June 9

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The Best Android Smartwatches Reviews in 2020

By Victor Dietrich

June 9, 2020


​Smartwatch

Price

​Operating system

​Battery Life

​Shopping

Samsung Galaxy Smartwatch

SAMSUNG Galaxy Watch (46mm, GPS, Bluetooth) – Silver/Black (US Version)

$53.97

​TizenOS

​Up to 4 days

Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2

SAMSUNG Galaxy Watch Active 2 Smart Watch 44mm US Version GPS Bluetooth Advanced Health Monitoring Fitness Tracking Long-Lasting Battery, Aqua Black

$299.99

​TizenOS

​Up to 5 days

​Fitbit Versa 2

Fitbit Versa 2 Health and Fitness Smartwatch with Heart Rate, Music, Alexa Built-In, Sleep and Swim Tracking, Black/Carbon, One Size (S and L Bands Included)

$159.00

​Fitbit OS

​6+ days

​Fossil Gen 3 Sport

Fossil Gen 3 Sport Smartwatch - Q Control Black Silicone FTW7000

Price not available

​Android Wear 2.0

7-​24 hours

​TicWatch E2 Smartwatch

TicWatch E2 Smartwatch, GPS Waterproof 24 Hours Heart Rate Monitor, Running on Wear OS by Google, Black

Price not available

​WearOS

​24 hours+

​My top 5 Android Smartwatch choices

1. Best ​​Android Smartwatch - Samsung Galaxy Watch Smartwatch ($53.97)


SAMSUNG Galaxy Watch (46mm, GPS, Bluetooth) – Silver/Black (US Version)

​​

  • Live a stronger, smarter life with Galaxy Watch at your wrist. Rest well and stay active with built-in health tracking and a Bluetooth connection that keeps everything at your wrist. Plus, go for days without charging.
  • Go nonstop for days on a single charge. The wireless charger lets you power up without slowing down. (Average expected performance based on typical use. Results may vary.)
  • Available in two sizes and three colors, the Galaxy Watch offers stylish watch faces so realistic they hardly look digital. Plus, choose from a collection of interchangeable bands.
  • Pairs with both Android and iOS smartphones via Bluetooth connection.
  • Included in box: Galaxy Watch, Additional Strap (Large and Small included), Wireless charging Dock, Travel Adaptor, Quick Start Guide, User Manual (Warranty: 1 Year Standard Parts and Labor)

Amazon collected a total of with an average rating of ()

SAMSUNG Galaxy Watch (46mm, GPS, Bluetooth) – Silver/Black (US Version)

SAMSUNG Galaxy Watch (46mm, GPS, Bluetooth) – Silver/Black (US Version)

SAMSUNG Galaxy Watch (46mm, GPS, Bluetooth) – Silver/Black (US Version)

​Price:$53.97

​Style (75%)
​Battery Life (100%)
​Comfort (80%)
​Features (70%)

Why we chose this one:

Samsung has been steadily improving its smartwatch offerings since they first followed Google into the space; the Galaxy Watch represents the culmination of these efforts. Samsung has clearly learned a lot from its past failures and successes, and the Galaxy Watch is by far the best smartwatch that Samsung has ever offered. Thanks to its excellent build quality and stylish design, this is a watch that you can comfortably wear throughout the day.

The brand has a checkered history when it comes to operating systems, having a tendency to combine competent design with needless amounts of bloatware. We’re pleased to say that Tizen is a break from the Samsung of the past, it is a joy to use, and the rotating bezel control makes controlling it as simple as could be.

As you would expect from Samsung, the display is among the best that you will find on a smartwatch in this price range. Like Samsung’s smartphones, the always-on display features mean that you can easily check the time and your notifications at a glance.

Another great feature of the Galaxy Watch is that it features built-in GPS. Most smartwatches support GPS through a paired smartphone but the inclusion of GPS onboard the smartwatch means that you can use it to find your way around even when your phone is out of battery. This watch also scored #1 in my best waterproof smartwatches rating.

​Specifications

  • Sensors: Accelerometer, barometer, gyro sensor, HR sensor, light sensor, NFC
  • Display: 1.3” sAMOLED 360 X 360
  • Processor: 1.15 GHz Dual-Core
  • Memory / Storage: 750 MB RAM / 4 GB Storage
  • Available in two sizes and three different colors
  • Water resistant up to 50m
  • Weight: 2.88 ounces
  • Operating system: TizenOS
  • Case size: 42 mm, 46mm
  • Storage: 4 GB
  • One-year warranty
  • Pros

    • ​1-year warranty included
    • ​Includes standalone GPS
    • ​Battery life is among the best we have found on a smartwatch
    • ​TizenOS is great to use
    • ​The rotating bezel control is simple to operate and makes navigation a breeze
    • The OLED display is crisp and vibrant
    • Comfortable to wear
    • Offers a range of fitness features out of the box
    • Samsung Pay has come a long way and rivals Google Pay

    Cons

    • ​Doesn’t play well with Apple devices
    • ​Heart rate monitor can be unreliable sometimes
    • ​Step counter still can’t cope with stairs
    • Bixby is still awful
    • Tizen is lacking in apps
    • Only 4GB internal storage
    • Bluetooth version doesn’t support text messaging

    ​2. Best ​​Android Smartwatch - ​Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 ($299.99)


    SAMSUNG Galaxy Watch Active 2 Smart Watch 44mm US Version GPS Bluetooth Advanced Health Monitoring Fitness Tracking Long-Lasting Battery, Aqua Black

    ​​

    • Better Insights To Help You Reach Your Fitness Goals: Get More Out Of Every Mile, Thanks To Built-In Pace Coaching On The Galaxy Watch Active2.
    • Comfortably Sleek: The Galaxy Active2 Comes In Aluminum With A Silicone Strap, And Is Light Enough To Wear Anywhere Comfortably. Compatible Devices-Samsung Smartphone, Non-Samsung Android Smartphone (Android Os 5.0 And Above Ram 1.5Gb And Above), Ios 9.0 And Above Iphone 5 And Above
    • Keep Your Beat: Receive An Automatic Alert If Your Watch Detects A High Or A Low Heart Rate.
    • Level Up Your Downtime: The Built-In Sleep Tracker Offers Valuable Insights On How To Get A Better Night’S Sleep.

    Amazon collected a total of with an average rating of ()

    SAMSUNG Galaxy Watch Active 2 Smart Watch 44mm US Version GPS Bluetooth Advanced Health Monitoring Fitness Tracking Long-Lasting Battery, Aqua Black

    SAMSUNG Galaxy Watch Active 2 Smart Watch 44mm US Version GPS Bluetooth Advanced Health Monitoring Fitness Tracking Long-Lasting Battery, Aqua Black

    SAMSUNG Galaxy Watch Active 2 Smart Watch 44mm US Version GPS Bluetooth Advanced Health Monitoring Fitness Tracking Long-Lasting Battery, Aqua Black

    ​Price:$299.99

    ​Style (80%)
    ​Battery Life (85%)
    ​Comfort (80%)
    ​Features (75%)

    Why we chose this one:

    For consumers who aren’t looking for the full-blown smartwatch experience that the Galaxy Watch offers, Samsung has released the Galaxy Watch Active line. The Active watches are a more pared-back version of the Galaxy Watch that prioritizes the fitness features of a smartwatch over the more techy features that power users are looking for. However, the Galaxy Watch Active 2 is an extremely reasonable compromise.

    However, it is worth noting that the Watch Active 2 was released just 6 months after the first iteration that many people considered to be a misstep. The second version is bigger than its predecessor and features a much nicer display. Unfortunately, the internals remain unchanged and the Galaxy Watch Active 2 is no more powerful than its predecessor.

    While it has a bigger profile than the previous version, the Galaxy Watch Active 2 is still elegant in its design and comfortable to wear for extended periods. It is also comfortable to wear during exercise and is one of the best options out there for anyone who wants a high-quality smartwatch primarily for the fitness tracking features.

    ​Specifications

    • Weight: 1.55 ounces
    • Operating system: TizenOS
    • Case size: 40mm, 44 mm
    • Water-resistant
    • Storage: 4 GB

    Pros

    • ​Bigger than its predecessor
    • ​Combines a larger display with a great battery life
    • ​Option for an LTE version
    • ​Elegant and discrete design
    • ​Offers a virtual version of Samsung’s rotating bezel control that works very well
    • ​Activity and sleep tracking both works well

    Cons

    • ​Doesn’t offer a performance boost over its predecessor
    • ​Tizen’s app support is lacking
    • ​Bixby is a waste of time
    • ​Not great for fitness tracking
    • ​Water lock setting must be switched on to make the watch water-resistant
    • ​Watch faces not compatible with US Imperial systems

    ​3. Best ​​Android Smartwatch - ​​Fitbit Versa 2 Health and Fitness Smartwatch ($159.00)


    Fitbit Versa 2 Health and Fitness Smartwatch with Heart Rate, Music, Alexa Built-In, Sleep and Swim Tracking, Black/Carbon, One Size (S and L Bands Included)

    ​​

    • Use amazon Alexa built in to get quick news and information, check the weather, set timers and alarms, control your smart home devices and more all through the sound of your voice (third party app may be required; amazon Alexa not available in all countries)
    • Based on your heart rate, time asleep and restlessness, sleep score helps you better understand your sleep quality each night. Also track your time in light, deep and REM sleep stages and get personal insights
    • Get a 90-day free trial of the Fitbit Premium to help you stay active, sleep well and manage stress. Unlock it all in the Fitbit app. (The valid payment method required. Cancel before free trial ends to avoid subscription fees. Offer valid for new Premium users only)
    • With a larger display and an always on option, your information?s always a quick glance away (always on display requires more frequent charging)
    • Play your favorite songs and playlists with Spotify app controls on your wrist. Also make secure purchases with Fitbit Pay and get called, text and smartphone app notifications.

    Amazon collected a total of with an average rating of ()

    Fitbit Versa 2 Health and Fitness Smartwatch with Heart Rate, Music, Alexa Built-In, Sleep and Swim Tracking, Black/Carbon, One Size (S and L Bands Included)

    Fitbit Versa 2 Health and Fitness Smartwatch with Heart Rate, Music, Alexa Built-In, Sleep and Swim Tracking, Black/Carbon, One Size (S and L Bands Included)

    Fitbit Versa 2 Health and Fitness Smartwatch with Heart Rate, Music, Alexa Built-In, Sleep and Swim Tracking, Black/Carbon, One Size (S and L Bands Included)

    ​Price:$159.00

    ​Style (80%)
    ​Battery Life (70%)
    ​Comfort (80%)
    ​Features (70%)

    Why we chose this one:

    There are, broadly speaking, two types of smartwatches on the market today, there are true smartwatches that are designed to augment the smartphone experience, and then there are those whose primary purpose is to act as a fitness tracker. There have been a number of attempts from different manufacturers to produce smartwatches that marry these two worlds together. The reality is that this is a much more difficult task in practice than it is in principle. As a result, most of these efforts have been unsuccessful. However, the Versa 2 from Fitbit is by far one of the most successful attempts at achieving this so far.

    The watch features a sleek design that incorporates a big, bright AMOLED display into the smallest frame possible. That big display helps to improve the usefulness of the always-on display and ensures that you can easily check the time by glancing at your watch without having to wake the screen. Unlike previous smartwatches from Fitbit, the Versa 2 incorporates Fitbit Pay as standard. Fitbit Pay is one of the best mobile payment services outside of Google and Apple. For a voice assistant, Fitbit has chosen Amazon’s Alexa, which is definitely one of the more reliable voice assistants on the market.

    Finally, the Fitbit OS has received a lot of love and attention since first releasing and this latest iteration is the best one yet. Fitbit is rapidly improving its service and is starting to present a serious threat to the more established players.

    ​Specifications

    • Weight: 1.41 ounces
    • Operating system: Fitbit OS
    • Case size: 40 mm
    • Display: 300 x 300 1.6” AMOLED
    • Processor: Single Cortex M4 @ 120Mhz
    • Storage: 4 GB

    Pros

    • ​Sleek design
    • ​Big, bright, AMOLED display
    • ​The always-on display makes it easy to check the time at a glance
    • ​Includes Fitbit Pay, unlike previous models
    • ​Has Amazon Alexa built-in
    • ​Excellent sleep tracking

    Cons

    • ​No on-board GPS
    • ​Doesn’t support offline Spotify playback
    • ​Lack of third-party app support
    • ​Productivity features are lacking
    • ​No GPS
    • ​​Some users reported connectivity issues

    ​4. Best ​​Android Smartwatch - Fossil Gen 3 Sport (Price not available)


    Fossil Gen 3 Sport Smartwatch - Q Control Black Silicone FTW7000

    ​​

    • Stay connected with display notifications and touchscreen functionality for texts, calls, emails, and app updates. Wear OS by Google connects your watch and smartphone using Bluetooth technology, so you can stay on top of what’s happening in your world
    • The Q Control is swim-proof and water resistant up to 50 meters and features built-in heart rate and activity tracking. Automatically syncs to your phone so you can keep tabs on your accomplishments – including steps, distance and calories burned
    • Customize the face of your smartwatch anytime you want. Choose a Fossil or Wear OS by Google design, adjust the colors, and assign your favorite apps to the dial. Fit your style with interchangeable straps - compatible with all Fossil brand 20mm straps
    • Effortlessly charge your Fossil Q by placing it on the inductive charging magnet (included). This wearable has an estimated 24-hour battery life, based on usage
    • Powered with Wear OS by Google, a trademark of Google LLC. Your wearable is compatible with Android and iOS smartphones, specifically with Android OS 4.4+ (excluding Go) or iOS 9.3+. All devices have Bluetooth(R) 4.1 Low Energy and Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n

    Amazon collected a total of with an average rating of ()

    Fossil Gen 3 Sport Smartwatch - Q Control Black Silicone FTW7000

    Fossil Gen 3 Sport Smartwatch - Q Control Black Silicone FTW7000

    Fossil Gen 3 Sport Smartwatch - Q Control Black Silicone FTW7000

    ​Price:Price not available

    ​Style (90%)
    ​Battery Life (90%)
    ​Comfort (90%)
    ​Features (80%)

    Why we chose this one:

    After a couple of failed attempts at producing its own line of smartwatches, Google decided to buy up the smartwatch tech business Fossil. While the Fossil Sport doesn’t bear the Google branding, it does feature WearOS and is, for all intents and purposes, a Google product. The Fossil line predates Google’s buyout and the Gen 3 is the first model to be released since Fossil were subsumed by Google.

    The Fossil Sport is one of the most elegantly designed smartwatches that we have come across. It has a small profile, made slightly bigger by the presence of three physical buttons on the side of the watch. One of these buttons also rotates. Together, this is a simple and very effective control system. You can customize the other two buttons to launch your favorite apps. As you would hope from a watch marketed under the ‘Sport’ title, this is a smartwatch that you can comfortably wear throughout the day, no matter how active you are.

    This is an ideal smartwatch for anyone who wants comprehensive fitness features alongside the conventional smartwatch features. Both the built-in GPS and heart rate monitor are among the most accurate we have used and neither requires you to pair with a smartphone.

    ​Specifications

    • Weight: 1.1 ounces
    • Operating system: Android Wear 2.0
    • Case size: 41 mm, 45 mm
    • Display: 450 x 450 1.39 inch
    • Inductive charging magnet included
    • Storage: 4 GB

    Pros

    • ​Built-in GPS and heart rate monitor are accurate
    • ​General fitness features are excellent
    • ​Lightweight and stylish design
    • ​Customizable buttons

    Cons

    • ​The processor is relatively slow
    • ​Poor battery life
    • ​Difficult to switch off
    • ​Bad voice command support
    • ​The watch has known issues with a software reboot glitch

    ​5. Best ​​Android Smartwatch - ​TicWatch E2 Smartwatch (Price not available)


    TicWatch E2 Smartwatch, GPS Waterproof 24 Hours Heart Rate Monitor, Running on Wear OS by Google, Black

    ​​

    • Wear OS Smartwatch - You can download apps from Google Play Store easily, compatible with iPhone and Android phones.
    • Receive notifications on the watch - Stay in the moment with smart ways to receive notifications and see who’s calling, without pulling out your phone. Google Assistant built-in.
    • 5ATM Waterproof- Your swimming companion with up to 5.0 meter underwater waterproof.
    • GPS Built-in- Workout without your phone. Google Fit and TicMotion make it easy to get motivated, stay balanced and track your health right from your wrist.

    Amazon collected a total of with an average rating of ()

    TicWatch E2 Smartwatch, GPS Waterproof 24 Hours Heart Rate Monitor, Running on Wear OS by Google, Black

    TicWatch E2 Smartwatch, GPS Waterproof 24 Hours Heart Rate Monitor, Running on Wear OS by Google, Black

    TicWatch E2 Smartwatch, GPS Waterproof 24 Hours Heart Rate Monitor, Running on Wear OS by Google, Black

    ​Price:Price not available

    ​Style (50%)
    ​Battery Life (90%)
    ​Comfort (70%)
    ​Features (70%)

    Why we chose this one:

    At first glance, the TicWatch E2 has the appearance of a cheap digital watch. It is unfortunate that it creates such a bad first impression because the actual watch is pretty great, especially for the asking price.

    Once you get past the uninspired appearance, The TicWatch E2 is a pretty neat device. It is also, in spite of its clunky design, very comfortable to wear throughout the day.

    The processor is a Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 2100, which is a little bit dated now. As a result, the watch is sometimes slow to respond. However, performance is in line for what you would expect at this price. A relatively underpowered processor also means that the E2 is able to easily achieve a full 24 hours of use on a single battery charge.

    Unfortunately, the E2 is lacking NFC, which means no mobile payment services of any kind. If you are looking for an entry-level smartwatch that gives you a taste of what the full smartwatch experience is like but at a more affordable price, this is an excellent option.

    ​Specifications

    • Weight: 1.88 ounces
    • Operating system: WearOS
    • Case size: 47mm
    • Display: 400 x 400 1.39 inch AMOLED
    • 5ATM waterproof
    • Built-in GPS
    • Storage: 4 GB

    Pros

    • ​Excellent value for money
    • ​Fantastic battery life ensures a full day of use
    • ​Lightweight and comfortable to wear
    • ​Great support
    • Comfortable to wear

    Cons

    • ​Uninspiring design
    • ​No NFC or microphone
    • ​Relatively old chipset makes for slow app launches
    • ​Very unresponsive
    • ​Packed with bloatware
    • Needs updating straight out of the box

    People were also interested in:​

    Victor Dietrich

    About the author

    I was born and raised in Vienna Austria. When I was 16 years old I started working for a watchmaker in the city, 50 years later I retired after running the business for the previous 10 years. I am now a contributor to ExpertCog where I share my knowledge on watches.

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