Updated: Our top smartwatches to pair with your Android phone
If you own an Android phone and are looking for the best Wear OS watch to pair with it, you now have plenty of options.
Wear OS has never been stronger, and now feels like a proper OS matched by some great hardware. And it’s also pushing the envelope of battery life, and some devices are finally ending battery anxiety with up to three days between charges.
Away from Google’s platform, though, there are also smartwatches from Garmin and Huawei that all work brilliantly with Android phones.
Here are our top pick Android watches from our reviews.
Google Pixel Watch 2 – Best Wear OS watch
Google Pixel Watch 2 specs and features
- Size: 41 x 41 x 12.3mm
- Display: 1.2-inch AMOLED display; 450 x 450 resolution
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, LTE, GPS
- Weight: 31g (without band)
- Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon W5+
- Battery life: 24 hours
- Phone compatibility: Android
- Storage: 2GB RAM; 32GB internal
- Water rating: 5ATM
- Sensors: ECG, EDA, PPG, SpO2, skin temperature
The Google Pixel Watch 2 makes amends for last year’s battery life horror show with much-improved longevity.
Google’s official guidance of 24 hours is the same, but this time the new Qualcomm Snapdragon W5+ processor helps it actually manage a full day between charges. It’s not an end to battery life anxiety, however, and we still found ourselves fretting about charging – and we recommend the TicWatch Pro 5 or OnePlus Watch 2 to anybody who really prioritizes this area.
But the Pixel Watch 2 does have a trick up its sleeve: Fitbit. Google’s second-gen smartwatch is all the better for leveraging Fitbit’s health and wellness tracking.
Heart rate tracking accuracy, sleep monitoring accuracy, and daily insights are some of the best on any smartwatch – so, if these features are high on your shopping list, the Pixel Watch 2 is recommended.
With a new aluminum case, too, we think it’s much more comfortable and better suited to workouts than the original model. The only real downside with the design is that it still only comes in one 41mm case size, which feels a little small on larger wrists. That might change with the Google Pixel Watch 3, mind.
If you can look past battery life, this is the standout option.
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Excellent HR tracking -
Looks slick
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Battery life is still one day -
41mm case size only
Xiaomi Watch 2
OnePlus Watch 2 specs and features
- Display: 1.43-inch AMOLED, 466 x 466 pixels, 326 PPI, up to 600 nits brightness
- Dimensions: 47.5mm x 45.9mm x 11.8mm (excluding heart rate sensor)
- Weight: 36.8g (without strap)
- Battery: 495mAh, magnetic charging, ~45 minutes charging time, up to 65 hours typical use
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon® W5+ Gen 1, 4nm process
- Storage & RAM: 2GB RAM, 32GB storage
- Connectivity: 2.4GHz/5GHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth® 5.2
- Water Resistance: 5ATM
- Sensors: Optical heart rate, accelerometer, gyroscope, ambient light, electronic compass, barometer
- Navigation: Dual band L1+L5 GPS, Galileo, Glonass, Beidou, QZSS
- Compatibility: Android 8.0 and above
Finally, Android users have a true budget Wear OS smartwatch to consider – and the good news is the Xiaomi Watch 2 is a great choice.
The build quality and display are superb for a cheaper smartwatch – and it doesn’t feel like a sacrifice. But it’s still exceptionally light to wear, with a glorious full AMOLED display.
The Xiaomi Watch 2 does run the slightly older Wear OS 3.5 but it’s a much slicker experience than the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro. You still get the full suite of Google Play Store apps and Google Pay – so your quids in on budget rivals when it comes to smart features.
As you would expect at this price, there are compromises. In our real-world testing we found that battery life is limited to a single day, which seems a tad old fashioned now we have the OnePlus Watch 2 and TicWatch Pro 5 upping things to around 3 days.
With GPS on board, the Xiaomi Watch 2 delivered a much better heart rate tracking performance than its predecessor. While not gold standard, casual gym goers and runners will get usable accuracy.
Read our full Xiaomi Watch 2 review
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Superb price tag -
Light and attractive design -
Solid HR
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Battery life is very average -
Mi Fitness is a glitch-fest
OnePlus Watch 2
OnePlus Watch 2 specs and features
- Size: 47 x 46.6 x 12.1mm
- Display: 1.432-inch AMOLED; 466 x 466, 326ppi; 600 nits brightness
- Connectivity: Dual-frequency GNSS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC
- Operating system: Wear OS 4 + RTOS
- Weight: 49g without band (80g with band)
- Chipset: Qualcomm W5+ & BES 2700BP MCU
- Battery life: Up to 100 hours (Smart Mode); 2 days AOD
- Phone compatibility: Android 8.0 or later
- Storage: 2GB RAM + 32GB ROM
- Water rating: Swim-proof, 5ATM
- Sensors: PPG, SpO2
After a very rough debut, OnePlus returned to the smartwatch game in 2024 with a solid follow-up.
We don’t grade the OnePlus Watch 2 as a good option for those with smaller wrists, on account of its heavy weight and pretty mammoth case, but those who want true multi-day battery life on a Wear OS watch are catered for here.
The secret behind this battery life is a dual-chip system, with the Snapdragon W5+ used for power-intensive tasks and the BES 2700BP MCU on hand for low-power features like notification scanning and AOD. This improved efficiency means the Watch 2 is able to stretch that bit further than Google or Samsung’s current watches.
OnePlus claims you’ll get 100 hours per charge here – and we found that to stack up in testing. With the AOD turned on, though, this shrinks to under 48 hours, which is much closer to what we found with TicWatch Pro 5 (below) when its low-power dual-display tech is enabled.
Unlike TicWatch, however, OnePlus joins Samsung as the only OEMs to run the latest version of Google’s software -Wear OS 4 – with its RTOS skin proving very palatable. We found no bugs or issues during testing, unlike with the MIUI Wear OS skin on the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro, and its ability to tap into Google services is a huge tick in its favor.
The only other major downside to the lack of comfort is the tracking accuracy, which we found to be only average during our time with the Watch 2. It also omits a few no-brainer features, such as an LTE option and skin temperature tracking, which we would typically expect at this price point.
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Multi-day battery life -
Intuitive Wear OS 4 skin
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Heavy on the wrist -
Only one case size
TicWatch Pro 5
TicWatch Pro 5 specs and features
- Size: 50.1 x 48.0 x 12.2mm
- Display: AMOLED; 1.43 inches; 466 x 466 resolution
- Connectivity: GPS, Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi
- Operating system: Wear OS 3.5
- Weight: 44.3g
- Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1 Platform
- Battery life: 80 hours
- Phone compatibility: Android 8.0 or later
- Storage: 32GB
- Water rating: 5 ATM (suitable for swimming in shallow water)
- Sensors: PPG, SpO2, skin temperature
With its clever dual display, circa four days of battery life, and consistent accuracy across the board, the TicWatch Pro 5 is one of the best smartwatches for those with an Android phone.
The combination of the Snapdragon W5+ chip and the dual-layer low-power display yields relatively unrivaled battery life on Wear OS, and a glimpse into the future of the platform. The Snapdragon W5+ powers a rapid and snappy display, and finally something akin to the Apple Watch.
Our testing showed it’s also still a solid option for workouts and health tracking, with VO2 Max, blood oxygen, GPS, and HR data all on point during our testing.
There are a few minor foibles such as the wild amount of preloaded “Tic” health apps. And this is where it falls down compared to the high-quality, Fitbit-based ecosystem on the Pixel Watch 2.
The mammoth case is also only really a good fit for those with big wrists – and the lack of a smaller edition is also compounded by no LTE version, which makes it a non-starter for those who crave connectivity.
The TicWatch is unlikely to get an upgrade to Wear OS 4, too, so proceed with some caution.
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Display tech is ingenious -
Multi-day battery life -
Activity and health tracking accuracy
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Tons of bloatware -
No smart assistant
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro specs and features
- Size: 45.4 mm x 45.4 mm x 10.5 mm
- Display: Super AMOLED
- Connectivity: GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, LTE
- Operating system: Wear OS 4 (One Watch UI 5)
- Weight: 46.5g (without band)
- Chipset: Exynos W920
- Battery life: 80 hours
- Phone compatibility: Android-only
- Storage: 1.5 GB RAM + 16 GB
- Water rating: 5ATM
- Sensors: PPG, SpO2, skin temperature
The Galaxy Watch 6 is listed below, but the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro remains part of the current gen line-up. And because it delivers better battery life than the newer Galaxy Watches, and also boasts Wear OS 4/OneWatch UI 5, it might be the best one to choose.
It comes with an outdoor adventure spin, with added features for mapping and GPX navigation. But we wouldn’t call this a serious outdoor watch – instead, think of it as a Galaxy Watch with good battery life.
Samsung has included a 590mAh capacity battery it believes should deliver a typical usage time of up to 80 hours, which is just over 3 days. That’s compared to just 40 hours (max) from the new Galaxy Watch 6 and Watch 6 Classic.
It also quotes 20 hours of GPS battery life, which was borne out in our testing. It’s an impressive watch in this sense, sitting head and shoulders above most Wear OS watches.
The ECG and blood pressure tracking make for a decent health-focused smartwatch. It also includes a temperature sensor, and the company has announced this will be used for menstrual cycle tracking.
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Great battery life -
Good health features
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Health features need Samsung phone -
Few accuracy niggles
Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic
Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic specs and features
- Size: 42.5 x 42.5 x 10.9 mm / 46.5 x 46.5 x 10.9 mm
- Display: Super AMOLED; sapphire crystal
- Connectivity: LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS
- Operating system: Wear OS 4 (One UI Watch 5)
- Weight: 52g (43mm), 59g (47mm)
- Chipset: Exynos W930
- Battery life: 30 hours (with AOD)
- Phone compatibility: Android (limited) & Samsung (full features)
- Storage: 2GB RAM + 16GB
- Water rating: Swim-proof, 5ATM
- Sensors: ECG, PPG, BIA, skin temperature
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic gets our nod of the new pair – and thanks to the year hiatus for the Classic brand, it feels fresher and worthy of its premium price tag.
With a top screen, great health features and, of course, the rotating bezel, it’s everything the Galaxy Watch should be. The rotating bezel works perfectly with Wear OS, whether that’s getting glanceable information from Tiles or notifications straight from the watch face.
There are two sizes 43mm with a 1.3-inch AMOLED and 47mm with a 1.5-inch display.
The bezel makes for a more refined look in our minds and emulates a proper watch. And the faux leather strap is good for sweaty and looks like the real deal.
Fitness and heart rate data were pretty flawless for steady workouts, as was sleep tracking data, which has been revamped for Wear OS 4. It’s one of the best Wear OS devices for workout data, and the new heart rate zone tracking is a cut above any other smartwatch on this platform.
As are the health features. ECG, blood pressure, and body index tracking were also excellent – and put it in a class of its own for mainstream smartwatches.
The only thing that doesn’t make the Watch 6 Classic an automatic recommendation is battery life. We got around 30 hours with the always-on display turned on, and an hour workout will deplete around 20%.
So you could experience significant battery anxiety if you plan to use the new sleep-tracking features.
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Good health features -
Good HR accuracy
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Single day battery -
Health features need Samsung phone
Samsung Galaxy Watch 6
Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 specs and features
- Size: 38.4 x 40.4 x 9mm / 42.8 x 44.4 x 9mm
- Display: Super AMOLED; sapphire crystal
- Connectivity: LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS
- Operating system: Wear OS 4 (One UI Watch 5)
- Weight: 33.3 g (44mm), 28.7 g (40mm)
- Chipset: Exynos W930
- Battery life: 30 hours (with AOD)
- Phone compatibility: Android (limited) & Samsung (full features)
- Storage: 2 GB RAM + 16 GB
- Water rating: Swim-proof, 5ATM
- Sensors: ECG, PPG, BIA, skin temperature
The standard Galaxy Watch 6 smartwatch is available in two sizes: 40mm and 44mm, catering to various wrist sizes.
Featuring either a 1.5-inch or 1.3-inch AMOLED display, depending on the case size, you’d be hard-pressed to find a superior display on competing devices.
Running on Wear OS 4, Google’s latest operating system version, the Galaxy Watch 6 introduces advanced sleep-tracking capabilities and heart rate zone training modes. It enhances an already impressive collection of health and fitness features, including ECG and blood pressure monitoring. However, it’s important to note that these additional features require a Samsung phone for full functionality.
Upon assessment, we found the sleep, heart rate, and workout features to deliver impressive performance.
Yet, there are a couple of aspects preventing this smartwatch from being truly top class.
The battery life falls short, lasting just slightly over a day with the always-on display option enabled. An hour-long run can drain the battery by approximately 20%, potentially endangering its ability to make it through a night’s sleep without a top-up.
Another factor to take into account is that Samsung has already introduced Wear OS 4 to the Galaxy Watch 5. Given the minimal upgrades in hardware, opting for the previous-generation Samsung smartwatch might be a prudent choice.
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Good health and fitness features -
Nice unisex build
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Meh design -
Health features need Samsung phone
Two amazing alternatives for Android users from our reviews
If you’re not sure that Wear OS is quite what you are looking for in a smartwatch, there are a host of different options you can consider instead that work well with Android smartphones and do it by offering a different software experience to Google’s own.
Garmin Venu 3
Garmin Venu 3 specs and features
- Size: 45 x 45 x 12mm or 41 x 41 x 12mm
- Display: AMOLED
- Connectivity: GPS, Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth, ANT+
- Operating system: Garmin OS
- Weight: 42g (with band)
- Chipset: MediaTek MT6739
- Battery life: Up to 14 days
- Phone compatibility: Android and iOS
- Storage: 4GB
- Water rating: 5ATM
- Sensors: PPG, ECG (limited regions), SpO2, skin temperature
The Venu 3 sees Garmin push on with its best sporty smartwatch yet, improving the battery life and heart rate monitoring sensor, and offering all-new features that make it a better fit for people who don’t spend their lives exercising.
In typical Garmin fashion, it’s still very comfortable tracking runs, rides, and pool swims – and also has modes for golf and climbing. Garmin has now added dedicated modes for HIIT-style training, too, and new muscle maps for strength training to make sure you’re working on all those key muscle groups.
You’re getting everything Garmin has to offer in smartwatch features, naturally, including payments, a built-in music player with offline support for major platforms like Spotify, and room for 2,000 songs. There are notifications for Android and iOS users, but still no sign of LTE here.
Battery life varies depending on which case size you opt for here, though is still good for well over a week even with the always-on display mode turned on. It’s also much more than what you’ll get on Wear OS watches and Samsung watches, which is important to keep in mind.
The features that first debuted on the Venu 2 Plus are all here, as well, which means you have a microphone and speaker to allow you to make calls via Bluetooth and access your phone’s smart assistant from your wrist. Depending on your region, you can also use the Garmin ECG app.
Those extras on the Venu 2 Plus come at a big premium ($449/£399), so that’s why we’d still opt for the Venu 2 unless you want those voice features. We think it’s a great option without them with solid smartwatches and sports tracking skills on offer for less money.
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Lovely screen -
Top accuracy -
Great wellness insights
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Basic sports metrics -
Pricey
Huawei Watch GT 4
Huawei Watch GT 4 specs and features
- Size: 41mm or 46mm
- Display: AMOLED
- Connectivity: Dual-band GNSS, NFC, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
- Operating system: HarmonyOS 4.0
- Weight: 37g or 48g (without strap)
- Chipset: Kirin A1 chipset
- Battery life: Up to 7 days (41mm) or 14 days (46mm)
- Phone compatibility: Android and iOS
- Storage: 32GB
- Water rating: 5ATM
- Sensors: SpO2, PPG,
The Huawei Watch GT 4 sees the company’s mid-range watch option brought closer to its flagship Huawei Watch 4 and 4 Pro, which, too, are good options for those with an Android phone.
They all share the same version of Harmony OS, which offers a small selection of apps – and also brings running-specific modes and metrics, a personalized AI running coach with a specific running index score, VO2 Max, and a Healthy Living feature that reminds you to drink water and other essentials.
It comes in two size options, with bigger screens and improved resolution the headline enhancements are here.
Along with countless sports modes, the Watch GT 4 also boasts dual-frequency GNSS tech and the company’s TruSeen 5.5+ heart rate sensor. The latter performed very well in our testing, though the GPS accuracy isn’t quite on the same level as what you might find with something like Garmin.
A huge selling point here, though, is the battery life. You’ll struggle to get to Huawei’s estimate unless you disable most features, but we still got around a week in heavy use and with the AOD turned on.
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Great build and design -
Great running and workout features
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Lack of apps and ecosystem -
Not a health tracking powerhouse
- Google Pixel Watch
- Google Pixel Watch 2
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 / Galaxy Watch 4 Classic
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 / Galaxy Watch 5 Pro
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 / Galaxy Watch 6 Classic
- OnePlus Watch 2
- Montblanc Summit 3
- Fossil Gen 6
- Skagen Falster Gen 6
- Diesel Griffed Gen 6
- Michael Kors Access 6
- Razer x Fossil Gen 6
- Citizen CZ Smart 2nd Gen
- TicWatch Pro 3
- TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra GPS
- TicWatch E3
- TicWatch Pro 5
- Xiaomi Watch 2
