Right now, the best smartwatch for Android users is the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2. It’s optimized for Samsung phones but runs well on all Android devices and has all the smartwatch and fitness features you’d expect. It’s compact and lightweight but still offers good battery life. But if you’re not into that one, the good news is that there are so many other amazing options from Fossil to Garmin to Fitbit and more.
The best smartwatches at a glance
- Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 — The Galaxy Watch Active 2 is great for all Android users, not just Samsung phone owners, with an incredible balance of features, battery life, and aesthetics.
- Samsung Galaxy Watch Active — If you want something a bit cheaper and need the extra sensors, this is your best option.
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 — The Galaxy Watch 3 is a solid upgrade pick that offers LTE connectivity, a beautiful design, and improved health/fitness tracking.
- Skagen Falster 3 There’s no better option if you want to wear Google’s Wear OS on your wrist.
- Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 3 — The TicWatch Pro 3 offers the best performance yet along with key improvements to battery life and health/fitness tracking features.
- Garmin Forerunner 245 Music — Garmin is a name pros know, and the Forerunner 245 Music has impeccable GPS accuracy, long battery life, and support for notifications and music services.
What are the best smartwatches?
If you’re in the market for the best Android smartwatch, your choices should include our two best overall picks, the Galaxy Watch Active 2 and the slightly older and cheaper Galaxy Watch Active. The differences are minor — the Active 2 has a couple more sensors and comes in two size options — but together with the new Galaxy Watch 3, they make up Samsung’s most impressive wearables lineup to date.
What makes them great is the fluid Tizen OS mixed with beautiful hardware. Unlike the original Galaxy Watch, which has a physical rotating bezel, the Watch Active line uses a “virtual” bezel that lets you move around the software by rotating around the edge of the vivid AMOLED display. Samsung Health has also improved immensely over the last couple of years and features a well-rounded selection of workout tracking options as well as a built-in GPS for monitoring outdoor runs or bike rides. Battery life on both watches is measured in days, not hours and the included sports bands are comfortable enough that you’ll forget you’re wearing anything on your wrist at all — until a notification comes in, which is easy to activate or dismiss.
Galaxy wearables are optimized for Samsung phones but can be worn with any Android or iOS device (yes, they work great with iPhones, too). Samsung has done a fantastic job keeping older models updated with new features years after their release.
If you’re not interested in a Samsung smartwatch or prefer how Google does things, we recommend the Skagen Falster 3, an absolute knockout of a Wear OS watch. Its exposed metal lugs are very Skagen, but the included side-mounted digital crown lets you navigate around the software without covering up what’s on the screen. Plus, it runs the latest Qualcomm chip paired with 1GB of RAM for fluid performance.
Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2
Best Smartwatch Overall
Bottom line: The Galaxy Watch Active 2 has all of Samsung’s best wearable ideals rolled up into one smartwatch. It’s stylish, comfortable, has great battery life, and plenty of health tracking features to make you happy and keep you motivated.
| Category | Samsung Galaxy Active 2 |
|---|---|
| Specs | Exynos 9110 768MB RAM (Wi-Fi) / 1.5GB RAM (LTE) 4GB storage |
| Display size | 40mm / 44mm |
| Band size | 20mm |
| Weight | 37g (40mm) / 42g (44mm) |
| Battery life | 2-3 days |
| OS | Tizen |
| Colors | Silver, Black, Gold, Pink Gold |
| Water resistant | ✔️ (5ATM) |
| LTE | Yes, Optional |
| GPS | ✔️ |
| NFC | ✔️ |
| Heart rate monitor | ✔️ |
| Automatic workout tracking | ✔️ |
| Sleep tracking | ✔️ |
| Wireless charging | ✔️ (Qi) |
Pros:
- Compact and well-designed
- Easy to use
- Capacitive bezel
- Excellent performance and battery
Cons:
- Third-party app support could be better
- Health tracking not as accurate as Garmin
You don’t have to use a Samsung phone to enjoy the benefits of owning a Samsung smartwatch, and the Galaxy Watch Active 2 provides the most well-rounded wearables experience for Android users right now. It’s compact and lightweight but features an extremely sharp and vivid touch display that’s easy to navigate and fun to use thanks to the new capacitive bezel. The Tizen OS is smooth and battery-friendly, unlike Google’s own Wear OS, and while the app selection isn’t massive, the core tenets are there, like Spotify, Strava, and more.
The Galaxy Watch Active 2 contains its primary purpose in its name: exercise tracking. The watch comes with GPS built-in and features automatic workout-tracking, along with sleep tracking, water, food, and caffeine consumption tracking, and more. The Running Coach feature is improved, which now gives you real-time pace metrics and a rundown of what to expect from your workout before you start. You’ll receive audio cues that can be heard through the watch speaker or Bluetooth headphones.
If you mainly wear a smartwatch for notifications, the Galaxy Watch Active 2 delivers there, too, with excellent support for Android’s notification system, letting you reply using your voice, the built-in keyboard, or with one of the many quick answers.
Finally, we have to consider battery life. While not quite as good as some of the other larger watches on the list, it is still pretty impressive, and the watch can be topped up with select Qi wireless pads or with the Galaxy’s Wireless PowerShare feature.
Best Smartwatch Overall
Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2
$177 at Amazon
$180 at Best Buy
$180 at Walmart
The Active 2 offers a pretty display, onboard GPS, ample activity tracking, and a unique capacitive bezel for easy navigation.
Samsung Galaxy Watch Active
Best Value Smartwatch
Bottom line: It’s barely six months older than the Galaxy Watch Active 2, but it loses only a few of the features and a lot of the price tag. The Watch Active is small and light but has a beautiful AMOLED display and battery that lasts multiple days. It also has all of the incredible features Samsung’s wearables are known for.
| Category | Samsung Galaxy Active |
|---|---|
| Specs | Exynos 9110 768MB RAM, 4GB storage |
| Display size | 40mm (360×360 resolution) |
| Band size | 20mm |
| Weight | 25g |
| Battery life | 2-3 days |
| OS | Tizen |
| Colors | Silver, Black, Rose Gold, Green |
| Water-resistant | ✔️ (5ATM) |
| LTE | ? |
| GPS | ✔️ |
| NFC | ✔️ |
| Heart rate monitor | ✔️ |
| Automatic workout tracking | ✔️ |
| Sleep tracking | ✔️ |
| Wireless charging | ✔️ (Qi) |
Pros:
- Compact and well-designed
- Easy to use
- Capacitive bezel
- Excellent performance and battery
Cons:
- Third-party app support could be better
- Health tracking not as accurate as Garmin
The Galaxy Watch Active has already been replaced by the Watch Active 2. However, the original came out in early 2019 and is still a great choice for anyone who wants a compact Android smartwatch with amazing capabilities at a reduced price tag.
The main draw here is the beautiful AMOLED display, which is readable in all lighting conditions, including bright sunshine. The watch is light and comfortable to wear all day — which is good because the battery lasts that and then some. While it lacks the capacitive “rotating” bezel of its more expensive counterpart, the original Watch Active has everything you’d need to stay, well, active: GPS, NFC, storage for music, and wireless Qi charging through Samsung’s Wireless PowerShare feature.
Best of all, it’s been heavily discounted since the sequel was released so that you can get it for much less than its original price.
Best Value
Samsung Galaxy Watch Active
$119 at Amazon
$140 at Best Buy
$199 at Walmart
Smaller, cheaper, and nearly as good
If you don’t want to spend all of that money on the Galaxy Watch Active 2, the original Watch Active is a great choice.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 3
Best Upgrade Pick
Bottom line: If you’re looking for the latest tech, the new Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 is a worthwhile pick. It’s a premium lifestyle wearable packed with some new health and fitness features that allow users to enjoy the best of all worlds.
| Category | Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 |
|---|---|
| Specs | Exynos 9110 1GB RAM, 8GB storage |
| Display size | 41mm / 45mm 360×360 resolution |
| Band size | 20mm / 22mm |
| Weight | 43g (41mm) / 49.2g (40mm) |
| Battery life | 2-3 days ( |
| OS | Tizen |
| Colors | Silver, Mystic Black, Mystic Silver, Mystic Bronze |
| Water resistant | ✔️ (5ATM) |
| LTE | Yes, Optional |
| GPS | ✔️ |
| NFC | ✔️ |
| Heart rate monitor | ✔️ |
| Automatic workout tracking | ✔️ |
| Sleep tracking | ✔️ |
| Wireless charging | ✔️ (Qi) |
Pros:
- Built-in GPS
- Optional LTE connectivity
- Activity/sleep tracking
- 5 ATM water resistance
- MIL-STD-810G durability
- Music Storage & Samsung Pay
Cons:
- Expensive starting point
- Battery life isn’t great
One of Samsung’s latest releases, the Galaxy Watch 3, is more than just a lifestyle wearable. The predecessor wasn’t the best pick for fitness fans since it was more of a fashionable smartwatch with some bonus features sprinkled in. Now, the Galaxy Watch 3 is back and better than ever. It’s an excellent upgrade pick for those who want a premium smartwatch with advanced health and fitness tracking. It comes in two sizes and offers optional LTE connectivity, built-in GPS, heart-rate monitoring, 5 ATM water resistance, and military-grade durability.
Two of the new health features include SpO2 and VO2 max readings. A SpO2 reading measures your blood oxygen saturation levels while the VO2 max tells you how much oxygen your body consumes during a workout. These two new features are also accompanied by an electrocardiogram (ECG) sensor and blood pressure monitoring, which will soon be available in the U.S. Other new features include built-in run coaching and recovery tools, along with access to over 120 home workout videos on the Samsung Health app.
If you’re new to the scene, you might experience some sticker shock when you notice the price tag on the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3. Sure, it’s got some impressive features, but this price point may be out of the question for some people. If you’re an experienced smartwatch user with confidence in Samsung wearables, this upgrade might be worth considering.
Best Upgrade Pick
Samsung Galaxy Watch 3
$339 at Amazon
$340 at Best Buy
$299 at Walmart
Worth the upgrade
The new Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 is a worthy upgrade with a stunning design, optional LTE, and improved health/fitness features.
Skagen Falster 3
Best Wear OS Smartwatch
Bottom line: The Skagen Falster 3 is one of the best-looking smartwatches on the market and is one of the best Wear OS watches out there. If you’re looking for something a bit more stylish or want to experience Google’s version of a smartwatch OS (which has its pros and cons), the Falster 3 should be near the top of your list.
| Category | Skagen Falster 3 |
|---|---|
| Specs | Qualcomm Snapdragon 3100 1GB RAM, 4-8GB storage |
| Display size | 42mm / 1.3″, 328×328 AMOLED |
| Band size | 22mm |
| Weight | 41g |
| Battery life | 1-2 days |
| OS | Wear OS |
| Colors | Black, Silver |
| Water-resistant | ✔️ (5ATM) |
| LTE | ? |
| GPS | ✔️ |
| NFC | ✔️ |
| Heart rate monitor | ✔️ |
| Automatic workout tracking | ? |
| Sleep tracking | ? |
| Wireless charging | ? |
Pros:
- Attractive, classic design
- Digital crown is fantastic
- Speaker lets you take calls
- Excellent quality display
- Built-in Google Pay support
Cons:
- Expensive
- Uses proprietary 22mm bands
Sometimes you just want a smartwatch that actually looks like a watch. You want a simple design, excellent quality strap, and a finish that doesn’t scream, “this is a piece of technology!” Well, the Falster 3 from well-known Danish watch brand Skagen is precisely that.
One of the Skagen Falster 3’s main benefits is its three-button layout, which includes a rotating crown that helps to scroll through Wear OS without having to touch the screen — an enormous benefit once you start using it. You also get a beautiful stainless steel body, well-constructed straps in either leather, metal, or silicone in a variety of colors, and all the essential features you’d expect, like water resistance, GPS, a heart rate monitor, NFC, and more.
The Falster 3 is the 2020 update to Skagen’s smartwatch line and is improved in every way — you get more RAM for smoother performance, a speaker for making and taking calls, and much-improved battery life, thanks to Skagen’s new Extended Battery modes.
Best Wear OS Smartwatch
Skagen Falster 3
Day and night ready
The Skagen 3 is a perfect blend of style and sophistication in a smartwatch. It’s one of our favorite versatile Wear OS watches.
Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 3
Best for Premium Performance
Bottom line: As we’ve come to expect from Mobvoi, the new TicWatch Pro 3 is large and in charge. This device offers smoother performance, longer battery life, and some new health features. The company’s signature two-in-one display lets you see it in direct sunlight.
| Category | TicWatch Pro 3 |
|---|---|
| Specs | Qualcomm Snapdragon 4100, 1GB RAM, 8GB storage |
| Display size | 47mm /1.4″ 454×454 Retina AMOLED + FSTN |
| Band size | 22mm |
| Weight | 42g |
| Battery life | 2-3 days |
| OS | Wear OS |
| Colors | Shadow Black |
| Water-resistant | ✔️ (IP68) |
| LTE | ? |
| GPS | ✔️ |
| NFC | ✔️ |
| Heart rate monitor | ✔️ |
| Automatic workout tracking | ? |
| Sleep tracking | ✔️ |
| Wireless charging | ? |
Pros:
- Built-in GPS
- Improved performance
- Lightweight design
- Dual-layer display
- Better battery life
- Google Pay
Cons:
- Expensive
- Only one color option
- Bulky on small wrists
If you prefer big things in big packages, you’ll appreciate what the TicWatch Pro 3 is bringing to the table. This smartwatch comes with a dual-layer display, which you may recall from previous models. This time, the Dual Display 2.0 has received some helpful style improvements, including a live seconds counter and a handy backlight. The battery is expected to last for 3 days in Smart Mode, depending on your usage. You’ll also enjoy built-in GPS, activity tracking, heart-rate monitoring, new blood oxygen (SpO2) sensor, and Google Pay.
While there’s no denying that 47mm is a pretty big smartwatch, Mobvoi notes that it has redesigned the TicWatch Pro to be around 30% lighter. As you can imagine, this makes it much more comfortable to wear despite its huge case size. While the improved performance is the star of the show (here’s to you, Snapdragon Wear 4100), other upgrades deserve attention. The TicWatch Pros 3 has refreshed its existing apps, including TicExercise and TicPulse. Now, you’ll also have TicOxygen for SpO2 tracking, TicHearing for noise detection and alert, TicZen to monitor stress levels using heart-rate data, and TicBreathe for breath training.
If you don’t mind just how gigantic this wearable is, the TicWatch Pro 3 is an excellent upgrade with tons of improvements. Some people may feel that the 47mm case size is overkill. However, if you want snappy performance thanks to the new Snapdragon Wear 4100 processor, it just might be worth it. As of now, the TicWatch Pro 3 is still working on the old version of Wear OS. Hopefully, the performance will only continue to improve when the operating system is updated later this year.
Best for Premium Performance
TicWatch Pro 3 GPS
Faster than ever
Want ultra-smooth performance, GPS, heart-rate monitoring, activity/health tracking, and more? You’ll have met your match with the TicWatch Pro3.
Garmin Forerunner 245 Music
Best Smartwatch for Long-Distance Runners
Bottom line: If running is the name of your game, the Garmin Forerunner 245 Music is easily the best choice. It has a transflective display that is easy to read in direct sunlight. It comes with a comfortable band, stellar battery life, and unmatched workout tracking.
| Category | Garmin Forerunner 245 Music |
|---|---|
| Display size | 42mm / 1.2″, 240×240 transflective |
| Band size | 20mm |
| Weight | 38.5g |
| Battery life | 7 days |
| OS | Garmin |
| Colors | Black, White, Aqua |
| Water-resistant | ✔️ (5ATM) |
| LTE | ? |
| GPS | ✔️ |
| NFC | ? |
| Heart rate monitor | ✔️ |
| Automatic workout tracking | ? |
| Sleep tracking | ✔️ |
| Wireless charging | ? |
Pros:
- Advanced workout tracking and guidance
- Incredible battery life
- Sunlight-friendly transflective display
- Music streaming
- Extremely comfortable strap
Cons:
- Limited smartwatch features
- Basic design may not be for everyone
There’s a smartwatch for every Android user type, and the Garmin Forerunner 245 Music is an outstanding choice for anyone who runs bikes or swims. It’s not the best smartwatch, but it does receive notifications from your phone. If you don’t need much more than that — and who does these days? — the Forerunner 245 makes up for it with incredible 7+ day battery life, or six hours with GPS enabled, which is more than enough for a marathon (or two if you’re really good).
Better yet, the transflective screen means that the Forerunner 245 is easily visible in direct sunlight, making it perfect for extended outdoor excursions. There’s also music storage and the option to stream from Spotify or Deezer, which is seriously great if you’re trying to hit those personal bests. Add in 24/7 heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, advanced workout capture, and advanced features like VO2 max estimation, a recovery advisor, and more, which becomes a wonderful option.
Best for Long-Distance Runners
Garmin Forerunner 245 Music
$295 at Amazon
$300 at Best Buy
$293 at Walmart
A solid, slim GPS tracker.
Garmin’s GPS tech is paired with a reliable heart-rate tracker in a slim watch that syncs to its own app and other popular apps.
Fitbit Versa 3
Best Smartwatch for Casual Athletes
Bottom line: As one of the most popular names in the wearable world, Fitbit is always a good option. The new Versa 3 is centered around health and fitness tracking, so it’s ideal for workout enthusiasts. You have built-in GPS, activity/sleep tracking, heart-rate monitoring, and Fitbit Pay.
| Category | Fitbit Versa 3 |
|---|---|
| Display size | 40mm / 1.58″, 336×336 AMOLED |
| Band size | Custom, OSFA |
| Weight | 40g |
| Battery life | 6+ days |
| OS | FitbitOS |
| Colors | Black, Soft Gold |
| Water-resistant | ✔️ (5ATM) |
| LTE | ? |
| GPS | ✔️ |
| NFC | ✔️ |
| Heart rate monitor | ✔️ |
| Automatic workout tracking | ✔️ |
| Sleep tracking | ✔️ |
| Wireless charging | ? |
Pros:
- Built-in GPS
- Sleek, attractive design
- Excellent battery life
- Solid smartwatch features
- Built-in Alexa and Google Assistant
Cons:
- Limited app selection
- Old bands won’t work with Versa 3
Everyone knows that Fitbit makes some of the best wearables in the industry. Right now, the all-new Versa 3 is one of the best Fitbit smartwatches you can buy. It cleverly provides the perfect amount of smartwatch features and fitness-tracking perks into one handy device. It’s slim and lightweight with an attractive design. You’ll get at least 6 days of battery life, which is pretty impressive. That’s especially true when you realize that it has a stunning AMOLED display that’s crisp and bright. One of the most important upgrades is the addition of onboard GPS.
You’ll be happy to know that all of the Fitbit features you’ve familiarized yourself with over the years are here as well. You have24/7 heart-rate monitoring, all-day activity/sleep tracking, and automatic workout detection. You’ll also receive reminders to move throughout the course of your day. It also offers on-screen workouts that you can follow along with. Previously, the proprietary bands were a hassle to change. The new infinity bands offer an easy-to-use quick-release system. The bad news is that any old Versa bands you purchased won’t work on this new watch.
It’s not uncommon for some Fitbit products to lack the smartwatch features that users crave. However, the Versa 3 is one of the company’s most capable fitness smartwatches yet. You’ll have smartphone notifications that are easy to navigate and an app store with popular names such as Spotify and Starbucks, and you can talk directly to the voice assistant and hear responses. If your ears perked about Spotify, the good news is that there is storage for 300+ songs on the Versa 3. Let’s not forget that Fitbit Pay is a standard feature as well.
It may not be overflowing with higher-end features, but the Fitbit Versa 3 is easily the best smartwatch for casual trackers who don’t want to spend a fortune on a wearable.
Best Smartwatch for Casual Athletes
Fitbit Versa 3
$199 at Amazon
$200 at Best Buy
$199 at Walmart
A fitness smartwatch that’s good at everything
The Versa 3 improves on everything over the original, including a more attractive design, better battery life, and built-in GPS.
Fitbit Sense
Best Advanced Health Smartwatch
Bottom line: When you want to take your health tracking to the next level, look no further than the Fitbit Sense. You’ll have all of the company’s standard activity tracking perks plus some important newbies, including an electrocardiogram (ECG), electrodermal activity (EDA), and a skin temperature sensor.
| Category | Fitbit Sense |
|---|---|
| Display size | 40mm / 1.58″, 336×336 AMOLED |
| Band size | Custom, OSFA |
| Weight | 40g |
| Battery life | 6+ days |
| OS | Fitbit OS |
| Colors | Graphite, Soft Gold |
| Water-resistant | ✔️ (5ATM) |
| LTE | ? |
| GPS | ✔️ |
| NFC | ✔️ |
| Heart rate monitor | ✔️ |
| Automatic workout tracking | ✔️ |
| Sleep tracking | ✔️ |
| Wireless charging | ? |
Pros:
- Built-in GPS
- Improved design
- Advanced health tracking features
- Automatic workout tracking
- 6+ days of battery life
- Fitbit Pay
Cons:
- Pretty pricey
- Not everyone needs advanced health sensors
If you were starting to think that Fitbit falls into the “ordinary” smartwatch category, guess again. One of the company’s newest releases, the Fitbit Sense, is here to disprove that theory. This advanced health smartwatch is one of the most intelligent devices on the market right now. If you’re wondering why it’s so much more expensive than other wearables from the company, you can thank the handful of new sensors.
The electrocardiogram (ECG) sensor is becoming more and more common on smartwatches these days. This feature lets you check your heart’s rhythm, which can be instrumental in detecting atrial fibrillation (commonly referred to as AFib). You’ll also have the EDA sensor, which analyzes your body’s electrodermal activity. This helps you understand how your body responds to stress. The skin temperature sensor is also present, offering minute-by-minute readings that tell you how your body temperature changes while you’re sleeping.
Is the Fitbit Sense worth the hefty price tag? That will largely depend on what type of wearable user you are. If you’re an experienced user and you’re seeking a top-notch device that can help you get a much better look at your health, then it might be worth the extra money.
Best Advanced Health Smartwatch
Fitbit Sense
$279 at Amazon
$280 at Best Buy
$279 at Walmart
A detailed look at your health
The Fitbit Sense might look similar to the Versa 3, but it’s got much more under the hood. The new sensors will change the way you track.
Fossil Hybrid HR
Best Hybrid Smartwatch
Bottom line: The Fossil Hybrid HR provides you with a perfect balance of style and features. You get a taste of certain smartwatch perks and the look of a traditional timepiece. It will track your activity and sleep, monitor your heart rate, and give you over two weeks of battery life.
| Category | Fossil Hybrid HR |
|---|---|
| Display size | 42mm / 1.06″ E-Ink |
| Band size | 22mm |
| Weight | 40g |
| Battery life | 2+ weeks |
| OS | Hybrid OS |
| Colors | Dark Brown, Tan, Black, Stainless Steel |
| Water-resistant | ✔️ (3ATM) |
| LTE | ? |
| GPS | ? |
| NFC | ? |
| Heart rate monitor | ✔️ |
| Automatic workout tracking | ? |
| Sleep tracking | ✔️ |
| Wireless charging | ? |
Pros:
- Lovely design
- Customizable display
- Activity/sleep tracking
- Heart-rate monitoring
- 2+ weeks of battery
Cons:
- Lacks GPS options
- Limited features
- Not the best for serious tracking
Hybrid smartwatches are unique in many ways. Most importantly, you often can’t tell it’s a smartwatch at all. The Fossil Hybrid HR comes with just enough features to claim the ‘smart’ title, but it’s not identical to some of the other picks on this list. For instance, you won’t have a touchscreen, so all of your navigating will be done with the three side buttons. It also doesn’t have a colorful display, but at least you get a solid two weeks of battery life in return.
You can customize the display to your liking, which will include at-a-glance info of your choosing, such as weather, steps, and notifications. Other than basic activity/sleep tracking and heart-rate monitoring, don’t expect a well-rounded smartwatch experience from the Fossil Hybrid HR. It’s only a hybrid, after all. You’ll miss out on GPS, NFC payments, music storage, and other premium features.
Best Hybrid
Fossil Hybrid HR
From $105 at Amazon
$139 at Best Buy
$105 at Walmart
A hybrid lifestyle
Want to enjoy some great smartwatch features without sacrificing battery life or style? The Fossil Hybrid HR is an ideal pick.
Suunto 7
Best Wear OS for Serious Athletes
Bottom line: Wear OS users who want a fitness smartwatch designed for serious athletes who will love the Suunto 7. It’s also the best pick if you want a giant piece of tech on your wrist. It offers built-in GPS with offline outdoor maps, superior activity tracking, Google Pay, and an array of vibrant color options.
| Category | Suunto 7 |
|---|---|
| Specs | Qualcomm Snapdragon 3100, 1GB RAM, 8GB storage |
| Display size | 50mm / 1.39″, 454×454 AMOLED |
| Band size | 24mm |
| Weight | 70g |
| Battery life | 2 day |
| OS | Wear OS |
| Colors | Black Lime, All Black, Graphite Copper, Sandstone Rosegold, White Burgundy |
| Water-resistant | ✔️ (5ATM) |
| LTE | ? |
| GPS | ✔️ |
| NFC | ✔️ |
| Heart rate monitor | ✔️ |
| Automatic workout tracking | ? |
| Sleep tracking | ? |
| Wireless charging | ? |
Pros:
- Built-in GPS and offline outdoor maps
- Attractive, sporty design
- Various color options
- Excellent activity tracking
- Water-resistant up to 5ATM
- Google Pay
Cons:
- A bit too huge for some
- Battery life is mediocre
- Extremely pricey
If you’re partial to Wear OS and looking for the perfect Android smartwatch to handle your activity tracking, you can’t go wrong with the Suunto 7. This wearable is fairly new to the market, but it’s got the potential to be great — especially if you’re a serious athlete focused on detailed tracking. In addition to built-in GPS and full-color accurate mapping software, it also boasts over 70 sport modes. Thanks to Suunto’s apps, you’ll have access to helpful metrics that go above and beyond what’s available on Google Fit, including training load, training recovery, and more.
When you combine all that Suunto 7 has to offer with Wear OS, it should be a match made in heaven, right? That depends on what type of experience you want. If you can live with a mere 2 days of battery life in smartwatch mode and the likelihood of laggy performance due to the work-in-progress nature of Wear OS, then it’s a solid choice for serious athletes who need all the tracking perks they can get.
As you might’ve noticed, this thing is ginormous. This is a bonus for some users, but dainty wrists may shy away from this 50 mm juggernaut. If you’re on a budget, this pricey smartwatch might not be the best choice.
Best Wear OS for Serious Athletes
Suunto 7
From $379 at Amazon
$399 Best Buy
$399 at B&H
A truly sporty smartwatch
Those who want in-depth tracking in the form of an attractive but sporty smartwatch will love everything about the Suunto 7.
Fossil Women’s Gen 5E
Best for Women’s Fashion
Bottom line: If you’re seeking a smartwatch with a feminine touch, you can’t do better than the stunning Fossil Gen 5E. It’s both fashionable and functional. Some of the key features include Google Pay, health/activity tracking, and heart-rate monitoring. It’s available in multiple attractive finishes as well.
| Category | Fossil Women’s Gen 5E |
|---|---|
| Specs | Qualcomm Snapdragon 3100, 1GB RAM, 4GB storage |
| Display size | 42mm / 1.19″, 390×390 AMOLED |
| Band size | 18mm |
| Battery life | 1 day |
| OS | Wear OS |
| Colors | Rose Gold, Pink, Rose Gold Glitz, Silver/Gold |
| Water-resistant | ✔️ (3ATM) |
| LTE | ? |
| GPS | ? |
| NFC | ✔️ |
| Heart rate monitor | ✔️ |
| Automatic workout tracking | ? |
| Sleep tracking | ✔️ |
| Wireless charging | ? |
Pros:
- Fashionable and functional
- Excellent performance thanks to 1GB of RAM onboard
- Able to take phone calls with built-in speaker
- Supports any 18mm watch band
- Outstanding battery life for a Wear OS watch
Cons:
- Only 4GB storage
- Lacks onboard GPS
Fossil has always been about fashion watches, which makes the Fossil Women’s Gen 5E, its latest smartwatch aimed at women, one of the most fashionable yet. Fortunately, the Gen 5E stands out for more than its fancy looks. These models are quite similar to the original Gen 5. Consider it a ‘lite’ version as your storage tops out at 4GB instead of 8GB. You’ll also have to rely on connected GPS through your phone.
In addition to being waterproof up to 30 meters and supporting 24/7 heart-rate monitoring, you’ll have plenty of other features that enhance your wearable experience. The latest update adds sleep monitoring, VO2 max estimates, and cardio fitness levels to the mix.
Then there are the features you’ll barely see anywhere else in the Wear OS ecosystem: a built-in speaker and microphone for taking phone calls when connected to an Android device or iPhone, as well as smart battery modes that help you better manage the battery life on your watch. Finally, the 1GB of RAM ensures fast and smooth performance.
Best for Women’s Fashion
Fossil Women’s Gen 5E
$169 at Amazon
$169 at Best Buy
Does it all
Fossil’s latest smartwatch for women does it all, from fitness tracking to taking calls to using apps — and looks good doing it.
Fossil Men’s Gen 5E
Best for Men’s Fashion
Bottom line: Men can score a stylish wearable without sacrificing essential smartwatch features, which is where the Fossil Men’s Gen 5E comes in. It’s not the most affordable option on the market, but you simply cannot beat these luxurious designs. You also get heart-rate monitoring, basic activity tracking with Google Fit, and Google Pay
| Category | Fossil Men’s Gen 5E |
|---|---|
| Specs | Qualcomm Snapdragon 3100, 1GB RAM, 4GB storage |
| Display size | 44mm / 1.19″, 390×390 AMOLED |
| Band size | 22mm |
| Battery life | 1 day |
| OS | Wear OS |
| Colors | Black/Stainless Steel, Brown/Leather, Black/Silicone |
| Water-resistant | ✔️ (3ATM) |
| LTE | ? |
| GPS | ? |
| NFC | ✔️ |
| Heart rate monitor | ✔️ |
| Automatic workout tracking | ? |
| Sleep tracking | ✔️ |
| Wireless charging | ? |
Pros:
- Sleek, stylish design
- Voice-activated Google Assistant
- 3 ATM water resistance
- Heart-rate tracking
- Google Pay
Cons:
- Only 4GB storage
- Lacks onboard GPS
You won’t find many differences between the Fossil Men’s Gen 5E and the Women’s Gen 5E. As their names indicate, one design is more masculine while the other is more feminine. Fossil has struck gold with the men’s models as well. They’re packed with all the same great features, but you get a slightly larger 44 mm case that’s compatible with 22 mm interchangeable bands.
It might look like nothing more than a lifestyle watch, but there’s a lot under the hood. This Wear OS smartwatch is running the new Snapdragon Wear 3100. When you combine that with 1GB of RAM, you can expect ultra-smooth performance for a seamless experience.
To recap, there are many features to love here. The Fossil Men’s Gen 5E offers music storage and controls, Google Fit, voice-activated Google Assistant, Google Pay, heart-rate monitoring, activity/sleep tracking, VO2 max estimates, and more. It has both a microphone and speaker, enabling you to take Bluetooth calls from your wrist. While the battery will last for a day, it comes with rapid charging that can juice up to 80% battery in under an hour.
It might be a lite version of the original Fossil Gen 5, but given the high-quality design, it’s not exactly cheap. The price tag makes sense given the superior performance, new features, and premium design.
Best for Men’s Fashion
Fossil Men’s Gen 5E
$169 at Amazon
$169 at Best Buy
Pretty and smart
Men can be fashionable, too. The Access Bradshaw 2 is looks and smarts, from taking calls to fitness tracking to payments.
How to pick the best Android smartwatch
The good news about wearing a smartwatch in 2021 is that while there are plenty of options on the Wear OS side of things. You also have some fantastic options from companies like Samsung, Fitbit, and Garmin.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 is an outstanding choice for most people and has received our most coveted Best Overall recommendation. You can even enjoy it if you don’t own a Samsung device. You’ll have built-in GPS, activity, sleep, and heart-rate tracking, music storage, smartphone notifications, Samsung Pay, and more. It doesn’t get much better than this.
Of course, everyone has their preferences. If you’re not a fan of Tizen OS or Samsung Health, your choices certainly don’t stop there. You’ll have your pick of many other wearables, whether it be from Fitbit, Garmin, Fossil, or any other brand that has captured your attention.
There are plenty of factors to consider when you’re shopping for a smartwatch. Whether this is your first wearable or you’ve been around the block a time or two, you’ll want to narrow down some key aspects before making a decision. Here are the main factors you should focus on:
1. Size and design preferences
First and perhaps most importantly, you’ll need to figure out what size of watch you’re after. Smaller watches are often a bit cheaper than their larger counterparts, and some watches may be too large or small for your wrist, which will quickly thin out the herd. The not-so-cheap Suunto 7 is a good example.
And of course, we can’t forget about aesthetics. You’re still shopping for a watch, after all, and it should be compatible with your style! You can always opt for one of the fashionable watches on this list, like the Fossil Women’s Gen 5E or the Fossil Men’s Gen 5E.
If you’re more worried about having a comfortable fit than a stylish design, some other options might catch your eye. Runners will love the simplistic look and feel of the Garmin Forerunner 245 Music, for example. If you’re intrigued by the idea of a minimalistic design but you’d like something a bit more appealing, the Skagen Falster 3 is subtle and elegant enough for daily wear.
2. Consider your must-have features
You’ll also need to weigh the importance of features like GPS, fitness and sleep tracking, cellular connectivity, heart-rate monitoring, and mobile payments. Fortunately, it’s not hard to find a watch that has a bit of everything these days. With that said, your list of options will be much shorter if you’re set on having a watch with cellular connectivity. You’ll only find two models on this list with that feature, so the pickings are rather slim. Not everyone is buying a smartwatch for LTE connectivity, so this won’t be a deal-breaker for most users.
Some of the more common features you’ll find on most smartwatches these days include GPS, fitness tracking, and heart-rate monitoring. There are still some models that still have yet to jump on the built-in GPS wagon, so you’ll have to decide how much this means to you. Granted, you can still use connected GPS via your smartphone, but it’s not nearly as convenient. This is a more common issue on fitness trackers. Fortunately, most of the Android smartwatches on this list have onboard GPS.
Another feature we see more and more of is NFC for mobile payments. In fact, more than half of the wearables on this list have it. You won’t find it on the more niche watches, like the Garmin Forerunner 245 Music or the Fossil Hybrid HR, but that’s mostly because those models are geared toward a different user type.
3. Which OS do you prefer?
Choosing an operating system can be tricky for several reasons. If you’re new to the smartwatch world, you might be indifferent on the matter, but it can affect your overall experience, so it’s worth mulling over. One of the most common concerns is how well your smartphone will work with your smartwatch.
Is it easier and more fluid to have an Android smartwatch paired with an Android smartphone? Absolutely. Should that be the deciding factor? Not quite. You can use an iPhone with an Android smartwatch but be prepared for some hiccups along the way. There can also certain limitations, like not being able to use the quick reply feature to respond to a text message from your watch.
A recurring complaint from Samsung users is that Tizen OS doesn’t always do a great job of displaying notifications on its watches. It’s not that they fail to appear but that the options for how they appear are somewhat limited. You might have an easier time scrolling through notifications on a Wear OS smartwatch.
Other smartwatch companies such as Garmin and Fitbit use their own operating systems. This can involve a bit of a learning curve in some cases, but it just might be worth it. If you’re a passionate runner who is frequently tracking your workouts and other stats, Garmin is an excellent choice. On the other hand, casual athletes might find the simple nature of FitbitOS to be user-friendly and easy to navigate.
4. How smart is a hybrid smartwatch?
If you’re learning about hybrid smartwatches for the first time, you might be wondering just how smart they are. You get a nice blend of a traditional timepiece with some smartwatch perks sprinkled in. However, don’t buy one of these wearables expecting premium features.
The Fossil Hybrid HR, for example, offers heart-rate monitoring, basic activity tracking, music controls, and smartphone notifications. You won’t have a bright AMOLED display, Google Assistant, mobile payments, or any GPS options. Those who want a taste of the smartwatch world without going all-in might find this to be a good place to start.
5. What about battery life?
Some users can’t stand the thought of having to take their watch off every 24 hours to charge it. Luckily, there is a decent amount of multi-day battery life picks on this list. You can also go for a model with advanced technology that helps extend battery life, like the dual-layer display on the TicWatch Pro 3.
Other models offer battery-saving modes that turn off certain features to prolong battery life, but this isn’t always ideal. Alternatively, when you choose a watch such as the Skagen Falster 3 that offers rapid charging, it might not be as much of a hassle. Simply set your watch to charge in the morning as you get ready for the day, and it will be juiced up before you know it.
If you’re still determined to find a watch with superior battery life, Garmin and Fitbit offer some of the best options that offer almost a week’s worth of battery life. While nothing can beat the 2+ weeks offered by the Fossil Hybrid HR, be prepared to compromise when it comes to key smartwatch features.
Once you’ve hammered out all of the details, you should have a pretty good idea of what type of smartwatch you should buy. No matter which option you pick, you can look forward to owning a nifty piece of tech that will help you track your health and fitness while also giving you a fun accessory to pair with your personal style.
Credits — The team that worked on this guide
Daniel Bader is the Managing Editor of Android Central. As he’s writing this, a mountain of old Android phones is about to fall on his head, but his Great Dane will protect him. He drinks way too much coffee and sleeps too little. He wonders if there’s a correlation.
Courtney Lynch is a freelance writer at Android Central. She’s obsessed with all things health, fitness, and music. At any given time, she can be found checking out the latest and greatest gadgets while simultaneously petting her dog and sipping iced coffee.
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