Best Android Smartwatch for 2026

Pros

• Emergency satellite connectivity
• Dual-band GPS
• Hands-free Gemini voice assistant
• Ultra-fast charging (50% in <15 min)

Cons

• Health coach not yet available
• Battery lasts just over 24 hours
• Watch bands are hard to maneuver

The Pixel Watch 4 hits a sweet spot between universally appealing design, seamless Android integration, potentially life-saving safety features and robust health tracking through Fitbit.

Google’s fourth-generation Pixel Watch builds on its already excellent predecessor with longer battery life, a brighter, larger display and two powerful new assistants: Gemini for everyday tasks and queries, and the upcoming Fitbit AI health coach, which promises to turn your health data into actionable guidance.

While that health coach is still on the way, nearly everything else delivers on Google’s promises, cementing the Pixel Watch 4 as one of the best Android smartwatches available.

Why we like it

At $350, the Pixel Watch 4 includes luxuries once reserved for pricier sport watches, like dual-band GPS for precise location tracking, satellite connectivity for off-grid emergencies, and an easy-to-repair build. The real standout, though, is Gemini, a hands-free AI assistant that's genuinely helpful and won't leave you screaming at your wrist. 

Battery life now lasts up to 30 hours (41mm) or 40 hours (45mm), with ultrafast charging that takes you from 0 to 50% in just 15 minutes, and a full charge in under an hour.

Who it’s for

The Pixel Watch 4 is perfect for Android users who want a sleek, capable smartwatch that balances cutting-edge features with robust health and fitness tracking -- and it won't leave them guessing about what all that data means.

Anyone with a Pixel Watch 3 or another recent Fitbit or Wear OS model can safely hold off on this update cycle, since both Gemini and the Fitbit AI health coach (coming later this year) will arrive on older devices alongside the redesigned Fitbit app.

Pros

• Rotating bezel for easier navigation
• Sleek, stainless steel design
• Gemini AI for smarter voice control
• Advanced health sensors
• Customizable crown (action button)

Cons

• Starts at $150 more than base model
• Battery life still less than a day and a half
• Only available in one size (47mm)
• No power sharing with Galaxy phones (cable only)

The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is one of the most elegant-looking smartwatches you can buy, with its polished stainless steel frame, rotating bezel and analog-inspired watch faces that blend timeless style with modern smarts. But it’s more than just good looks. It ships with Gemini AI on board, capable of handling complex tasks and making Bixby (Samsung's proprietary virtual assistant) feel like a distant memory. Under the hood, it’s packed with new biosensors for advanced health tracking including a first-of-its-kind skin analysis tool that measures antioxidant levels, an AI-powered running coach and a new heart health metric called Vascular Load. You’ll also get dual-band GPS, a customizable action button and a battery that doesn’t completely disappoint (it outlasts both the smaller Galaxy Watch 8 and the Pixel Watch 3 by a couple of hours).

Why we like it:

The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic combines refined hardware with powerful software. That rotating bezel isn’t just a visual statement; it’s one of the most satisfying ways to navigate a smartwatch. The Classic is also one of the few Android watches that nails the balance of premium design and holistic fitness features.

Who it’s best for:

Anyone who wants a smartwatch that turns heads and holds its own. Whether you're a Samsung fan or just an Android user willing to spend a bit more for polish, the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic delivers on elegance, health and fitness features and enough smarts to keep up with your day.

Pros

• Lightweight, super comfortable to wear 24/7
• Onboard Gemini AI with contextual awareness
• Advanced health metrics
• Lower starting price than the Classic

Cons

• New squared off design isn't as sleek
• Battery life is still just OK
• New watch bands can't be swapped out for past models
• Starting price is $50 more than last year's flagship

The Galaxy Watch 8 delivers all the power and smarts of Samsung’s latest smartwatch lineup in a simpler and lighter package than the Classic. Its new squared-off frame may be polarizing, but the upside is a fit so comfortable it’ll make you forget you have it on -- ideal for all day (and all night) use. The screen is also brighter this year, making everything from apps to workouts easier to see at a glance.

Inside, the Galaxy Watch 8 is stacked with advanced health features, including a new Antioxidant Index that analyzes carotenoid levels in your skin, a new Vascular Load metric for heart health, and an AI-powered running coach. Gemini AI is built in and can now handle more complex, contextual requests directly from the wrist. Add in bedtime guidance improvements and One UI 8’s smoother animations and gestures, and this is one of the most well-rounded smartwatches you can get for the price.

Why we like it

Between its lighter build, onboard Gemini AI, and new health sensors, it delivers big performance in a more compact, more comfortable, and more affordable package than its siblings (the Ultra and Classic).

Who it’s best for

It’s great for Samsung fans --especially those with smaller wrists-- who don’t want (or need) the added bulk and bling of the Classic. It’s also ideal for anyone serious about sleep tracking, particularly if (like me) you have a low tolerance for big, disruptive watches getting in the way as you toss and turn at night.

Pros

• 5-day battery life
• Sleek comfortable design
• Customizable shortcut buttons
• Advanced metrics for select sports modes

Cons

• One size does not fit all
• Three years of software and security updates
• Lacks menstrual cycle tracking
• ECG is not available in the US or Canada
• Lacks LTE version or iOS compatibility

The $350 OnePlus Watch 3 is a standout smartwatch that outshines other Wear OS contenders with its five-day battery life, sleek design and solid health features. It covers all the essential smartwatch functions while improving on health and fitness tracking by adding more metrics, boosting accuracy, and offering deeper workout analysis. Its one-stop wellness check feature measures blood oxygen levels, sleep quality, cardiovascular health and stress levels.

The OnePlus Watch 3 is a great choice if your main priority is battery life and durability, but it’s not without a few drawbacks. While its bulky stainless steel design makes it look premium and polished, the 1.5-inch AMOLED screen can easily overpower smaller wrists. There's now a smaller, 43mm option of the Watch 3, but you'll have to sacrifice the bezel for the reduced bulk. It also lacks an LTE option, and the ECG feature is currently disabled in the US and Canada. Read our OnePlus Watch 3 review.

Why we like it

While the five-day battery life may have been what wowed us most, its stainless steel and aluminum exterior, combined with solid fitness features, sealed the deal making it a well-rounded option for Android users.

Who it’s best for

Android users looking for a premium smartwatch beyond Samsung and Pixel options, or anyone tired of having to charge their Wear OS watch every day and doesn't need menstrual tracking on their wrist.

Pros

• Comprehensive health and sleep metrics
• Helpful reports and insights like Body Battery and Morning Report
• Large screen
• No subscription for health metrics and reports

Cons

• Design doesn't feel as premium as similarly priced watches
• Small app ecosystem
• Slow app downloads
• Need separate apps for managing health insights and watch faces
• No home button

The Garmin Venu 3’s stellar battery life, wide selection of health tracking features and workout types and comprehensive wellness metrics make it a top choice. According to CNET's review, the battery life alone is enough to make the Garmin Venu 3 stand out, with it lasting for about a week on a single charge. 

But it isn’t perfect. It doesn’t feel as premium as other watches of the same price, it doesn’t have as many apps as the Apple Watch, and the software may not feel as intuitive as alternative watches from Google, Samsung or Apple. But the Garmin Venu 3 makes up for that with useful wellness tools like the Body Battery, which tells you how “recharged” you are based on activity, sleep and other factors. And best of all, Garmin doesn’t require a subscription to access such features.

Why we like it

The Venu 3 is one of our favorite Garmin watches thanks to its broad appeal and compatibility with both Android and iOS devices. It delivers on all the features we like about Garmin’s sport watches; durable design, physical action buttons, and advanced fitness metrics, minus the added bulk and higher price tag of other models like the Fenix or Tactix. Best of all, it’ll outlast most other smartwatches with a battery that can go up to a week on a charge.

Who it’s best for

Serious athletes or anyone seeking a fitness-first smartwatch that offers deeper insights and actionable coaching features, like Body Battery and Morning Report that can help you optimize your workouts. Its sleeker design and smaller 41mm option also make it a strong fit for women athletes. 

Pros

• $80 price is much less than most watches
• Works with Android and iOS
• Great battery life (lasts a week with heavy use)
• Tracks a wide variety of fitness activities accurately
• Temperature tracking and advanced sleep monitoring

Cons

• Single sizing option (44mm)
• UI and app are unintuitive
• Some health metrics are hard to interpret
• Voice assistant is unreliable
• Bluetooth range is short (especially on iPhone)

The $80 Amazfit Bip 6 is the most affordable option on this list, and a rare standout in the budget smartwatch category because it delivers on all the basics (and more) without many compromises. The design and interface aren't as refined as what you'll find with pricier models, but that feels like a fair trade-off considering how much the Bip 6 gets right. It offers accurate fitness tracking, with customizable training tools like heart rate zones, plus advanced health features including SpO2 (blood oxygen), temperature and sleep tracking, and high and low heart rate alerts.

Why we like it

While its low price might be its main draw, the Amazfit Bip 6 is one of the few sub-$100 smartwatches that's actually worth your time. Beyond all the features mentioned above, we also like it for its weeklong (or longer) battery life and its compatibility with both iPhones and Android phones.

Who it's best for

The Amazfit Bip 6 is ideal for anyone looking to try out a smartwatch without making a major investment. It's also a great fit for folks willing to customize the watch's back end to suit their specific needs.