The best Android smartwatch: Wearables by Google, Samsung and more
The best Android smartwatches for your phone
The best Android smartwatches can do far more than tell the time. They can keep tabs on your health, track your workouts, surface your notifications, play your music and even let you leave your phone in your pocket when a call comes in. The tricky part is figuring out which one is actually worth your money.
That's where we come in. Our experts have tested the best Android smartwatches from Google, Samsung, OnePlus and more, wearing them day to day and putting their health and fitness features through their paces. We've looked at everything from performance and battery life to comfort, smart features and value, so you don't have to spend hours comparing spec sheets. Every watch in this guide has been thoroughly tested, with a link to our full review if you want to get into the finer details.
There are excellent options at very different prices, and the newest watch isn't necessarily the one you should buy. The Google Pixel Watch 4 is currently our number one for most Android users, while the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 makes a lot of sense if you want to spend less, and the OnePlus Watch 3 is the one to beat if you hate charging your watch. Our recommendations don't end at these three, with more options below for different needs and budgets.
We also keep this guide moving. Wearable tech changes quickly, and watches get replaced, discounted or discontinued, so we regularly do a recce of our picks rather than letting old favourites linger. If a newer watch is genuinely better, we'll tell you. If an older model is now a bargain, we'll tell you that too.
June 19, 2026
The newly announced Honor Watch 6 is next on our testing list. Once we've spent time with it, we'll assess whether it deserves a spot among the other Android smartwatches featured in this guide.
The best Android smartwatch 2026
Why you can trust TechRadar
In our guide below, you'll find full write-ups for each of the best Android smartwatches. We've tested each of these devices extensively, which means our recommendations can be trusted.
The best Android smartwatch overall
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The Google Pixel Watch 4 is our top smartwatch recommendation for most Android users. The Pixel Watch 4 keeps the familiar look of its predecessor, but it fixes some of the Pixel Watch 3’s biggest shortcomings. The brighter domed display is easier to read, performance is faster, and the longer battery life makes sleep tracking less of a charging faff. Plus, you still get a choice of 41mm and 45mm sizes, so there’s an option for smaller and larger wrists.
During testing, the Pixel Watch 4 felt “responsive and zippy fast” in everyday use, with Google's new Material 3 Expressive interface making it particularly pleasant to navigate. Gemini is also more useful here than on previous Pixel Watches, with features such as Smart Replies able to generate more appropriate responses to messages. Battery life has had a welcome boost too. Our 45mm model managed around 40 hours with moderate use, while a 15-minute charge takes it from empty to 50%.
For anyone who wants a smartwatch that can double as a health companion, Fitbit remains one of the Pixel Watch's biggest strengths. You can track heart rate, sleep, blood oxygen, skin temperature and more, take an ECG and record more than 40 types of workouts. Google's planned AI health coach could make those measurements more useful by turning them into personalised advice, although some Fitbit features are still tucked behind a Premium subscription.
The new display is arguably the Pixel Watch 4's most noticeable physical change. Its curved glass can reach 3,000 nits and the smaller bezels give you 10% more active display area, while the redesigned charger now lets the watch sit on its side like a miniature bedside clock. It's thicker than some alternatives, and our testing found its heart-rate readings weren't quite as accurate as those from the best Garmin and Apple watches, but for everyday Android use, the Pixel Watch 4 is difficult to beat.
Read our full Google Pixel Watch 4 review
The best value Android smartwatch
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The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 is a well-rounded smartwatch that may not have the novelty of Samsung’s Galaxy Ring or the ruggedness of the Ultra, but it offers great value for money and a sleek design. While the newer Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 adds a handful of refinements, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 still offers the best value, delivering much of the same experience at a lower price.
Powered by Samsung’s first 3-nanometer Exynos chip, the watch delivers fast, intuitive performance. In our review, we wrote: “applications, be they Spotify, Messages, or Workout, open quickly, and processes wrap up pretty fast.” A new double pinch gesture is also good for hands-free control, especially for calls and timers. One downside is the watch’s battery life, which only lasted a day during testing.
You’ll find hundreds of workouts and health metrics are tracked, which is thanks to Samsung’s new BioActive Sensor. This lives on the back of the watch and delivers data we found to be highly accurate compared to other wearables. You can take a heart rate measurement, ECG and track AGEs, or advanced glycation end products, which indicate overall metabolic health. It’s also certified for detecting sleep apnea, a great addition considering the Galaxy Watch range is already excellent at tracking sleep. The Galaxy Watch 7 also introduces a new energy score. This is part of Samsung’s new suite of AI health features, which improve data accuracy and offer new insights. Although you’ll need a Galaxy smartphone to use them.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 looks good. It has a sleek, circular build with a vibrant AMOLED display and no visible bezel. There’s an easy band-swapping mechanism, so you can easily switch out the band it comes with for different colors and materials.
You could argue this is an Iterative update with minor improvements over previous models. But in our review, we wrote: “Compared to the Ultra, it's the one for everyone”. So if you’re after a solid wearable that pairs seamlessly with Samsung Galaxy phones without the premium price of the Ultra, the Galaxy Watch 7 is our top pick.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 review
The best Android smartwatch for battery life
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New for 2025, the OnePlus Watch 3 is the best Android smartwatch for battery life out there. It can't match Garmin options, but you do get the best usage of any fully-fledged smartwatch with up to 120 hours of use.
The performance is delivered by a unique dual-processor and OS configuration that switches seamlessly between the low and high-powered options depending on usage.
Fantastic battery life aside, the AMOLED display is big, bold, vibrant, and easy to look at. We loved the new rotating crown and overall classic look in our review, but it's a very chunky watch that will prove too big for some. Luckily, a smaller version is on the way later this year.
There are lots of great health features, including a new ECG function,a 60-second heart health check-in, and dual-frequency GPS.
Performance-wise, there are a couple of health tracking quirks, but battery life is very solid in line with expectations.
Read our full OnePlus Watch 3 review
The best Samsung Android smartwatch
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The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 is the smartwatch we’d recommend to most Samsung phone owners. In our review, our fitness editor described it as a "big step forward" for Samsung, thanks to a slimmer redesign, handy AI-powered features, and notable upgrades to its health and fitness offering.
When we tested the Galaxy Watch 8, we were particularly impressed by its new design. The watch is 11% thinner than its predecessor, which makes it more comfortable to wear 24/7, while the brighter display and refreshed interface help make everyday operation feel smoother. We also praised the new Now Bar, which makes it easy to jump back into workouts, timers, and other ongoing tasks directly from the watch face.
As you'd expect from Samsung's flagship smartwatch, there are plenty of health and fitness features on board. New additions include Running Coach, which can generate personalized training plans based on your performance, as well as advanced sleep tracking, body composition analysis, heart rate monitoring, and Samsung's new Antioxidant Index. During testing, we found the watch comfortable for exercise, with running metrics that compared favorably to dedicated fitness watches.
The Galaxy Watch 8 is also one of the first smartwatches to offer Google Gemini on the wrist out of the box, allowing you to complete tasks using natural voice commands. Battery life remains its weakest area, however, lasting around a day with heavier use and taking longer to charge than we'd like. Still, if you own a Samsung phone and want the company's most polished smartwatch experience, the Galaxy Watch 8 gets our vote.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 review
The best rugged Android smartwatch
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The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is a durable wearable that we described as “a beast of a smartwatch” in our review, and should suit those who love fitness and the outdoors, as well as anyone who has a Samsung smartphone and wants to stay in the ecosystem.
The Galaxy Watch Ultra has a round, 1.43-inch AMOLED screen with a Sapphire Crystal always-on display – this can be switched to a new infrared-style Night mode. Build quality is excellent with a tough, scratch-proof titanium exterior that’s designed to bring you a rugged look and feel. This casing is dive-proof with IP68 and 10ATM ratings, and is designed for extreme low and high temperatures to a “military grade” standard, too. This does mean it looks big. In our review, we commented that it’s “bulky and cumbersome in any setting other than an activity one,” although at 60g, it’s not heavy for a smartwatch.
In our review, we said the Galaxy Watch Ultra is “easy and ergonomic to use” as well as being super responsive. To make it even more straightforward, there’s a ‘quick button’ that you can program to automatically start workouts – one of the many ways the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is eerily similar to Apple’s Ultra smartwatch range.
As you’d expect from such a rugged smartwatch, there are a lot of health and fitness tracking features here, including heart rate, blood oxygen, temperature, and body composition analysis. Samsung’s Galaxy AI also brings upgraded sleep and recovery scores. There are also features specifically for the outdoors, like GPS, a dive mode, an emergency siren, and a TrackBack feature to help you retrace your steps if you deviate from your planned route.
Battery life isn’t fantastic and caps out at 100 hours in low-power mode. With all of the features enabled, it barely lasted into day three during our testing, which was disappointing. But if you don’t mind charging it often and like the look and feel of a bulkier wearable, then this is the best Samsung watch around right now.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra review
How to choose the best Android smartwatch
When you’re choosing the best Android smartwatch for you, it’s important to consider compatibility. Almost all of the best Android smartwatches use some version of Wear OS, and this works well with Google’s apps and services. However, some features on Pixel or Galaxy watches will be locked away unless you own a phone from the same company.
Next, you’ll need to think about the features you need. For example, do you want an Android smartwatch that’s primarily going to track your fitness? In this case, you’ll need solid heart rate tracking and GPS functionality. Some watches focus more on notifications, music control, and payments. You’ll need to figure out which features you want to use daily.
We’d also recommend considering battery life. This is a significant factor for most people. Some of the best smartwatches that are packed with features (like always-on displays) may have a shorter battery life than you’d expect. You’ll need to decide whether you’re happy to charge a device every day or need one that lasts several days on a single charge.
Because most people wear their smartwatches every day, you’ll want to be sure you like the design and how comfortable it is. Choose one that has an aesthetic and a size that’ll suit you. There is a wide range of options, from sleeker and more minimal designs to chunky, rugged models, and it's worth trying one on and looking into replaceable bands for different looks.
Finally, think about your budget, from the more budget-friendly options to premium watches packed with high-end features. We recommend setting a budget based on how many of the features we’ve outlined above are important to you – remember that more expensive doesn’t always mean the best.
Do Android smartwatches also work with an iPhone?
Some of the best Android smartwatches will work with an iPhone. However, those that do will often work with very limited functionality compared to one of the best Android phones.
It'll depend on which smartwatch you choose, but you'll generally still be able to receive notifications, track fitness data, and use some apps. However, features like replying to messages, accessing some apps, or using voice assistants may not work as seamlessly as they would with an Android phone.
This means that if you’re an iPhone user, an Apple Watch is generally going to be the best option for you, giving you full compatibility. However, if you do prefer an Android smartwatch for whatever reason, it'll probably work; you'll just need to expect far fewer features when it's used with iOS. There's really no reason to pick it over an Apple Watch.
How we test the best Android smartwatches
When testing a smartwatch, we pair it to our phones (either any old Android handset, or proprietary ones in the case of Google or Samsung) and use it for at least a week. This testing process includes testing its true battery life so it's drained completely, seeing how it handles notifications, and loading third-party apps onto the watch.
We also wear it while exercising and working out so we can see if it's accurate at measuring distances and time, comparing it with a market leader such as the Garmin Fenix 8.
To create our ranking, we considered our review score, the specs, features, performance, price, and how they stack up to alternatives.
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Stephen Warwick is TechRadar's Fitness & Wearables writer with nearly a decade of experience covering technology, including five years as the News Editor of iMore. He's a keen fitness enthusiast and is never far from the local gym, Apple Watch at the ready, to record his latest workout. Stephen has experience writing about every facet of technology including products, services, hardware, and software. He's covered breaking news and developing stories regarding supply chains, patents and litigation, competition, politics and lobbying, the environment, and more. He's conducted interviews with industry experts in a range of fields including finance, litigation, security, and more. Outside of work, he's a massive tech and history buff with a passion for Rome Total War, reading, and music.
- Jessica Downey Buying Guide Editor