Mario Bautista
You can answer calls, send and receive texts, and give commands to a voice-activated assistant on your phone. But sometimes it’s easier to do those things on your wrist, and that’s where a smartwatch comes in. Though the Apple Watch is the gold standard for smartwatches, it works only with Apple’s iPhones.
If you’re one of the billions of people using an Android phone, you have a lot more smartwatch options, but most of the watches we’ve encountered are too slow, bulky, or lacking in features to be worth buying. We’ve tested dozens of smartwatches for Android phones, including all of the latest models, and the Samsung Galaxy Watch6 is the best option for most Android phone users.
Top pick
The Galaxy Watch6 brings the latest Wear OS software to your wrist, offering speedy performance and ample app support, plus a sleek and comfortable design.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch6 runs the latest version of Google’s Wear OS software and has plenty of watch apps that you can download from the Google Play Store. The software looks and works like that of Samsung’s phones, because Samsung customized it with its One UI skin. The Galaxy Watch6 comes in 40 mm and 44 mm sizes to accommodate most wrists, and the OLED display looks fantastic. The Galaxy Watch6 can automatically detect and log your activity and health metrics, too. The understated design will work with almost any style, and the bands are a snap to change.
Upgrade pick
The Galaxy Watch6 Classic has everything that makes the Galaxy Watch6 great, plus a more durable stainless steel frame and a rotating bezel for faster navigation. However, it’s pricier and heavier.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch6 Classic has almost the same specs and features as the regular Galaxy Watch6, but it’s a bit larger (43 mm and 47 mm) and made from more durable stainless steel instead of aluminum. Samsung also brought back the rotating bezel for this watch after removing the feature in its 2022 smartwatches; this ring around the display makes navigating lists of apps or notifications much faster. However, even though the Galaxy Watch6 Classic is larger and heavier than the Galaxy Watch6, it has the same battery capacity, so you need to charge it daily.
Also great
The Pixel Watch 2 runs on the latest wearable processor, and the compact, elegant design makes it one of the most comfortable smartwatches we’ve tested.
Google’s $350 Pixel Watch 2 is stylish and comfortable, with a curvy aluminum design and a small yet vibrant display. Google’s version of Wear OS makes this an excellent smartwatch to pair with Pixel phones, though it works just as well with non-Pixels. But it comes in just one size, and because of the proprietary band connector, it’s tough to find compatible smartwatch straps. And if anything happens to the domed glass watch face, it’s hard to get repaired.
Also great
Most smartwatches need charging every night, but the TicWatch Pro 5 can last several days longer even with heavy use, and it offers impressive performance thanks to the latest wearable processor.
The Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 has a compact and comfortable design, as well as a unique display technology that lets you use it for the better part of a week before recharging. Activating the watch’s Essential Mode can even help it run for weeks. However, the TicWatch Pro 5 uses an older version of Wear OS, its phone app is clunky, and Amazon Alexa is your only voice-assistant option.
