The Apple Watch is one of the most popular smartwatches on the market, and it’s not hard to see why. It’s got a gorgeous design, works seamlessly with iOS devices, and can do just about everything you could want from a smartwatch—including tracking your health data, sending messages, and even making phone calls.
But what if you don’t have an iPhone? Or what if you’re looking for something more than just an Apple Watch? We’ve put together a list of some of our favorite smartwatches that let you use your existing smartphone to send texts, make calls, check notifications, track your fitness goals and more.
[Best apps for smartwatch]
Best Apps For Smartwatch
Wear, formerly Android Wear, is Google’s smartwatch platform that powers watches from dozens of manufacturers. Some smartwatch manufacturers include great functionality right out of the box with their default apps, but you can turn a budget-priced, bare-bones smartwatch into a powerhouse with the right smartwatch apps.
Finding the Best Smartwatch Apps for Android
Google’s pared-down version of Google Play is available right on your wrist, which makes it easy to discover new smartwatch apps for your Wear device. In the Wear version of Google Play, you’ll find a list of popular apps, a few handy categories, and even a list of apps on your phone that have smartwatch versions available.
Since it can be tough to sift through the thousands of smartwatch app options on such a tiny screen, we assembled the 15 best Wear apps to help increase your productivity, access important information, and stay entertained when you’re away from your phone.
The apps in this list are available for free from Google Play. Some of them have a premium version that you can buy, and others have optional in-app purchases. Still, you can use the basic version of each app without paying anything.
01
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ParKing
Wear OS ParKing app displayed on a watch.
Lifewire
What We Like
Can automatically determine where you park, or you can tell it which location to remember.
Options to help you remember where you parked in underground and indoor parking structures.
What We Don’t Like
The interface doesn’t work right on some devices, making it difficult to access the Find My Car button.
Automatic parking feature requires a Bluetooth device, such as a Bluetooth car stereo, in your car.
ParKing is a handy app that takes the hassle out of remembering where you parked your car. When you launch the app on your smartwatch, all you do is tap the little car icon to log where you parked. When it comes time to find your car, you’ll be able to zoom in on a Google Maps view of its exact location.
Download ParKing
02
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Google Keep
The Google Keep app displayed on a Wear OS watch.
Lifewire
What We Like
Simple way to create and access notes and reminders.
Create notes and reminders on your watch and access them later from your other devices.
Can connect with Android and iOS devices.
What We Don’t Like
Syncing issues can prevent you from seeing or accessing your notes.
Lacks an option to open notes on your phone from the watch interface.
Google Keep, which shows up on your Wear smartwatch as Keep Notes, is a lightweight note-taking app that’s available on a variety of devices and via a web interface.
The version of Google Keep for your smartwatch lets you access your notes on the go and jot down notes wherever you are. Notes created on your watch are synced to the cloud, so you can access them from your other devices later.
Download Google Keep
03
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AccuWeather
AccuWeather app displayed on a Wear OS smartwatch.
Lifewire
What We Like
Accurate forecasts are displayed in a minimalist fashion suited to small displays.
Includes an option to launch the companion app on your phone for detailed forecast information.
What We Don’t Like
Weather information at both the top and bottom of the screen makes scrolling through hourly and daily forecasts touchy.
No support for switching between multiple locations.
The AccuWeather app brings the same forecasts you can access on the web or your phone to your Wear smartwatch. You don’t get the MinuteCast information, radar, or other bells and whistles because the information is pared down for the limited screen size on smartwatches. What you do get is a weather app that’s easy to read at a glance.
Download AccuWeather
04
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Wear Casts
Wear Cast Wear OS displayed on a smartwatch.
Lifewire
What We Like
Download podcasts to your smartwatch. Go for a run and leave your phone at home.
Options to automatically or manually download new podcast episodes.
Podcast discovery feature if you’re looking for something new.
What We Don’t Like
Requires a phone to import podcasts, so it isn’t completely independent of your phone.
Requires Android 7.0 or newer on your phone. It doesn’t work with some older phones.
Wear Casts is a standalone Wear app, meaning it works independently from your phone (except for getting podcasts to the watch). You can use Wear Casts to download podcasts to your watch, pair Bluetooth earbuds, and listen to podcasts whenever you want, even if your phone isn’t within Bluetooth range.
Since Wear Casts doesn’t require a constant Bluetooth connection to your phone, it’s easier on your batteries than other apps.
Download Wear Casts
05
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Listens for Alexa
Listen for Alexa WearOS app displayed on an Android smartwatch.
Lifewire
What We Like
Use your smartwatch to do almost anything your Alexa is capable of doing.
Great for extending Alexa functionality into rooms where you don’t have an Alexa, but you have smart devices.
What We Don’t Like
Not compatible with all skills and lacks some functionality of an official Alexa device or app.
Amazon has an official Alexa app for Android phones, but it isn’t compatible with Wear. That’s where the third-party app Listens for Alexa comes in. This app brings Alexa to your wrist, and it includes most of the functionality of an actual Alexa device.
You can even use this app to control any smart home devices that you usually control with your Echo.
Download Listens for Alexa
06
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Bring!
Bring smartwatch app displayed on Wear OS
Lifewire
What We Like
Easy to generate shopping lists on your watch.
Store loyalty card details, so you don’t need an app for that.
Option to share your shopping lists with family members.
What We Don’t Like
No option to add items via a bar code reader.
Searchable library of items only includes generic descriptions, not specific brands or products.
Bring! is a shopping list app that lets you create, edit, and share lists right from your smartwatch. It includes a library of items with easy-to-understand icons, and you can add items to the list using your smartwatch’s voice transcription functionality.
Download Bring!
07
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Citymapper
Citymapper smartwatch app displayed on Wear OS.
Lifewire
What We Like
Offers detailed trip timing for public transit options, walking, and bicycling.
Supports routes that mix transportation types, like a cab ride to a subway station.
Provides Uber details, so you can go that route if it would save time or money.
What We Don’t Like
Very limited availability. It only works in about 30 cities worldwide.
Departure times aren’t always accurate, so make sure to double-check.
Citymapper is a must-have if you use public transit in one of the cities it covers or you’re planning to visit a supported city. It brings a ton of information about bus, train, subway, ferry, and taxi data right to your wrist.
The downside is that it’s only available in a limited number of cities, and it’s useless if you don’t live in any of them and don’t plan on visiting.
Download Citymapper
08
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Sleep as Android
Sleep as Android sleep tracking app displayed on a Wear OS smartwatch.
Lifewire
What We Like
Has a ton of options, including a lucid dreaming mode.
Integration with the Sleep as Android phone app allows your watch to track minor movements and disturbances as you sleep.
The only game in town for real sleep tracking on Wear.
What We Don’t Like
It doesn’t work at all without the Sleep as Android app on your phone.
Setup is confusing, as you can’t download it to your watch directly from Google Play.
One major function that Wear smartwatches lack when compared to dedicated fitness devices like Fitbit is sleep tracking. There’s also a lack of sleep tracking apps on Google Play that work with Wear but Sleep as Android fits the bill nicely.
Sleep as Android includes a ton of features, some of which aren’t available from dedicated fitness devices. For example, the lucid dreaming mode can determine when you enter rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, and it provides an auditory cue to help you realize you’re asleep without fully waking up.
The only downside to Sleep as Android is that the smartwatch app doesn’t work independently from your phone. So you have to make sure your phone is charged up, paired to your watch, and nearby when you go to sleep.
Use the Apps on Your Phone section in the Google Play store on your watch to download this.
Download Sleep as Android
09
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Google Authenticator
Wear OS Authenticator app displayed on a watch.
Lifewire
What We Like
It’s your Google Authenticator, but on your watch.
What We Don’t Like
It doesn’t work without your phone.
If you use the Google Authenticator app on your phone, this app is a great accessory to add to your arsenal. It provides easy access to your authenticators via a swiping motion, and the numbers are large enough that they’re easy to read even on small smartwatch screens.
The only downside is that it relies on your phone to work, so it can’t act as a backup for the authenticator on your phone.
Download Google Authenticator
10
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Calculator
Calculator Wear OS app displayed on a smartwatch.
Lifewire
What We Like
Loads and works quickly.
Places the operations buttons in a sliding drawer on the side so that the number buttons can be as large as possible.
What We Don’t Like
No scientific calculator function, so you need to look at premium apps if you want that or graphing functions.
If you’re a whiz at mental math, having a calculator on your wrist might not have that much appeal. For the rest of us, Google’s basic calculator app is an awesome answer to the clunky calculator watches of the 1980s, and it takes the headache out of calculating tips.
Download Calculator
11
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Mr. Time
Mr. Time watch face designing app displayed on a Wear OS smartwatch.
Lifewire
What We Like
Access to a ton of free watch face designs.
New designs are added regularly.
If you don’t see anything you like, create a watch face.
What We Don’t Like
Bluetooth errors can prevent you from downloading new watch faces.
It feels sluggish on some devices.
Many free and paid apps provide access to new watch faces, but Mr. Time is at the top of the heap. It includes free watch faces, premium watch faces you can buy, and you can design your own.
Download Mr. Time
12
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Hole19
Hole 19 golf tracking app displayed on a Wear OS smartwatch.
Lifewire
What We Like
Access range information when you’re golfing. You don’t have to pull your phone out before every shot.
Decent course coverage, including a lot of small local courses.
What We Don’t Like
Doesn’t work without a phone.
Includes nice analysis tools you can check out after your round, but you need to use your phone for that.
Hole19 is a golf range finding and score tracking app that runs on your phone. Plus, it has an accessory smartwatch app that lets you access essential information from the convenience of your wrist.
If your local course is included in the more than 40,000 courses that Hole19 covers, you can use both the smartphone and smartwatch app for free. There is a paid version, but it primarily provides high-resolution graphics rather than unlocking additional course information.
Download Hole19
13
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Infinity Loop
Infinity Loop Wear OS game app displayed on a smartwatch.
Lifewire
What We Like
Simple game mechanics work well with the limited screen space.
What We Don’t Like
No cloud saves, so if you have to reinstall, you lose your progress.
Despite the minimal screen space available on Wear smartwatches, some decent games are available for the platform. Infinity Loop is especially well suited to play on small screens. This puzzle game uses the basic mechanic of tapping puzzle pieces to rotate them until they form a pattern.
It’s easy to pick up, and it’s basic compared to the great smartphone games out there, but it is a nice little time-waster that you can play without pulling out your phone.
Download Infinity Loop
14
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Water Drink Reminder
Water Drink Reminder Wear OS app displayed on a smartwatch.
Lifewire
What We Like
Automatically generates reminders on your watch and phone to take a drink.
Makes it easy to stay hydrated if you have a habit of not drinking enough water.
What We Don’t Like
The default slurping noise it makes to remind you isn’t appealing.
There are many benefits associated with staying adequately hydrated. Still, most people have trouble remembering to take a few sips here and there throughout the day.
Water Drink Reminder is designed to remind you to drink at regular intervals so that you take in an optimal amount of water, based on your height and weight. It runs on both your phone and smartwatch, so there’s less of a chance of missing a reminder.
Download Water Drink Reminder
15
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Google Maps
Google Maps app on a Wear OS smartwatch.
Lifewire
What We Like
Automatically reorients the map based on the direction you’re facing.
Makes it easy to find local points of interest.
What We Don’t Like
Pared down in comparison to the regular Google Maps app.
Limited options and functionality.
Google’s map app is an easy sell on Wear. It’s simplistic compared to the full smartphone app. However, it makes it easy to orient yourself and find local points of interest when you’re walking around on foot. It also allows you to drop a pin at your destination and launch full navigation on your phone.
best smartwatch apps for iphone
The best smartwatch for iPhone for many people might be an Apple Watch, but that doesn’t mean it’s the only good option. While Apple’s own wearables pair up well with iPhones as you’d expect, there are still plenty of other great options if you want a different kind of watch.
Generally, the best Wear OS watches work reasonably well with iPhones, although you do miss out on a few features that only work with Android phones. However, Wear OS based smartwatches can look rather stylish compared to Apple Watches, so if style is your priority over functionality, you may want to snap one up.
As always, make sure to read our full reviews to be certain of the functionality you get here. Most will still offer fitness tracking and notifications, although the latter can be patchy depending on what you need.
It’s also possible for iPhones and Samsung’s range of Tizen-powered watches to work together too along with Fitbits and hybrid wearables from the likes of Withings. If you have an iPhone, you have no shortage of options for smartwatches. The only one you’ll definitely miss out on is the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4, otherwise the smartwatch world is your oyster.
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For many buyers, the Apple Watch 7 will be your top choice. It offers the smartwatch’s first redesign which means thinner bezels and a brighter Always On display. It comes straight in at number one on our list, but it’s still worth reading up on the others before you hit the buy button.
What’s the best smartwatch for iPhone?
Most smartwatches will track your basic health metrics such as steps and calories, while devices with built-in GPS make for perfect running, cycling and swimming companions. Many of the watches here also sync up so you’ll receive notifications via your watch, saving you the need to dig out your phone as often.
We’ve fully worn, tested and evaluated all the watches in this list and ranked them based on software and which we think is best for most people. Bear in mind the watch at number one might not be best for you though depending on your needs, tastes and budget.
BEST APPLE WATCH: WHAT ARE THE CHOICES?
An Apple Watch 7 against a white background
(Image credit: Apple)
- Apple Watch 7
The best Apple Watch
SPECIFICATIONS
OS: watchOS 8Compatibility: iOSDisplay: 1.69 / 1.9″ OLEDProcessor: Apple S7Onboard storage: 32GBBattery: 18 hoursCharging method: WirelessIP rating: Water-resistant to 50mConnectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, LTE
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REASONS TO BUY
+Brighter, larger screen
+Faster charging
REASONS TO AVOID
-Workouts are varied, but basic
-Battery life needs to be longer
The Apple Watch 7 is a flagship smartwatch and one that takes some real steps beyond the Apple Watch 6, most notably through its larger screen.
The screen is roughly 20% bigger in fact, but thanks to smaller bezels the overall size of the smartwatch is similar. That extra space can make all the difference when interacting with the wearable, and this model also sports faster charging, which helps make up for its middling battery life.
Many other things about the Apple Watch 7 are similar to the Apple Watch 6, but that was a fantastic smartwatch, so it’s not such a bad thing for this one to stick close to it.
Sporting lots of features (even if we’ve seen them before), a stylish design, speedy performance, and tight integration with the iPhone, this is a top choice for iPhone owners.
Read the full Apple Watch 7 review
Apple Watch SE
(Image credit: Apple)
- Apple Watch SE
The best value Apple Watch at the moment
SPECIFICATIONS
OS: watchOS 7Compatibility: iOSDisplay: 1.78″ OLEDProcessor: Apple S5Band sizes: Varies based on watch sizeOnboard storage: 32GBBattery: 18 hoursCharging method: WirelessIP rating: Water-resistant to 50mConnectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, LTE
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REASONS TO BUY
+Smart design
+Extensive features
REASONS TO AVOID
-No always-on display
-Average battery life
The Apple Watch SE is the relatively recently released and affordable model of the Apple Watch. You really don’t miss out on much by spending less. There’s no always-on display which is a shame but other than that, it’s mostly business as usual.
Performance is speedy and far superior to the Apple Watch 4 and earlier. You still get extensive tracking features including heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, and GPS, as well as the usual bevy of workout tools. It’s mostly pretty accurate too although not quite on a par with dedicated fitness devices like the Garmin range.
Still, as an attractive combination of good looks, good features, and a keen price, you can’t go wrong with the Apple Watch SE.
Read the full Apple Watch SE review
Apple Watch 6
(Image credit: Apple)
- Apple Watch 6
The best older Apple Watch
SPECIFICATIONS
OS: watchOS 7Compatibility: iOSDisplay: 1.78″ OLEDProcessor: Apple S6Band sizes: Varies based on watch sizeOnboard storage: 32GBBattery: 18 hoursCharging method: WirelessIP rating: Water-resistant to 50mConnectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, LTE
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REASONS TO BUY
+Great color additions
+Always-on display
REASONS TO AVOID
-Lacks a headline upgrade
-Battery life needs to be longer
The Apple Watch 6 launched alongside the Apple Watch SE, and while the SE is relatively affordable, the Apple Watch 6 was for a while the company’s top model.
While this isn’t a huge upgrade on the Apple Watch 5, it does have some handy new features and improvements, such as blood oxygen monitoring, improved battery life and screen, and an upgraded chipset.
It’s also available in some fetching new shades, and is the first Apple Watch to ship with sleep tracking – though this feature is now available on older models too.
It’s not perhaps the most exciting upgrade then, but it is one of the best smartwatches for iPhone, and one of the best smartwatches period.
Read the full Apple Watch 6 review
Apple Watch 5
(Image credit: Apple)
- Apple Watch 5
The best discounted Apple Watch
SPECIFICATIONS
OS: watchOS 7Compatibility: iOSDisplay: 1.78″ OLEDProcessor: Apple S5Band sizes: Varies based on watch sizeOnboard storage: 32GBBattery: 1 day to 36 hoursCharging method: WirelessIP rating: Water-resistant to 50mConnectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, LTE
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516 Amazon customer reviews
☆☆☆☆☆
REASONS TO BUY
+Always-on display
+More storage
REASONS TO AVOID
-Battery isn’t incredible
-Still pricey
The Apple Watch 5 is no longer the best Apple Watch, but it still comes close. Though while it’s now been superseded it’s still not a cheap option.
The big upgrade here compared to previous models is an always-on display. This doesn’t drain your battery life as much as you may expect as the watch will dim its screen to offer you notifications on your wrist at all times rather than you having to raise it and wake it up to see your stats.
And while it shipped with watchOS 6, it can now be updated to watchOS 7, so the software is brand new even if the hardware isn’t anymore.
If you own an Apple Watch 4, there’s not much reason to upgrade here but if you own an older Apple Watch or you’re looking to get your first smartwatch this may be a solid option for you providing you can still find one, that is.
Read the full Apple Watch 5 review
Apple Watch 4
(Image credit: Apple)
- Apple Watch 4
A still-solid Apple Watch
SPECIFICATIONS
OS: watchOS 7Compatibility: iOSDisplay: 1.78″ OLEDProcessor: Apple S4Band sizes: Varies based on watch sizeOnboard storage: 16GBBattery: 1 to 2 daysCharging method: WirelessIP rating: Water-resistant to 50mConnectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, LTE
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571 Amazon customer reviews
☆☆☆☆☆
REASONS TO BUY
+Larger display
+Lightweight design
REASONS TO AVOID
-Battery could be better
-Doesn’t offer always-on
The introduction of the Apple Watch 6 and 5 may have seen the Apple Watch 4 drop in terms of pure excitement, but it’s now cheaper than ever and it’s not all that dissimilar to the latest device.
This was the first smartwatch from the company to increase the display size to a 1.78-inch OLED. That looks great on your wrist, and the device comes in either 44mm or 40mm versions.
We particularly liked that the speaker is louder, plus the ECG monitor tech was a big upgrade at the time too.
You won’t get the benefits of an always-on display, but if you want to save a bit of money you may want to look at the Apple Watch 4 over the more recent additions to the range.
Read our full Apple Watch 4 review
smartwatch deals prices sales
(Image credit: Apple )
- Apple Watch 3
Now even cheaper, but still great
SPECIFICATIONS
OS: watchOS 7Compatibility: iOSDisplay: 1.65″ OLEDProcessor: Apple S3Band sizes: Varies based on watch sizeOnboard storage: 16GBBattery: 1 to 2 daysCharging method: WirelessIP rating: Water-resistant to 50mConnectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, LTE
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568 Amazon customer reviews
☆☆☆☆☆
REASONS TO BUY
+Good battery life
+Clear, bright screen
REASONS TO AVOID
-Only iPhone compatible
-Siri still patchy
The Apple Watch 3 was once the best smartwatch to use with an iPhone… but it’s not the best anymore. Even though you can now buy the Apple Watch 4, 5 and 6, this is still a fantastic smartwatch.
The Series 3 has a bright, high-quality screen, built-in GPS, waterproofing, optical heart rate monitoring and well over a day of battery life, plus all the things that make the Apple Watch 2 great, like a stylish design, water resistance and enough fitness features to cater to most users.
It’s a great all-rounder then, with style and substance, suited to both the office and the gym. There’s even an LTE model – though at a higher price. And of course, being an Apple Watch, it works perfectly with iPhone. Plus, this benefits from still being sold direct from Apple at the time of writing, while the Apple Watch 4 and 5 aren’t.
Read our full Apple Watch 3 review
Know you want an Apple Watch? Here’s our guide on how to buy an Apple Watch
BEST WEAR OS OR TIZEN WATCH
Wear OS and Tizen watches
You’re not just limited to the Apple Watch if you want a smartwatch for your iPhone. There are some great compatible options that run either Google’s Wear OS or Samsung’s Tizen software.
As you might expect, Tizen is only found on Samsung smartwatches (with the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 using One UI Watch 3 and not compatible with the iPhone) but they are all excellent, offering attractive circular designs, top specs and good battery life.
Wear OS is used by several manufacturers including Fossil and TicWatch, two brands who tend to make the best of Google’s platform.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 3
(Image credit: Samsung)
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 3
The best smartwatch that isn’t by Apple
SPECIFICATIONS
OS: Tizen OSCompatibility: Android, iOSDisplay: 1.2″ or 1.4″ 360 x 360 Super AMOLEDProcessor: Dual-core 1.15GHzBand sizes: 22mm or 20mmOnboard storage: 8GBBattery duration: 3 days on 45mm / less on 41mmCharging method: WirelessIP rating: IP68Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, LTE (for extra)
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REASONS TO BUY
+Great rotating bezel
+Premium design
REASONS TO AVOID
-Battery life suffers
-Bixby sucks
No longer the latest Galaxy Watch, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 remains the best non-Apple smartwatch as the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 isn’t compatible. If you don’t like the aesthetic of the Apple Watch and prefer a circular watch then this is the one to get.
The Galaxy Watch 3 comes in two sizes depending on your tastes and wrist size, with the smaller available in bronze or silver, and the larger in silver or black. Both are packed with fitness features like GPS, and top tier smartwatch functions.
You can also get a 4G model so you could still take calls and receive messages if you were out without your phone.
But pairing any version of the Watch 3 with an iPhone means you’ll lose out on some of the functionality that you’d get paired with an Android device.
Read the full Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 review
Fossil Sport
(Image credit: Fossil)
- Fossil Sport
Fossil’s latest big smartwatch attempt
SPECIFICATIONS
Compatibility: Android, iOSDisplay: 1.2-inch 390 x 390 AMOLEDProcessor: Quad-core 1.2GHzBand sizes: 22mm strapsOnboard storage: 4GBBattery duration: Two daysCharging method: ProprietaryIP rating: IP68Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS
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490 Amazon customer reviews
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REASONS TO BUY
+Lightweight design
+Powerful watch
REASONS TO AVOID
-Lacks high-end features
-GPS can be slow
Our favorite Wear OS watch right now is the Fossil Sport, which is cheaper than a lot of the watches you’ve read about above.
It features the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 3100 chipset that offers enough power to run any of the apps you’ll find in Wear OS, and in our experience we found the whole interface to be notably smooth.
It’ll last for around two days from a single charge, and the design here feels premium on the wrist when you consider how much it costs compared to other Wear OS watches.
There isn’t much uniqueness to the Fossil Sport, but it’s good at pretty much everything you’d expect a smartwatch to do and it’ll work with your iPhone too.
Read the full Fossil Sport review
Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2
(Image credit: Samsung)
- Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2
Samsung’s sporty option
SPECIFICATIONS
OS: Tizen OSCompatibility: Android, iOSDisplay: 1.4″ 360 x 360 Super AMOLEDProcessor: Dual-core 1.15GHzBand sizes: 20mmOnboard storage: 4GBBattery duration: Around 2 daysCharging method: WirelessIP rating: 50mConnectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
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25 Amazon customer reviews
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REASONS TO BUY
+Top performance
+Two-day battery life
REASONS TO AVOID
-Quite expensive
-Limited app choice
The Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 is a fine Tizen smartwatch with great battery life and solid performance.
Its circular display might attract you compared to the Apple Watch’s squarish look, and the Active 2 has a clever digital bezel to navigate menus. Its fitness features are just as good as Apple’s but you’ll have to use the Samsung Health app for iOS instead of Apple Health.
It’s waterproof and can track tons of different workouts including outdoor runs using GPS. There’s even a 4G option. Just bear in mind that while it works with an iPhone, it won’t be as smooth an experience as an Apple Watch.
Read the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 review
TicWatch E2
(Image credit: Mobvoi)
- TicWatch E2
A fully-loaded Wear OS watch you’ve never heard of
SPECIFICATIONS
OS: Wear OSCompatibility: Android 4.3+, iOS 8+Display: 1.39″ 400 x 400 OLEDProcessor: Snapdragon Wear 2100Onboard storage: 4GBBattery duration: Around 48hCharging method: Magnetic connecting pinIP rating: IP67Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1
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762 Amazon customer reviews
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REASONS TO BUY
+Affordable price
+Easily two day battery life
REASONS TO AVOID
-No NFC for payments
-Bland design
The TicWatch E2 is one of the more affordable devices on this list, and it’s worth noting that this isn’t the most premium looking device. That said, it’s still a fantastic Wear OS watch.
It offers solid battery life as well as built-in GPS, an accurate heart rate sensor and sleep tracking as well.
The latest Wear OS software is running on the watch too, but you won’t be able to get contactless payments as there’s no NFC on this watch.
Read the full TicWatch E2 review
OTHER ALTERNATIVES
There are quite a few devices you can use with your iPhone including some running Fitbit OS and others that you may not even refer directly to as a smartwatch. Read on about them all below:
Fitbit Versa 3
(Image credit: Fitbit)
Fitbit Versa 3
The best smartwatch from Fitbit
SPECIFICATIONS
OS: Fitbit OSCompatibility: Android, iOSDisplay: 1.58″ 336 x 3336 AMOLEDProcessor: Dual-core 1.0GHzOnboard storage: 4GBBattery duration: Up to 6 daysCharging method: Proprietary chargerIP rating: 50M water resistantConnectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
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REASONS TO BUY
+Beautiful display
+Built-in GPS
REASONS TO AVOID
-Poor design choices
-Requires Fitbit Premium for full features
The latest attempt at a smartwatch from Fitbit, the Fitbit Versa 3 looks at the Fitbit Versa 2 and improves upon it. It finally has built-in GPS and there’s still that gorgeous always-on display. The heart rate monitor is more accurate than before too making it a more attractive option for the exercise enthusiast.
Fitbit OS remains not as fully fledged as the Wear OS or Apple Watch devices in this list as there are still a fairly limited amount of apps available to you, but if you want to have a watch as a fashion piece that also focuses on fitness, the Fitbit Versa 3 is still a good option. Alexa is on board along with Google Assistant, and a six day battery life is very appealing, although it does require you to switch off the always-on display.
Read the full Fitbit Versa 3 review.
Fitbit Ionic
(Image credit: Fitbit)
Fitbit Ionic
A noble first effort from the fitness kingpin
SPECIFICATIONS
OS: Fitbit OSCompatibility: iOS / AndroidDisplay: 1.45-inch LCDProcessor: UnknownBand sizes: Small (its wrists 5.5″ – 6.7″ in circumference) and large (its wrists 6.7″ – 8.1″ in circumference) in boxOnboard storage: 7 days of movementBattery: 4+ days (10 hours of GPS)Charging method: Proprietary wiredIP rating: 50m water resistanceConnectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, NFC, GPS
TODAY’S BEST DEALS
CHECK AMAZON
730 Amazon customer reviews
☆☆☆☆☆
REASONS TO BUY
+Solid battery life
+Great fitness features
REASONS TO AVOID
-Controversial design
-Lack of apps
Fitbit’s answer to the Apple Watch’s fitness threat piles all of its best fitness-tracking features into a highly functional smart timepiece.
There’s GPS, continued heart rate tracking, excellent multi-day battery life and the ability to track multiple activities.
That being said, the Fitbit Ionic runs off the bespoke Fitbit OS so it doesn’t offer the full fat smartwatch features of watchOS or Wear OS.
There’s also a shortage of apps available right now, you can download around 300 songs and connect Bluetooth headphones for phone-free exercise. Also, the design’s a bit controversial and very much has the look of a first-gen smartphone.
Read the full Fitbit Ionic review
Garmin Forerunner 735XT
(Image credit: Garmin)
Garmin Forerunner 735XT
For serious fitness fanatics only
SPECIFICATIONS
OS: Forerunner 735 softwareCompatibility: iOS / AndroidDisplay: 1.23-inch IPSProcessor: UnknownBand sizes: QuickFit 22mmOnboard storage: 80 hours activity dataBattery: 14 hours in GPS modeCharging method: Proprietary wiredIP rating: 5ATMConnectivity: Bluetooth, GPS
TODAY’S BEST DEALS
VIEW AT AMAZON
274 Amazon customer reviews
☆☆☆☆☆
REASONS TO BUY
+Great looking
+Advanced fitness and training features
REASONS TO AVOID
-Thick-ish bezel
-No music storage
If you’re seeking a powerful fitness companion rather than a wearable extension of your smartphone, they don’t come much better than the Garmin Forerunner 735XT.
The multi-sport GPS watch, designed with triathletes in mind, features an optical heart rate sensor and reams of deep data insights into your performance.
Runners, for example, will glean metrics like ground contact time, balance, stride length, vertical ratio and much more. There’s a VO2 max estimator, race predictor and recovery adviser too.
Conclusion
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