Android Wear has evolved a lot since it was first announced back in 2014. In the early days, there were only a few options, mainly from Motorola and LG. These days, many handset makers have thrown their weight into Android Wear, and even traditional watchmakers have begun to embrace the Google-powered smartwatch platform.
With the number of watches available increasing dramatically, it's hard to keep track of which watches stand out as the best. For one thing, most of the watches are all quite similar in software and hardware, leaving design preferences as the biggest factor. In order to help you make the most informed decision on which watch is right for you, we've rounded up what we feel to be the best Android Wear smartwatches you can buy right now.
Best overall
Motorola Moto 360 (2nd Generation)
The original Moto 360 was one of the best Android Wear watches around for quite some time, and now its successor is also at the top of the list.
The Motorola Moto 360 (2nd Gen.) has a bigger battery than its predecessor, a Snapdragon 400 processor and comes in two different sizes to fit more users' wrists. You'll even be able to customize it with Moto Maker. Overall, the biggest advantages the new Moto 360 brings to the table are the refreshed processing package, a customizable design and the addition of lugs that will make it much easier to swap out watch bands.
Specs
42mm variant:
- 1.37-inch IPS LCD display with 360 x 325 resolution, 233ppi
- 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor
- 512MB of RAM
- 4GB of on-board storage
- 300mAh battery
- 42.0 x 42.0 x 11.4mm
- IP67 dust and water resistance
46mm variant:
- 1.56-inch IPS LCD display with 360 x 330 resolution, 263ppi
- 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor
- 512MB of RAM
- 4GB of on-board storage
- 400mAh battery
- 46.0 x 46.0 x 11.4mm
- IP67 dust and water resistance
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Runner up
Huawei Watch
The Huawei Watch was first unveiled towards the beginning of 2015 at MWC, though it didn't actually make its way to retail until the tail-end of the summer. Offering a design that is much more "watch-like" then many of its competitors, the Huawei Watch is certainly one of the more attractive Android Wear watches on the market and benefits from easily replaceable watch straps and a long-lasting battery.
For those that aren't a fan of the flat-tire look we've seen with Motorola's circular watches, you'll be happy to know that this isn't the case here. As for the rest of the specs? Everything is pretty standard fare, as most of the newer Android Wear watches feature roughly the same internals. That said, the AMOLED display on the Huawei Watch is one of the best displays available in the Android Wear market right now.
Specs
- 1.4-inch AMOLED display with 400 x 400 resolution, 286ppi
- 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor
- 512MB of RAM
- 4GB of on-board storage
- 300mAh battery
- 42.0 x 42.0 x 11.3mm
- IP67 dust and water resistance
Read more
- Huawei Watch review
- Huawei Watch unboxing and initial impressions
- A closer look at the sleek and sexy Huawei Watch (IFA 2015)
Honorable mention
ASUS ZenWatch 3
ASUS' new ZenWatch 3 is one of the most beautifully designed Android Wear devices on the market.
It really is difficult not to fall in love with its great design, sharp display, excellent performance and solid hardware. It does feature proprietary lugs, though, which means you'll have to buy replacement straps through ASUS if you'd like to change up the look of the device.
All in all, this may be the most well-rounded watch we've ever reviewed. If you'd like to pick one up for yourself, it's available now for just $229.
Specs
- 1.39-inch AMOLED display with 400 x 400 resolution, 287ppi
- Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 2100 processor
- 512MB of RAM
- 4GB of on-board storage
- 341mAh battery
- 45 x 45 x 9.95 – 10.75mm
- IP67 dust and water resistance
Read more
Best for fitness
Polar M600
Polar's new M600 sport watch is by far the best Android Wear-powered fitness tracker on the market.
With a built-in GPS, IPX8 water resistance rating, optical heart rate monitor and 4GB of on-board storage, the M600 is quite the feature-packed device. It also comes with support for Polar's wonderful Flow app, allowing you to track just about any activity you can think of – rowing, skiing, hiking and much more. You'll also be able to squeeze about two days of battery life out of this thing, which is impressive for an Android Wear watch.
It's very pricey, though, starting at $329. You can certainly find Android Wear devices for less than that, but the M600 provides much more than other devices. If you're in the market for a smartwatch/fitness tracker hybrid and don't mind spending upwards of $300, look no further.
Specs
- 1.3-inch TFT display with 240 x 240 resolution, 260ppi
- 1.2GHz dual-core MediaTek MT2601 processor
- 512MB of RAM
- 4GB of on-board storage
- 500mAh battery
- 45 x 36 x 13mm, 63g
- IPX8 water resistance
Read more
Runner up
Moto 360 Sport
If you're a fan of the second-generation Moto 360 but need something a bit more rugged, you should check out the Moto 360 Sport. It has basically the same internal specifications, plus GPS tracking capabilities. The battery on this device does suffer a bit with the GPS turned on, but that can easily be forgiven when taking into account the watch's other great features. It has a killer AnyLight Hybrid display that makes it super easy to see outdoors, as well as an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance.
All in all, this is the go-to Android Wear option if you need something to track your exercises. As of right now it only supports run tracking, but Motorola says more exercises will be added to the watch in the future. The Moto 360 Sport starts at $199.99 from Motorola's website, but you can usually find it much cheaper on Amazon.
Specs
- 1.37-inch AnyLight Hybrid Display with 360 x 325 resolution, 263ppi
- 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor
- 512MB of RAM
- 4GB of on-board storage
- 300mAh battery
- 45 x 45 x 11.5mm, 54g
- IP67 dust and water resistance
Read more
There you have it, our list of the best Android Wear devices on the market. Did we miss something? Be sure to tell us what you think in the comments below!
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