In the early days of Android Wear, there were only a few decent smartwatch options — mainly from Motorola and LG. Since then, the platform has been rebranded to Wear OS, and many other companies have joined the Wear OS party. We’re now seeing Wear OS watches come from fashion brands and watchmakers instead of smartphone OEMs. There are plenty of options out there, but which ones are the best? Here are our picks for the best Wear OS watches and best Android watches you can buy.
Why choose Wear OS in 2021?
Wear OS has seen better days. And if we’re completely honest, the future of the platform is kind of up in the air. Google rarely issues notable software updates to the platform, and innovative Wear OS features are few and far between. Plus, Google just bought Fitbit, which already has its own smartwatch platform. We’ll have to stay tuned to hear what the company has in store for the OS powering some of the best Android watches.
With all that said, Wear OS does have some things going for it. First, tight integration with Android: whether you’re interacting with a notification or asking Google Assistant a question, the experience between your smartwatch and your smartphone should be relatively seamless. Wear OS is a lot like Android proper in that it provides choice to the user. Need something sporty for your outdoor activities? There’s a watch for that. Looking for a classier smartwatch that actually looks like a traditional timepiece? Yep, there are watches for that use case as well.
The best Wear OS watches:
Editor’s note: We will update this best Wear OS watches list as more devices come to market.
Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 3: The best Wear OS watch
Credit: Oliver Cragg / Android Authority
Mobvoi’s new TicWatch Pro 3 is the first smartwatch with Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon Wear 4100 chipset. This, coupled with 1GB of RAM, makes for overall good performance and stellar battery life.
While some of the materials seem a little cheap, the Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 3 is still our pick for the best Wear OS watch you can buy.
Pros
- Great battery life
- Zippy performance
- Dual display is ace
- Improved design
- Accurate heart rate sensor
Cons
- Dire companion app
- Inaccurate sleep and fitness tracking
- Cheap strap
- Less durable than previous models
Check out our full review to learn more about the TicWatch Pro 3.
TicWatch Pro 3 specs
- Display: 1.4-inch AMOLED + FSTN LCD display
- SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 4100
- Storage: 8GB
- RAM: 1GB
- Battery: 395mAh
- IP rating: IP68
- Sensors: Accelerometer, barometer, ambient light, gyroscope, heart rate, microphone, NFC, GPS
Fossil Gen 5: An oldie but a goodie
Wear OS is in need of a revamp, but the Fossil Gen 5 smartwatch makes the best of a strange software situation with excellent hardware and performance. It has 1GB of RAM and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 3100 SoC, which means performance is great.
Even the software is a positive. Google hasn’t prioritized Wear OS as it should, but it’s nice to have quick access to Google Assistant, Calendar, and other Google apps. The new Tiles feature also impresses and makes navigation a bit easier.
The Fossil Gen 5 isn’t cheap, but that’s the price to pay if you want one of the best Wear OS smartwatches.
Pros
- Crisp, bright display
- Plenty of great watch faces preinstalled
- Useful custom battery modes
- GPS, NFC, and heart rate sensor
- Accurate fitness tracking
- Built-in speaker is very useful
Cons
- So-so battery life
- Can be expensive when not on sale
Check out our full review to learn more about the Fossil Gen 5.
Pros
- Simple, clean design
- All-day battery life
- Useful custom battery modes
- Performance is greatly improved
- Built-in speaker is convenient
Cons
- Wear OS can be very buggy
- Can be expensive when not on sale
Check out our full review to learn more about the Skagen Falster 3.
Pros
- Durable, high-end design
- Solid performance
- Accurate GPS tracking
- Plenty of workout modes and health features
- Two-day battery life
Cons
- Activity metrics split up between Suunto app and Google Fit
- Not compatible with external HR sensors
- Wear OS has limitations that hinder the overall experience
- Too pricey for the feature set
Why you should trust the editor
Not only does Jimmy Westenberg love wearables, he loves helping people find the right devices to suit their needs. He’s been our resident fitness reviewer at Android Authority since 2016, and in that time has reviewed dozens of fitness products and other wearables.
Through his rigorous testing of fitness products and deep knowledge of health devices and services, you can rest assured knowing Jimmy will give you honest recommendations. Looking for more brand-specific recommendations? Check out the following guides:
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