Android Wear OS

Wear OS is a version of Google's Android operating system. It is designed for smartwatches and other wearables. It is also known as Wear OS by Google, and it is previously known as Android Wear. Wear OS supports Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3G, and LTE connectivity, and ranges of applications.

The smartwatches face includes round, square, and rectangle. The Wear OS manufacturing partners include HTC, Asus, LG, Intel, Broadcam, Motorola, Qualcomm, Huawei, Samsung, Polar, Mobvoi, and TAG Heuer.

History of Wear OS

The Wear OS platform was announced on March 18, 2014, along with its developer preview. At the same time, companies like Samsung, Motorola, HTC, Asus, and LG were announced as Wear OS partners. Samsung Gear Live and LG G Watch were launched on June 25, 2014, at Google I/O. The LG G Watch was the first Android Wear smartwatch to be released and shipped.

Best Wear OS watches

Wear OS watches work with both iPhone and Android, but you need to check the capability before you buy because each watch will only work with certain devices.

1. Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5

The Mobvoi's TicWatch Pro 5 is an excellent all-around smartwatch with the latest Wear OS 3.5. Its battery life goes up to 4 days (approx.), nearly 80 hours on a single charge. There has a built-in fitness tracking feature that works very accurately. It may be becoming an alternative to an outstanding Google Pixel Watch.

Specification

Pros

• Integrated with modern software that makes it fast performance
• It uses the latest Wear OS and offers great features, including fitness tracking
• Killer battery life that lasts up to 80 hours

Cons

• Only available in one large size of 50mm that some people find oversize
• There has no LTE version
• There has no option for Google Assistant

2. Google Pixel Watch

Google's Pixel Watch aims to keep you fit or get fit quickly. It has smaller in size at 41mm on the market. It combines the features of the Fitbit health-tracking smartwatch and the trust of Google technology. The hardware of the Pixel smartwatches is beautifully designed with Corning Gorilla Glass screen to give a unique look. The case of the Google Pixel Watch is made with stainless steel, a better choice than the other aluminium smartwatch. Google Pixel Watch uses Wear OS 3.5 that supports numerous Wear OS apps from Google services.

Specification

Pros

• Impressive design
• Premium Hardware
• AMOLED display

Cons

• Average battery life
• Pricey
• Fitbit integration is lacking

3. Fossil Gen 6

You can also take the experience of an elegant smartwatch from Fossil. Fossil Gen 6 offers excellent features and is equipped with Snapdragon 4100+ chipset. It includes built-in Alexa to access home devices and to know the weather and news, all with your voice command. The Google Wear OS helps you to use Google Maps, access messages, and track your fitness all from your wrist. This smartwatch also has an impressive design that resembles a fancy analog watch. However, it is launched on outdated Wear OS 3.2.

Specification

Pros

• It comes at an affordable price
• It is compatible with iPhone
• Enabled with GPS

Cons

• Average battery life
• Lack of Google Assistant

4. Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro

If you use a Samsung smartphone, you should go with a Samsung smartwatch to get more extra features. Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is an ultimate Wear OS smartwatch with many health reading features. This smartwatch effectively tracks your sleep, body composition, and workout activities. Its improved sensor monitors how deep you sleep and how many calories you burn during your sleep. There are more features in this Galaxy Watch 5 Pro: heart rate notification, built-in GPS, LTE phone calls, Bixby enabled, etc. To use Google Assistant, you need to download it from Play Store and set it up.

Specification

Pros

• Body composition analysis
• Good battery life and fast charging
• Optional LTE

Cons

• Only a few exclusive feature

5. Samsung Galaxy Watch 5

Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 has one of the top Wear OS smartwatches with a long-lasting battery and several excellent fitness tracking features than its previous models Galaxy Watch 4. It is equipped with a W920 chipset paired with a gigabyte. In this smartwatch, you can install and access several Google apps from Play Store, such as YouTube Music, Google Maps, Google Assistant, etc. You can access various health tracking features by pairing an Android phone with this smartwatch, but you need a Galaxy phone to use the ECG feature.

Specification

Pros

• Impressive crystal glass touch
• Google Assistant-enabled
• GPS enabled

Cons

• The battery does not last as Samsung claims
• ECG only works when paired with a Samsung smartphone

6. Fossil Sport

Fossil Sport is a good combination of value and features in a lightweight. It is comfortable to wear in day-to-day or when you are working out. The battery life goes up to two days, and it can access all of the latest Wear OS apps too.

Specification

Pros

• Powerful watch
• Lightweight design

Cons

• GPS can be slow
• Lacks high-end features

7. TicWatch E2

This smartwatch comes in waterproof so you can take this watch into the swimming pool. The battery life lasted for over two days with regular usage. It has a GPS that tracks your location, and there are lots of other features here too.

Specification

Pros

• Affordable price
• Easily two-day battery life

Cons

• Bland design
• No NFC for payments

8. TicWatch Pro

It has a transparent LCD display on the top of a full-color OLED. When it conserve the battery, the watch shift to the LCD screen, which shows your time, your step count, and many more. The TicWatch Pro has a premium design, a heart rate sensor, NFC for Google Pay, great GPS tracking, and much more.

Specification

Pros

• Innovative screen tech
• Premium design

Cons

• Limited app
• No LTE

9. TicWatch S2

The TicWatch S2 is much similar to TicWatch E2. Most of the features are the same here, the company released in two different designs. TicWatch S2 stands for "Sport" so it has a more durable design than the E2. It is suitable for adventures as well as runners.

It has a two-day battery life, a waterproof design, GPS, and all other benefits.

Specification

Pros

• Waterproof design
• Affordable

Cons

• Lack NFC
• No LTE variant

10. Misfit Vapor 2

Misfit Vapour 2 Wear OS watch solves a lot of issues of its first generation. It has GPS so you can track your runs, there's NFC for Google Pay. Its design is simple, and its display comes in two different sizes either in 1.2-inch or 1.4-inch.

It has a low price point and the best smartwatch for exercising.

Specification

Pros

• Affordable price
• NCF for Google Play

Cons

• No LTE option
• Kind of flimsy

11. TicWatch C2

This is one of the most affordable smartwatches that comes with Google Pay and GPS support in the same package.

Specification

Pros

• Low price
• Google Pay and GPS

Cons

• Limited straps
• Outdated internals

12. Fossil Gen 5

The Fossil Gen 5 comes with smaller Julianna or larger Carlyle, and both have the same premium features like GPS, a heart rate sensor, bright vibrant display, 1GB RAM, and the Snapdragon Wear 3100 chipset. It comes with battery saver mode, and it has water resistance up to 30minutes. It is more expensive than other Wear OS.

Specification

Pros

• Fast processor
• Battery saving modes

Cons

• Weak speaker
• More expensive than rivals

13. Huawei Watch 2

It has built-in GPS and NFC on the watch and option to 4G model. Its screen is a little small as compared to others.

Specification

Pros

• Built-in GPS and NFC
• Optional 4G model

Cons

• Performance can be sluggish
• Screen too small