The Apple Watch is undeniably an announcement piece, and it’s our decide for the finest smartwatch. But in the event you don’t personal an iPhone or need to discover an Apple Watch various, there are many different choices to think about.
TL;DR – These are one of the best Apple Watch options to purchase
- Samsung Galaxy Watch6 (Best Overall)
- Google Pixel Watch 2 (Best Casual)
- Garmin Venu 3 (Best Alternative for iPhone Users)
- Fitbit Sense 2 (Best Fitness)
- Huawei Band 7 (Best Budget)
- Fossil Gen 6 Hybrid (Best Battery Life)
- Samsung Galaxy Watch5 Pro (Best Rugged Outdoor)
- Louis Vuitton Tambour Horizon Light Up (Best Luxury)
The finest Apple Watch options ought to cowl most consumer’s wants. Whether you’re an Android consumer, searching for a budget-friendly smartwatch, or simply need to see what choices can be found to you, we’ve acquired you coated.
1. Samsung Galaxy Watch6
The Best Apple Watch Alternative
Samsung Galaxy Watch6
Battery Life
Up to 30 hours
Excellent exercise and sleep monitoring
The Samsung Galaxy Watch6 is one of the best Android smartwatch, providing consolation, type, and performance. It has a modern, easy band with a pointy, round, and responsive contact show that’s barely larger and brighter than the last-gen mannequin. There’s even a helpful touch-sensitive bezel for scrolling. However, this mannequin does see a drop in battery life from 50 to 30 hours — a slight disappointment, however it nonetheless beats the Apple Watch and pairs nice with the brand new Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.
This watch doesn’t neglect all of the well being monitoring and sensible options you like. There’s a variety of superior sensors, together with pores and skin temperature, ECG, and blood oxygen saturation, together with dependable automated train detection and strong sleep monitoring. The Galaxy Watch6 additionally helps a variety of apps and allows you to ship messages, reply calls, get app alerts, and make funds.
With numerous colour choices, 40mm and 44mm sizes, and swappable watch bands and faces, the Galaxy Watch6 is very customizable. It’s attainable to attach along with your cellphone by way of Bluetooth and the Samsung Galaxy Wearable app, or you’ll be able to get pleasure from mobile connectivity.
2. Google Pixel Watch 2
Best Casual Apple Watch Alternative
Google Pixel Watch 2
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Enjoy the modern and comfy design of the Pixel Watch 2 alongside a number of health options and Google-based apps.
Battery Life
Up to 24 hours
The Google Pixel Watch 2 is simply as modern and comfy as the unique, with just a few minor enhancements. This Android smartwatch retains a minimal look and polish, making it versatile for informal and formal use. It has a well-known small, spherical OLED show that hides the bezels nicely, whereas the underside sees upgrades to the sensors and charging mechanism—it now makes use of a dependable pogo pin cost.
Since Google owns Fitbit, the Pixel Watch 2 has health options for top-of-the-line monitoring of your coronary heart fee, well being, sleep, and exercises. Crash detection, a GPS, and an all-day battery life are additionally helpful. Meanwhile, you get entry to all issues Google, corresponding to Google Maps, Google Wallet, and YouTube Music, although its sensible options aren’t as nice as they might be.
The Pixel Watch is good for Google Pixel smartphone customers with fast pairing and misplaced and located settings, however the smartwatch additionally works nicely with nearly every other Android cellphone.
3. Garmin Venu 3
Best Apple Watch Alternative for iPhone Users
Garmin Venu 3
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Beyond train monitoring, GPS, and cellphone notifications, the Venu 3 has a novel Body Battery instrument and different superior health options.
Battery Life
Up to 14 days
No subscription wanted for well being metrics
Apps aren’t very intuitive
Equipped with a pointy AMOLED show and spectacular battery life, the Garmin Venu 3 is a incredible decide for iPhone customers who need extra health choices and a round watch design. Of course, Android customers will even admire all that’s on supply with this watch.
It comes with the options you’ve come to count on from a smartwatch — together with an correct GPS, cellphone notifications, music, health monitoring, coronary heart fee monitoring, and far more. The Venu 3 has upgraded the distinctive Body Battery instrument that provides perception into when it’s best to work out and even added nap detection, sleep teaching, and wheelchair monitoring. And that’s simply scratching the floor of its health performance.
The smartwatch is fairly versatile and even does issues the Apple Watch simply can’t do. However, it doesn’t supply mobile connectivity, so that you’ll must pair it with the finest smartphones to get essentially the most out of the Venu 3.
4. Fitbit Sense 2
Best Apple Watch Alternative for Fitness
Fitbit Sense 2
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Want to observe your well being stats and health? The Fitbit Sense 2 is a bit more indulgent however presents loads of worthwhile information.
Works with Android and iPhone
For the bodily match, the Fitbit Sense 2 (by Google) is the smartwatch of alternative and top-of-the-line Fitbits general. It’s loaded with helpful health sensors, together with GPS to trace actions with greater than 40 train modes, a pores and skin temperature sensor to trace physique warmth, a steady ElectroDermal Activity (cEDA) to trace stress with as much as a really spectacular six days of battery life per cost. The smartwatch is even waterproof, so you’ll be able to put on it whereas swimming laps in a pool.
The Fitbit Sense 2 additionally works with the Amazon Alexa voice assistant for real-time updates and Google Wallet for contactless and fast fee at shops and cafes on-the-go.
5. Huawei Band 7
Best Budget Apple Watch Alternative
Huawei Band 7
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Wallet-friendly smartwatch with a protracted battery life and tons of well being and health monitoring, though there’s no GPS or mobile connectivity.
Battery Life
Up to 10 days
If you’re on a good finances, then the Huawei Band 7 is a really wallet-friendly Apple Watch various. It encompasses a sharp 37.3mm AMOLED show, a health and sleep tracker with loads of coaching modes, blood oxygen and coronary heart fee sensors, and as much as a whopping 10 days of battery life per cost.
However, its largest downside is it lacks GPS and mobile connectivity — so it must be tethered to an Android smartphone or iPhone for correct monitoring. But at $60, it nonetheless gives a number of worth as an Apple various and a finances health tracker. It would not fairly evaluate to the Apple Watch SE in options, however it has a way more inexpensive worth.
6. Fossil Gen 6 Hybrid
Best Battery Life in an Apple Watch Alternative
Fossil Gen 6 Hybrid Smart Watch
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Grab this e-ink smartwatch that’s simpler on the eyes and helps lengthen battery life whereas providing a spread of health monitoring and smartwatch options.
Battery Life
Up to 14 days
Decent fundamental health monitoring
Here’s one thing totally different. The Fossil Gen 6 Hybrid smartwatch is an e-ink smartwatch that’s nice for the health club with its big selection of health monitoring options — like coronary heart fee monitor, sleep tracker, pedometer, exercise tracker, and extra. It also can carry out smartwatch duties, corresponding to music controls, calendars, notifications, and far more.
Why e-ink, you ask? E-ink shows are simpler in your eyes to keep away from eye pressure, whereas its minimal capabilities work wonders for the smartwatch’s battery life — which is available in at a whopping 14 days of use. That’s days,not hours. The Fossil Gen 6 Hybrid is straightforward and basic, and shouldn’t have any drawback becoming right into a boardroom with its skilled aesthetic.
7. Samsung Galaxy Watch5 Pro
Best Rugged Apple Watch Alternative
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro
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Take this rugged smartwatch on the paths with its GPS map help and “Track Back” function for locating your approach in the event you’re misplaced within the wilderness
Battery Life
Up to 80 hours
Great for outside fans
One measurement doesn’t match all
Instead of the Apple Watch Ultra, go together with the Samsung Galaxy Watch5 Pro for rugged outside use. At 45mm, the Android smartwatch is designed for journey and the nice outdoor with a variety of options, corresponding to GPS map help and Samsung’s “Track Back” for locating your approach in the event you’re misplaced within the wilderness. It even has a pores and skin temperature sensor for menstrual well being monitoring.
The smartwatch is constituted of sturdy Titanium and Sapphire crystal glass, whereas its long-lasting battery life will get you as much as 80 hours of use per cost. Starting at $450, the Samsung Galaxy Watch5 Pro can also be almost 45 % cheaper than the Apple Watch Ultra or Apple Watch Ultra 2.
8. Louis Vuitton Tambour Horizon Light Up
Best Luxury Apple Watch Alternative
Tambour Horizon Light Up Connected Watch
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With a premium construct, excessive price ticket, smartwatch fundamentals, and well being monitoring, the Louis Vuitton Tambour Horizon Light Up is for many who love luxurious.
Battery Life
Up to 24 hours
Compatible with iPhone and Android
If cash is not any object and also you need a superb smartwatch, then the Louis Vuitton Tambour Horizon Light Up is for you. With premium supplies like chrome steel, sapphire glass, and Louis Vuitton leather-based, this can be a luxurious sensible timepiece that runs Louis Vuitton’s proprietary OS — which is suitable with each iPhone and Android smartphones.
Meanwhile, the smartwatch does all the fundamental stuff you’d come to count on, corresponding to alarms, stopwatch, notifications for calls, emails, messaging, and extra; in addition to well being monitoring, like coronary heart fee monitoring, step counting, and extra. The Louis Vuitton Tambour Horizon additionally has a “My Travel” part with metropolis guides, resort reservations, and different journey requirements for far-off locations, together with New York City, Paris, and extra. It’s customizable with Louis Vuitton watch faces for its always-on show.
It comes nested within extravagant Louis Vuitton packaging, soft-touch packing containers, and pouches with Louis Vuitton-branded charging dock, equipment, and wall charger. It even comes with numerous worldwide journey retailers on your subsequent jetsetting journey abroad.
What to Look for in an Apple Watch Alternative in 2024
The Apple Watch may be the preferred smartwatch on the earth, however there are a number of iPhone customers who need one thing greater than what the wearable system can supply. For some individuals, the Apple Watch is restricted in operate and elegance, whereas its worth may be out of attain — particularly in the event you’re on a finances.
Meanwhile, there are a number of Android smartphone customers who can’t use the Apple Watch altogether as a result of the 2 are simply not suitable. With the big selection of Apple Watch options, it may be intimidating to search out one of the best smartwatch for you.
Compatibility
Although Apple Watch options run totally different working techniques, the preferred one is Google Wear OS. For essentially the most half, it’s suitable with each iOS and Android units by way of a smartphone app and Bluetooth, however some producers like Samsung and even Google itself limit their watches to simply Android smartphones. Make certain your smartphone is suitable along with your smartwatch of alternative.
Usability
So what’s the distinction between a health tracker and a smartwatch? These days, the road between health trackers and smartwatches has blurred. Fitness trackers can do issues that smartwatches can do, whereas smartwatches can do issues that health trackers can do too. However, this doesn’t imply they’re interchangeable, however moderately simply getting higher at including options from each other.
A health tracker is smaller and is primarily for monitoring well being targets, together with coronary heart fee monitoring, counting steps, energy burned, blood oxygen ranges, and extra. It may even embrace exercise particular modes, like operating, swimming, biking, and others. For instance: The Fitbit Sense 2 is a health tracker that has some options of a smartwatch, like smartphone notifications, and contactless funds, however it’s important use is for health and well being.
A smartwatch is a bit larger, seems extra like a standard watch in comparison with a health tracker, and might do extra duties, like notifications, emails, messaging, maps and extra. It also needs to be worn in informal, formal, or skilled settings, exterior of the health club or across the racetrack. But smartwatches can observe health and well being targets too, however more than likely can’t observe and document extra detailed and exercise particular information.
If you desire a wearable system for the health club, then go together with a devoted health tracker. For every little thing else, go together with a smartwatch.
Price
One of the largest drawbacks of the Apple Watch is its worth with its least costly mannequin being the Apple Watch SE, which begins at $249. However, you will get an honest various for as little as $60 with the Huawei Band 7. There are a number of options that may do nearly every little thing an Apple Watch can do, however at a cheaper price. The closest comparability to the Apple Watch is the Samsung Galaxy Watch6.
If you don’t need to break the financial institution, then an Apple Watch various can actually do the trick to ship notifications, music controls, observe health and well being targets, in fact hold correct time, and far more.
Style
Let’s face it, most individuals searching for an Apple Watch various aren’t proud of Apple’s rounded-corners sq. design. Tech producers like Samsung, Google, Garmin, and others have seized this design “flaw” and launched smartwatches with round designs, like conventional watches. Simply put, there are a variety of smartwatches that simply appear to be a watch — which may be very interesting to lots of people.
If you’re searching for a smartwatch with a round design, go together with the Samsung Galaxy Watch6 or Google Pixel Watch. At first look, they appear to be conventional watches, however can do nearly every little thing the Apple Watch can do. If you’re an iPhone consumer, however desire a utterly spherical design in your smartwatch, then go together with the Garmin Venu 2 or Fossil Gen 6 Hybrid. It’s suitable with the iPhone and appears fairly slick too.
While watches serve a operate, they’re primarily equipment to go with your type. It’s why nearly all watches are customizable. The identical goes for smartwatches.
The firms making these options are designing smartwatches which might be simply as spectacular because the Apple Watch itself and filling within the gaps that Apple’s smartwatch simply can’t pull off, corresponding to round design, compatibility with Android units, longer battery life, and cheaper worth factors.
Rudie Obias is a tech freelance author and editor who can also be excited about cinema, popular culture, music, the NBA, and science fiction. His work may be discovered at Fandom, TV Guide, Metacritic, Yahoo!, Mashable, Mental Floss, and naturally, IGN. Follow him @RudieObias on Twitter & IG.
