Smartwatches are now considered a vital accessory for fitness enthusiasts who workout frequently. Most top-rated Android watches on the market today offer at least the heart-rate monitor feature. In addition, many leading brands have incorporated GPS trackers. Which makes them ideal for runners and cyclists. While fitness features are now commonplace in smartwatches, some brands have taken this field more seriously than others. If you are searching for the ultimate fitness companion, the goal is to identify the best Android watch for fitness.
There is a lot you can do with a smartphone today, same goes for a smartwatch. The ideal fitness smartwatch for a gym freak should offer many sporting and workout-tracking features. Comprehensive health-tracking features are crucial as well. You want a fitness watch that provides valuable feedback and analytics. Features such as a heart rate monitor and sleep tracking are crucial to choosing the best Android watch for fitness lovers.
The Best Android Watch for Fitness
Wearable smart devices are ideal partners for your fitness journey. There are wearables designed for only fitness. However, some well-rounded smartwatches offer the best fitness features. In this post, we have highlighted top picks that strike a hard bargain for the best Android smartwatch for fitness. Let's check them out!
1. Google Pixel Watch 2
Google owns the smartwatch brand Fitbit and went ahead to produce the ‘Pixel Watch’ line. The Pixel Watch 2 features Fitbit Sense 2 health tracking. This helps users achieve their fitness goals. It features the Wear OS that expresses Google's idea of a user interface for wearables. The smartwatch offers exclusive Wear OS apps for Google services such as Google Assistant, Maps, Wallet, and Home.
The Watch 2 has a visually appealing design built with premium hardware. It has exciting watch faces and a user-friendly interface. Only the LTE version of the watch offers Safety Signals. However, it lacks health sensors like EDA, ECG (heart rhythm), temperature, and automatic workout detection. Nonetheless, GPS tracking and every other fitness feature works excellently.
The Google Pixel Watch is priced between $300 and $350 on Amazon, BestBuy, or Crutchfield.
2. Samsung Galaxy Watch 6
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 is a great choice for fitness enthusiasts looking for an Android watch. While Samsung Health doesn't provide detailed workout suggestions and metrics, you can download third-party apps like Strava or Nike Run Club on Wear OS to fill in the gaps. Unlike most fitness smartwatches that prioritize battery life, the Galaxy Watch 6 has a fast UI and excellent performance. It also comes with various health sensors that track your heart rate, blood oxygen, heart rhythm (ECG), skin temperature, and Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis. However, the Blood Pressure Monitor is conditional.
The Galaxy Watch 6 allows you to personalize heart rate zones. It has a more responsive touch bezel thanks to the new Exynos chip. The Watch 6 Classic's physical bezel is also more convenient during workouts. With Wear OS 4 support, Android phone users can talk to Google Assistant, manage their calendar, text using the QWERTY keyboard, and use other tools besides fitness widgets. You can get the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 for around $250.
3. Garmin Venu 3
The Garmin Venu 3 watch is sleek and packed with smart features. It has a bright AMOLED touch display, a microphone, and a speaker and can store thousands of animated exercises and music. The Venu 3 is great for fitness enthusiasts but also offers practical features for everyday use. It is arguably the best Android watch for fitness.
It has all the typical Garmin tools, such as Body Battery, VO2 Max, Garmin Pay, Fitness Age, Intensity Minutes, and Morning Report. You can make phone calls and speak to Google Assistant, Bixby, or Siri. The watch also has an ECG sensor for detecting AFib and skin temperature readings.
The Venu 3 is the first Garmin watch to feature advanced Sleep Coaching and enhanced Body Battery. It can help guide you on getting enough sleep, taking naps into account, and identifying periods of the day when you're tired and what caused it, such as stress or exercise. It can even detect jet lag and has an excellent wheelchair mode.
Although it doesn't offer apps, the watch can last up to 14 days on a single charge or 26 GPS hours per charge. A Garmin Venu 3 can be gotten in most recognized gadget stores for about $420.
4. Apple Watch Ultra 2
The latest smartwatch from Apple, the Watch Ultra 2, is designed to withstand tough conditions. It boasts a titanium body and rugged glass. This ensures that the screen remains protected. The smartwatch is also equipped with a 3,000-nit peak brightness, which ensures that it remains visible even in bright areas. The brightness automatically adjusts to preserve battery life when it gets dark. The watch can last up to 36 hours and comes with GPS.
In addition to its durability, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is packed with fitness features. It runs on Apple's S9 chipset, which enables new features like Double Tap. Users can access certain features without touching the watch by tapping their index finger with their thumb twice. Similarly, Siri support is available even without an internet connection, like on Apple iPhones.Â
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 can be purchased for around $330 from the Apple store or other recognized online gadget stores.
5. Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro
GPS tracking is known to have an impact on the battery life of all smartwatches. The Watch 5 Pro has an average battery life of 80 hours on regular usage and lasts for about 20 hours when using GPS. It is quite impressive that the watch can sustain continuous heart rate, sleep tracking, and blood oxygen monitoring for more than three days.
The Watch 5 Pro comes with downloadable GPX Routes for running, hiking, and cycling, and its lightweight sapphire glass and sturdy titanium case make it a great option for those who want a durable smartwatch.
Although the more recent Watch 6 boasts of the new Wear OS 4, 30 percent thinner bezels, and the new Exynos W930 chip, the Watch 5 Pro is still a great buy if you don't mind missing out on these features. The price of $200 for the Watch 5 Pro seems fair, given all the cutting-edge features it offers.
6. Fitbit Sense 2
This smartwatch strikes a balance between fitness and smart features, with a greater emphasis on fitness. The Fitbit Sense 2 is more affordable compared to the Pixel Watch 2, and is compatible with both iOS and Android. It also boasts impressive battery life.
While the Fitbit Sense 2 does not have Google Assistant, music storage, and some third-party apps that the Pixel Watch offers. It offers access to Google Wallet and Google Maps, which is especially useful for long walks. You can also use it to make Bluetooth calls and interact with smart assistants like Alexa or Siri.
Despite having fewer smart features than the Pixel Watch, the user interface on the Sense 2 is greatly improved. The Wear OS features a physical button for selecting widgets, which is more reliable than the capacitive touch button from the previous generation. Additionally, the AMOLED display screen is bright and easy to read.
You can also enjoy a battery life of up to 6 days with regular use and 15 hours of GPS tracking. You can access these insane fitness features on the Senese 2 for just $233 in reliable gadget stores.
7. Garmin Venu Sq 2
This OLED display Android watch has a long-lasting battery life. It offers comprehensive fitness tracking, including a built-in GPS for monitoring walks, bike rides, and runs. It also includes sports profiles such as yoga and strength training. The smart features of Venu Sq 2 provide push notifications, timers, and contactless payments.
Garmin's Incident Detection, which detects falls, is included as a safety feature. Although this feature requires an internet connection, it is a useful addition. The Music Edition, which costs an extra $50, comes with enough storage for about 500 songs. It also includes the Garmin Coach, a built-in training program for beginner and intermediate-level runners looking to tackle a 5km, 10km, or half marathon.
The health tracking feature of the watch monitors heart rate and blood oxygen levels. It also tracks the amount of moderate exercise you get per week, hydration, respiratory rate, menstrual cycles, and stress. The Garmin Venu Sq 2 is priced at $250, while the Music Edition is available for $300.
8. Garmin Forerunner 265
The Garmin Forerunner 265 and the Venu 3 feature a stunning display and music storage applications that runners, cyclists, and swimmers can use. The Forerunner watch offers detailed coaching and post-workout body analysis, which can be particularly helpful for those who are serious about their fitness. Unlike most Garmin watches' low-resolution, non-touch MIP displays, the Forerunner 265 boasts an AMOLED display that is highly readable and displays notifications clearly.
The Forerunner 265 allows you to monitor your fatigue and training load from the previous week. This can help you determine your current training readiness and adjust your automated daily suggested workout accordingly. After each run, the watch generates a report that shows how your aerobic and anaerobic fitness has improved. You will also receive a recommendation on how long you should wait before going for your next run.
Despite the lack of a microphone and speaker for calls, the Forerunner 265 is arguably the best Android watch for fitness available in today's market. It is considerably more specialized than the Venu 3 and is available for only $250.
9. Amazfit GTR Mini
If you want an affordable Android watch for fitness, the GTR Mini is your guy. Although its Zepp OS is fairly limited, the UI is super easy to use. It offers one of the best battery life in the market, lasting up to 2 weeks per charge. It offers 120 sports modes with seven core sports modes. This includes running, treadmill, indoor walking, rowing machine, cycling, and elliptical. This smartwatch can automatically detect the seven core sports modes.
It features a beautiful AMOLED display. With 326ppi weighing 36g (plus strap), it is one of the most comfortable wearables today. Which is crucial as it comes in handy for sleep tracking.
Although it does not have some advanced fitness features, the GTR Mini offers a lot for the $120 sticker price.
10. Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5
Mobvoi's Wear OS watches deliver impressive performance and a long-lasting battery life of up to 3 days. This puts it in the list of the best Android watches for fitness, as it balances performance and fitness features.
The Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 boasts a massive battery and a dual-layer display, which yields a low-powered ‘Essential Mode'. It also features a top-of-the-line Snapdragon Wear chip with ample RAM and storage, and has a MIL-STD-810G rating and a new temperature sensor.
Powered by Wear OS 3, it provides cutting-edge health tracking for heart rate, blood oxygen, and skin temperature. The Mobvoi Health app displays basic data on sleep trends, VO2 Max, and more. Moreover, it allows you to download third-party apps to access more features. At only $227, the Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 is a remarkable deal.
Conclusion
Our top picks reviewed above are all great options. If you want the best android watch for fitness that will help you maximize your workout potential. We've got you covered. Whether you prioritize a rugged design, advanced functionality, or sleek aesthetics, our list will help you make an informed decision. Check out the one that best suits you!
