tasks as a fitness tracker, along with a wide assortment of other functions. Oh, and they tell time, too.

of sizes and colorswith matching watchbands and watch faces,

Samsung

When choosing which smartwatch make and model is best for you, consider how you want to use the watch and which features would make your life easier. Next, consider the smartwatchs overall capabilities and price, along with its appearance. Since multiple screen sizes are often available, choose one that best fits your wrist.

Lets explore a few of other features to consider when you buy a smartwatch.

Device Compatibility

Any smartwatch that runs the Wear OS operating system will be fully compatible with any Android smartphone. The same is true for a Samsung Galaxy Watch, but Samsung Galaxy smartphone users get extra benefits.

If youre an Apple iPhone user, for example, you should not invest in an Android-based smartphone. Instead, choose an Apple Watch that best meets your needs.

GPS Only Versus GPS + Cellular

Some smartphone manufacturers offer two versions of each of their smartwatches. One uses GPS and Bluetooth and relies heavily on a smartphone to function. The other option supports cellular connectivity (either 4G LTE or 5G) in addition to GPS and Bluetoothand therefore can act more independently from your phone. When your smartwatch connects directly to a cellular service provider, it can make and receive calls or send and receive text messages, access the Internet, plus handle many other tasks all without requiring your smartphone to be nearby. This includes streaming audio content directly from the internet to the watch.

Another benefit of using a smartwatch with cellular connectivity is that if you leave your smartphone at home when you go outside for a walk or run, you still have access to making callsincluding to emergency services. If you fall and are unresponsive for several seconds, a cellular smartwatch can even generate an SOS call, and it can send a text message automatically to your emergency contacts that includes your exact location.

The drawback to a cellular smartwatch is that you need to pay an additional monthly fee to add a new line for your smartwatch to your existing cellular plan. This monthly fee is usually around $10, but may vary depending upon your service.

Display Size And Type

Most smartwatches have a full-color touchscreen display. However, the size and shape of the display varies by make and model. Choose a display type and size you find easy to see and navigate. Whatever watch display size you choose, it should fit comfortably on your wrist.

Battery Life

Most smartwatches use a rechargeable battery that can last at least a full day before you need to recharge it. If you rely heavily on the smartwatchs built-in speaker, GPS or cellular connectivity, for example, you can expect to achieve less time between charges. If you plan to be away from a power source for a long time, look for a model with a longer battery life.

Watchband And Watch Face Options

All smartwatches come with a watchband. However, most smartwatch manufacturers have additional styles to choose from. Plus, major watch brands, like Samsung, have a lively ecosystem of third-party watchbands, which opens up an even greater variety of options. On most smartwatches, swapping bands takes 30 seconds or less, so you can invest in as many colors and styles as you desire.

You can further customize your watch face to match your selected watchband. Additional watch faces come pre-installed on the watch, and you can download hundreds of optional watch faces and customize them to display exactly the information you want to see at a glance.

Other Smartwatch Features

Every smartwatch offers a unique collection of built-in sensors and other technologies that allow it to collect, analyze and share data with your phone (and potentially other smart devices). Each new generation of smartwatch typically brings with it new types of sensors to collect more datawith greater accuracy than before.

competitors, but offer a wide range of health and fitness features.

TicWatch

Whether youre looking to overcome problems sleeping, reduce your stress level, monitor your heart rate, keep tabs on your blood oxygen level, take ECG readings, or see how slight changes in your body temperature impact various aspects of your life, some smartwatches can track and monitor these things and much more. Think about what information you want the smartwatch to collect, and what sensors might be necessary to do so.

Its true that Wear OS-based smartwatches have a built-in speaker (or speakers), but if you want to experience the best possible audio when listening to music, podcasts or talking during a hands-free call (via the watch), you definitely want to pair the watch with high-quality noise-cancelling wireless earbuds or headphones.

The Differences Between A Wi-Fi Only And Wi-Fi + Cellular Smartwatches

A Wi-Fi only smartwatch will rely much more heavily on your smartphone for internet access and to handle many of its core tasks. A smartwatch thats able to connect autonomously with the internetvia a cellular data connectionallows the wearer to use virtually all the smartwatchs features and functions without the watch needing to stay in proximity to the smartphone its paired with.

The drawback to Wi-Fi + Cellular smartwatches is that they require a monthly subscription with a cellular service provider. This typically costs around $10 per month. A Wi-Fi + Cellular smartwatch, however, allows you to make and receive calls and text messages (using your smartphones phone number), as well as access the internet to stream audio content, for example.

Are Smartwatches Worth It?

If you constantly glance at your smartphones screen throughout the day or wish you had the capabilities of your smartphone without having to carry one all the time (during workouts, for example), a smartwatch is a must-have complement to your everyday tech gear.

styles and colors that are designed to fit your personality and lifestyle.

Google

A smartwatch can provide a second (albeit smaller) screen for your smartphone that you wear on your wrist. If you have a GPS only version of a smartwatch, as long as your smartphone is nearby (within about 33 feet), you can benefit by having much of your smartphones functionality in a more portable form.

When you invest in a smartwatch with cellular capabilities, the watch can work much more independently. This means you can leave your smartphone at home and still be able to make and receive calls, send and receive text messages, access your calendar, access a digital assistant, stream audio and handle many other tasks you currently rely on your smartphone for. Most people find a smartwatch can be a powerful, versatile and highly customizable tool that can handle many communications and productivity needs while wearing it comfortably on a wrist.

How Do I Pay For Items At Local Stores Using A Smartwatch?

Many smartwatches support contactless payments. All Samsung smartwatches offer Samsung Pay compatibility. If your smartwatch uses Googles Wear OS, it supports Google Pay. Once you link one of these services with your existing debit or credit card, you can pay for items in any retail store or restaurant that supports this method of payment. That means you can leave your wallet behind and still pick up a latte.

debit card payments with your smartwatch.

getty

Once your smartwatch it set up to use Samsung Pay or Google Pay, you simply hold your smartwatch up to the processor and press a button on the smartwatch to approve the payment. Keep in mind, using one of these electronic payment services from your smartwatch is actually more secure than using a traditional credit or debit card, because the merchant never gains access to your credit card number or personal account information.

How We Chose The Best Android Smartwatches

We combined research with hands-on testing and experience, and we spoke with product experts and industry leaders to help us determine the products that make the cut. We carefully evaluated each smartwatchs design, durability, capabilities and more. We also paid attention to what sets each smartwatch apart from its competition.

Why Trust Forbes Vetted

The Forbes Vetted tech team strives to offer accurate and trustworthy product assessments that are the result of intensive research and hands-on testing. Our writers and editors have years of experience writing about a broad range of consumer electronics and have the background and expertise to help you make the best buying decisions possible.