The Best Smartwatches to Buy in 2024: Don’t Buy an Android Smartwatch Before Reading This Guide
Android smartwatches have come a long way, especially since the TizenOS days. With WearOS, that’s based on Android, smartwatches have become much more functional devices instead of a fancy accessory for your smartphone.
There is a diverse range of smartwatches available in the market right now, from fitness-centered to battery-focused to budget-oriented; there’s something for everyone. All of these options may seem overwhelming, making it hard to choose the right smartwatch.
But don’t worry; we’ve got you covered. Whether you are a fitness enthusiast looking for advanced workout tracking, a busy professional in need of seamless integration with your smartphone, or a budget-conscious consumer seeking value for money, this guide is for you. Let’s get started.
Key Considerations Before Buying a Smartwatch
Before you buy a smartwatch, here are a few key considerations you must consider. There are many options and features to consider, so it’s essential to narrow down your choices based on your specific needs and preferences.
1. Design and Comfort
Look for a smartwatch that looks good and is comfortable to wear, especially if you plan on wearing it for long periods.
2. Ecosystem and Features
Consider what features are important to you. Do you want fitness tracking, heart rate monitoring, GPS, or intelligent notifications? Do you want your smartwatch to pair well with your smartphone and complete the ecosystem? Make sure the smartwatch has the features you need.
3. Performance and Software Support
Since we don’t want to upgrade our smartwatches every single year, it’s important to buy a smartwatch that’s powerful enough to handle your daily tasks several years down the line. Good software support is a bonus.
4. Battery Life
Check the battery life of the smartwatch and ensure it meets your requirements, especially if you plan on using it extensively throughout the day. Do note that the advertised battery life claims may need to be revised. The battery life of a smartwatch depends upon how you use it.
5. Price
Set a budget for your smartwatch purchase and compare prices across different brands and models to find the best value for your money.
Best Android Smart Watch You Can Buy Right Now
1. Samsung Galaxy Watch 6/Watch 6 Classic – [Best Smartwatch for Samsung phone users]
Display – 1.4-inch AMOLED, 480 x 480 pixels, Sapphire Crystal
Chip – Exynos W920, 2GB RAM, 16GB storage
Sensors – Accelerometer, heart rate, SpO2, ECG, skin temperature
Health Features – ECG, blood pressure monitoring, BMI measurement
Battery Life – Up to 40 hours
Price Range – INR 33,999 – INR 43,999
Samsung is one of the largest smartwatch makers in the world, and its watches work with both Android and iPhones. Samsung’s greatest smartwatch title goes to the latest watches – Galaxy Watch 6 and Watch 6 Classic. So, if you are getting one of these, rest assured that you’ve got the best smartwatch for your Samsung phone.
The Galaxy Watch 6 and Watch 6 Classic have a 60 Hz AMOLED screen with 480 x 480 pixels resolution and Sapphire Crystal protection. The watch also supports Always-On Display.
Under the hood, the Galaxy Watch 6 sports the Exynos W930 chip, which is a dual-core chip clocked at 1.4 GHz. It has 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal storage for smooth performance.
It has all the health and fitness sensors including an accelerometer, proximity sensor, gyroscope, compass, heart rate monitor, barometer, and a thermometer to measure skin temperature. Samsung uses the skin temperature to also track your sleep better.
As for workout modes, Samsung offers a ton of modes including Cycling, Squats, Bench press, Running, Swimming, and more. The Galaxy Watch 6 and Watch 6 Classic are compatible with 20mm straps.
In addition to basic health monitoring, the Galaxy Watch 6 and Watch 6 Classic support ECG, blood pressure monitoring, and BMI or Body Mass Index measurement.
The Galaxy Watch 6 comes in two sizes—40mm and 44mm. The Watch 6 Classic also comes in two sizes—43mm and 47mm. One distinct feature of the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic is that it has a physical rotating bezel that can be used to navigate the watch UI.
Speaking of UI, the Galaxy Watch 6 and Watch 6 Classic are running One UI Watch 5 based on WearOS 4. Samsung has promised to deliver four years of updates for these watches since launch. So, you can expect software support till 2027.
ALSO READ: Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic Review with Pros and Cons
As for the battery life, Samsung claims 40 hours of battery life on both models. However, if we talk about real-world usage, both the Galaxy Watch 6 and the Watch 6 Classic should last you two days on a single charge.
The Galaxy Watch 6 40mm is available for INR 33,999, the Galaxy Watch 6 44mm for INR 36,999, the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic 43mm for INR 40,999, and the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic 47mm for INR 43,999. Samsung offers both Bluetooth and LTE versions of these watches. You can buy these on Amazon, Samsung.com, and offline retail stores.
If you are a non-Samsung user, you can still buy a Galaxy Watch and enjoy most of the features. Some features may be unavailable like ECG and Blood Pressure monitoring. However, if you don’t want such restrictions, you can get the Pixel Watch 2 which does not discriminate against you, no matter which Android phone you have.
2. Pixel Watch 2 – [Best Stock WearOS experience]
Display – 1.2-inch AMOLED, 1000 nits, Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Chip – Snapdragon W5 Gen 1, 2GB RAM, 32GB storage
Sensors – Compass, altimeter, heart rate, SpO2, ECG, skin temperature
Health Features – Requires Fitbit Premium subscription for some features
Battery Life – Up to 24 hours
Price – INR 39,990
The Pixel Watch 2 is Google’s second iteration of smartwatches and it delivers a true smartwatch experience, regardless of which Android phone you have. The Pixel Watch 2 has a 41mm dial with a 1.2-inch AMOLED screen and a brightness boost up to 1000 nits. It also supports Always-On Display and is protected by 3D Corning Gorilla Glass 5.
The Pixel Watch 2 is powered by the Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 chipset with the Cortex M33 co-processor. It comes with 32 GB of eMMC flash storage and 2 GB of RAM.
The Pixel Watch 2 is equipped with all the sensors you would expect, including a compass, altimeter, heart rate sensor, SpO2 monitor, ECG sensor, skin temperature sensor, and more. It has a 5 ATM water resistance rating, making it suitable for swimming and other water-related activities.
ALSO READ: Google Pixel Watch 3 Leak Hints at a Possible New Variant This Year
As for the software, it runs on WearOS 4 and is expected to receive three years of software updates from Google. The watch will last you 24 hours with the Always-On Display turned on. It can also charge pretty quickly, with a 30-minute charge giving you up to 50% juice.
The Pixel Watch 2 is compatible with most phones running on Android 9.0 or newer. It requires a Google Account and the Google Pixel Watch app for setup and configuration. However, it’s not compatible with Android (Go edition) devices. It’s important to note that you would need a Fitbit Premium subscription for some health features.
The Pixel Watch 2 is available for INR 39,990 in three color options—Polished Silver, Matte Black, and Champagne Gold. You can buy the watch on e-commerce platforms such as Flipkart and Amazon.
ALSO READ: Google Pixel Watch 2 vs. Samsung Galaxy Watch 6
3. OnePlus Watch 2 – [Best Budget Android Smartwatch]
Display – 1.43-inch AMOLED, 466 x 466 pixels, 2.5D Sapphire Crystal
Chip – Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 + BES2700, 2GB RAM, 4GB storage
Health Features – Sleep monitoring, heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen monitoring
Battery Life – Up to 100 hours in Smart Mode, up to 12 days in Power Saver Mode
Price – INR 24,999
The OnePlus Watch 2, which launched recently, is a great budget option for users looking for the absolute best in the price range. Priced at INR 24,999, the OnePlus Watch 2 offers a compelling blend of features and performance that bridges the gap between expensive Android smartwatches.
The OnePlus Watch 2 has a 1.43-inch 60 Hz AMOLED screen with a resolution of 466 x 466 pixels. The screen is protected by 2.5D Sapphire Crystal, ensuring durability against scratches and everyday wear and tear.
Under the hood, the OnePlus Watch 2 has two chipsets—a high-performance Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 and a low-power BES2700 chip. It has 2 GB of RAM, which makes it smooth and snappy.
It runs on Wear OS 4 + RTOS, providing a seamless and intuitive user experience. The WearOS 4 is powered by the Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 and 32 GB of ROM, while the RTOS is powered by the BES2700 chip and 4 GB of EMMC storage.
This dual-chip design allows the OnePlus Watch to deliver an exceptional battery life, when you need it. With a 500mAh battery, the OnePlus Watch 2 offers impressive battery life, with up to 100 hours in Smart Mode and up to 12 days in Power Saver Mode. It also supports fast charging, with 10 minutes of charging providing 24 hours of power.
The OnePlus Watch 2 comes with all the health tracking features you would expect such as sleep monitoring, heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen monitoring, stress tracking, and more. Unfortunately, there is no menstrual cycle tracking, which can be a bummer for some buyers.
As for fitness tracking, the Watch 2 supports over 100 sports modes, making it a versatile companion for all types of workouts. You can purchase the OnePlus Watch 2 on Amazon, OnePlus Retail Stores, or on OnePlus.com.
4. Samsung Galaxy Watch 4/Watch 4 Classic [Best Budget Cross Platform Smartwatches]
Display – 60 Hz AMOLED, Corning Gorilla Glass DX, Always-On Display
Chip – Exynos W920, dual-core, 5nm process node
Health Features – ECG, sleep tracking, heart rate monitoring, stress monitoring, BMI measurement, blood pressure monitoring
Battery Life – Up to 40 hours
Although launched in August 2021, the Galaxy Watch 4 and 4 Classic are still a great buy if you can get a good deal on them. Usually, the Galaxy Watch 4 is available for around INR 10,000 and the Watch 4 Classic is available for INR 15,000.
For this price, you get a 60 Hz AMOLED screen with Corning Gorilla Glass DX protection and Always-On Display support. The watch is powered by the Exynos W920 chip, built on the 5nm process node. It is a dual-core chip with two Cortex-A55 cores.
The Galaxy Watch 4 has all the necessary sensors and trackers including an accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer, heart rate, and SpO2 sensors. It is compatible with 20mm straps.
The Galaxy Watch 4 supports ECG, sleep tracking, heart rate monitoring, stress monitoring, BMI measurement, blood pressure monitoring, and a host of other health features. There is also a plethora of workout modes for you to choose from.
As for the battery life, the Galaxy Watch 4 can endure up to 40 hours of battery life on regular usage. There are also LTE options available for those who are interested. The watches are also available in different sizes, ranging from 40mm to 46mm.
The watch is built on the WearOS platform and is currently running WearOS 4 based on One UI Watch 5. We can expect Samsung to provide additional 2 years of software updates for these watches.
ALSO READ: Your Samsung Galaxy Watch Can Now Monitor BP & ECG: Here’s how parameters can be tracked
5. Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 [Best Fitness Smartwatch for Android]
Display – 1.43-inch AMOLED
Durability – Military Standard 810H certified
Health Features – Heart rate monitoring, VO2 Max, recovery time tracking, stress tracking, blood oxygen monitoring
Battery Life – Up to 80 hours
Price – INR 34,999
If you are looking for a smartwatch that excels in fitness tracking and health monitoring, then the MobvoiTicWatch Pro 5 should be your choice. Although it can lack some of the cool ecosystem features that you would enjoy with the Pixel Watch or a Galaxy Watch, the Mobvi TicWatch Pro 5 will give you exceptionally accurate health metrics.
The TicWatch 5 Pro has an astounding battery life of up to 80 hours with standard use, which means you wouldn’t have to charge it for 3 days straight. This is especially helpful with a smartwatch that’s focused on fitness tracking.
Since the watch is made for fitness tracking, it has a durable design that’s suitable for all kinds of outdoor activities such as swimming, cycling, wrestling, and whatnot. It also has a rotating navigation crown that allows for smooth UI navigation. It is also Military Standard 810H certified.
Furthermore, the watch supports features like continuous heart rate monitoring, VO2 Max, recovery time tracking, stress tracking, blood oxygen monitoring, and more. There are 1000+ professional workout modes available, so you can track the exact workout that you want to.
There is a 1.43-inch AMOLED screen on the front to see all your health metrics and use the watch. It supports Always-On Display and is covered by Corning Gorilla Anti-fingerprint Cover Glass. The watch supports 24mm straps and is 5ATM water-resistant.
The TicWatch 5 Pro is powered by the Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1 chipset, which is what the latest smartwatches are using including the Pixel Watch 2. TicWatch 5 Pro is built on WearOS and supports NFC for contactless payments.
The watch is made for large wrists, measuring at a height of 50mm, and weighs 44.3 grams. The watch runs on WearOS 3 and is compatible with Android smartphones running on Android 8.0 or later. Unfortunately, there is no built-in digital assistant. You can pair the watch using the Mobvoi Health application.
As for the price, the TicWatch 5 Pro is available at INR 34,999 in two colorways—Obsidian and Sandstone. At the time of writing, the Obsidian color of the watch is available for INR 27,999. You can purchase the watch from Mobvoi’s official website.
6. Amazfit T-Rex – [Best Cheap Hybrid Smartwatch]
Display – 1.3-inch AMOLED
Durability – MIL-STD 810G certified, 10 ATM water-resistant
Health Features – Heart rate monitor, SpO2 monitor, sleep monitor
Battery Life – Up to 18 hours
Price – INR 10,999
A hybrid smartwatch combines a traditional watch design with smart features. This makes them attractive to users looking for a blend of the classic watch style and functionality. In this category, we have the Amazfit T-Rex series.
The Amazfit T-Rex Pro is known for its amazing durability and hybrid design. The watch is MIL-STD 810G certified and is 10 ATM water-resistant, which is extremely rare for smartwatches. The watch is specifically made for withstanding all kinds of climate conditions.
As for the watch itself, the Amazfit T-Rex Pro has a 1.3-inch AMOLED screen with AOD support. It supports straps or bands of 22mm size. You get all the health monitoring sensors including a heart rate monitor, SpO2 monitor, and a sleep monitor.
This watch also supports GPS + GLONASS, GPS + BeiDou, and GPS + Galileo. This makes the GPS or the navigation accuracy of the watch exceptionally good. T-Rex Pro supports 100 sports modes.
Despite its advanced features, the T-Rex Pro offers a respectable 18 hours of battery life, ensuring you can rely on it throughout the day. If you’re looking for a hybrid smartwatch that excels in durability, design, and functionality, the Amazfit T-Rex Pro is an excellent choice. It is available for INR 10,999 on Amazon. You can check out its other variants—T-Rex, and T-Rex Ultra.
ALSO READ: Amazfit T-Rex Pro Review: Should you buy?
7. Best Platform-Independent Fitness Smartwatch
Display – 1.2-inch OLED, 390 x 390 pixels
Battery Life – Up to 10 days in smartwatch mode, up to 20 days in Battery Saver Smartwatch mode
Health Features – Heart rate monitor, respiration rate, Pulse Ox, stress tracking, Body Battery energy monitor
Sports – More than 30 preloaded sports apps
Price – INR 50,490
The Garmin Venu 3S is a versatile GPS smartwatch designed to help you stay active and healthy. It is compatible with both iOS and Android devices.
The Venu 3S features a 41mm case made of fiber-reinforced polymer, with a stainless steel bezel and a silicone strap. It weighs 27g (40g with the band) and fits wrists with a circumference of 110-175 mm.
The watch sports a 1.2-inch OLED screen with a resolution of 390 x 390 pixels. The display is bright and clear, making it easy to read in various lighting conditions. It also supports the Always-On Display feature.
The Venu 3S has superb battery life with up to 10 days of endurance in smartwatch mode (5 days with the display always-on) and up to 20 days of endurance in Battery Saver Smartwatch mode.
For GPS-only GNSS mode, it offers up to 21 hours of battery life, and in All-Systems GNSS mode, it provides up to 15 hours. In All-Systems GNSS mode with music, it offers up to 8 hours of battery life.
As for health monitoring, the watch includes a heart rate monitor and also offers advanced metrics such as respiration rate, Pulse Ox blood oxygen saturation, and all-day stress tracking. Additionally, it features a Body Battery energy monitor and provides insights into your sleep quality.
The Venu 3S also has more than 30 preloaded sports apps, that allow you to track a wide range of activities, including running, cycling, swimming, and more. You can also create your own workouts if you want.
The Venu 3S supports Bluetooth, ANT+, and Wi-Fi connectivity. It can be paired with your iPhone or Android smartphone to receive smart notifications, view images from notifications (Android only), and respond to messages (Android only) using the on-watch keyboard.
The watch includes safety and tracking features such as incident detection and assistance. It also offers music storage, Garmin Coach training plans, and compatibility with the Garmin Connect app for further customization and analysis of your fitness data.
Overall, the Garmin Venu 3S offers excellent fitness tracking capabilities regardless of the smartphone platform. Its features make it ideal for users who prioritize fitness tracking. The Venu 3S is available for INR 50,490 and can be purchased on Garmin’s official website.
Summing Up
SmartwatchBest ForPriceFeaturesSamsung Galaxy Watch 6/6 ClassicSamsung Phone UsersINR 33,999 – INR 43,999Exynos W930 chip, ECG, blood pressure monitoring, 40 hours battery life, WearOS 4/One UI Watch 5Pixel Watch 2Non-Samsung Android UsersINR 39,990Snapdragon W5 Gen 1, WearOS 4, 24-hour battery life, 32 GB storage, SpO2 monitor, ECG sensorOnePlus Watch 2Budget BuyersINR 24,999Snapdragon W5 Gen 1, 100 hours battery life, Wear OS 4 + RTOS, 2 GB RAM, 32 GB ROM, sleep monitoring, stress trackingMobvoi TicWatch Pro 5Fitness EnthusiastsINR 34,999Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1, 80 hours battery life, WearOS 3, 1.43-inch AMOLED screen, 24mm straps, 5ATM water-resistantAmazfit T-Rex ProDurability & Design FansINR 24,999Snapdragon W5 Gen 1, 100 hours battery life, Wear OS 4 + RTOS, 2 GB RAM, 32 GB ROM, sleep monitoring, stress trackingGarmin Venu 3SPlatform-IndependentINR 50,490Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1, 80 hours battery life, WearOS 3, 1.43-inch AMOLED screen, 24mm straps, 5ATM water-resistant
That’s it. These were our picks for the best Android smartwatches across various categories. We hope that this guide has helped you make an informed decision on your smartwatch purchase. So, which one are you purchasing? Let us know in the comments section below.
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