Buying guide

Best Smartwatch for Android (2026)

Apple Watches are iPhone-only, so for Android the choice narrows to Samsung's flagship and Garmin's adventure watch — here's how they compare.

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Our top picks for Android

Apple Watches don't work with Android, so the best Android smartwatches come down to Samsung's Wear OS watch and Garmin's training tools.

  • Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 — the best all-round Android smartwatch. A bright 3,000-nit AMOLED, Wear OS 6 with Google Gemini built in, and strong Samsung Health tracking at $349. It's best paired with a Samsung phone, where it unlocks every feature.
  • Garmin Fenix 8 AMOLED — the Android pick for athletes and the outdoors. Multi-week battery, full topo maps, and the deepest training analysis here, working with any Android phone (and iPhone too).

Note: every Apple Watch is iPhone-only, so none are options on Android.

How we picked

For Android we weight phone compatibility, health and fitness tracking, and battery life. Samsung is the best everyday smartwatch; Garmin is the endurance and training pick. If you don't use a Samsung phone, the Galaxy Watch still works but loses a few Samsung-only health features — worth weighing against the cross-platform Garmin.

Take the smartwatch quiz or read how to choose a smartwatch.

Still choosing?

Frequently asked

Can I use an Apple Watch with an Android phone?

No. Apple Watches require an iPhone. For Android, the best options are the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 (best with a Samsung phone) and the cross-platform Garmin Fenix 8.

Does the Galaxy Watch 8 work with non-Samsung Android phones?

The Galaxy Watch 8 works with most Android phones, but some health and setup features are limited to Samsung Galaxy phones. The Garmin Fenix 8 works fully across any Android phone and iPhone.

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