Best Android smartwatch 2021 | Android Central

Right now, the best smartwatch for Android users is the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4. While you’ll have the best experience when you pair it with a Samsung phone, it runs well on all the best Android phones. It also has all the smartwatch and fitness features you’d expect from a Samsung wearable. It might be a slight departure from previous models now that Wear OS 3 is in the picture, but that shouldn’t deter you. It’s lightweight and compact, which is an ideal combo for fitness enthusiasts. But if you’re not too fond of that choice, there are many other amazing options from Garmin to Fitbit to Mobvoi and more.

What are the best Android smartwatches?

If you’re currently in the market for the best Android smartwatch, you should consider our best overall pick, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4. This wearable is loaded with many features that users are looking for while still maintaining an attractive design. However, if you don’t mind spending a bit more money on a premium watch, you should consider upgrading to the fancier Galaxy Watch 4 Classic. These are some of the most impressive Android wearables to date.

What makes the Galaxy wearables so great is the new Wear OS 3 platform mixed with beautiful hardware. For example, the Galaxy Watch 4, like the Galaxy Watch Active 2 that came before it, has a “virtual” bezel that lets you move around the software by rotating around the edge of the vivid AMOLED display.

Samsung Health has also improved immensely over the last couple of years and features a well-rounded selection of workout tracking options as well as a built-in GPS for monitoring outdoor runs or bike rides. Battery life tops out at around 40 hours, and the included sports bands are comfortable enough that you’ll forget you’re wearing anything on your wrist at all — until a notification comes in, which is easy to activate or dismiss.

The latest Galaxy wearable is optimized for Samsung phones but can also be worn with other Android devices. There’s no support for iOS users at this time, though. Now that Samsung and Google have merged to create Wear OS 3, the user experience will be a bit different. It’s the first watch to launch with the new operating system, so it’s somewhat of a guinea pig. With that said, not all existing Wear OS watches will get the update. As for existing Galaxy wearables running Tizen OS, Samsung plans to provide at least three years of software support from each product’s initial launch date.

If you’re not interested in a Samsung smartwatch or simply prefer how Google does things, we recommend the Mobvoi TicWatch E3. It’s one of the most affordable Wear OS watches you can buy. Luckily, this is one of the existing Wear OS watches that will eventually be eligible to upgrade to the new Wear OS platform. It offers a simple but efficient design with a high-density display and a thick bezel around the edges. It runs smooth thanks to the Qualcomm 4100 chip paired with 1GB of RAM for fluid performance. If you want the premium version of this, you can spend a bit more and get the TicWatch Pro 3, which will also be eligible to upgrade to Wear OS 3.

1. Samsung Galaxy Watch 4

The best Android smartwatch for most people

Bottom line: The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 might feel familiar to Tizen loyalists, but it’s easy to see the game is changing. Wear OS is the biggest change, but there are still hints of Tizen present. The stunning design is accompanied by endless smartwatch features as well as health/fitness tracking perks. You get optional LTE connectivity, GPS, heart-rate monitoring, ECG, and much more.

You’ll find that the Galaxy Watch 4 provides the most well-rounded wearable experience for Android users right now. The thoughtful design is compact and comes in a lightweight aluminum design that caters to active individuals. It also features an extremely sharp and vivid touch display that’s easy to navigate and fun to use, thanks to the company’s signature capacitive bezel. The debut of Wear OS 3 has been pretty impressive so far. The performance is smooth, and there’s better app selection, including Google Pay, Google Maps, and messages by Google.

The Galaxy Watch 4 may not have the “Active” name like its predecessor, but it’s still very much a fitness smartwatch. It has GPS built-in and features automatic workout-tracking, sleep tracking, and heart-rate monitoring. Many of the key sensors are housed in the new 3-in-1 BioActive chip. These sensors include heart rate, blood pressure, ECG, and Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (also known as BIA). The latter uses a weak electrical pulse to measure body composition, including skeletal muscle and fat percentage.

If you mainly wear a smartwatch for notifications, the Galaxy Watch 4 will be highly satisfying to use. You’ll appreciate having excellent support for Android’s notification system. You can reply using your voice, the built-in keyboard, or with one of the many quick answers. These are just a few reasons that the Galaxy Watch 4 is the best Android smartwatch you can buy right now.

Finally, we have to consider battery life. While battery life wasn’t otherworldly on previous Galaxy Watch models, the Galaxy Watch 4 will only get about 40 hours per charge. Still, this is better than past Wear OS watches that hardly last a day. It’s also nice that you can easily charge your watch with a compatible Qi wireless pad.

Read the full Galaxy Watch 4 review.

2. Mobvoi TicWatch E3

Our top pick for a Wear OS watch

Bottom line: With all the changes happening to Wear OS watches, users might be hesitant to consider buying one right now. However, a select few are already confirmed for the new platform, including the Mobvoi TicWatch E3. It doesn’t cost a fortune, and it has several key features, like GPS, heart-rate monitoring, activity tracking, and Google Pay.

There are quite a few reasons to consider the TicWatch E3 when you’re weighing your options. First, some people want to enjoy the perks of owning a smartwatch without having a loud fashion statement on their wrist. Second, the TicWatch E3 has a straightforward design that consists of a light polycarbonate case and a curved high-density (HD) display. It may not be as crisp as AMOLED displays, but it’s sharp and visible even in direct sunlight.

With a simple design and attainable price tag, you might not expect much from the TicWatch E3. However, under the hood, Mobvoi decided to include the latest Snapdragon Wear 4100 processor. When you combine that with 1GB of RAM, you can expect slick performance for an overall seamless experience.

This Wear OS watch is complete with GPS, activity/sleep tracking, heart-rate monitoring, Google Assistant, Google Pay, heart-rate monitoring, and more. It also provides users with a microphone and a speaker. Considering all the features you’ll be using, the battery will last for up to 3 days in SmartWatch Mode. There’s also Essential Mode, which helps preserve battery life by disabling key features. Fortunately, the watch can still track your sleep in Essential Mode. You can adjust the settings so your device automatically switches to Essential Mode at a certain battery percentage, or you can manually activate it.

If you’re not concerned about having a fancy watch on your wrist and you’re looking for something that’s reasonably priced, the TicWatch E3 is an excellent option for Wear OS users. One of the most important things to consider when buying a Wear OS watch these days is what the future holds for your device. The good news is that the TicWatch E3 will receive the Wear OS 3 update, but be prepared to wait until 2022 for it to be available.

Read our full TicWatch E3 review.

3. Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic

For those who want more style

Bottom line: If you’re looking for the latest tech, but you’d like to take the style factor up a notch, the new Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic has your name written all over it. Aside from flawless performance and comprehensive health tracking, you get a premium design that’s bound to turn heads.

If you’re trying to understand where the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic sits in the lineup, you’re not the only one. Samsung did things a bit differently with this release. While the standard Galaxy Watch 4 is the successor to the Galaxy Watch Active 2, the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic is the successor to the Galaxy Watch 3. That being said, the Galaxy Watch 4 and Watch 4 Classic are identical in terms of features and tracking capabilities.

Why might you choose to upgrade to the pricier Galaxy Watch 4 Classic? Many people will find this watch more aesthetically pleasing than the standard variant. It follows the size trend of the original Galaxy Watch models so that you can choose between a 42mm and 46mm case. Both cases come in stainless steel, so they’re heavier as well as more premium-looking. Another major difference between the two is these models offer a physical rotating bezel rather than a capacitive one. It’s a matter of personal preference, but there’s something highly satisfying about navigating the UI with an actual bezel.

Other than that, the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic is loaded with all the same great improvements as the standard variant. You get Wear OS 3 as well as an incredibly smooth performance with the upgraded RAM and storage. It also has the new 3-in-1 BioActive Sensor so that you won’t be missing out on any of the impressive tech.

Again, the main factor to consider when choosing between the Galaxy Watch 4 and the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic is whether you want to spend more on the premium variant. You’ll also want to consider whether the 42mm and 46mm size options will meet your needs. It’s an excellent choice if you’re looking for the best smartwatch with LTE that also happens to be quite the style icon.

Read our full Galaxy Watch 4 Classic review.

4. Garmin Forerunner 245 Music

A great watch for the fitness-focused individuals

Bottom line: If running is the name of your game, the Garmin Forerunner 245 Music is easily the best choice. It has a transflective display that is easy to read in direct sunlight. It comes with a comfortable band, stellar battery life, and unmatched workout tracking.