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.
Take the quiz →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?
- See all Smartwatches
- Best Smartwatches for Running (2026)
- Best Smartwatch for iPhone (2026)
- Apple Watch Series 11 vs Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 (Smartwatche
- Apple Watch Series 11 vs Apple Watch Ultra 3 (Smartwatches)
- Apple Watch Ultra 3 vs Garmin Fenix 8 AMOLED (Smartwatches)
- Apple Watch Series 11
- Apple Watch Ultra 3
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.