The top tested wearables for Android users

Pre-order the OnePlus Watch 3

The incredible OnePlus Watch 3, which is currently our favourite Wear OS watch to date, is already discounted well in advance of its April release, making now the perfect time to place your order.

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For the longest time it was the TicWatch Pro 5 that held the top spot on this list, but as soon as we got the OnePlus Watch 3 in for testing, we knew that the ranking would change fairly quickly. The chasm between the original (and abysmal) OnePlus Watch and the new OnePlus Watch 3 couldn’t be wider, and it shows just how much OnePlus has looked at the industry and taken that knowledge to improve its own products.

While there’s no denying that the OnePlus Watch 3 is a stylish bit of kit, the one area where it truly amazes above all is in battery life. The longevity of smartwatches has been a conundrum for quite some time, and even Apple has yet to really find a fix that can make the Apple Watch Series 10 last for more than a day, but that’s not a problem for the OnePlus Watch 3.

On a single charge, OnePlus’ wearable can last for up to five days at time, so it could easily outlast your smartphone several times over. As if that wasn’t enough, the power-saving RTOS mode can extend that run-time to a whopping 16 days which, at that point, you’re starting to get into Garmin territory, which isn’t something that we typically anticipate from a Wear OS watch.

Even when the RTOS mode is on, there’s still tons of functionality available on your wrist including music controls, workout tracking and even heart rate monitoring. Similar to the ingenious dual-display on the TicWatch Pro 5, this RTOS mode is the type of feature that we’d love to see more of the competition adopt going forward.

The only area that didn’t quite stack up was the wellness score provided by the OnePlus Watch 3, as it often seemed at odds with how we actually felt in the moment, but it’s an otherwise small blemish on what is a long lasting smartwatch that’s packed with features.

Reviewer: Lewis Painter
Full review: OnePlus Watch 3 review

Mobvoi has been one of the staunchest supporters of Wear OS, even when Google was supplying the software with the bare minimum in terms of updates. While the company’s devices have been hit and miss in terms of quality, its experience in the market finally came to fruition with the excellent TicWatch Pro 5.

The watch has seen several price drops since its launch and you can now pick it up at a significantly discounted rate, even though it’s still an absolute beast where battery life is concerned. Thanks to the low-power secondary FSTN display at sits atop of the main screen, you can expect up to five days of use on a single charge.

That amount of longevity absolutely destroys most smartwatches, and the secondary display is a feature that we wish was adopted by more competitors. Not only is it easier to read in direct sunlight, but the coloured backlight can quickly let you know of your current heart rate zone during a workout. Features like these make the TicWatch Pro 5 one of the most well-rounded smartwatches on the market, and not just amongst its Wear OS peers.

Reviewer: Thomas Deehan
Full review: TicWatch Pro 5 review

Even though the Pixel Watch series has had an undeniable sense of style ever since it first came to market, the watches themselves haven’t been total successes across the board. The first-gen watch had a lacklustre battery life, while the second still suffered from being too small with just a singular 41mm size option. Thankfully, the Pixel Watch 3 has finally reached the sweet spot, earning an easy spot on this list.

At its core, the Pixel Watch 3’s best facet is its design. Google’s use of a pebble-like chassis that makes the screen’s bezel appear almost invisible, is inspired, and it makes a lot of competing Wear OS watches seem retro by comparison. Plus, with a new 45mm option alongside the aforementioned 41mm entry-level model, the Pixel Watch 3 is now a more ideal pick for those who prefer a larger watch.

If you do go for that 45mm option then you’ll also notice a solid uptick in battery life, as we were able to reach an impressive two-days of use with the always-on display toggled, which far and away beats the Apple Watch Series 10.

The Pixel Watch’s ace in the hole has always been its connection to Fitbit’s fitness tracking software, and that’s an accolade that’s only gotten better on this newest device. The algorithms used to track running workouts are now far more robust, offering up more insightful bits of data including ground contact time and cadence.

These tweaks stand on top of the fact that’s Fitbit’s weekly approach to wellness targets makes for a far more forgiving system, particularly to those with busy schedules and those who are just starting out on their fitness journey.

There isn’t a huge amount of difference beyond that with the older Pixel Watch 2 however, so if you do own the Pixel Watch 3’s predecessor, you might want to hold out another generation or two before making your next upgrade.

Reviewer: Conor Allison
Full review: Pixel Watch 3 review

While there’s nothing stopping you from pairing any of the watches on this list with your Samsung phone, there’s only one option that gives the most seamless (and affordable) experience possible for users and that’s the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7.

The Watch 7 gives you quick access to some of the key apps on your Samsung phone, including the Bixby assistant and your camera app – perfect for lining up a shot. Similarly, there are several fitness features on the Watch 7 that are only available if you pair with a Samsung device, so in order to get the most out of the watch, Samsung wants you to go all in on its own ecosystem.

Much like the TicWatch Pro 5’s secondary display, the Galaxy Watch 7 has a unique feature of its own in a digital rotating bezel which allows you to scroll through menus simply by swiping around the outside of the display. It’s a simple concept but it works incredibly well, and it saves you adding any annoying smudges to the display during a workout.

Reviewer: Mike Sawh
Full review: Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 review

Aside from a few outliers from high-end companies like Mont Blanc, Wear OS watches have largely avoided the premium space, opting to stay just below the Apple Watch in terms of pricing. The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra serves to buck that trend, offering a top shelf experience that isn’t too dissimilar to what iPhone users have been able to enjoy with the Apple Watch Ultra.

With an asking price of £599/$649, the Galaxy Watch Ultra will far exceed the budgets of most buyers but in return, you’re getting a watch that’s built with grade 4 titanium and to fit a level of military grade durability. There’s also a new quick button which can’t be found on any other Galaxy Watch, making things easier when toggling features like fitness tracking or the torch function.

The only thing missing is a physical rotating bezel similar to the one found on the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic. The digital rotating bezel from the standard Galaxy Watch is here, but it’s less useful given that physical inputs are far easier to use during extended periods of exercise, something that’s understood by the best Garmin watches.

When it comes to Wear OS, the Galaxy Watch Ultra is able to show off Google’s operating system in its best light. In addition to the super bright display that can reach 2000 nits, the Watch also has Wear OS 5 out of the box, making it one of the first wearables of its kind to do so (alongside the Galaxy Watch 7).

The Watch’s dual-frequency GPS and powerful heart rate sensor allow it to also pump out accurate fitness tracking data, making it an easy option for anyone who wants the sports focussed approach of a Garmin, but with all the smarts that Wear OS has to offer.

Reviewer: Conor Allison
Full review: Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra review

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