Best Android smartwatches in 2023

After years of neglect, Wear OS is finally worth getting excited about again. Samsung is leading the charge in the new wave of Android wearables with its Galaxy Watch series, and Google’s Pixel Watch is finally here, too. That’s not to mention scores of options from the likes of Fossil and Mobvoi, many of which are eligible for upgrades to Wear OS 3 or should be soon.

There are tons of great smartwatches and excellent fitness trackers to choose from that will work with your awesome Android phones. To help narrow it down, here are our top eight Wear OS picks today.

Surprise, surprise: Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 5 has replaced the Galaxy Watch 4 as our Editor’s Choice Wear OS smartwatch. Changes from the last model are minor, and if you already have a Watch 4 in good condition, you probably shouldn’t throw down your cash here. At $280, the 40mm Watch 5 goes for $30 more than the last model, and that extra money will get you more scratch-resistant sapphire crystal over the display, plus a larger battery. The larger 44mm model comes with the same upgrades and a similar price increase at $300, which is $20 more expensive than the equivalent Watch 4 model.

Otherwise, this watch is very similar to the model it replaced. They both have Samsung’s custom W920 chipset paired with a gigabyte and a half of RAM, they measure all the same health metrics, and aside from slightly different color options, the two generations are almost visually identical. If you don’t already have a Watch 4, that’s not bad news. The Watch 5 offers solid day-to-day performance and a killer display, and Samsung watches enjoy access to the latest Wear OS 3.5, a rarity in the market. It’s not a sensible upgrade if you own the previous version, but if you’re shopping for your first smartwatch or replacing one that’s a couple of years old, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 is the most straightforward Wear OS device to recommend to most people right now.

If you’re looking for something similar but chunkier and with much better battery life, check out the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro. It costs $450 at retail, but it can make it two or more days on a charge, unlike many other Wear OS watches.

Specifications

Display: 1.19″ Sapphire Crystal Glass AMOLED 396 x 396px (40mm) or 1.36″ Sapphire Crystal Glass AMOED 450 x 450px (44mm)
CPU: Samsung Exynos W920
Battery: 284mAh (40mm) or 410 mAh (44mm)
Connectivity: NFC, GPS, Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi (2.4Gz & 5Ghz), LTE (optional)
Durability: IP68, Waterproof to 50m (5ATM), MIL-STD-810H
Software: One UI Watch 4.5 atop Wear 3.5
Health sensors: Optical Heart Rate, Electrical Heart Sensor (ECG), Bioelectrical Impedance (BIA), Continuous SpO, Skin Temperature Sensor
Dimensions: 40.4 x 39.3 x 9.8 mm (40mm) or 44.4 x 43.3 x 9.8 mm
Weight: 29 g(40mm) or 32.8g (44mm)
Workout detection: Yes
Color options: Silver, Graphite, Pink Gold (40mm only), Sapphire (44mm only)

Pros

New sensor cluster makes for a more comfortable fit
Sapphire crystal glass is super tough
Better Google Assistant experience

Cons

Very mild upgrade from the Watch 4
Battery doesn’t last as long as Samsung says
ECG measurements only available when paired with a Samsung phone

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Samsung’s first Wear OS watch may not be the latest anymore, but it’s still a great smartwatch, especially for the discounted prices it’s been seeing of late. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 uses the same processor and RAM combo as the Watch 5, so you get the same power and almost the exact same fit, feel, and performance. The battery life is just a little shorter, but it should still get you through a full day.

While the Watch 4 launched at an MSRP of $300, it’s come down in price a lot since the Watch 5 launched. It’s regularly available for about $170 and occasionally less, making it an extremely strong value proposition. It doesn’t have the Watch 5’s sapphire crystal display coating, which theoretically means it’s easier to break — but if you want high-end performance at a discount, that seems like a calculated risk worth taking.

Specifications

Battery Life: Around 40 Hours
Display: Super AMOLED 396×396 (40mm) or 1.4″ 450×450 (44mm)
CPU: Exynos W920
RAM: 1.5GB
Storage: 16GB
Connectivity: NFC, GPS, Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, LTE (optional)
Durability: IP68
Software: Wear OS 3.5 Powered by Samsung
Price: From $300
Strap: 20mm
Dimensions: 40.4 x 39.3 x 9.8mm (40mm) or 44.4 x 43.3 x 9.8mm (44mm)
Weight: 25.9g (40mm), 30.3g (42mm)

Pros

Same performance as the newer Watch 5
Great hardware and screen
Usually a great deal these days

Cons

Battery life’s just okay
Marginally less durable than the Watch 5

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Years into Wear OS, the Pixel Watch is Google’s late smartwatch debut. For a first attempt, it gets a lot right. The Pixel Watch’s hardware is beautifully designed with a unique look not quite like anything else on the market today, and its case is made from stainless steel, which is a tougher and more premium option than the aluminum many smartwatches use. Performance is surprisingly solid, given Google’s choice to use an older chipset to power the Pixel Watch. Wear OS 3.5 is great, too, and Google’s custom watch faces are positively killer.

Google’s really pushing Fitbit integration in the Pixel Watch, and using the wearable the way Google intends — wearing it all day to track your activity and all night to track your sleep — requires charging once a day, if not twice. The watch is also missing some health features you can get in other Fitbit trackers, like skin temperature sensing, EDA measurements, and SpO2 sensing (though that last one should be coming eventually in a software update). We have durability concerns, too; reports of cracked screens started surfacing before the watch was even commercially available. Still, it’s a unique, high-end Wear OS watch. Practical? Maybe not. Premium? Definitely.

Specifications

Display: 1.6″ 384×384 AMOLED, up to 1000 nits brightness boost, Ambient light sensor, Always-on display
CPU: Exynos 9110 SoC, Cortex M33 co-processor
RAM: 2GB
Storage: 32GB
Battery: 294mAh, “up to 24 hours”
Connectivity: 4G LTE, UMTS, Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n 2.4GHz, NFC, GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo
Durability: 5ATM
Software: Wear OS 3.5
Health sensors: Optical heart rate sensor, Multipurpose electrical sensor, Blood oxygen sensor, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Altimeter, Compass
Price: $350 (BT/Wi-Fi), $400 (LTE)
Strap: Active band included: Small (130 – 175 mm) and Large (165 – 210 mm)
Dimensions: 41 x 41 x 12.3 mm
Weight: 36g (without band) Built-in speaker
Audio: Built-in speaker
Workout detection: Yes
Color options: Matte Black with Obsidian Active band, Polished Silver with Charcoal Active band, Polished Silver with Chalk Active band, Champagne Gold with Hazel Active band

Pros

Striking design
Premium hardware
Google’s watch faces are excellent

Cons

Average-at-best battery life
Fitbit integration is lacking
Pricey

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It may be officially replaced by the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, but the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic is still a fantastic smartwatch. The Classic’s case is made of stainless steel instead of the aluminum of the base-model Watch 4 and Watch 5, and it has a rotating bezel that simplifies menu selections, scrolling through notifications, and more. That last bit is especially valuable now that the Watch 5 and 5 Pro only offer digital bezels, not physically rotating ones.

At an MSRP of $350, it might not be an easy sell over the $280 base-model Watch 5, but because the Watch 4 and Watch 5 series are so similar, you’re missing out on very little by going with the older generation. It’s also discounted with increasing frequency lately. So if you crave a more traditional-looking smartwatch or just can’t live without that clicky bezel (and who could blame you?), the Classic’s premium should be worth it for you.

Specifications

Display: 60Hz OLED, 1.2″ 396×396 (42mm) or 1.4″450×450 (46mm)
CPU: Exynos W920
RAM: 1.5GB
Storage: 16GB
Battery: 247mAh (42mm) or 361mAh (46mm)
Connectivity: NFC, GPS, Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, LTE (optional)
Durability: IP68 certified, MIL-STD-810G compliant
Software: One UI Watch 3 over “Wear OS Powered by Samsung”
Health sensors: Heart rate, EKG, bioelectrical impedance
Price: From $350
Weight: 46.5g (42mm), 52g (46mm)

Pros

Identical performance to the newer Watch 5
Crisp, vibrant display
Rotating bezel is a treat

Cons

Battery life isn’t all it could be
Requires some Samsung phone apps

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Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic

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We weren’t initially too enthusiastic about the Fossil Gen 6. While it’s got Qualcomm’s relatively beefy Snapdragon 4100+ chipset, it also launched with an out-of-date version of Wear OS. As of October 2022, Fossil’s current slate of Wear OS watches are eligible for an update to Wear OS version 3.2. That’s still a little outdated, as the latest version is 3.5, and the update breaks compatibility with on-wrist Google Assistant interactions and the Google Fit Wear OS app. But hey, if you don’t care about either of those features, the upgrade’s ready and waiting for you.

With robust build quality, a vibrant, crisp display, and an optional update to Wear OS 3 available, the Gen 6 is worth your consideration. Just be aware there are more appealing options available right now.

Specifications

Case Material: Stainless Steel
Sizes: 42mm w/ 18mm straps, 44mm w/ 22mm straps
Display: 1.28″ Color AMOLED, 416×416, 326ppi
CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 4100+
RAM: 1GB
Storage: 1GB
Battery: 300mAh
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0 LE, GPS, NFC SE, WiFi
Software: Wear OS 2 (at launch), optional update to Wear OS 3
Health sensors: Accelerometer, Altimeter, Ambient Light, Compass, Gyroscope, Off-body IR, PPG Heart Rate, SPO2
Price: $299

Pros

Sturdy build quality with good buttons and rotating crown
OLED display is bright and really sharp
Fast(er) charging is better than previous generations

Cons

Battery life is mediocre, even if you sacrifice almost all of the features
Performance occasionally stutters a little too much
MSRP is too high

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The Skagen Falster Gen 6 is a stylish alternative to the Fossil Gen 6. Aside from aesthetics, the two smartwatches are more or less identical: each has the same 1.28″ 416×416 AMOLED display, the same 300mAh battery, and the same Snapdragon Wear 4100+ chipset paired with a single gig of RAM. Like the Fossil Gen 6, the Skagen Flaster Gen 6 can be updated to Wear OS 3.2 — just remember that doing so will remove Google Assistant and Google Fit functionality.

While the experience of using either watch will be the same, the Falster offers a look that might appeal to people who don’t care for the Fossil Gen 6’s styling. One niche benefit to the Skagen watch over the Fossil is that the Falster Gen 6 has a water resistance rating of 5 ATM, which beats the Fossil’s 3 ATM. You’ll often find this watch available well under its $295 MSRP lately, so keep an eye out for good sales.

Specifications

Display Size : 1.28″
Display: Color AMOLED / 416 x 416 / 326ppi
CPU: Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ Wear 4100+
RAM: 1GB
Storage: 8GB
Battery: 300mAh, 24 Hr + multi-day Extended Mode
Software: Wear OS by Google
Price: $295
Strap: 21mm
Dimensions: 41mm Face

Pros

Attractive design
Lots of case and band options
Bright, sharp AMOLED screen

Cons

Mediocre battery life
Performance stutters a little too often
Pricey at MSRP

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The TicWatch Pro 3 was king of the Wear OS hill for a spell, so it’s not much surprise that the updated TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra GPS is also quite good. There aren’t actually many differences between the two watches: the new Ultra GPS has a refined design, slightly beefier Wear 4100+ chipset (to the Pro 3’s Wear 4100), and, according to Mobvoi, meets the MIL-STD-810G durability standard. It’s got outstanding battery life that’ll easily last you more than a total of 24 hours, partially thanks to a unique dual-layer display that can enter a super-low-power mode when you’re not actively using the watch. Wear OS 3 is scheduled to land on the Pro 3 Ultra GPS sometime soon, too, which will make the watch all the better. The Pro 3 Ultra GPS has an MSRP of $300, but you can pick one up for less if you keep an eye out for sales.

Specifications

Display: 1.4″ 454×454 OLED + FSTN
CPU: Snapdragon Wear 4100+
RAM: 1GB
Storage: 8GB
Battery: 577mAh
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi:802.11b/g/n
Durability: IP68, MIL-STD-810G compliant
Software: Wear OS
Health sensors: Heart Rate Sensor, SpO2 Sensor
Price: From $300
Weight: 41g

Pros

Solid performance thanks to the 4100+
Interesting and useful dual display to conserve battery in a pinch
All the sensors anyone will ever need

Cons

Not yet on Wear OS 3
Bulky — may not appeal to those with small wrists
Haptics feel weak

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Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra GPS

What’s the best Android wearable you can buy?

Right now, we’re big fans of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5. Samsung’s Wear OS watches come with Wear OS 3.5, and to this day, there still aren’t any other watches that have the newest version of Google’s wearable software. The Watch 5 is also a fast performer with a bright, smooth display and battery life that can stretch nearly two full days, depending on the size you buy. However, most of what we like about the Watch 5 is also featured in the Watch 4, so don’t rush out to upgrade from last year’s model. If you can get your hands on either a Galaxy Watch 4 or Watch 4 Classic, we still recommend it because its performance is identical to the Watch 5, and the 4 Classic is the only Wear OS watch with a rotating bezel for navigating menus.

There’s also Google’s Pixel Watch. It’s an interesting option for style-conscious Android fans who want the latest version of Wear OS in a pretty package, but it’s not a great pick for anyone looking for a super value. But watches from big-name manufacturers that aren’t Samsung or Google won’t be lagging on the software front for too long. The Fossil Gen 6 and Skagen Falster Gen 6 are upgradeable to Wear OS 3.2, which brings an updated look and functionality but also breaks compatibility with Google Assistant and Google Fit. Mobvoi’s latest TicWatches were initially meant to get a Wear OS 3 update by the end of 2022 but missed their deadline. Hopefully, the manufacturer will make it up in the coming months. In the meantime, they’re still fine smartwatches, but their software is starting to feel a little dusty.

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What’s the best Android wearable you can buy?

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