These controls are customizable and though there’s a bit of a learning curve to operating the watch, once you get your head around it and the buttons/shortcuts tailored to your liking, it’s a pleasure to interact with. The watch has a scratch-resistant ceramic bezel and interchangeable silicone straps that strike an excellent balance of style and comfort. To that effect, it looks sporty enough for clubhouses yet stylish enough for a steakhouse. We reviewed the all-black unit, but there’s a white version that better resembles a golf glove, which some aesthetically minded players might prefer. It’s a little thicker and heavier than the standard Fenix 8, which also comes in a smaller 43mm size, so the Fenix 8 Pro is not the perfect option for those with smaller wrists.
There’s also a social function which lets you browse routes nearby you, so if you don’t want to plan your own 10k you can use someone else’s. The app also has certain running drills, improvement programs and goal tracking functions. The app lets you access these routes on the fly, and also track your runs along them to see how well you did.
The Pixel Watch 4 offers reliable fitness tracking, similar to its predecessor, and now comes with a Gemini-based fitness coach. Google made the watch available in two sizes, 41mm and a larger 45mm model. The displays are also larger with slimmer bezels, making it feel like an A-tier device. Google went ahead and upgraded the battery once again, giving us 25% more than the Watch 3’s battery. We found the best fitness trackers and watches that balance fitness tools with actual ‘smarts’ like apps and voice assistants.
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- A lover of kayaking, hiking, swimming, biking, snowboarding and exploring, he also makes every effort to combine his day job with his passions.
- Stress tracking was especially interesting during our tests as we liked how well it charted our stress levels while offering useful feedback on ways to lower them.
- Otherwise, you can see how the Watch 4 mostly keeps pace but still falls 1–2 bpm short during rapid changes.
- You’ll be wearing this device daily, so you’ll want something that looks and feels excellent while also being able to withstand the rigours of everyday use.
- Samsung watches like the Galaxy Watch Ultra pair most effectively with Samsung phones but work with any Android device running Android 8.0 or higher.
- Like the pricier Pixel Watch 4, smart features, fitness tracking tools and health insights are all top-notch.
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Garmin Quatix 8 is Here: Built for the Water, Ready for the Wild
For athletes who want to bring music on their go in their workouts, you’ll want a tracker that lets you leave your phone behind. Some models, like Forerunner 165, come with optional music storage for an extra $50. However, a lack of LTE and support for third-party apps limits its smartwatch appeal. The Venu X1 also offers very accurate heart rate monitoring, but it does lack multi-band GPS, which can reduce its accuracy when running in tricky GPS areas like city centers in my experience.
However, Wear OS 6 will come to several smartwatches later this year, although some models will likely be left behind. The Galaxy Watch 8, which was released on July 25th, shipped with One UI 8 Watch (Samsung’s version of Wear OS 6). The $349.99 Pixel Watch 4 will launch on October 9th with Wear OS 6 installed, so stay tuned for our upcoming review. The Galaxy Watch Ultra has a 1.5-inch OLED display that rests underneath sapphire crystal and sits inside a massive, 47 mm titanium case. The larger screen makes viewing notifications, weather, and fitness tracking easier, and in our tests it hasn’t succumbed to any scuffs and scratches thanks to its tougher case and glass.
Best Smartwatches Under $50 in 2025 – Long Battery & GPS
Whether we were working or training, the watch face and comfy strap never pinched, tugged, or irritated our skin. The large, clear display is easy to read, allowing us to view metrics such as time, pace, and heart rate during workouts. For a versatile, straightforward device that you can use to track a variety of activities, we love Garmin’s Vivosmart 5 Fitness Tracker. During testing, we found it provided very precise and helpful metrics for high-intensity interval training (HIIT), treadmill runs, hikes, and more. With a sleek, lightweight design, the tracker feels comfortable and unobtrusive, even when we wear it to monitor our sleep patterns. The best Android smartwatch depends on your preferences and how you intend to use it.
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Garmin Coach lives under the ‘training’ tab in the app and features loads of options to suit all abilities and goals. Compared to the MIP displays found in the Instinct 3 mad muscles app review Solar editions and past Instinct models, AMOLED offers a more immersive visual experience. Put another way, these screens are easier to view in bright daylight than the older tech. The Garmin Approach S62 comes with key golf features such as access to data on 41,000 courses worldwide, GPS readings on distance and hole hazards and a shot-tracking function. There’s also a virtual caddie that recommends clubs based on distance to the pin. It may be a lot for a novice golfer (if that’s you, check out our Garmin S20 review,) but veteran golfers will appreciate the insight —and may even leave the rangefinder at home.
By carefully assessing these factors, you can find the Android smartwatch that best suits your lifestyle, preferences, and requirements. Consider your preferences and priorities to choose the Android smartwatch that best suits your lifestyle. I can ask it to set timers, check the weather, and control my smart gadgets at home. The 5ATM water resistance allows you to push your limits even in aquatic environments.
Factors to consider when choosing an Android smartwatch
We tested the skin-temperature measurements against those of the Oura Ring 4 — our top pick for sleep tracking — and found that the two wearables showed almost identical results each day. The smartwatch also accurately detected a spike in temperature in the middle of the night when I woke up from feeling warm and had to turn the AC unit on. Sleep metrics were similar on most days, tracking almost the same amount of time in each sleep stage, and my sleep scores closely matched. But I found that the Oura Ring was more accurate at differentiating when I was asleep versus awake and still in bed. The Pixel Watch 4 also did an excellent job of detecting when I’d take naps, and it would automatically enable Bedtime Mode and disable always-on display and notifications. The Google Pixel Watch 4 has a smaller bezel, a brighter display, and a slimmer build than its predecessor.
Best Android Smartwatches Compared
The lineup features unmatched third-party app support and seamless integration with iPhones. My device is loaded with everything from Spotify to Audible, and it’s where I field 90% of my notifications and review 100% of my wellness stats most days. Though somewhat stagnant, the company’s well-known aesthetic is also clean and elegant, especially if you prefer a square display to fit more text. Meanwhile, watchOS improves year after year, delivering a more powerful experience to users’ wrists. Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 7 is the best smartwatch for most Android smartphone users. If you love exploring new routes, we recommend Polar Vantage’s M3 Smartwatch for its accurate GPS navigation, sharp display, and accurate metrics.
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What to look for in a good smartwatch
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Smartwatches are meant to help you keep track of your notifications, as well as your health and activity. The OnePlus Watch 3 is the best full-featured Android smartwatch for battery life, averaging just over four days per charge in our testing. It also offers loads of fitness and health tracking features and costs less than most of the competition. Internally, the Charge 6 provides all the basics, including step and activity tracking, sleep tracking, ECG support, skin temperature tracking, SpO2 monitoring, and the option to take EDA scans. Plus, the tracker boasts improved heart rate tracking for more accurate stats than ever, thanks to improved machine learning algorithms.
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Garmin Venu 3
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Users can navigate the watch’s interface via touchscreen or physical buttons; I prefer the latter when I’m sweaty. Battery life is ample enough for marathons, even while listening to music. The Galaxy Watch 7 is a little less bulky than the newer model, https://www.reviews.io/company-reviews/store/madmuscles.com which features a cushion case compared to the 7’s circular case design.
Some faces offer functional complications like showing your calendar, weather, and battery life, while others are just for aesthetics. There are tons to browse to find watch faces matching your style and preferences. Enjoy features like built-in GPS, continuous heart rate monitoring, fall detection, live tracking, and contactless payments.
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Who It’s For
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In addition to tracking tons of sport modes and advanced workout metrics, the watch also offers Garmin’s Health Snapshot feature and an FDA-approved ECG app for on-demand readings and monitoring signs of AFib. The Venu 3 is pricey, but it also brings key smartwatch features to the table, such as mobile payments, voice calling, and voice assistant support. The device is also available in two case sizes so users can find the perfect fit for their wrists. For iPhone users, I would be remiss not to recommend the Apple Watch Series 10 as a top fitness tracker.
Best for Apple ecosystem users who value versatility and comprehensive smartwatch capabilities beyond fitness tracking and also want a fully integrated experience. Best for users seeking a budget-friendly fitness tracker with in-depth sleep insights and basic fitness metrics. During testing, we found that the metrics were always spot on for everything from hiking to climbing and trail running. We love that it has GPS tracking, which we found intuitive and easy to use. With so many great features and compatibility, we think this tracker is well worth the money for fitness enthusiasts. Switchable tiles for heart rate, blood oxygen, calories, and a compass ensure you’re on top of things, no matter what.