The best Apple Watch alternatives you can buy

Apple opened another chapter in its smartwatch history book with the Apple Watch Series 8, the refreshed Apple Watch SE, and the all-new Apple Watch Ultra. With these three new choices come plenty of alternatives for those running iPhones or Android devices. Below, we’ve rounded up the best Apple Watch alternatives you can buy.

Buying the right Apple Watch alternative

Right off the bat, we should highlight that there’s no pure replacement for the Apple Watch. Apple’s wearables will naturally be your best bet if you own an iPhone. That said, Garmin, Samsung, and Fitbit provide plenty of fitness and health tracking perks.

On that note, there are also distinctions to be made within the Apple Watch ladder. The Apple Watch Series 8 offers several health-tracking benefits over the new Apple Watch SE, including blood oxygen monitoring, ECG smarts, a more durable build, and a new temperature sensor that informs more intuitive cycle tracking. That said, the SE is much cheaper. You should consider this pricing structure, and the watches’ feature sets when shopping for either, especially alternatives.

The Apple Watch Ultra is also in play, bringing a much larger battery, rugged titanium shell, and plenty of additional features more adventurous and sporty users will appreciate. It also comes with the highest price we’ve ever seen tied to an Apple Watch.

Notably, if you own an Android phone but are seriously considering jumping over to Apple’s ecosystem for the Apple Watch benefits, the below alternatives should provide some food for thought. All the watches listed below will work with Android phones; the Apple Watch does not work with Android phones at all.

So, what should you look for in an Apple Watch alternative? Considering how versatile the Apple Watch lineup now is, you might be considering several variables.

If you’re considering an alternative running watch, seek a wearable with built-in GPS, accurate step tracking, and features like SpO2 monitoring and VO2 max data.
Gym companions don’t necessarily need these features, but you might benefit from devices with multi-sport tracking. Most of the devices below should cover you in that regard.
Are you looking for a fashion-first wearable? Honestly, any of the below devices would look great on your wrist.
Finally, the Apple Watch may be your best option if you seek a pure smartwatch with plenty of on-device functionality. Beyond Apple’s walled garden, a Wear OS 3 watch will give you the app support you crave, but you’ll be limited to an Android smartphone.

There’s plenty to consider, so let us help with a few of our picks below.

The best Apple Watch alternatives

An Apple Watch Ultra displays its watch face on a user's wrist.

Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority

Apple Watch Series 8 and Ultra alternatives

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is the best Apple Watch Series 8 and Ultra alternative. The second-generation Wear OS 3 watch improves on its predecessor with a much larger battery, a stronger face, and a new skin temperature sensor.
Garmin’s Venu 2 Plus is the best Apple Watch Series 8 and Ultra alternative for fitness-minded and iPhone users. It’s more health-focused than its Samsung counterpart and supports Apple’s mobiles, too.
The Fitbit Versa 3 is the most affordable alternative to the Apple Watch Series 8 and Ultra. If you aren’t seeking the advanced health features of the Apple Watch line but are interested in stellar base fitness tracking support, the Versa 3 is a good shout.

Apple Watch SE (2022) alternatives

The vanilla Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 is also the best Apple Watch SE alternative. Specifically, the smaller 40mm model is cheaper than Apple’s budget smartwatch and includes its larger sibling’s features. However, you do have to settle for weaker battery life than the larger models.
The Garmin Venu Sq 2 is the best Garmin alternative to the Watch SE. It’s a more fitness-focused wearable for active users that packs better battery life.
Huawei’s Band 6 is the best affordable Apple Watch SE alternative. HUAWEI’s surprise hit isn’t as fresh as it used to be and has few flaws, but those present are made negligible by its comparatively low price.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro: The best Apple Watch Series 8 and UItra alternative

Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro

Up to 2 days battery life • Advanced sleep tracker • Fast Charging

Samsung’s first adventure watch is a winner

Building on the Galaxy Watch 5’s base with a much hardier body, Galaxy Watch 5 Pro also features multiple health and fitness tracking tools, a bigger battery, and a better navigation system. All these improvements make for a great all-round smartwatch whether you’re in the boardroom or out on the trail.

$449.99 at Samsung

$449.99 at Amazon

$449.99 at AT&T

$449.99 at Verizon

Building on the solid foundation laid down by its predecessor, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is the best Wear OS watch you can buy right now. Samsung seemingly focused on nips and tucks rather than open-heart surgery. This means you can expect many of the same features found on the Galaxy Watch 4.

Interestingly, its spec sheet would suggest it’s more an Apple Watch Ultra rival. However, it should also win over Series 8 buyers too.

Unlike the vanilla Galaxy Watch 5, the Pro model has several improvements, including its bigger 590mAh battery. This gives it much endurance compared to its predecessor, the Series 8, and the bigger battery Ultra. It also packs a titanium body with a more robust Sapphire-coated lens. Regarding health tracking, you get a new skin temperature sensor (which still isn’t activated) and outdoor-specific features like GPX map support and Track Back for lost hikers.

These buffs do come at a cost — a substantial cost. The Pro’s feature set will set you back more than the Apple Watch Series 8. And like the outgoing line, the Galaxy Watch 5 series doesn’t support iPhones. That said, it remains cheaper than the Ultra.

If you want a Samsung smartwatch compatible with an iPhone, you’ll have to settle for the Galaxy Watch 3, which remains a competent, capable smartwatch in its own right. We’d also recommend the Galaxy Watch 4 for those who want a Wear OS smartwatch but don’t want to break the bank.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro Watch face

Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority

Pros

Durable, premium build, and D-buckle clasp
Improved battery life and faster charging
New hiking and navigation features
Reliable heart rate monitoring
Solid GPS accuracy

Cons

No skin temperature monitoring at launch
No more rotating bezel
GPX file sharing not applicable to runs
Expensive

Garmin Venu 2 Plus: The best Apple Watch Series 8 and Ultra alternative for fitness

Garmin Venu 2 Plus

Excellent display • Fast charging battery • Phone calls

Phone calls and a voice assistant on your wrist.

The Garmin Venu 2 Plus takes all of the fitness- and health-tracking features of the original Venu 2 and adds the ability to receive phone calls and access your phone’s voice assistant.

$349.99 at Amazon

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$100.00

$449.99 at Garmin

The Venu 2 Plus is a smartwatch better attuned to the health-conscious crowd. Buyers get the same features baked into the original Venu 2 but benefit from the Plus model’s new smartwatch additions. Overall, it features excellent GPS accuracy, more music storage for those who prefer offline listening, and excellent background health and sleep tracking. Garmin’s legacy features, like Body Battery, are also included. The Plus also gains voice assistant support, on-wrist calling smarts, quicker charging, and a newly-activated ECG feature to keep tabs on your heart’s health. It’s also much better for swimming (the Apple Watch can track swimming, but the Venu 2 is better at it).

However, the Venu 2 Plus isn’t perfect. Battery life is better than the Apple Watch Series 8, but its new features cut its endurance compared to the original Venu 2. Unlike the Galaxy Watch 5, the Venu 2 Plus plays nice with iPhones but lacks some Android-only features. Unfortunately, its extensive feature set comes at a price that’s well higher than the Series 8.

If you have Apple Watch Ultra levels of cash lying around and crave a hardier high-end watch, consider grabbing the more extreme sport and outdoor-orientated Garmin Epix Gen 2.

An image of the Garmin Venu 2 Plus on a table showing the display and watch face.

Jimmy Westenberg / Android Authority

Pros

Excellent design and build quality
Rapid charging helps make up for battery woes
Clear call quality on the wrist
Slow, but useful voice assistant support
Accurate fitness and health tracking

Cons

High price tag
Battery life shorter than Garmin’s claims
Heart rate sensor still has issues

Fitbit Versa 3: The best Fitbit alternative to the Apple Watch Series 8

Fitbit Versa 3

Decent battery life • Accurate health tracking • Built-in GPS

The best value Fitbit smartwatch

The Fitbit Versa 3 carries all the smart features you could want on a mid-range smartwatch, including Google Assistant support, voice replies, and reliable health tracking. It’s effectively a Fitbit Sense without the pricier specialized sensors.

$157.53 at Amazon

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$72.42

$199.95 at Best Buy

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$30.00

Fitbit’s relatively affordable smartwatch entry is also worth a mention. Although the Versa 3 launched in 2020, it remains a viable health-focused smartwatch. In fact, its age counts in its favor, as it often finds itself on deal listings. Sure, it’s not the Fitbit with the most advanced array of sensors — that distinction belongs to the Fitbit Sense and Sense 2 — but it covers all the necessary bases. It packs Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa support, onboard music storage, and onboard GPS. You’ll lose Apple Pay support, but you’ll gain Fitbit Pay.

The Versa 3 lacks standout tracking features and sensors as a tradeoff for its lower price. Unlike the Sense duo and Series 8, it lacks an ECG sensor. Fitbit’s companion app is far less impressive than Apple’s.

Notably, Fitbit has announced the Versa 4 with a thinner, lighter body and refreshed software, but we don’t recommend buying it over its predecessor.

A Fitbit Versa 3 rests on an abstract, colorful background.

Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority

Versa 3

Pros

Decent battery life
Pretty accurate health tracking
Built-in GPS
Google Assistant and Alexa support
Speaker with phone call support
Good price

Cons

Very small app library
Onboard music limited to two services
The capacitive button isn’t ideal
Proprietary charging cable

Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 (40mm): The best Apple Watch SE alternative

Samsung Galaxy Watch 5

Excellent build and comfort • Improved battery life • Solid GPS accuracy

Subtle upgrades make a huge difference

The Galaxy Watch 5 smartwatch offers a bigger battery, more sturdy body, and more comfortable fit than its predecessor. It supports Google Assistant and Google Maps navigation, while a body composition monitor, skin temperature sensor, and improved sleep tracking makes for an impressive health-tracking product.

$279.99 at Samsung

$229.00 at Amazon

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$50.99

$279.99 at Verizon

$279.99 at AT&T

The standard Galaxy Watch 5 is absolutely worth considering as an Apple Watch SE alternative. The 40mm model is small and affordable, the OLED screen is bright and easy to read, and Wear OS brings abundant apps and service support.

Again, if you own an iPhone, you must consider another device. The much older Galaxy Watch Active 2 might be worth a shout.

Its smaller size doesn’t come without its limitations, though. This Galaxy Watch 5 model doesn’t quite have the battery endurance to match its larger sibling and, in some reported cases, its predecessor. But if you own an Android phone and are considering buying an iPhone just for the Apple Watch, consider getting a 40mm Galaxy Watch 5 instead.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 apps list

Andy Walker / Android Authority

Pros

Tougher build
Comfortable on the wrist
Better battery life on 44mm model
Faster charging
Reliable fitness tracking
Good value for money

Cons

Very similar to its predecessor
Skin temperature sensor not ready at launch
Small models still have short battery life
Awkward touch bezel
Some features exclusive to Samsung ecosystem

Garmin Venu Sq 2: The best Apple Watch SE alternative for fitness

Garmin Venu Sq 2

Updated heart rate sensor • Data downloadable • Bright and colorful display

A brighter display meets newer sensors

The Venu Sq 2 smartwatch lands with a brighter display fitted to its now customary square body. It boasts an extensive array of health analysis, from Garmin’s Body Battery to detailed sleep tracking. The data collected is downloadable, and it offers connective features with external captors.

$249.99 at Garmin

$249.99 at Best Buy

$249.99 at Amazon

The Garmin Venu Sq 2 seems purpose-built to take on the Apple Watch SE line. It packs a square AMOLED screen that’s easy to read and stands out among the many circular devices on the market. It also includes excellent battery life, lasting up to 11 days per charge.

Its actual trump card is its health-tracking kit. The Venu Sq 2 packs an accurate built-in GPS with improved heart rate accuracy and useful sleep tracking. It also includes Garmin’s stress tracking metrics, reliable Body Battery measurements, and useful Health Snapshot feature.

For these benefits, you’ll have to trade several smart features. More annoyingly, if you want onboard music support, you’ll need to pay extra for the Music edition.

A Garmin Venu Sq displays a user's glances.

Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority

Pros

Bright, colorful AMOLED display
Very impressive battery life
Improved heart rate accuracy
Accurate GPS
Useful sleep tracking
Handy Health Snapshot feature

Cons

Pricier than its predecessor
No altimeter
Music storage costs extra
Limited smartwatch features
No audible alerts

HUAWEI Band 6: The best cheap Apple Watch SE alternative

Huawei Band 6

Good value • Good battery life • Lots of workout modes • All-day SpO2 monitoring

Not interested in the Mi Band? The Huawei Band 6 should be on your shortlist of alternatives.

The Huawei Band 6 has a few software issues, but none that are detrimental to the overall experience. If you’re after a Mi Band alternative or simply want a cheap fitness tracker that works well, the Huawei Band 6 should be near the top of your list.

$53.54 at Amazon

Save

$4.13

If the price is the primary reason you’re considering an Apple Watch SE alternative, look no further than the HUAWEI Band 6. It’s more of a pure fitness tracker than a smartwatch, but it does include a large display, a 10-day battery life, and a ridiculous number of workout tracking modes. Like the Apple Watch SE, it cuts down on bulk but still feels excellent on the wrist. Blood oxygen monitoring at this price point is another bonus.

Of course, the HUAWEI Band 6 does fall short of the SE in certain areas. It lacks onboard GPS smarts, which means lugging your smartphone along on runs. Its heart rate sensor also leaves plenty to be desired during workouts. Overall, it’s a worthwhile alternative if your budget is limited.

The HUAWEI Band 7 is now official, but it’s essentially an incremental upgrade of the Band 6.

HUAWEI Band 6 review watch face in hand

Jimmy Westenberg / Android Authority

Pros

Comfortable, roomy form factor
Great value
Solid battery life
Lots of workout modes
All-day SpO2 monitoring

Cons

Limited smartwatch features and apps
Heart rate sensor struggles during workouts

Honorable mentions

Pixel Watch

That’s it for our list of the best Apple Watch alternatives, but it’s only a fraction of what’s out there. We also want to give an honorable mention to the following smartwatches:

Google Pixel Watch (Amazon): Google’s first foray into the smartwatch world packs a gorgeous design, smooth performance, and plenty of Google service support. It packs its fair share of first-edition problems and isn’t compatible with iPhones.
Garmin Fenix 7 (Amazon): The Fenix 7 is perhaps the best outdoor watch money can buy. It is far more expensive than the Apple Watch Series 8 and more attractive to potential Ultra buyers. While it lacks the vivid OLED screen of its rival, hikers and adventurers will love its near three-week battery life with solar charging, extensive GPS options, and solid build.
Garmin Forerunner 745 (Amazon): As a pure running watch, you can’t get much better than the Forerunner 745. It’s not outrageously expensive and will provide a much better training experience than the Apple Watch models.
Garmin Venu 2 (Amazon): If you don’t require the additional features offered by the Garmin Venu 2 Plus and want to save $50, the original Venu 2 is a stellar option. It also mirrors the Apple Watch Series 8’s price.
Withings ScanWatch (Amazon): The ScanWatch punches well above its weight in the heart health tracking scene. It packs an ECG, a near-month-long battery life, and excellent sleep tracking. However, its small digital screen hidden behind analog trappings does limit its smartwatch potential.
Fitbit Charge 5 (Amazon): If you’re seeking the cheapest ECG solution for your wrist, look no further than the Charge 5. The band also brings a bright AMOLED screen and electrodermal stress-tracking smarts.
Xiaomi Mi Band 7 (Amazon): The ever-present Mi Band lineup is tough to discount if budget is a core concern. The new Mi Band 7 brings several advancements over the outgoing model, including a new focus on serious trainers, a larger screen, and a bigger battery. These improvements also come with a slightly higher price tag, though.