{"id":46864,"date":"2025-09-27T13:51:18","date_gmt":"2025-09-27T13:51:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/46864\/"},"modified":"2025-09-27T13:51:18","modified_gmt":"2025-09-27T13:51:18","slug":"the-8-best-smartwatches-for-android-in-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/46864\/","title":{"rendered":"The 8 best smartwatches for Android in 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

Editor\u2019s note: Amazon\u2019s fall Prime Day event<\/a> kicks off on October 7th; however, if you want to shop ahead of the two-day sale, we\u2019ve rounded up the best early Prime Day deals<\/a> you can already get.<\/p>\n

After a long stretch of slim pickings, the last couple of years have been huge for Android smartwatches. Now there are more good options than ever \u2014 with more on the way soon.<\/p>\n

Much like Android phones, this market is fragmented. Wear OS 5<\/a> is still what most watches are running, including older Samsung Galaxy Watches, Google\u2019s Pixel Watch 3<\/a>, and the OnePlus Watch 3<\/a>. However, Wear OS 6<\/a> will come to several smartwatches later this year, although some models will likely be left behind. The Galaxy Watch 8, which was released on July 25th, shipped with One UI 8 Watch (Samsung\u2019s version of Wear OS 6). The $349.99<\/a> Pixel Watch 4 will launch on October 9th with Wear OS 6 installed, so stay tuned for our upcoming review.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s true that it is more complicated to shop for an Android smartwatch compared to, say, an Apple Watch; Certain models play nicer when paired to certain smartphones versus others, which is something we wish wasn\u2019t the case. But, the upside of having more options is that there\u2019s more diversity in terms of style, features, and price.<\/p>\n

\"Close<\/a>\"Close<\/a><\/p>\n

$243<\/p>\n

The Pixel Watch 3 has a bright screen and access to Google Gemini. It\u2019s slated to receive an update to Wear OS 6 later this year.<\/p>\n

Read More\"Wide<\/a>\"Wide<\/a><\/p>\n

$280<\/p>\n

Samsung\u2019s latest smartwatch features a new squircle design, Gemini, and some new health features like an Antioxidant Index and Running Coach.<\/p>\n

Read MoreWhat we\u2019re looking forHow we test smartwatches<\/p>\n

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Smartwatches are meant to help you keep track of your notifications, as well as your health and activity. We do a mix of benchmark testing and experiential, real-life testing. That means snoozing with them, taking them out on GPS activities like runs and hikes, working up a sweat in several workouts, and comparing how they do against long-term control devices for heart rate, sleep, and GPS accuracy. It also means evaluating how easy they are to pair, how annoying are notifications, and in the case of Android watches, checking to see if features are universally available across different phone makers (i.e., do all the Galaxy Watch features work if you have a Pixel phone?) Some factors we consider in our rankings are durability, performance, accuracy versus consistency in metrics, and of course, battery life.<\/p>\n

Processor<\/p>\n

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Android smartwatches have long been foiled by outdated processors. Is the chip under the hood powerful enough to run Wear OS or the platform\u2019s own proprietary operating system smoothly?<\/p>\n

Ecosystem<\/p>\n

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Does a watch work better within one company\u2019s product ecosystem versus another? Will you have to buy a new watch if you switch phones?<\/p>\n

Smart features<\/p>\n

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These days, most wearables are capable fitness trackers. However, they\u2019re not all capable of controlling your smart home, contactless payments, or interacting with digital assistants.<\/p>\n

Support<\/p>\n

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Is this device likely to last you a while, or will you need to upgrade sooner than you\u2019d like? How communicative is the OEM about forthcoming changes?<\/p>\n

Battery life<\/p>\n

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Can you get through the day without reaching for a charger? If not, does it support quick charging?<\/p>\n

If you\u2019d rather wait until Wear OS settles down a bit, there are platform-agnostic smartwatches and fitness watches you can buy in the meantime. Otherwise, you\u2019ll want to be aware of the Wear OS version powering your watch. Mobvoi, for instance, has generally been a step behind Google and Samsung in rolling out the latest version of Wear OS. You should also take note of whether the watch you want is using the latest processor, or a last-gen model.<\/p>\n

So long as you keep the aforementioned caveats in mind, Android users have more smartwatch options than ever before. I\u2019ve rounded up my top picks, but if none of these is the right fit, you can always check out our fitness tracker buying guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Best smartwatch for Samsung phones<\/p>\n

\"Wide<\/a>\"Wide<\/a><\/p>\n

$280<\/p>\n

Samsung\u2019s latest smartwatch features a new squircle design, Gemini, and some new health features like an Antioxidant Index and Running Coach.<\/p>\n

Read More<\/p>\n

Sizes: 40mm, 44mm \/ Weight: 30g, 34g \/ Battery life: Up to 30 hours with AOD \/ Display type: Always-on OLED \/ GPS: Built-in GPS \/ Connectivity: LTE (optional), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi \/ Water resistance: Up to 50 meters, IP68 \/ Music storage: 32GB<\/p>\n

If you have a Samsung phone, you\u2019ll get the most mileage out of a Samsung smartwatch. And of the four watches Samsung has in its current lineup, I recommend the Galaxy Watch 8, especially if you\u2019re upgrading from a Galaxy Watch 5 or earlier. Its new squircle shape may seem like an unnecessary change, but it allowed Samsung to slim down the watch\u2019s frame and it felt more comfortable on my wrist. I was apprehensive at first, but quickly got used to it.<\/p>\n

Internally, the Galaxy Watch 8 isn\u2019t a huge departure from its predecessor. It has the same processor and 3-in-1 Biometric Sensor as the Galaxy Watch 7 and Galaxy Watch Ultra. Its battery is marginally larger, but the watch still lasted the same amount of time during our testing (a little over a day). Similarly, its screen has a maximum brightness of 3,000 nits as opposed to 2,000, but I couldn\u2019t tell the difference even in direct sunlight.<\/p>\n

A new wellness feature within the Galaxy Watch 8 called the Antioxidant Index uses blue, yellow, and infrared LEDs within a sensor to measure the carotenoid levels of your skin. Carotenoids are a type of antioxidant that impacts the color of fruit. To take a reading, you press your thumb up against the sensor for about 10 seconds. However, in my tests the sensor could be fooled<\/a> by pressing any colorful object against it, including a piece of broccoli, finger colored by a marker, and a Cheeze-It.<\/p>\n

Another new feature called Vascular Load measures how stressed your vascular system is by taking measurements while you sleep and exercise. It works, but Samsung is vague about what to do with this information. I did like the Galaxy Watch 8\u2019s Running Coach feature, which creates a workout program based on how well you perform during a 12 minute test run. It gave me a fair assessment, and I found the workouts it suggested to be well-structured.<\/p>\n

The Galaxy Watch 8 ships with One UI 8 Watch, Samsung\u2019s fork of Wear OS 6. One of the operating system update\u2019s most significant new features is making Google Gemini accessible on your wrist. In my tests, which included asking the watch to create a 30-minute Kpop playlist and sending a message on Slack were a mixed bag.<\/p>\n

Read my full Galaxy Watch 8 review<\/a>.\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales \/ The Verge<\/p>\n

For more outdoorsy folks, the $649.99 Galaxy Watch Ultra<\/a> might be the more sensible choice. Of all Samsung\u2019s watches, it has the best battery life, lasting around three days in our testing. (Though, we never got the full 100-hour estimated battery life.) It\u2019s got dual-frequency GPS, a new multisport activity, an emergency siren, increased durability, 10ATM of water resistance, and a Quick Button, which acts as a customizable shortcut button. It\u2019s basically an Apple Watch Ultra for Android.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

$650<\/p>\n

The GoodLonger battery life than the regular Galaxy WatchDouble pinch is usefulAdds dual-frequency GPS and sleep apnea detectionCheaper than the Apple Watch UltraThe BadWhere is Samsung in this? The squircle chonk doesn\u2019t fit small wristsSleep apnea feature is limited to Galaxy phonesAGEs metric is baffling<\/p>\n

The Samsung Health app also delivers a good overall fitness tracking experience, especially since you can enable turn-by-turn navigation for hiking and cycling activities. We weren\u2019t too impressed with nightly SpO2 readings, but Samsung\u2019s overall sleep tracking continues to improve. You also get built-in GPS, body composition analysis, irregular heart rate notifications, fall detection, emergency SOS features, and EKGs. Most recently, Samsung added a new Energy score, AI-powered wellness insights, FDA-cleared sleep apnea detection, and a confusing AGEs Index metric for metabolic health. While the Energy score is broadly accurate, I found the AI-generated features to be hit or miss and the AGEs Index to be more gimmicky than useful. The latter feature is also limited to the Galaxy Watch 7, Galaxy Watch 8, and Ultra.<\/p>\n

We don\u2019t necessarily recommend the Galaxy Watches if you don\u2019t have a Samsung phone. EKGs and sleep apnea detection require the Samsung Health Monitor app, which is limited to Samsung phones. You can work around it, but all Samsung watches work best with other Samsung devices.<\/p>\n

Best Android smartwatch for non-Samsung users<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

$243<\/p>\n

The GoodWe finally get a bigger size!Moderate battery improvementsLots of neat Google integrationsGood running updatesReadiness and Cardio Load scores not locked behind paywallThe BadIt\u2019s best with a Pixel phone<\/p>\n

Sizes: 41mm, 45mm \/ Weight: 31g for 41mm, 37g for 45mm \/ Battery life: Roughly 24 hours with AOD enabled \/ Display type: Always-on OLED \/ GPS: Built-in GPS \/ Connectivity: LTE (optional), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Safety Signal with Fitbit Premium \/ Water resistance: 5ATM \/ Music storage: 32GB<\/p>\n

The $349.99 Google Pixel Watch 3<\/a> is done playing catch-up. It\u2019s an annoying truth that if you have a Samsung phone, a Samsung smartwatch is probably the best choice for you. However, for everyone else, I highly recommend the Pixel Watch 3.<\/p>\n

There are several updates to the Pixel Watch 3, but the gist is that it\u2019s a more refined watch than its predecessor. One major update is that there are now two sizes: 41mm and 45mm. You get extra screen real estate on the larger watch, but the bezels are also smaller on the 41mm model. (If you\u2019re trying to pick between sizes, I prefer the 45mm.) The displays are brighter as well, ranging from a minimum of 1 nit to a maximum of 2,000 nits.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a><\/p>\n

The 45mm model also wears small. The difference between the two sizes isn\u2019t massive as far as wearability. Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales \/ The Verge<\/p>\n

Health and fitness also get several updates, especially for runners. There\u2019s a Cardio Load metric that gauges the cardiovascular intensity of the exercises you\u2019ve been doing over a set period of time. It\u2019s similar to Garmin\u2019s Training Load metric. You\u2019re also given a Cardio Load target based on your fitness goals, readiness, and current activity. Runners also get a dashboard full of form analysis metrics as well as the ability to program custom workouts. In addition, you can get AI-generated suggested workouts. And if you\u2019re in Europe or the US, the Pixel Watch 3 can detect if you no <\/a>longer have a pulse<\/a> and call emergency services.<\/p>\n

The Pixel Watch 3 also adds a bunch of nifty Google integrations. It\u2019s excellent if you have a Google-powered smart home because you can now directly view and interact with your Nest Doorbell or camera feeds. You can also use the watch as a remote for your Google TV, and there are Google Home Tile \/ complications that make controlling your home from your wrist a breeze. There\u2019s also offline Google Maps, the ability to unlock your Pixel phone hands-free, and a Call Assist feature that lets a caller know you need an extra minute to pick up your phone.<\/p>\n

A software update<\/a> in June brought precise Bluetooth tracking to the device, so you can find it with \u201ccentimeter-level accuracy\u201d with a device that supports Bluetooth 6.0. Google has committed to providing the Pixel Watch 3 with at least three years<\/a> of software updates, the next of which includes Wear OS 6 later this year. Google already rolled out Gemini in a software update<\/a> over the summer, and my colleague Allison Johnson had a so-so experience<\/a> testing it out. Gemini on the wrist worked best when she asked low stakes questions, like asking where to get coffee, or whether you need to scrub a sweet potato before peeling it. It could add items to a calendar, but wasn\u2019t able to find upcoming events. It shines when you take the time to experiment, which is something that not everyone wants to do.<\/p>\n

That said, while the Pixel Watch was initially framed as a watch for any Android phone, several updates this time around mean you\u2019ll get the best experience with a Pixel phone. But compared to Samsung, there isn\u2019t quite as much lock-in. Health features, for example, are available to everyone so long as you have a Fitbit account. Extra good news: Google removed certain metrics, like the Daily Readiness Score, from the Fitbit Premium paywall. Mostly, the features locked to Pixel phones are the Recorder app and things like the ability to unlock your phone with the watch.<\/p>\n

One thing to be mindful of is durability. Google doesn\u2019t offer any repair options, but you can get the Preferred Care extended warranty if you want to be prepared should something happen. It\u2019s not ideal since it\u2019s limited to the US and Canada, but it\u2019s a step in the right direction.<\/p>\n

For those who are thinking about what\u2019s coming next, Google\u2019s Pixel Watch 4 will arrive on October 9th. It starts at $349.99, and is available for preorder now<\/a>. The Pixel Watch 4 will come in two sizes: 41mm and 45mm, both of which have brighter screens that have domed glass and thinner bezels. Google boasts that it should have a longer-lasting battery and faster charging, and that the Pixel Watch 4\u2019s more powerful processor enables additional on-device smart replies. Notably, Google made repairability a focus with the Pixel Watch 4 by designing it with a replaceable battery and screen, which can be repaired instead of having to discard the device.<\/p>\n

Another hardware improvement is a subscription-free Satellite SOS mode, which allows LTE versions of the watch to connect emergency services even if you\u2019re in a remote area without your phone or service. Read our hands on<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Read my full Google Pixel Watch 3 review<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Best alternative to Google and Samsung smartwatches<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

$227<\/p>\n

The GoodPraise be, the watch worksLong battery lifeLaunches with Google AssistantCompetitively pricedThe BadNo LTE optionAndroid onlyMissing EKGs, fall detectionOnly one size<\/p>\n

Sizes: 47mm with 22mm straps \/ Weight: 49g case, 80g with strap \/ Battery life: Up to 100 hours in smart mode, 48 with AOD on, and 12 days in power-saving mode \/ Display type: OLED touchscreen \/ GPS: Dual-frequency GPS, Beidou, GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, QZSS \/ Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi \/ Water resistance: 5ATM \/ Music storage: 32GB<\/p>\n

The $299.99 OnePlus Watch 2 is what a glow-up looks like. While the original OnePlus Watch<\/a> was horrible, this watch helps fill the void that Fossil left when it said it was pulling out of Android smartwatches<\/a> \u2014 namely, a viable alternative to Google and Samsung.<\/p>\n

The 47mm case is big for petite wrists, and unfortunately, it only comes in one size, but it\u2019s made of durable stainless steel and sapphire crystal. Plus, it houses a 500mAh battery. That, plus a dual-chip architecture and novel dual OS system<\/a>, results in super long battery life. How long a smartwatch lasts will, of course, depend on your individual usage, but I got nearly four days with normal use. That\u2019s incredible for a flagship. On the fitness side of things, OnePlus added dual-frequency GPS. That\u2019s a plus if you\u2019re outdoorsy and frequent challenging GPS environments like dense forests or crowded cities.<\/p>\n

\"Close-up<\/a><\/p>\n

The OnePlus Watch 2 has stupendous battery life. Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales \/ The Verge<\/p>\n

The main things you\u2019re giving up in the Watch 2 are LTE connectivity and some features like EKGs, atrial fibrillation detection, native period tracking, and fall detection. The lack of cellular is a bummer, as it means you really should keep your phone on you when you\u2019re out and about. Still, the $300 price tag is a competitive one and may be worth the trade-off given battery life.<\/p>\n

Something to note: it still runs Wear OS 4, which was originally released in 2023. OnePlus spokesperson Tyler Mallery confirmed to The Verge that a Wear OS 5 update<\/a> is still on track to come in the \u201cnear future,\u201d although the company declined to share a more detailed answer. You\u2019ll find this software in OnePlus\u2019 newer Watch 3 right now.<\/p>\n

The OnePlus Watch 3 ($299.99) is now available from OnePlus<\/a> and at Amazon<\/a> (and you might find a discount that brings it pretty close to the price of the older Watch 2). It features a rotating crown that actually scrolls, improved battery life, Wear OS 5, a better GPS antenna, and a bunch of new health features. If you want to learn more, here\u2019s my hands-on<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Read my full OnePlus Watch 2 review<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Best fitness smartwatch for Android<\/p>\n

\"Close-up<\/a>\"Close-up<\/a><\/p>\n

$110<\/p>\n

The GoodTruly multiday battery lifeW5 Plus chip helps to futureproofGood health tracking updatesThe ULP display has an ingenious way of displaying heart rate zonesDigital crown!The BadWhy so many apps??W5 Plus doesn\u2019t get you a huge performance bumpNo digital assistant<\/p>\n

Sizes: 50mm with 24mm straps \/ Weight: 44.3g \/ Battery life: Up to 80 hours \/ Display type: OLED touchscreen and secondary ultra-low power display \/ GPS: GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, Beidou \/ Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi \/ Water resistance: 5ATM \/ Music storage: 32GB<\/p>\n

Mobvoi\u2019s TicWatch lineup has its devoted fans for a reason: super long battery life. The $349.99 TicWatch Pro 5 is no exception. It\u2019s got an estimated 80 hours of battery life with standard use, a secondary ultra-low power display, and a massive (for a smartwatch you wear on your wrist, at least) 628mAh battery. I didn\u2019t quite get 80 hours in my testing, but I did get a solid 48-60 hours with heavy GPS use. That outclasses most of the watches in this category (except the OnePlus Watch 2) and is useful for backpackers and endurance athletes. It might not hold a candle to a top-of-the-line Garmin<\/a>, but it\u2019s also a smarter watch for a fraction of the price.<\/p>\n

Battery life aside, the Pro 5 is a good option for fitness-focused people who aren\u2019t keen on giving up smart capabilities for a Garmin or Polar. It\u2019s also more durable. This time around, Mobvoi has also added a digital crown so you don\u2019t have to worry about scrolling through menus with sweaty fingers. The flatter side button also reduces the risk of accidental presses.<\/p>\n

\"Close<\/a><\/p>\n

The ULP display helps to extend battery life. Photo by Amelias Holowaty Krales \/ The Verge<\/p>\n

The Pro 5 also has an ingenious method of displaying heart rate. When you lift up your arm, the backlight changes color depending on which heart rate zone you\u2019re in. That means you can instantly gauge whether to up the intensity or slow your roll. The Pro 5 also adds training metrics, like VO2 Max and recovery time.<\/p>\n

The TicWatch supports stress tracking, all-day blood oxygen monitoring, fatigue assessments, as well as atrial fibrillation and irregular heartbeat detection. For outdoorsy types, it also has access to multiple GNSS systems, and there\u2019s a barometer and compass app, as well as a one-tap measurement app that gives you a quick look at five metrics (heart rate, blood oxygen, stress, respiratory rate, and overall heart health).<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also pretty capable on the productivity front. You get contactless payments, access to the Play Store, notifications, and the ability to take calls. It runs on W5 Plus chip, which is a more powerful version of the chip inside the Google Pixel 3 and OnePlus Watch 2. This is a plus in terms of hardware futureproofing. However, it\u2019s lagging behind in terms of software. The watch received an update to Wear OS 4<\/a> over a year after its release, although it\u2019s unclear if it will support Wear OS 5, much less Wear OS 6. The Verge reached out for a comment on an update roadmap, but Mobvoi didn\u2019t respond in time for publishing. Two other major concerns are the 50mm case that may not suit smaller wrists and the lack of a digital assistant.<\/p>\n

The Pro 5 has also seen a steady price drop since the start of the year, and it\u2019s regularly available for under $150.<\/p>\n

Read my full Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 review<\/a>.\"Close<\/a>\"Close<\/a><\/p>\n

$250<\/p>\n

The GoodLong battery lifeAlso gets you lots of complimentsComfortable to wearGreat priceAdds period trackingThe BadHas fewer sensors than the ScanWatch 2Again, the OLED display is tiny<\/p>\n

Sizes: 37mm with 18mm straps \/ Weight: 45g \/ Battery life: Up to 39 days \/ Display type: OLED display \/ GPS: Tethered GPS \/ Connectivity: Bluetooth \/ Water resistance: 5ATM \/ Music storage: N\/A<\/p>\n

Hybrid smartwatches are an excellent way to keep things simple and subtle. The $249.95 Withings ScanWatch Light gets you the basics like push notifications, timers, and alarms. On the health front, you can track steps, sleep, menstrual cycles, and GPS workouts. (That said, GPS is tethered from your phone, not built in.) The design reminds me of a classier Swatch, particularly if you get the more colorful options in a minty green or pale blue. But the big reason the Light has dethroned our previous pick, the Garmin Vivomove Sport<\/a>, is its extra-long battery life. Withings estimates it lasts up to 30 days on a single charge, and I got pretty close to that in testing with 25 days. Despite the Vivomove\u2019s more appealing $180 price tag, it only lasts about five days.<\/p>\n

\"Overhead<\/a><\/p>\n

The ScanWatch 2 (left) is a fancier version of the Light and has a few more health features. Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales \/ The Verge<\/p>\n

If you want a bit more out of a hybrid, you can also opt for the ScanWatch 2<\/a>. It\u2019s an extra $120, but you get EKGs and atrial fibrillation detection, temperature sensors, SpO2 readings, and an altimeter for measuring elevation. It also looks a bit more elegant on the wrist, partly because of a secondary dial that tracks your daily step progress.<\/p>\n

If neither matches your style, the Vivomove Sport is still a good option that gets you access to Garmin\u2019s in-depth platform. Its Vivomove Trend<\/a> is a slightly more upscale option that also supports Qi charging.<\/p>\n

Read my full Withings ScanWatch Light review<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Best platform-agnostic fitness smartwatch<\/p>\n

\"Person<\/a>\"Person<\/a><\/p>\n

$399<\/p>\n

The GoodGood battery lifeBetter sleep tracking and nap detectionEKG and AFib featuresCan take calls and use your phone\u2019s voice assistantAudio meditation sessions done wellThe BadPricey compared to other lifestyle smartwatchesLimited third-party app ecosystemNo LTE capability<\/p>\n

Sizes: 41mm with 18mm straps; 45mm with 22mm straps \/ Weight: 40g for the 3S; 47g for the 3 \/ Battery life: Up to 10 days for 3S; 14 days for 3 \/ Display type: OLED touchscreen \/ GPS: GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO \/ Connectivity: Bluetooth, Ant Plus, Wi-Fi \/ Water resistance: 5ATM \/ Music storage: 8GB<\/p>\n

Garmin is best known for making rugged GPS watches that have excellent fitness features but aren\u2019t so smart otherwise. But the $449.99 Venu 3 caters to people who want top-notch fitness tracking<\/a> without sacrificing productivity features.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s got a colorful and vibrant always-on OLED display and comes in two sizes: 41mm and 45mm. Like its predecessor, the Venu 2 Plus, it also has a microphone and speaker so you can take and make calls directly from the wrist. It also has a clever workaround for digital assistants \u2014 it uses Bluetooth to work with whatever assistant is already on your phone. You\u2019d think more fitness trackers would do this, but they don\u2019t. It worked well in testing, though digital assistants aren\u2019t always the smartest at understanding commands.<\/p>\n

\"Person<\/a><\/p>\n

The Venu 3 series is a little pricey, but it\u2019s the smartest watch Garmin\u2019s got to offer. Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales \/ The Verge<\/p>\n

The Venu 3 doesn\u2019t have the best third-party app ecosystem, but it has Spotify, Deezer, and Amazon Music for offline playback. Android users can also send quick responses for texts, and the watch works with either iOS or Android for folks who want to keep their options open. It also has fall detection, live tracking, and contactless payments.<\/p>\n

As for health features, it has Garmin\u2019s latest heart rate sensor, which enables its FDA-cleared EKG app to detect atrial fibrillation. Otherwise, you get built-in GPS, continuous heart rate monitoring, all of the advanced coaching features in the Garmin Connect app, and Garmin\u2019s famous in-depth health data. The Venu 3 also improves sleep tracking with nap detection and adds audio-guided meditation sessions. There\u2019s also a new wheelchair mode.<\/p>\n

This isn\u2019t the most hardcore Garmin that money can buy, but it\u2019s definitely one of the smartest. The price is a bit high compared to most smartwatches, but by Garmin standards, it\u2019s middle-of-the-pack. If you need a bigger screen, Garmin just released the Venu X1, a GPS smartwatch with a 51mm display. Garmin says it can last up to eight days per charge, and Pulse Ox sensor, but cannot take an EKG. The Venu X1 is available for $799.99 at Amazon<\/a> and Best Buy<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Read my full Garmin Venu 3S review<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Best budget Android smartwatch<\/p>\n

\"Angled<\/a>\"Angled<\/a><\/p>\n

$90<\/p>\n

The GoodStacked feature set for the priceLooks spiffyGood battery lifeThe BadTouchscreen and voice commands are finickyCan\u2019t edit workoutsAI chatbots are meh<\/p>\n

Size: 43mm w\/ 20mm straps \/ Weight: 29.5g for standard, 31.7g for premium \/ Battery life: Up to 10 days \/ Display type: OLED touchscreen \/ GPS: Five GNSS systems \/ Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi \/ Water resistance: 5ATM \/ Music storage: N\/A<\/p>\n

Amazfit\u2019s made a name for itself making budget wearables that punch far above their weight. The $99.99 Amazfit Active 2 is no exception.<\/p>\n

The Active 2 is a surprisingly spiffy watch considering its price. The standard version has a stainless steel case with tempered glass, and if you shell out $50 extra, you can get the premium model with sapphire crystal and an extra leather strap at Amazon<\/a> and Amazfit<\/a>. Normally, I don\u2019t get compliments while wearing budget smartwatches, but I got several while wearing this one.<\/p>\n

While it doesn\u2019t run Wear OS, its proprietary Zepp OS makes for a platform-agnostic smartwatch. Feature-wise, you get all the basics and then some. That includes things like continuous heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen rate, heart rate variability, stress tracking, alerts for abnormally high and low heart rate, and skin temperature tracking. You also get offline maps with turn-by-turn navigation, 160 different sport activity profiles, and a strength training activity that automatically tracks reps. The Active 2 doesn\u2019t have dual-frequency GPS, but it has the next best thing: access to all five of the major GNSS satellite systems. As far as health tracking goes, it also emphasizes trendy metrics like a readiness score and has a revamped sleep tracking algorithm. Battery life is estimated at about 10 days, though as a heavy user, I got around eight to nine in my testing.<\/p>\n

\"Close<\/a><\/p>\n

This watch got me several compliments, which I don\u2019t usually expect at this price point. Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales \/ The Verge<\/p>\n

Something that sets the Active 2 apart at this price range is access to an AI assistant on wrist and AI chatbots within the Zepp app. The Zepp Flow assistant (on wrist) is a little finicky, but you can use it to control your watch\u2019s on-device settings and basic queries like asking for the weather. The Zepp Aura AI bot costs an extra $77 yearly, and you can ask it to deliver insights into your readiness and sleep scores. I found it hit or miss, but at least it\u2019s well-integrated into the app, snappy, and most importantly, optional. More useful is the Zepp Coach, which you can use to generate custom training plans.<\/p>\n

All in all, I don\u2019t have much to gripe about this watch, which is wild given how affordable it is. It certainly delivers an outsized bang for your buck. Just make sure you wipe off any sweaty fingers, since its touchscreen doesn\u2019t handle them well.<\/p>\n

Read my full Amazfit Active 2 review<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Update, September 26th: Adjusted pricing\/availability and reflect recent happenings in the space, particularly the Google Pixel Watch 4\u2019s announcement and a comment on Wear OS 5 coming to the OnePlus Watch 2. Brandt Ranj also contributed to this post.<\/p>\n

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Senior Reviewer, Wearable Tech<\/p>\n

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See All Wearable<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Editor\u2019s note: Amazon\u2019s fall Prime Day event kicks off on October 7th; however, if you want to shop…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":46865,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[2723,14276,203,1711,61,60,1535,216,80,2934],"class_list":{"0":"post-46864","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-gadgets","8":"tag-android","9":"tag-buying-guides","10":"tag-gadgets","11":"tag-google","12":"tag-ie","13":"tag-ireland","14":"tag-smartwatch","15":"tag-tech","16":"tag-technology","17":"tag-wearable"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46864","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=46864"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46864\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/46865"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=46864"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=46864"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=46864"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}