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Wear OS is more exciting than it's been in years. With its Galaxy Watch series, Samsung has been leading the charge in the new wave of noteworthy Android wearables, and Google's Pixel Watch has proven to be a viable option, too. Mobvoi's also launched its first watch with the latest Wear OS 3.5, and options from the likes of Fossil are eligible for updates to the slightly older Wear OS 3.2. It's a fun time to be in the market for a smartwatch.

There are tons of great smartwatches and excellent fitness trackers to choose from that will work with your awesome Android phones. To help narrow it down, here are our top eight Wear OS picks today.

Our favorite Wear OS smartwatches in 2023

Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 with a purple band on a white background
Source: Samsung
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5
Best overall

The easiest Wear OS watch to recommend

$200 $280 Save $80

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 is a refined upgrade to the phenomenal Watch 4. Sapphire glass makes Samsung's newest wearable more durable, and its larger battery makes it easier to get through the day without charging.

Pros
  • New sensor cluster makes for a more comfortable fit
  • Sapphire crystal glass is super tough
  • Better Google Assistant experience
Cons
  • Very mild upgrade from the Watch 4
  • Battery doesn't last as long as Samsung says
  • ECG measurements only available when paired with a Samsung phone

Surprise, surprise: Samsung's Galaxy Watch 5 is our top Wear OS smartwatch pick. Changes from the last model are minor, and if you already have a Watch 4 in good condition, you probably shouldn't throw down your cash here. At $280, the 40mm Watch 5 goes for $30 more than the last model, and that extra money will get you more scratch-resistant sapphire crystal over the display, plus a larger battery. The larger 44mm model comes with the same upgrades and a similar price increase at $300, which is $20 more expensive than the equivalent Watch 4 model.

Otherwise, this watch is very similar to the model it replaced. They both have Samsung's custom W920 chipset paired with a gigabyte and a half of RAM, they measure all the same health metrics, and aside from slightly different color options, the two generations are almost visually identical. If you don't already have a Watch 4, that's not bad news.

The Watch 5 offers solid day-to-day performance and a killer display, and Samsung watches enjoy access to the latest Wear OS 3.5, a rarity in the market. It's not a sensible upgrade if you own the previous version, but if you're shopping for your first smartwatch or replacing one that's a couple of years old, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 is the most straightforward Wear OS device to recommend to most people right now.

Considering both the Watch 5 and the Watch 4 launched in August 2022 and August 2021, respectively, it seems likely we'll be getting the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 very soon. So if you need the latest and greatest, you might do well to hold off a couple of months.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 4
Source: Samsung
Samsung Galaxy Watch 4
Best value

Very nearly as good as the Watch 5

Samsung's first Wear OS watch may not be the latest anymore, but it's still a great watch, especially for the discounted prices it's been seeing of late. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 uses the same processor as the Watch 5, so you get the same power and almost the exact same fit, feel, and performance. The battery life is a little shorter, but it should still get you through a full day.

Pros
  • Same performance as the newer Watch 5
  • Great hardware and screen
  • Usually a great deal these days
Cons
  • Battery life's just okay
  • Marginally less durable than the Watch 5

While the Watch 4 launched at an MSRP of $300, it's come down in price a lot since the Watch 5 launched. It's regularly available for about $170 and occasionally less, making it an extremely strong value proposition. It doesn't have the Watch 5's sapphire crystal display coating, which theoretically means it's easier to break — but if you want high-end performance at a discount, that seems like a calculated risk worth taking.

Google Pixel Watch - Chalk render
Source: Google
Google Pixel Watch
Premium pick

Style and substance

We've waited for Google to make a watch for over a decade, and the Google Pixel Watch has finally arrived. The first Android smartwatch with Fitbit health tracking, the Pixel Watch aims to help you stay fit or get fit easily. Plus, Wear OS 3.5 brings us Google's vision for a wearable UI and exclusive Wear OS apps for Google services, like Google Home.

Pros
  • Striking design
  • Premium hardware
  • Google's watch faces are excellent
Cons
  • Average-at-best battery life
  • Fitbit integration is lacking
  • Pricey

Years into Wear OS, the Pixel Watch is Google's late smartwatch debut. For a first attempt, it gets a lot right. The Pixel Watch's hardware is beautifully designed with a unique look, not quite like anything else on the market today, and its case is made from stainless steel, which is a tougher and more premium option than the aluminum many smartwatches use. Performance is surprisingly solid, given Google's choice to use an older chipset to power the Pixel Watch. Wear OS 3.5 is also great, and Google's custom watch faces are positively killer.

Google's really pushing Fitbit integration in the Pixel Watch, and using the wearable the way Google intends — wearing it all day to track your activity and all night to track your sleep — requires charging once a day, if not twice. The watch is also missing some health features you can get in other Fitbit trackers, like skin temperature sensing, EDA measurements, and SpO2 sensing (though that last one should be coming eventually in a software update). We have durability concerns, too; reports of cracked screens started surfacing before the watch was even commercially available. Still, it's a unique, high-end Wear OS watch. Practical? Maybe not. Premium? Definitely.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic
Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic
A true classic

Worth it for the rotating bezel alone

The Galaxy Watch 4 Classic might've been a premium price when it first launched a year ago, but nowadays, it is not rare to see it down near the Galaxy Watch 4 price range. If you can stand the physical size and weight of this watch, the Classic can earn its upgrade easily with the physical rotating bezel, which makes navigating Wear OS 3 much easier, especially when you're sweaty during or after a workout.

Pros
  • Identical performance to the newer Watch 5
  • Crisp, vibrant display
  • Rotating bezel is a treat
Cons
  • Battery life isn't all it could be
  • Requires some Samsung phone apps

It may be officially replaced by the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, but the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic is still a fantastic smartwatch. The Classic's case is made of stainless steel instead of the aluminum of the base-model Watch 4 and Watch 5, and it has a rotating bezel that simplifies menu selections, scrolling through notifications, and more. That last bit is especially valuable now that the Watch 5 and 5 Pro only offer digital bezels, not physically rotating ones.

At an MSRP of $350, it might not be an easy sell over the $280 base-model Watch 5, but because the Watch 4 and Watch 5 series are so similar, you're missing out on very little by going with the older generation. It's also discounted with increasing frequency lately. So if you crave a more traditional-looking smartwatch or just can't live without that clicky bezel (and who could blame you?), the Classic's premium should be worth it for you.

mobvoi-ticwatch-pro-5-square
Source: Mobvoi
Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5
Battery beast

And Wear OS 3.5!

Mobvoi's TicWatch Pro 5 is the first Wear OS watch to hit the market with Qualcomm's Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1 chipset. Performance isn't a night-and-day difference over previous-generation smartwatches, but the TicWatch Pro 5 is very snappy and offers incredible battery life thanks to its dual-layer display tech.

Pros
  • Fast performance
  • Modern software
  • Killer battery life
Cons
  • On the large side
  • No Google Assistant

The Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 is a very compelling Wear OS option right now. Boasting both top-shelf performance and battery life that can easily stretch a full three days on a single charge, it's a great smartwatch for almost anyone with wrists large enough. It is a big watch, though, and that multi-day battery life is facilitated by a secondary LCD layer that can be tough to read in some situations. Possibly worse, there's no Google Assistant access, and Mobvoi hasn't said when (or if) that'll change.

At the same $350 MSRP as the Pixel Watch, the TicWatch Pro 5 is another premium option, but its better durability and battery life make it a more practical purchase for many buyers. If you can live without the Google Assistant on your wrist, Mobvoi's latest should be a contender for your next Wear OS watch.

Fossil Gen 6 Rose Gold Smartwatch for Women
Source: Fossil
Fossil Gen 6
Nice build quality

Also upgradeable to Wear OS 3.2

The Fossil Gen 6 is a sturdy Wear OS watch with a solid construction, a great display, and Wear OS 3.2. That version of Wear OS isn't the latest and lacks features some may consider essential in a smartwatch, like Google Assistant access. Still, if you want an Android wearable not made by Samsung or Google, the Gen 6 is among your better options today.

Pros
  • Sturdy build quality with good buttons and rotating crown
  • OLED display is bright and really sharp
  • Fast(er) charging is better than previous generations
Cons
  • Battery life is mediocre, even if you sacrifice almost all of the features
  • Performance occasionally stutters a little too much
  • MSRP is too high

We weren't initially too enthusiastic about the Fossil Gen 6. While it's got Qualcomm's relatively beefy Snapdragon 4100+ chipset, it also launched with an out-of-date version of Wear OS. As of October 2022, Fossil's current slate of Wear OS watches are eligible for an update to Wear OS version 3.2. That's still a little outdated, as the latest version is 3.5 (and Wear OS 4 is on the horizon), and the update breaks compatibility with on-wrist Google Assistant interactions and the Google Fit Wear OS app. But hey, if you don't care about either of those features, the upgrade's ready and waiting for you.

With robust build quality, a vibrant, crisp display, and an optional update to Wear OS 3 available, the Gen 6 is worth your consideration. Just be aware there are more appealing options available right now.

skagen-falster-gen-6-square
Skagen Falster Gen 6
Very stylish

One of the best looking Wear OS watches

If you're a fan of thinner watches that take up less wrist space, the Falster Gen 6 is for you. Providing its beautiful design in silver, gold, black, grey, and brown, there is an option for any taste. Acting like an upper-class watch with smartphone abilities on the side, the Falster 6 is perfect for those who want all the stats and analysis during their everyday life.

Pros
  • Attractive design
  • Lots of case and band options
  • Bright, sharp AMOLED screen
Cons
  • Mediocre battery life
  • Performance stutters a little too often
  • Pricey at MSRP

The Skagen Falster Gen 6 is a stylish alternative to the Fossil Gen 6. Aside from aesthetics, the two smartwatches are more or less identical: each has the same 1.28" 416x416 AMOLED display, the same 300mAh battery, and the same Snapdragon Wear 4100+ chipset paired with a single gig of RAM. Like the Fossil Gen 6, the Skagen Flaster Gen 6 can be updated to Wear OS 3.2 — just remember that doing so will remove Google Assistant and Google Fit functionality.

While the experience of using either watch will be the same, the Falster offers a look that might appeal to people who don't care for the Fossil Gen 6's styling. One niche benefit to the Skagen watch over the Fossil is that the Falster Gen 6 has a water resistance rating of 5 ATM, which beats the Fossil's 3 ATM. Lately, you'll often find this watch available well under its $295 MSRP, so keep an eye out for good sales.

Mobvoi TicWatch E3
Source: Mobvoi
Mobvoi TicWatch E3
Affordable entry point

Inexpensive with great battery life

Mobvoi's TicWatch E3 costs $200 at retail and often goes on sale for less, making it one of the more affordable ways to try Wear OS. Its promised update to Wear OS 3 still hasn't come, though, and it's unclear when it will.

Pros
  • Wear 4100 chipset is snappy
  • Two full days on a charge, even with the always-on display on
  • In line to get Wear OS 3
Cons
  • Thicker than we'd like
  • Setup is a pain
  • LCD where many smartwatches have OLED

With Qualcomm's Wear 4100 chip, a whole gig of RAM, and a promised update to the new-and-improved Wear OS 3 in the near future, Mobvoi's TicWatch E3 offers a lot of value for a relatively modest $200. Mobvoi went with a lower-cost LCD to hit that low price, which means lower contrast and no perfect OLED blacks. Still, even with that less-efficient display type, battery life stretches well into a second day. An Essential Mode also limits the watch's functionality but boosts battery life significantly.

The TicWatch E3 has an MSRP of $200 but is regularly available for less. It's also eligible for a Wear OS 3 beta, which should mean the stable version isn't far behind. For the price, it's still a decent pick in the meantime if you want something that's not the Galaxy Watch 4.

What's the best Android watch you can buy?

Right now, we're big fans of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5. Samsung's Wear OS watches come with Wear OS 3.5 and is a fast performer with a bright, smooth display and battery life that can stretch nearly two full days, depending on the size you buy. However, most of what we like about the Watch 5 is also featured in the Watch 4, so don't rush out to upgrade from last year's model.

If you can get your hands on a Galaxy Watch 4 or Watch 4 Classic, we still recommend them because their performance is identical to the Watch 5, and the 4 Classic is the only Wear OS watch with a rotating bezel for navigating menus. The Galaxy Watch 6 will likely launch in August 2023, so you may want to consider waiting if you want the newest watch possible.

There's also Google's Pixel Watch. It's an interesting option for style-conscious Android fans who want the latest version of Wear OS in a pretty package, but it's not a great pick for anyone looking for a super value. Or, for the same price, you can pick up the Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5, a less style-conscious option with markedly better battery life.

Fossil and Skagen's watches are still stuck on the out-of-date Wear OS 3.2 and don't offer many tangible benefits versus the other options on this list, but they're both fine picks if you can get them at a steep discount.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 with a purple band on a white background
Source: Samsung
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5
Best overall

The easiest Wear OS watch to recommend

$199 $279 Save $80

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 is a refined upgrade to the phenomenal Watch 4. Sapphire glass makes Samsung's newest wearable more durable, and its larger battery makes it easier to get through the day without charging.