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Selecting the best Android smartwatch can be a challenge, as it requires finding a balance between premium features, durability, design, and value for money. Fortunately, we’re here to help. Whether you prefer a simple fitness tracker or a high-tech wearable with computing power, we’ve got you covered with the top options for 2023.
Not surprisingly, our top picks for the best Android smartwatch came down to Samsung and Google. Both flagship wearables received rave reviews from Android Central, but we ultimately chose the Galaxy Watch 5 as the winner, with the Pixel Watch as a close second. While Google’s watch is more stylish, the Galaxy Watch 5’s price, durability, size, and band options make it the better choice for most users.
There are plenty of other Android smartwatches to choose from aside from the Galaxy Watch 5 and Pixel Watch. These can be classified into two types: lifestyle watches that run Wear OS and directly sync with Android phones, and fitness watches from Garmin, Fitbit, and other brands that connect to Android, but with less integration. We have curated a list of both types of watches across various price points, so you have a wide selection to choose from.
If you’re looking for the top Android smartwatch, we recommend the Galaxy Watch 5, but you may also consider the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro or the previous-generation Galaxy Watch 4 Classic. On the other hand, if you’re not interested in the Pixel Watch, there are other options worth exploring from brands such as Mobvoi, Fossil, Fitbit, and Garmin.
Which smartwatch should I buy in 2023?
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5
The Galaxy Watch 5, released in 2022, is an iterative upgrade compared to its predecessor, the Galaxy Watch 4. It retains the same design, processor, and memory, but addresses the previous model’s shortcomings, making it a strong contender in the Android watch market. Despite having the same Exynos processor and 1.5GB of RAM as the previous model, the Galaxy Watch 5 performs just as fast, with minimal lag. It also has a longer battery life, lasting 10 hours more per charge than the Galaxy Watch 4, although it only lasts a day with the always-on display and always-listening assistant features enabled. The Galaxy Watch 5 can last up to 50 hours with those features disabled, but if you want a watch that consistently works for three days per charge, you’ll need to opt for the Pro version. Overall, the Galaxy Watch 5 is a more affordable and compact Android watch that outperforms other watches on Snapdragon Wear. While it has some health-tracking features exclusive to Samsung phones, it is otherwise compatible with any Android phone. The only downside is that it lasts a little over a day, but this issue is mitigated by the twice-as-fast recharging compared to the Galaxy Watch 4.
Google Pixel Watch
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Garmin Venu 2 Plus
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Many companies struggle to strike a balance between designing aesthetically pleasing lifestyle watches and incorporating fitness features. The Garmin Venu 2 Plus manages to achieve this balance by offering all the fitness tools you’d expect from a Garmin watch in a premium package that looks great. Its AMOLED touchscreen and stainless steel bezel provide a premium look and feel, while its enduring battery life, music storage, tap-to-pay, and Garmin’s software tricks are all part of the package. One of the unique features is the combination of touchscreen and buttons, which makes navigation more user-friendly compared to other Garmin watches that only rely on button navigation.
The Venu 2 Plus is an improvement over its predecessor, with the addition of a mic and speaker to answer calls or speak with Google Assistant, Siri, and Bixby. It also has a fifth button for quick access to tools like Garmin Pay or your assistant. While this new tech reduces battery life to 9 days, it’s still better than most Android watches. The Venu 2 Plus offers a range of health and fitness features, including onboard GPS, heart-rate monitoring, sleep tracking, and blood oxygen monitoring. The watch is great for serious athletes who want to use the HIIT timers and on-screen workouts for cross-training, and then wear something stylish and comfortable outside of workouts.
In summary, the Garmin Venu 2 Plus is a premium lifestyle smartwatch that’s perfect for those who want to track their health and fitness. While it’s not the cheapest option out there, it offers essential features such as GPS, heart-rate monitoring, activity/sleep tracking, and blood oxygen monitoring, along with extra perks such as phone calls and voice assistants.
Amazfit GTR 3 Pro
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Amazfit offers a variety of watches that belong to the affordable Android watch category. These watches come with the Amazfit OS instead of Wear OS, so you won’t have access to Android phone integration for third-party apps or actionable notifications. However, they do provide a broad range of health and fitness tracking features along with an attractive and lightweight design.
The Amazfit GTS 3 Pro has been commended by our reviewer for its fast and easy-to-use interface, seamless health tracking capabilities including heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen detection, stress level monitoring, and sleep quality tracking. What’s more, it boasts an impressive 12-day battery life, which can last up to six days even with heavy usage.
Bottom line: Despite the absence of some software features, the GTR 3 Pro offers a stunning design, customizable interface, lag-free performance, and a battery life that lasts up to six days, making it a solid contender in the affordable Android watch market.
In 2023, the options for smartwatches are plentiful, with a variety of choices available on the Wear OS platform as well as offerings from other top companies like Samsung, Fitbit, and Garmin.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 stands out as an excellent choice for most users and has earned our coveted best overall recommendation for its many features. As the top watch on the new Wear OS 3 platform, it offers optional LTE connectivity, built-in GPS, and tracking for activity, sleep, and heart rate. It also includes smartphone notifications, Samsung Pay, Google Pay, and more, making it a comprehensive option at a reasonable price.
Of course, personal preferences can vary. If you’re uncertain about Wear OS 3 or prefer a different health platform than Samsung Health, you have many other options to choose from. Fitbit, Garmin, Mobvoi, and other brands have their own compelling wearables worth considering.