Best Android Smartwatch

(This article is one of 16 parts in our Tech Awards 2025: Editor's Choice content series.)

The competition for this year’s Best Android Smartwatch comes mainly from the underdogs, while stalwarts Google and Samsung’s offerings seem to have stagnated. It may be noteworthy to mention that all the products that left a positive impression on us were from Chinese brands, echoing other industries in technology and manufacturing where the Chinese are able to offer better innovation at a more competitive cost.

This is the second year since we revamped the category and removed the Apple Watch as a contender altogether. While comparisons are bound to happen for smartwatches in general, the user base for Android and iOS do not cross over. For all intents and purposes, the Apple Watch remains the best companion for an iPhone. It enjoys no competition within the Apple ecosystem, and it does not compete outside of it. If you're interested in the Apple Watch, you can still read our Apple Watch Series 10 review here.

For everyone else, here are the nominees for Best Android Smartwatch:

Nominees:

• Amazfit Balance
• Google Pixel Watch 3
• Huawei Watch GT 5 Pro
• Oppo Watch X2
• Samsung Galaxy Watch7
• Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra

And the winner is… 

Oppo Watch X2 - Best Android Smartwatch

We didn’t think it could have happened within one generation, but Oppo has dethroned Samsung to take Best Android Smartwatch win. The Watch X2 represents a huge leap in every measurable aspect over last year’s Watch X, which we deemed to be merely a barebones Wear OS device that had no “oomph” factor. The Watch X2 remedies this with useful functionality, great performance, a week-long battery life, plus a bit of clever engineering to take full advantage of its hardware. The result is a full-featured smartwatch that easily rivals the Google Pixel Watch 3 or Samsung Galaxy Watch7, and comes in at a price that’s pretty much unbeatable.

Check out our full review for more details.

You can buy the Oppo Watch X2 from Oppo’s official online store, Shopee and Lazada.

Check out how other contenders fared from our point of view.

Samsung Galaxy Watch7 - Holding the fort

Besides overhauling hardware with new chipset, sensors, and GPS, it’s ultimately the software improvements that really shine for the Galaxy Watch7 series. Samsung Health is such a comprehensive health and fitness app now with the addition of Energy Score, custom workout routines, plus everything is still free to use. Yet, it feels all too familiar. The improvements look good on paper, but in our daily use during testing, we could hardly tell the differences compared to the Galaxy Watch5 Pro two generations ago.

The Galaxy Watch7 remains an excellent smartwatch. The double-edged sword here is that Samsung’s commendable support for older devices to get the same OS and UI updates means that newer devices do not look flashy for long. Similarly, unique new features like AGEs index sound sophisticated, but offer no tangible benefit to the user. For more details, our review is here.

You can get the Galaxy Watch7 from the Samsung Official Store, Lazada, Shopee, or KrisShop. You can also find it on Amazon.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra - The flashy new guy that doesn’t really do anything better

The Galaxy Watch Ultra is no doubt the best smartwatch Samsung offers. The problem is that Samsung made the Galaxy Watch Ultra and Galaxy Watch7 so similar in specs, features, and performance that it’s hard to justify the cost. The S$988 Galaxy Watch Ultra is akin to luxury athleisure clothing. It’s a statement piece for peacocking than practical improvements, knowing that in the off chance I’m headlining the next X Games, I can do so in style. Otherwise, the S$450 Galaxy Watch7 (44mm) low-key does almost everything the Galaxy Watch Ultra can for half the price. For more details, our review is here.

You can buy the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra on Samsung Official Store, Lazada, Shopee, and KrisShop. You can also find it on Amazon.

Huawei Watch GT 5 Pro - For the budget sports enthusiasts

Huawei continues to evolve and showcase what a non-Wear OS device can achieve. The Watch GT 5 Pro has extensive support for many sports and activities, including advanced running and cycling analytics that I dare say will give Garmin a run for its money. It is a serious kit for sports enthusiasts with enough upgrades to core hardware components that matter, such as better GPS and a new TruSense sensor. The Huawei Health app should get special mention. It’s breath of social features, fitness courses, and wellness options are neck to neck with Samsung Health, all available for free. If you don’t need a full-fledged smartwatch, but want something more comprehensive than an activity tracker, the Huawei Watch GT series gets our vote. Our full review is here.

You can buy the Huawei Watch GT 5 series of devices from Huawei Official Stores on Lazada and Shopee. You can also find it on Amazon.

Google Pixel Watch 3 - Finally in a larger size

The Pixel Watch 3 finally addresses the size issue and yes, 45mm is the definitive version of this smartwatch. However, echoing our past comments about the Pixel Watch 2, Google continues to offer nothing uniquely compelling about the Pixel Watch 3 over other Wear OS devices, and charging a premium for it just because it’s a Made by Google device. Even today, with price adjustments over time for all the contenders in our nominee list, the Pixel Watch 3 continues to be one of the more expensive Android smartwatches around to own - not forgetting the continuous cost of a Fitbit Premium subscription in order to make full use of its features. For more details, our review is here.

You can buy the Google Pixel Watch 3 from the Singapore Google Store, Lazada, Shopee, and Amazon.

Amazfit Balance - Ambitious, very ambitious

There’s nothing balanced about the Balance. Its over-the-top approach to features is ambitious, to say the least. If you are looking for value, you’d be hard-pressed to find another smartwatch this feature-rich under S$300 that works on both iOS and Android equally well. If you’re looking for a sports tracker, it’s well worth the price. The Amazfit Balance is most similar in performance in this regard to Huawei’s Watch GT 5 Pro.

However, many of its vaunted AI features (Zepp Flow and Zepp Aura subscription) are not really useful, the build quality could be better, plus the Zepp app is an exercise in death by information. Instead of one smartwatch to rule them all, the Amazfit Balance is a Jack-of-all-trades, master of none. For more details, our review is here.

You can buy the Amazfit Balance on Amazfit's webstore, Lazada, Shopee, and Amazon.

(This article is one of 16 parts in our Tech Awards 2025: Editor's Choice content series.)

References

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