The best smartwatches for Android range from full-featured models, bursting with apps and wellness features, to fitness-focused devices, heavy on workout training and recovery tools.
We tested the most popular models from Google, Samsung, Garmin and more, assessing core features, accuracy, wearability, build quality, battery, connectivity and overall value.
After trying dozens of models while sleeping, working out, socializing and running daily errands, we've chosen the Google Pixel Watch 3 and Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 as the two best full-featured Android smartwatches and the Garmin Forerunner 265 as the best Android smartwatch for runners and athletes. Read on to find out why (and view out other top picks).
The quick list
The Google Pixel Watch 3 is the best Android smartwatch overall with an easy-wearing design, a bright and responsive touchscreen, lots of wellness, sleep and training insights, and impressive battery life, particularly the 45mm model, which lasts for up to 48 hours per charge.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 is the best full-featured Android smartwatch that doesn't cost a fortune, with a starting price of $299, though you can often find it on sale for less than that. Like the pricier Pixel Watch 3, smart features, fitness tracking tools and health insights are all top-notch. Plus, the Watch 7 looks and feels great on the wrist.
The OnePlus Watch 3 is the best full-featured Android smartwatch for battery life, averaging just over four days per charge in our testing. It also offers loads of fitness and health tracking features and costs less than most of the competition. However, there's no cellular option and only one size.
The Garmin Forerunner 265 is our favorite smartwatch overall for runners, whether you're rocking an Android or iPhone (it works with both). It boasts a bright AMOLED screen, accurate GPS, advanced workout metrics and Garmin's best training tools. Smart features, however, are limited compared to the competition.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is a sporty and rugged GPS watch with up to 48 hours of battery life and impressive health and fitness tracking tech on par with the Galaxy Watch 7. However, it's also among the heaviest and chunkiest Android wearables around.
The best Android smartwatches you can buy today
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Howdy! I'm Dan Bracaglia and I cover wearable tech for Tom's Guide with a focus on the best smartwatches, fitness trackers and smart rings. I'm also an avid outdoor enthusiast based in the U.S. Pacific Northwest where I use the natural surroundings as my official gear test lab.
The best Android smartwatch overall
For the first time ever, the Google Pixel Watch comes in two sizes, 41mm and 45mm. However, it's the larger model that's a battery life beast, easily lasting for up to 48 hours in our testing, putting it up there with the pricier and higher-end Galaxy Watch Ultra.
The Pixel Watch 3 also features a thinner bezel than its predecessor and twice the maximum screen brightness, 2,000 nits vs. 1,000 nits, making it a match with the Galaxy Watch 7. Google's flagship smartwatch is a little heavier and thicker than its Samsung counterpart but I still found it comfortable to wear day and night, regardless of whether you rock the 41mm or 45mm.
Like the latest Galaxy Watches, the new Pixel Watch 3 offers loads of tools centered around exercise and wellness. Google also unveiled a first-of-its-kind Loss of Pulse Detection feature that works similarly to fall/crash detection, alerting help when triggered. It's already available in the UK and most major European markets but U.S. customers will need to wait until the end of March to try it, as the tool just received FDA approval in February.
The Pixel Watch 3 additionally inherits many of Fitbit's best training metrics, including a daily Readiness score, Cardio Load metric and Target Load score. There are also new metrics for hardcore runners to help improve form and a handy new Build a Run tool.
Read our full Google Pixel Watch 3 review.
The best budget Android smartwatch
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 is the best wallet-friendly smartwatch for Android users thanks to its focus on AI-backed health and fitness insights. Lightweight and comfortable, you can choose from two sizes, each with up to 40 hours of battery life when using the power-saving mode and 24 hours with the always-on screen.
While the Galaxy Watch 7 looks nearly identical to its predecessor, the Galaxy Watch 6, an updated processor, GPS antenna and new BioActive health sensor make it a much more capable device. You also get double the storage capacity.
The most impressive feature, though, is the Galaxy Watch 7's advanced sleep analysis which is available after your first night wearing it. You also get Samsung's new, daily Energy Score to help plan your day, along with accurate fitness tracking and monitoring for health anomalies including sleep apnea and irregular heartbeats.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 review.
The best Android smartwatch for battery life
The OnePlus Watch 3 is a solid alternative to the other big Android players, namely, Samsung and Google. And you don't need the latest OnePlus smartphone to get the most out of it, any recent Android handset will do. Like the latest Pixel Watch and Galaxy Watches, fitness and wellness tools impress. It also has dual-frequency GPS for precise location tracking. However, there are some holistic-related omissions, like fall/crash detection and sleep apnea monitoring.
When it comes to battery life, no full-featured Android smartwatch can touch the longevity of the OnePlus Watch 3, which averaged just over four days per charge in our testing. It also features an upgraded AMOLED screen with impressive max brightness, bested only by the Galaxy Watch Ultra. Durability is also top-notch thanks to a stainless steel case and sapphire crystal glass protecting the screen. Unlike most of the other options here, though, the OnePlus Watch 3 comes in just one size, 47mm, which may feel too large for some users. There's also no LTE support.
Read our full OnePlus Watch 3 review.
The best Android smartwatch for runners
The Garmin Forerunner 265 is the best smartwatch for runners. Lightweight and comfortable, the 265 offers everything you’d want in a running watch, including a wealth of accurate tracking metrics, music controls, customizable workouts and more. You also get access to Garmin’s wide range of training insights, which can help you plan workouts and periods of recovery.
During testing, we found the Garmin Forerunner 265's beautiful AMOLED screen easy to view in direct sunlight. Users can navigate the watch's interface via touchscreen or physical buttons; I prefer the latter when I'm sweaty. Battery life is ample enough for marathons, even while listening to music.
The 265 supports tracking complex multisport training sessions using the triathlon mode. Plus, users have access to advanced features usually reserved for Garmin’s more expensive running watches, like Training Readiness Score and Morning Report.
Ultimately, the Forerunner 265 is a fantastic improvement on an already fantastic watch and a great buy for all levels of runner. However, for something nearly as competent but a little more wallet-friendly, check out the Garmin Forerunner 165.
Read our full Garmin Forerunner 265 review.
The best rugged Android smartwatch
The Galaxy Watch Ultra is the best Android smartwatch for adventures thanks to a tough-built, lightweight titanium case, ultra-bright 3,000 nit screen, accurate GPS tracking, offline maps and Samsung's latest BioActive health monitoring tech. It also has a Track Back feature to help you find your way home, a customizable Action button that can be set up as a flashlight and up to 48 hours of battery life.
Sleep analysis and insights are industry-leading (and a match with the Galaxy Watch 7). You also get AI-powered tips and suggestions for improving your health along with monitoring for conditions including sleep apnea and irregular heartbeats.
Water resistance is 100 meters, though Samsung advises against wearing it while diving or during other high-pressure water activities. Still, the thing is built to take a beating with its screen protected by the metal bezel and side buttons guarded by bumpers.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra review.
Features compared
| Header Cell - Column 0 | Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 | Google Pixel Watch 3 | OnePlus Watch 3 | Garmin Forerunner 265 | Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Starting price | $299 | $349 | $329 | $449 | $649 |
Case Size | 40mm, 44mm | 41mm, 45mm | 47mm | 42mm, 46mm | 47mm |
Weight | 29 g (40mm), 34 g (44mm) | 31 g (41mm), 37 g (45mm) | 50 g | 39 g (42mm), 47 g (46mm) | 61 g |
Display size | 1.3 in (40mm), 1.5 in (44mm) | 1.27 in (41mm) , 1.46 in (45mm) | 1.5 in | 1.1 in (42mm), 1.3 in (46mm) | 1.5 in |
Display type and max brightness | AMOLED, 2,000 nits max | AMOLED, 2,000 nits max | AMOLED, 2,200 nits max | AMOLED, 1,000 nits max | AMOLED, 3,000 nits max |
Waterproof rating | 50 meters | 50 meters | 50 meters | 50 meters | 100 meters |
LTE | Optional | Optional | No | No | Yes |
Battery life tested | 24 hours, 40 hours in low-power mode | Up to 24 hours (41mm); Up to 48 hours (45mm) | 4.5 days | 13 days / 20 hours with GPS (42mm), 15 days / 24 hours with GPS (46mm) | Up to 48 hours |
Also consider
We test a lot of smartwatches here at Tom's Guide and while not all are destined to be picks in our buying guide, there are several models still be worthy of your consideration. You can find them below.
How to choose the best smartwatch for Android for you
When looking at the best smartwatches for Android, you have plenty of options, no matter the connected smartphone brand (as long it’s not an iPhone, obviously.) That said, if you have a Samsung smartphone, you’ll probably enjoy the ecosystem experience of a Samsung-made Galaxy Watch more than a smartwatch from Fitbit or other third-party maker. But if fitness tracking or working out is your priority, a Fitbit or Garmin wearable might be better for reaching your goals.
After that, when picking any smartwatch, you want to get one that fits your wrist comfortably. Those with smaller wrists may find larger smartwatches — ones with case sizes larger than 44mm — bulky and cumbersome. Many of the watches listed above are large, which might make them awkward to wear overnight. On the other hand, the larger displays make whatever is on your screen easier to read.
Lastly, consider style. Some of the best smartwatches for Android look like high-tech fitness trackers while others look like traditional timepieces. If you want something sporty, stick to sleek materials with fewer embellishments. If you want something you can wear on nicer occasions, look for bezels or other eye-catching accents.
How we test the best smartwatches for Android
Whenever an attractive, Android-compatible smartwatch is released, we fully charge it up, then strap it on our wrist for about a week or so to test out all the features.
We gauge how it feels on our wrist throughout our day-to-day, as well as how easy (or not) the interface is to navigate when we need to read notifications, set timers or change other settings. Next, we look at its fitness features, such as heart rate readings, blood oxygen readings, step counts and, when applicable, GPS. How accurate are all these readings?
Finally we consider battery life claims and compare it to our actual use. Some features like continuous GPS use, playing music or enabling an always-on display chew up juice faster than others. We understand that not all smartwatches last two weeks — we just want our experience to match up with the expectations put forth by the company.
Frequently asked questions
What new Android smartwatch models are expected to launch in 2025?
All signs point to an imminent Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 launch. Summer 2025 may also bring about a new Google Pixel Watch 4 model. The former is expected to get a design refresh, advanced health-tracking features like Antioxidant Screening, and potentially better battery life.
The next-gen Pixel Watch, meanwhile, could sport additional buttons on the case along with improved longevity and potentially support for wireless charging. Of course, the launch of these newer models likely means future discounts on those featured above. Stay tuned!
Should I buy an Android smartwatch now or wait for the new model?
Unless the launch of a new model is on the immediate horizon, I'd recommend buying the model that is available now rather than waiting for one that might not ultimately have the features you were hoping for.
After all, there are plenty of excellent smartwatches for Android available today with impressive holistic insights, helpful training tools, reliable safety features and plentiful app libraries. Moreover, most smartwatch brands offer discounts on new devices should you decide that upgrading is a must down the line.
