Skip to main content
Tech Radar TechRadar the technology experts
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
RSS
Asia
flag of Singapore
Singapore
Europe
flag of Danmark
Danmark
flag of Suomi
Suomi
flag of Norge
Norge
flag of Sverige
Sverige
flag of UK
UK
flag of Italia
Italia
flag of Nederland
Nederland
flag of België (Nederlands)
België (Nederlands)
flag of France
France
flag of Deutschland
Deutschland
flag of España
España
North America
flag of US (English)
US (English)
flag of Canada
Canada
flag of México
México
Australasia
flag of Australia
Australia
flag of New Zealand
New Zealand
  • Phones
  • Computing
  • TVs
  • AI
  • Streaming
  • Health
  • Audio
  • VPN
  • More
    • Cameras
    • Home
    • News
    • Reviews
    • Opinion
    • How to
    • Versus
    • Deals
    • Coupons
    • Best
Tech Radar Pro
Tech Radar Gaming
Trending
  • Nintendo Switch 2
  • ChatGPT
  • Best laptop
  • Best VPN
  • NYT Wordle today

Recommended reading

Best smartwatch
Smartwatches The best smartwatch 2025: best wearables and fitness trackers to pair with your phone
Google Pixel Watch 3 on TechRadar background
Smartwatches The best Android smartwatch 2025: Wearables by Google, Samsung and more
OnePlus Watch 3 and Google Pixel Watch 3 on a two-tone green background
Smartwatches OnePlus Watch 3 vs Pixel Watch 3: Time for a new Wear OS king?
Best smartwatch for iPhone
Smartwatches The best smartwatch for iPhone 2025: Apple Watches and the best alternatives
I ran London Marathon with Garmin and Apple Watch
Health & Fitness I ran an entire marathon with a Garmin, an Apple Watch and Strava – here are all the differences in time, distance and more
TechRadar background with Apple Watch
Smartwatches The best cheap smartwatch 2025: Great wearable tech that won't cost the earth
Samsung Galaxy S25, OnepLus watch 3
Smartwatches I tested the OnePlus Watch 3's sleep tracking powers against our top smart ring – and it didn't measure up
  1. Health & Fitness
  2. Smartwatches

Apple Watch vs Android Wear: which smartwatch is best?

News
By Matt Swider published 10 April 2015

The definitive Apple and Google watch comparison

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Which has the better watches and UI?

Which has the better watches and UI?

Chances are, if you're wearing a smartwatch by the end of this year, it's going to be made by Apple care of its Apple Watch or powered by Google's Android Wear platform.

There's also a very good chance you know which one is right for you based on the phone you already own. Apple Watch works with iOS 8 and Android Wear works with, you guessed it, Android.

However, as the Apple Watch pre-order begins, there's still an excellent debate as to which smartwatch delivers the best on-wrist experience: Apple's one smartwatch or Android Wear's many, many watches.

Now that the Apple Watch price has been announced and the "iWatch" tested on our wrists, we can finally make the inevitable Apple Watch vs Android Wear comparison.

Page 1 of 15
Page 1 of 15
Design: Apple Watch

Design: Apple Watch

Apple Watch vs Android Wear: best smartwatch debate

Smartwatches come in all shapes and sizes, while smartphones - with a few exceptions like the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge and LG G Flex 2 - generally all look the same.

Apple Watch, for example, takes on a square shape with rounded off corners and three cases types: aluminum, stainless steel and the much-talked-about 18-karat gold Watch Edition.

Its two higher-end models feature scratch-resistant sapphire glass, while the entry-level Sport edition is protected by Ion-X glass. Apple considers both premium, of course.

There are two sizes in an effort to fit more wrists, a smaller watch with a 38mm height and a bigger timepiece with a 42mm height. This is something Android-based watches don't offer.

Page 2 of 15
Page 2 of 15
Design: Android Wear

Design: Android Wear

Android Wear vs Apple Watch comparison design

Android Wear watches add more variety with eight different designs so far. This includes the circular Moto 360, LG G Watch R, Huawei Watch and new LG Urbane.

There are also square-shaped Google-powered watches: Sony Smartwatch 3, LG G Watch and Samsung Gear Live. The Apple Watch-like Asus ZenWatch fits somewhere in between.

In total, there are now eight Android Wear watches and they've come a long way from their "plastic disguised as metal" beginnings.

Huawei and LG's forthcoming watches are made of stainless steel with fancier silver and gold tones, catching up with Motorola and its customizable timepiece.

Page 3 of 15
Page 3 of 15
Display: Apple Watch

Display: Apple Watch

Apple Watch vs Android Wear comparison

Apple Watch's display size is rather small, but its resolution is still pixel-dense enough to earn that "Retina" marketing label.

The colorful OLED screen reaches a resolution of 312 x 390 on the 42mm watch size and 272 x 340 on the 38mm watch size.

Apple Watch's display has its own "one more thing" you don't see right away. Its pressure sensitive with technology the company calls "Force Touch."

This means the flexible screen can sense differences between light taps and deep presses, which solves complex UI commands sans Multitouch. Sounds expensive, hence the Apple Watch price.

Force Touch is also a part of the New MacBook, launching along with the Apple Watch pre-order, and we expect it from iPhone 7 too.

Page 4 of 15
Page 4 of 15
Display: Android Wear

Display: Android Wear

Android Wear vs Apple Watch

Android Wear's displays really brightened up smartwatches at a time when we were all fooling around with Pebble's black-and-white e-paper screen.

The current highest resolution displays come from Samsung, Sony and Asus watches thanks to 320 x 320 AMOLEDs and LCDs with 278 pixels per inch.

But even the Moto 360 looks good thanks to 280 x 280 and 240ppi. Its debut of a circular watch face tempted buyers to return or cancel their initial Gear Live and LG G Watch orders.

Google's software doesn't support anything like Apple's Force Touch at the moment, but that doesn't rule out future technology along those lines.

After all, Android Wear watches are already pushing smartwatch pixels to the next level. Huawei Watch promises a 400 x 400 resolution and 286ppi from a 1.4-inch round AMOLED.

Page 5 of 15
Page 5 of 15
Controls: Apple Watch

Controls: Apple Watch

Apple Watch touchscreen

Apple Watch's Digital Crown isn't just a classic-looking knob: it's a unique way to interact with the interface without having to constantly swipe at a tiny screen.

Twisting this time-tested input magnifies content and scrolls through lists, and pressing it in returns home without obstructing the display. It's much better than swipe and pinch-to-zoom gestures on surface that's about 1.5 inches.

Tapping the larger side button underneath leads to your friends' thumbnails. This keeps your most frequent contacts within arm's reach so you can initiate a quick message or call.

Of course, the touchscreen is still utilized a lot, like for pressure-sensitive Force Touch, and Apple Watch wearers can exchange drawings, taps and heartbeats for added personalization.

Page 6 of 15
Page 6 of 15
Android Wear: Controls

Android Wear: Controls

Android Wear vs Apple Watch

Android Wear's interface is primarily controlled with swiping, but a lot of the menus pop up automatically thanks to the know-it-all Google Now software.

The search engine giant's intelligent personal assistant dives into everything from your search history to your email to your calendar to surface relevant tips. It's creepy, but works so well.

"Were you looking for directions to the Chicago Cubs' stadium last night? Leave now to get there in time for this afternoon's game, and take this route," my Moto 360 reminded me during a trip in Chicago.

"Can't see the scoreboard at the stadium? Here's the real-time score. Oh, and watch out for that inclimate weather. It looks like a rain delay." Everyone else without a smartwatch got wet.

So yes, Android Wear watches rely heavily on swiping, even though most include a button on the watch case, but it's the controls inside that really turn the gears.

Page 7 of 15
Page 7 of 15
Straps: Apple Watch vs Android Wear

Straps: Apple Watch vs Android Wear

Apple Watch vs Android Wear

Smartwatch style doesn't stop with a stainless steel or gold watch cases. Straps add a little more personalization to these digital wrist huggers.

A total of 38 straps can accessorize your Apple Watch pre-order, from the "cheapest" rubber-like Sport Band to three different leather choices to the luxury gold and rose gold Watch Editions.

When it comes to Apple Watch's metal bands, the Link Bracelet contains over 100 parts and takes nine hours to make, increasing the Apple Watch price. The Milanese Loop is classy, too and is "infinitely adjustable."

Android Wear isn't without strap options. In fact, it's more customizable thanks to many watches supporting the standardized 22mm size for third-party bands vs Apple proprietary linkage.

Motorola makes watch building the easiest through its Moto Maker customization process that it shares with the Moto X smartphone. Users pick out a case color, band design and the watch face that greets them upon unboxing.

Page 8 of 15
Page 8 of 15
Apps: Apple Watch

Apps: Apple Watch

Apple Watch vs Android Wear: best smartwatch debate

Apple Watch apps are imminent from developers armed with WatchKit, but before we get to download and test them out, we have a sense of how the built-in apps perform.

The 20 default apps from Apple best showcase the iPhone-compatible watch's ability to see information at a glance and respond casually.

Messages, phone calls and Mail are beamed to the wrist with various ways to answer. I really like the ability to shoot my current location to a friend who asks, "Where are you at?"

Calendar keeps your appointments in check, and Activity and Workout keep your fitness routine in check. Weather, Stocks and Photos let you plan your next moves, too.

Siri, Photos, Maps, Passbook complete with Apple Pay work like they do on the iPhone 6. Music, Camera Remote and Remote control songs, photo capturing and streaming content. Alarm, Stopwatch, Timer and World Clock round out the time-keeping apps.

There are many more third-party Apple Watch apps to come, and notifications from Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp and every other app are pushed from the phone to the easier-to-access watch.

Page 9 of 15
Page 9 of 15
Apps: Android Wear

Apps: Android Wear

Android Wear apps

Google's smartwatch platform has had a little more time to make a home for app developers and it shows in the booming Play Store Android Wear section.

In fact, almost all of the apps Apple is planning are already available on Android Wear watches - Hangouts is here for all of your messages, Google Now surfaces appointments reliably and the Wear Camra Remote effectively snaps pictures from your phone.

Inventive apps from third-party developers like Wear Aware alerts me every time I leave home without my Android phone, triggering intense vibrations as soon as the Bluetooth connection is severed. I never leave home without my phone now.

Android Wear and Apple Watch seem to share all of the main apps except Google's watches can't yet answer phone calls from the wrist - not Dick Tracy-style anyway. Of course, not everyone wants that ability.

Page 10 of 15
Page 10 of 15
Battery life: Apple Watch vs Android Wear

Battery life: Apple Watch vs Android Wear

Apple Watch vs Android Wear battery life hours

Plenty of Android Wear owners are saying, "Please! You keep that phone calls from the wrist" feature after noticing the Apple Watch battery life.

Apple CEO Tim Cook thinks it'll last 18 hours with normal use, which is technically a full day if you keep to a normal sleeping pattern. Charging it nightly is mandatory to keep it running.

Android Wear watches are only better in comparison. Moto 360 lasts 24 hours with a 320mAh battery. Sony Smartwatch 3 runs the longest - shy of two days - with a bigger 420mAh battery.

Does any smartwatch have good battery life outside of 18 to 40 hours? Absolutely. Pebble Time and Pebble Time Steel last seven days and a stellar 10 days with color e-paper displays.

Expect more juice in the future as the entire tech industry focuses on miniaturized smartwatch batteries, and as Apple and Google tinker with their still-relatively new software gears.

Page 11 of 15
Page 11 of 15
Compatibility: Apple Watch vs Android Wear

Compatibility: Apple Watch vs Android Wear

Apple Watch vs Android Wear

The battle lines between Apple Watch and Android Wear are clear. Apple's smartwatch only works with iPhone. There's no reason to make an Apple Watch pre-order if aren't on iOS. Likewise, Google's eight watches only work with Android phones.

Specifically, Apple Watch is compatible with iPhone 5, iPhone 5C, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, so it's time to upgrade if you haven't already. iPhone 7 is a shoo in eventually.

Android Wear iPhone support is being worked on, but for now, its watches require phones to run Android 4.3, Android 4.4 or Android 5.0. It's not limited to certain handsets per say, but only certain phones and carriers have this version of Jelly Bean or newer.

Pebble Time and Pebble Time Steel work with iOS and Android. Will Apple Watch ever work with Android Wear? Very unlikely.

On the flipside, Google hasn't officially said anything about Android Wear watch compatibility for iOS, but it's said to be in some code. Time will tell.

Page 12 of 15
Page 12 of 15
Waterproof: Apple Watch vs Android Wear

Waterproof: Apple Watch vs Android Wear

Both Apple Watch and Android Wear smartwatches are more water-resistant than waterproof. In other words, it's best not to submerge them in the swimming pool.

Apple Watch's IPX7 rating makes it waterproof up to 1 meter (3 feet) under water for 30 minutes, according to Apple. That makes it fit for the shower or a sweat-filled workout.

Android Wear watches range from a scarier IP55 (looking at you, delicate Asus ZenWatch) to IP68 thanks to the Sony Smartwatch 3. It can go 1.5 meters (4.9 feet) down for 30 minutes. That's not much of an improvement.

Once again, Pebble and Pebble Steel lead the way with better waterproof stats. It's so much better that they're on a different scale with a 5 ATM rating and have swimming apps. Pebble Time and Pebble Time Steel should match with at least 3 ATM.

Page 13 of 15
Page 13 of 15
Price: Apple Watch vs Android Wear

Price: Apple Watch vs Android Wear

Sometimes it just comes down to price, and this is where Apple wins big... and buyers lose.

The Apple Watch price starts at $349 (£299, $499), and that's for the aluminum 38mm case Sport Band without sapphire glass.

The tempting all-metal Link Bracelet, the one that has over 100 parts and takes nine hours to make, costs $999 (£859, AU$1,479) for the 42mm version. It goes all the way up to $17,000 (£13,500, AU$24,000) for the gold Apple Watch Edition.

  • All 38 designs: Apple Watch pre-order guide

Android Wear starts out cheaper and remains inexpensive even with premium bands in tow.

Moto 360, for example, costs $250 (£200, AU$330) and a metal band upgrade is $300 (£230, AU$360). That's in total, not in addition to the original price, Apple fans. And it's hard to deny the just-as-premium design of Motorola's newly launched mono link band.

LG G Watch R is the most expensive Android Wear watch with a leather strap at $300 (£220, AU$360), and it still doesn't touch Apple's prices. LG Watch Urbane and Huawei Watch could match the iWatch, but it's unlikely.

Android Wear wins vs Apple Watch when it comes to price, hands and wrists down.

Page 14 of 15
Page 14 of 15
Apple Watch vs Android Wear wrap-up

Apple Watch vs Android Wear wrap-up

Five years from now, Apple Watch and Android Wear watches are going to look as advanced as sun dials. There's room for vast improvement beyond these first versions.

That's good news because neither is good enough yet. Smartwatches are often criticized for being rather useless; there needs to be a stronger reason for people to buy into a wrist-worn smartphone accessory.

  • Price breakdown: how much each Apple Watch costs

Battery life needs to go way up, while prices need to go way down. That's going to be a major challenge, as people demand embedded GPS chips for runs and other power-hungry specs.

Of course, Pebble Time and Pebble Time Steel sequels may just catch up with better specs of its own in that time and give Apple and Google a challenge from a different direction.

  • Dark horse in the watch competition: Apple Watch vs Pebble Time Steel
Page 15 of 15
Page 15 of 15
TOPICS
Apple Watch Apple Google
Matt Swider
Matt Swider
Social Links Navigation
See more News about Smartwatches
Read more
Best smartwatch
The best smartwatch 2025: best wearables and fitness trackers to pair with your phone
Google Pixel Watch 3 on TechRadar background
The best Android smartwatch 2025: Wearables by Google, Samsung and more
OnePlus Watch 3 and Google Pixel Watch 3 on a two-tone green background
OnePlus Watch 3 vs Pixel Watch 3: Time for a new Wear OS king?
Best smartwatch for iPhone
The best smartwatch for iPhone 2025: Apple Watches and the best alternatives
I ran London Marathon with Garmin and Apple Watch
I ran an entire marathon with a Garmin, an Apple Watch and Strava – here are all the differences in time, distance and more
TechRadar background with Apple Watch
The best cheap smartwatch 2025: Great wearable tech that won't cost the earth
Latest in Smartwatches
The Garmin D2 Mach 1
It looks as though Garmin is working on another high-end smartwatch as a Fenix 8 spin-off
Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra on a green background with the text don't miss
Choose your favorite Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra deal: up to $325 off with a trade-in or $150 back in Samsung credit
Apple Watch Ultra 2
Forget Apple Watch Ultra 3 – a model with a camera could be much closer than we thought
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 front
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 leak teases massive design change, and it looks just like an Apple Watch
Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Series 10
Top 6 smartwatches still to launch in 2025
Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra
3 of the most exciting new features coming to your Galaxy Watch with the One UI 8 Watch update
Latest in News
AI Brain
Apple wants to connect thoughts to iPhone control – and there's a very good reason for it
LG Display Zero Bezel Micro LED
No bezel, no problem – two LG Display Micro LEDs can instantly look like one wide-screen display
A shot of David Corenswet's Superman in his 2025 feature film
5 of the biggest streaming announcements from Warner Bros. Discovery Upfront 2025, from HBO Max shows to the new Superman trailer
Nintendo Switch 2
Full Nintendo Switch 2 specs detailed in new report – here's what you need to know
wo human figure including America and China flag are in confrontation on the world background
Chinese energy tech exports found to contain hidden comms and radio devices
The WiiM sound, showing its controls on top, as well as the screen on the front
WiiM's new Hi-Res wireless speaker with cool circular touchscreen looks like a serious competitor to Sonos – with two big catches
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. 1
    Apple wants to connect thoughts to iPhone control – and there's a very good reason for it
  2. 2
    Cheap(er) 15.36TB PCIe Gen 5 SSDs on the way as Adata launches new enterprise brand, but don't expect these to fit your PC case
  3. 3
    Audible’s AI narration sounds impressive, but I'd rather hear the story told by a human
  4. 4
    I sat down with two cooling experts to find out what AI's biggest problem is in the data center
  5. 5
    Chinese CPU vendor swaps AMD Zen architecture for homegrown one to deliver 128-core monster to give EPYC and Xeon a run for their money

TechRadar is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Web notifications
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...