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 platform matched by some great hardware. It’s also pushing the envelope with battery life, and some devices are finally ending battery anxiety with multiple days of AOD battery 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.
- No smartphone constraints? Check out the best smartwatches
- Trying to save money? Explore our cheap smartwatch guide
- Want to stay stylish? Dive into the top hybrid smartwatches
Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra – Best Wear OS smartwatch
Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra specs and features
- Size: 47.4 x 47.1 x 12.1 (47mm)
- Display: 1.5-inch Super AMOLED display; 480 x 480 resolution
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, LTE, GPS
- Weight: 60.5g (without band)
- Chipset: Exynos W1000
- Battery life: 48 hours AOD; 80 hours AOD off; 100 hours power saving
- Phone compatibility: Android
- Storage: 2GB RAM; 32GB internal (21GB available)
- Water rating: 10ATM
- Sensors: BioActive Sensor (includes heart rate, ECG, blood pressure, and blood oxygen monitoring)
The Galaxy Watch Ultra represents Samsung taking a new direction with its more high-end smartwatch. Though it’s not without its quirks, this is still the best Wear OS smartwatch to own in 2024 (at least until we see what Google has in store this August).
It’s big, brash, and more than a little inspired by the Apple Watch Ultra 2, yet this loose imitation hasn’t resulted in a tame experience. The Ultra is by far the most premium-feeling Android smartwatch, with its titanium frame (though not one for small wrists) suited to everything from vigorous workouts to sleep tracking.
The latest software – One UI Watch 6 – remains speedy and feature-packed, offering seamless integration with Google’s services and a range of healthy third-party apps. We didn’t massively love navigating around it, with the placement of the ‘Quick Button’ feeling off (sitting in between a Home and Back button), and we’d much prefer the rotating bezel to the digital equivalent available, but there’s no doubt this is a smartwatch experience that feels very full.
There’s terrific accuracy and decent two-day AOD battery life to back it up, too. Heart rate tracking ran very close to our Garmin – putting it around the level of Google and Apple – while the dual-frequency GPS performed almost identically, which is a very big tick in its favor.
We think Samsung has ways to go in its health tracking (though sleep tracking accuracy and depth are outstanding), and it’s still pretty rubbish that some features require a Samsung phone, but there’s simply no other Wear OS watch with this much upside.
- Read our full Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra review
Pros
- Solid build and fun design
- Excellent HR and GPS tracking
- Cracking display
- Sleep tracking is very detailed
Cons
- Insane rotating bezel miss
- Battery life feels inconsistent
- Samsung phone required for some features
- Looks ridiculous on smaller wrists
Google Pixel Watch 2
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. We recommend the Galaxy Watch Ultra, 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 upcoming Google Pixel Watch 3, mind, which is rumored to arrive this August.
If you can look past battery life, this is a standout option, but we advise only pulling the trigger once you’ve seen what the inbound next-gen model has in store.
- Check out our full Google Pixel Watch 2 review
Pros
- Battery life is improved
- Excellent HR tracking
- Design is still one of the best around
Cons
- Battery still not perfect
- Still no larger case size option
- Many insights require Fitbit Premium
Xiaomi Watch 2
Xiaomi 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-frequency 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 solid 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 what we found with the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro, and more comfortable during exercise.
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 most other Wear OS watches can surpass this comfortably.
With GPS on board, the Xiaomi Watch 2 delivered a much better heart rate tracking performance than its predecessor. While not the gold standard, casual gym goers and runners will get usable accuracy.
- Read our full Xiaomi Watch 2 review
Pros
- Superb price tag
- Light and attractive design
- HR accuracy is very solid
Cons
- Battery life is very average
- Mi Fitness is a glitch-fest
- Doesn’t run Wear OS 4
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. There is now also, mercifully, the OnePlus Watch 2R to consider if you want the same experience in a lighter case.
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 does run a relatively new 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 (but, again, not an issue if you choose the Watch 2R). 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.
- Check out our full OnePlus Watch 2 review
Pros
- Multi-day battery life
- Intuitive Wear OS 4 skin
- Excellent build quality
Cons
- Only one case size
- Heavy on the wrist
- No LTE edition
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, around 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, even though it has been rectified to some extent with the 2024 TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro.
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.
- Check out our full TicWatch Pro 5 review
Pros
- Display tech is ingenious
- Multi-day battery life
- Activity and health tracking accuracy
Cons
- Likely to be outdated soon
- Tons of bloatware
- No smart assistant
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
Despite the release of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 range, last year’s 6 Classic is still a very viable option thanks to software updates and its unique design.
With a top screen, a great breadth of health features, and, of course, the physical 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.
Crucially, there are also two sizes – 43mm with a 1.3-inch AMOLED and 47mm with a 1.5-inch display – which makes it one of the few Android-ready watches for those with smaller wrists.
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 had been revamped for Wear OS 4. The 6 Classic will also be sticking with the latest software, getting plenty of the upgrades available through the 2024 One UI 6 Watch update.
The array of health features is also comprehensive here, with ECG, blood pressure, and body index tracking proving mostly solid.
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.
- `Check our full Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic review
Pros
- Good health features
- Wear OS 4 works well
- Fitness accuracy
- Refined design
Cons
- Single day battery
- Fiddly options to enable
- ECG/Blood pressure require Galaxy 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.
- Read our Garmin Venu 3 review
Pros
- Wellness features finally feel useful
- Top HR accuracy
- Lovely screen
Cons
- Really pricey
- Sports tracking offers basic metrics only
- Some sleep accuracy niggles
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.
- Read our full Huawei Watch GT 4 review
Pros
- Great screen and build
- Good running features
- Accurate HR data
Cons
- No apps and payments
- Health stats feel a tad stale
- More notification granularity could be useful
Which watches run Wear OS 5?
- Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
Which watches run Wear OS 4?
- 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
Which watches run Wear OS 3 or 3.5?
- 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
