10 Best Smartwatches for Music in 2021 [Playing + Controlling]

Whether you are a music lover who wants a smartwatch to play your favorite songs or control the music you play when you are out for a run, if you’re looking for a reliable device, you’ve come to the right place.

We are way past the time when watches were just a simple tool to tell time. Now, they can monitor your health, track your activities, take phone calls, and even stream/play music. In this article, we’ll be looking at the last one as I give you the best smartwatches that you can buy for listening to music.

There are different ways to listen music on your smartwatch.

• The most popular way is to listen via Bluetooth.
• If you have a compatible ecosystem, you may also be able to cast to a smart device, this way you can control your songs using your smartwatch.
• The final way is to listen via inbuilt speaker if it’s there on your device. You can either stream or download the songs directly on the watch.

Another thing you need to keep in mind while choosing a music-centric smartwatch is availability of music streaming apps.

Different devices will have access to different streaming apps and some won’t have access to any. Some of the popular apps include Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Music & YouTube Music (replacing Google Play Music). There are many third-party apps that might be available on your smartwatch and all of these will either be integrated or downloadable from the respective app stores.

So, to choose the perfect smartwatch for yourself, you need to take a lot of things into consideration. What music apps do you have access to? What health & fitness stuff is available? Do you need an active internet connection all the time? Do you need to make calls on your watch?

And, those aren’t the only ones. I understand that it might be confusing to make a decision while keeping so many pointers in check. So, I took the privilege to do the hard work for you and make a list of the best smartwatches that you can buy for listening to music while not compromising on the other important things.

We deal with a lot of smart things nowadays and they have become an essential part of our daily routines. From phones to televisions to home IoT and a bunch of other devices have been going through the upgrade-to-smart process and of course, that hasn’t left the watches on our wrist.

Best Smartwatches For Music

The first thing you need to understand is that every device on this list isn’t gonna be for everyone. As I’ve mentioned, different people have different needs and there is no perfect product for everyone. So, go through the list thoroughly and look for the exact features you’ll require on a daily basis.

My way of the evaluation was kinda hard and time-consuming. I had to put in a lot of hours to consider every possible fact and sort out the best of the best from an ocean full of choices for smartwatches. However, in the end, I got exactly what a large number of users with a lot of requirement differences will need. So, hopefully, there is something for you too.

1. Best Overall: TicWatch Pro LTE

Mode of playing: Bluetooth or Download a few songs into the device itself, the watch also supports apps like YouTube music, Spotify, etc.

To kick things off, I have the Ticwatch Pro from Mobvoi. It is an excellent smartwatch and it is powered by Google’s Wear OS. It is one of the only devices to use Google’s software really well and is also one of the only Wear OS powered devices to have cellular connectivity as of now.

Let’s start with the design. Mobvoi has gone with a circular approach for the frame and the build material combination is a little weird. The case is made out of Polyamide and Glass Fiber with a Stainless Steel Bezel and the bottom/back is made out of Aluminum. Having all this stuff makes the build sturdy but, it’s not as great as something like a unibody stainless steel design.

The IP68 water resistance saves the device from sweat and day to day splashes or rain showers, and it can still survive swimming.

Compatibility is a non-issue here as Google provides support for Android and iOS. On the connectivity front, there is Bluetooth 4.2 and 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi alongside GPS, GLONASS & Beidou for navigation. There is also 4G LTE support on Verizon. So, that’s quite a lot of connectivity options at our disposal.

The display is a 1.39-inch OLED panel with a secondary low-res LCD panel on top for basic tasks. On the inside, we have, Snapdragon 2100 with 1GB of RAM and 4GB of Internal Storage. The performance is pretty good. Maybe something like a newer Snapdragon 3100 would help but, in this case, the amount of RAM really does. This setup works fine but maybe there could be more storage but, that’s up to you to decide.

On the software side, Wear OS is a great advantage. It gives you access to the Google Play Store, so there is a wide availability of third-party apps with multiple music apps. So, in case you want to listen to music on Spotify or any other third-party music app, available on the Play Store, you can do that without a problem.

On the health and fitness side, you get all the basic stuff you need like Heart Rate Monitoring, Sleep Tracking, Step Tracking, Workout Tracking, Swim Tracking, and more. Sadly any premium health features like ECG, Blood Oxygen Monitoring, or Stress Monitoring are missing.

You can monitor all of your health stats through the Google Fit app on your smartphone. Google isn’t as great at providing health stats as Fitbit or Apple but, they provide enough information.

Coming to battery life, Wear OS is a power-hungry operating system and that probably speaks for why it lasts up to 2 days on their recommended smart mode. However, you can expect way less than that in real-life usage scenarios. If you push the device well enough, you’ll need to charge it every day. However, if you’re using that secondary LCD screen to see time only, it’ll last a lot longer.

So overall, for users with general fitness needs with a requirement for cellular connectivity, the Ticwatch Pro LTE is a great choice. If you want a more flexible offering with a lot more premium features onboard, I have some recommendations listed below, just for you.

2. Best for iPhone Users: Apple Watch SE

On the Apple side of things, we have the new Apple Watch SE which is the latest affordable option from the company. Apple focuses as much on the productivity side as they do on the health and fitness side. So, of course, they have good music streaming options built into their ecosystem.

Let’s start off with the design and build. Apple has used a rectangular case with rounded corners, which is made out of Aluminum. Unlike the flagship Apple Watch line, we do not get more premium case options. Now, the sensors are located at the bottom alongside the Digital Crown on the right.

The design looks premium and the build is sturdy as well. Apple has also used an ion-X glass top layer which has been standard for all Aluminum Apple Watches for a while. There are two case sizes including a smaller 40 mm and the larger 44 mm.

I need to get to the biggest drawback of the Apple Watch SE or any Apple Watch for that matter now. Apple only allows its wearables to be paired with an iPhone. So, you won’t be able to pair it with an Android device or even Apple’s own iPads.

On the connectivity side, there isn’t much of a compromise at all with, full GPS/GNSS for maps & navigation alongside, Bluetooth 5.0 and 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi. The wireless operations are being carried out on Apple’s W3 wireless chip. There is also a cellular variant with support for 4G LTE.

Coming to the hardware, Apple is using their LTPO OLED displays for the Watch SE. This technology allows for punchy colors and infinite contrast while also being more power-efficient compared to regular OLED displays. Of course, there are two display sizes including a smaller 1.57-inch and a slightly bigger 1.78-inch panel. The brightness is around 1000 nits which are more than enough for good outdoor visibility.

The CPU is Apple’s last-gen S5 which is actually pretty powerful and energy-efficient. No, it won’t be as good as the S6 but, that is understandable as it’s a newer chip and is only available on the flagship Watch Series 6. However, you do get 1GB of RAM and 32GB of Internal Storage just like its more expensive sibling.

WatchOS 7 is considered to be one of the best smartwatch operating systems in the business and alongside having features like custom watch faces, sleep tracking, hand wash detection, and access to a ton of apps in the app store, it also has some great stuff for music.

Firstly, if you use Apple Music, it is directly integrated but, even if you use Spotify or Amazon Music, you can download them from the store and stream music using your Bluetooth headphones. Google has recently added support for YouTube Music, so you can use that as well. Of course, if you use Airpods, you’ll get voice control using Siri.

On the health and fitness side of things, we have heart rate monitoring, sleep monitoring, fall detection, activity tracking, hand wash detection, and much more. It also has all the sweet integrations with iOS and the cellular model also lets you take phone calls directly on the watch, without needing your phone.

The battery life is pretty amazing with 18 hours of mixed usage on a single charge. The audio playback time will vary but, you can expect around 7 hours of streaming or around 10 hours in case the music is stored locally.

If you want features like ECG or Blood Oxygen Monitoring and perhaps a case built out of stainless steel or titanium, you can rather look at the Apple Watch Series 6 instead. It also has more powerful hardware, better energy efficiency, and a brighter always-on display.

If you’re looking for a powerful yet affordable smartwatch and you live in the Apple ecosystem, get the Apple Watch SE. The music features are worth it and it’s a great overall device that seamlessly integrates with your iPhone.

3. Best Runner Up: Garmin Venu

The Garmin Venu is a semi-premium smartwatch from the company, focused on fitness and it is also one of the only devices from the company to use an AMOLED display. It has all the cool features you can expect while also being a great tool for music.

The design & build quality is impressive as Garmin has kept their circular design and have used the carbon reinforced polymer as the build material. This makes the device look good while also giving it robust build quality. The bezel is made out of stainless steel which adds to the premium looks and the Gorilla Glass 3 top protects from scratches.

The 5 ATM water resistance also makes the device ideal for swimming and surfing but it won’t survive skin diving.

The compatibility situation is fine as Garmin has included support for both Android smartphones and iPhones. The connectivity front is also feature-rich with ANT+, Bluetooth & 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi for wireless connectivity and GPS, GLONASS & Galileo for maps & navigation purposes. One major drawback of this device is, it misses cellular connectivity.

The hardware, specifically the display is where things get interesting. Garmin has been using their Transflective MIP display tech in almost all of their wearables but, in the case of the Venu, they’ve gone with an AMOLED panel. The 1.2-inch display is bright, vibrant & contrasty. There is no word on the SOC or RAM but, I can confirm that there is 8GB of Internal Storage.

On the software front, Garmin’s own operating system keeps things simple and easy to use. Garmin’s Connect IQ store has access to a lot of third-party apps, so that shouldn’t be an issue either.

The music options are good enough with support for both Spotify and Amazon Music, so you have both free & paid options. If you want to use free streaming on Spotify, you can do that but, it’ll compromise on the quality. You can also download songs offline if you want to hear them when you’re not connected to the internet.

On the health and fitness side, Garmin has a major focus with access to special features and dedicated sports modes. On the health side, there is Heart Rate Monitoring, Sleep Tracking, Stress Monitoring, Blood Oxygen Monitoring, and more.

There are also dedicated modes for various sports like Golf and Biking and Garmin has their own set of running features called Pace Pro. So, when it comes to health and fitness, there is not much compromise.

The battery life on the Venu is pretty respectable. You can get up to 5 days of mixed usage on a single charge. That’ll reduce to 20 hours if you’re using GPS all the time and 6 hours if you’re streaming music alongside using the GPS.

So, if you are interested in the Garmin smartwatches but that LCD-backlit MIP display was holding you back from making a purchase, the Venu might be the reason to finally make that purchase. Also, if Amazon Music is something you use, there aren’t many options for that either.

4. Best Budget Garmin Watch: Garmin Vivoactive 4

The Vivoactive 4 is somewhat similar to the Venu with a slightly different approach. It still retains some of the higher-end features that are mostly seen in the flagships, yet keeping the price tag firmly in the upper mid-range segment. Well, that’s based on how Garmin prices their smartwatches.

The design is actually quite similar to most of the other Garmin smartwatches, with a circular frame made out of stainless steel and is available in 45mm and 40mm sizes. It makes the construction sturdy while keeping things sleek and stylish.

The device comes with a 5 ATM water resistance rating which makes it perfect for swimming and surfing as well. The CGG3 on top is great for day to day protection from scratches. So overall, the design is great and it is also built really well.

Just like the Venu, compatibility is a non-issue for the Vivoactive 4 with support for both iOS and Android smartphones. Now, the connectivity front holds up pretty well too. No, there is no cellular connectivity but, there is ANT+, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi support alongside GPS, GLONASS & Galileo for navigation.

When it comes to the hardware, the Vivoactive 4 adapts the Transflective-MIP displays that Garmin has been using for most of their devices. The 1.3-inch panel isn’t as vibrant as the Garmin Venu but, it is bright enough and it does the job just fine. There is also a 1.1-inch panel option available in the smaller variant.

The device comes with 8GB of Internal Storage which is respectable and I don’t really know what SOC or the amount of RAM the device is using. But, what I do know is that the performance is very similar to every other Garmin smartwatch available in this price segment.

Coming to the software end of things, Garmin OS is polished, has a great collection of third party apps. Of course, music is a priority here as well. There is support for Spotify and Amazon Music which is great for high-quality music streaming. Of course, you can also download offline but, that’ll start eating your storage pretty fast.

Now, when it comes to health and fitness, Garmin has you covered. All the basic stuff like Heart Rate Monitoring, Swim Tracking, Step Counting, alongside advanced features like Cardio Fitness Tracking, Stress Tracking, and Blood Oxygen Monitoring. Besides, it also has specialized modes for various sports with Pace Pro for running, a ton of Golfing features, and much more.

Battery life on Garmin smartwatches are generally pretty good and the Vivoactive 4 is no exception. With regular mixed usage, the device can last up to 8 days or 7 days depending on if you have the 45mm or the 40mm model. In case you’re constantly using the GPS, that comes down to 18 hours and 15 hours, respectively.

All right, so the Garmin Vivoactive 4 is a great smartwatch for sport & fitness enthusiasts and yes, it does cost a bit. But, if you’re the kind of user who can take advantage of all the features, this device is going to be a worthy purchase for you.

5. Best in Class: Fitbit Versa 3

In the world of more accessible smartwatches, Fitbit is a huge name and their latest Fitbit Versa 3 is a fantastic smartwatch for health enthusiasts. It has a handful of features for health and fitness and it does a great job when it comes to music. It does lack behind the Fitbit Sense in some areas but, it’s better than the Versa 2.

The design retains Fitbit’s signature square frame with rounded corners and instead of a physical button or dial, Fitbit has used a sensor to achieve similar functionality. The case is made out of Aluminum and that’s okay. It’s a sturdy build with not much to complain about. It’s definitely not as premium as its more expensive sibling but that’s kinda expected.

Fitbit’s Versa 3 is compatible with both iOS and Android operating systems. So, regardless of the smartphone, you’re using, the device is going to work. On the connectivity front, Fitbit has gone with Bluetooth 5.0 and 802.11 b/g/n alongside, GPS & GLONASS for maps and navigation.

When it comes to connectivity, Fitbit pulls ahead of most of the competition but, if you were looking for cellular connectivity, Fitbit still doesn’t include that.

The 1.59-inch OLED display is big enough & also fairly visible outdoors. However, the bezels on this one are a bit too much for some people’s taste so, that’ll depend on personal preference. The rest of the hardware hasn’t really been specified by Fitbit but, the performance in real life isn’t very fast or too slow.

It’s not slow but it won’t stack up against the systems from Samsung or Apple. If you are coming from one of those ecosystems, it might feel somewhat less compelling to you.

Now, as far as software goes, Fitbit OS is great. It does your day to day stuff really well, has a good number of third-party apps available. That includes music apps like Spotify & Deezer, so streaming music ain’t gonna be an issue.

Well, unless you’re an Amazon or Apple Music user which can be a problem as the device doesn’t support those. So, if you fall into that category, the Garmins and the Apple Watches are your best bet.

For health & fitness, Fitbit has managed to pull up a lot. All of your basic needs like Heart Rate Monitoring, Swim Tracking, Sleep Tracking, and the workout stats are all there. But, Fitbit has also squeezed in a SpO2 sensor which can monitor your Blood Oxygen. There is no ECG and that’s okay. This device is focused on health & fitness and it does that right.

Battery life is kinda impressive though. With mixed usage, you can get about 6 days of use on a single charge. As expected, if you only use the essential features you can get a couple of days more but, you don’t really need to do that in this case. This is great battery life and even if you’re pushing the device, it’ll still get you a few days of battery life.

So overall, if you are someone who is into the idea of a mid-range device that retains all those features you’re looking for and lets you compete with other users in the same ecosystem, the Fitbit Versa 3 is a great choice. If you want something more premium, the Fitbit Sense might fit you better (it’s the Apple 6 of Fitbits.)

6. Best Stylish Watch: Fossil Gen 5 Carlyle

If you are interested in Google’s version of wearables and you’ll also like to have something fancy, I can’t recommend the Fossil Gen 5 Carlyle enough. It’s a semi-premium smartwatch from a pretty popular brand and it does music nicely. That might be enough reasons for some users but, it does do a lot of other things, right.

The design is very Fossil-like with a rounded frame made out of Stainless Steel with a fancy watch dial with two customizable buttons on each side of it. The construction looks premium and sleek. Fossil even managed to squeeze in a 3 ATM water resistance rating which makes swimming, a non-issue.

As you’ll probably be aware by now, Google allows both iOS and Android ecosystems so, that’s a non-issue. Also, the connectivity front is well done with GPS for navigation and Bluetooth 4.2 with 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi for wireless communications. It’ll support Bluetooth calling but, there is no cellular connectivity if you’re looking into that.

Coming to the hardware now, the 1.28-inch OLED display is big enough. The Snapdragon Wear 3100 with 1GB RAM works pretty well. The 8GB Internal Storage is not a lot but it’s okay. This combination works perfectly fine for Wear OS and the performance is pretty good.

On that note, Wear OS is nice and has access to the Google Play Store, so you can get all those third-party apps you always wanted. And that includes music apps like Spotify and of course, Google’s own YouTube Music.

So, if you want to stream music on the go, directly from your watch, it can be done and it works with Bluetooth headsets. If you have a Google Assistant supported headphone, you can also use voice control on that.

Like every other Wear Os smartwatch at this price point, the Gen 5 Carlyle does health & fitness stuff just okay. There is heart rate monitoring, step tracking, distance tracking, swim tracking at your other day-to-day workout tracking. There is no fancy ECG or Stress Monitoring or Blood Oxygen Monitoring but, we generally don’t get those at this price point anyway, so I can’t complain.

The Carlyle can do up to 24 hours of mixed usage on a single charge. This can be more or less depending on your personal usage habits. If you are a power user, you may need to plug it in every night. Overall, this is exactly what I would expect from a Wear OS powered device running on the Snapdragon 3100.

In case you’re a Fossil user and you do not want to switch, the Fossil Gen 5 Carlyle might be the perfect smartwatch for you. In case you want more advanced health features or perhaps, cellular connectivity is something you require on a daily basis, look at the offering from Apple & Samsung, that I’ve listed here.

7. Best Sleek Design: Amazfit GTS 2

The Amazfit GTS 2 is kind of a really good smartwatch and a mixed bag when it comes to music. Because of its comparatively lower price and the impressive feature set, it is kind of a middle ground for a lot of people on a budget.

The design is somewhat generic with a rectangular frame with rounded corners with a pair of weird bumps around the single side button. The case is constructed with Aluminum and it is pretty sturdy. The Gorilla Glass 3 constructed top is curved on the sides and it looks pretty good while providing some extra protection against day-to-day scratches.

The 5 ATM water resistance means that the device can survive under 50 meters of water which means you don’t have to remove it while taking a shower or when you are deep diving in a swimming pool.

Thankfully, the device does support both Android and iOS powered smartphones. On the connectivity front, we have GPS for navigation alongside Bluetooth and 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi for wireless connectivity. So, that is a pretty respectable set of connectivity options for a smartwatch of this price.

The display is a 1.65-inch AMOLED panel and it is bright, has an infinite contrast ratio, and is good for battery life as the device also supports always-on display functionality. There is 3GB of Internal Memory and the rest hasn’t been specified by the company. The performance is pretty good in real life, so I won’t worry about that too much. Let’s just say, you get what you pay for.

On the software side, Amazfit’s operating system is kind of a mixed bag. On one hand, the UI is easy to use with easily accessible features. On the other hand, when it comes to music, you can’t really install third-party apps so, you’re stuck with your watch being the controls for the music on your phone. If you’re not okay with that, skip this one.

Health and Fitness are where the device starts showing its value. The device does all the basic stuff like Heart Rate Monitoring, Sleep Tracking, Swim Tracking, and more while also having features like Blood Oxygen Monitoring & even Stress Tracking. That’s something we don’t get to see a lot in this price segment.

Battery life on the GTS 2 is pretty good as well. With regular mixed usage, you get up to 7 days on a single charge. While using the essential features only that can extend up to 20 days and while using GPS all the time, it’ll last up to 25 hours. If you’re taking Bluetooth calls, the device can last up to 5 hours.

So, if you’re looking for the best music streaming support, the Amazfit GTS 2 isn’t the best option for you. But, if you’re okay with your watch being a control for your music and you need those premium health features for less money, the GTS 2 will be a perfect fit for you.

8. Best Premium Look: Huawei Watch GT 2e

The Huawei GT 2e solves the problems that the Amazfit GTS 2 brought to the table. It is relatively lower-priced, has all the health & fitness features that you may expect and it also does music, ever so slightly better. So, this can be a perfect choice for people on a budget.

The design & build is nice for the price point. The circular frame looks modern, has a hard plastic case with a stainless steel bezel and two buttons on the side. The overall construction is sturdy and it also has a 5 ATM water resistance, so it’s swim proof. Yes, it’s not an all-metal design but, it’s a really great value for money.

Huawei supports both Android and iOS ecosystems and the GT 2e is no exception. On the connectivity front, there is Bluetooth 5.1 for wireless communications and GPS for navigation. That’s a lot right in a budget smartwatch considering some of the so-called luxury options are still stuck with Bluetooth 4.1. Do remember that there is no Wi-Fi which means, no chances of any software updates.

The display is a 1.39-inch AMOLED panel with a high pixel count. That means the texts are sharp and the visuals are vivid. And there is also 4GB of Internal Storage with around 16MB of RAM. The SOC information isn’t really available but, I’ll have to guess that the device is using the homegrown Kirin platform. The performance is fine. It’s nothing groundbreaking but it does work.

The software side of things is well maintained. The UI is polished and user friendly. There are some sluggishness and jitter at times but, that might just be the lower RAM capacity talking. For music, you’ll need to use the Bluetooth connection to transfer AAC and/or MP3 files from your phone to the Huawei Music app, and then you can use your wireless headphones to listen to them. Little tricky but that’s the only option you get.

Health and Fitness side is pretty great though. Premium features like Blood Oxygen Monitoring VO2Max and Stress Monitoring are present alongside things like Heart Rate Monitoring, Sleep Tracking, and Swim Tracking. It also has a bunch of dedicated sports modes which work pretty well.

The battery can last up to 14 days with mixed usage, but, that’s going to vary widely depending on how you choose to use the device. If you’re using GPS a lot or pushing the workout modes hard, you’ll lose battery faster. If you use the super-essential features only, the battery may last even longer.

Overall, the Huawei Watch GT 2e is a great choice for people on a budget. If not having Wi-Fi is going to bother you a lot then, maybe go for something else but, otherwise, you’re gonna be fine.

9. Best Samsung Watch: Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2

Alongside all the Apple & Google stuff, resides the Samsung ecosystem. The Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 is one of the best smartwatches that Samsung makes and it uses Samsung’s Tizen operating system. Alongside being an excellent health tool, the device is also great for listening to music which are enough reasons to consider this device in the first place.

Samsung hasn’t compromised on the build quality. You get an Aluminum case and a Silicone band with a GPS model while the 4G LTE model will get you a Stainless Steel case and a leather band. There is no watch dial but you do get two buttons on the right with the monitoring sensors at the bottom.

Unlike Apple, compatibility is a non-issue with support for both iOS and Android ecosystems. However, of course, the device will perform best with a Samsung smartphone. That really shows when you look at the connectivity department. The basic stuff like GPS, GLONASS, Beidou & Galileo for navigation and Bluetooth 5.0 with 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi for wireless communication, does work on all devices. Now, there is support for 4G LTE but, that will only work if the phone is paired with a Samsung smartphone. That’s the biggest limitation of the Galaxy Watch Active 2.

It’s time to talk about hardware now. The display is using Samsung’s sweet Super AMOLED technology and it is 1.4-inch in size with a resolution of 360×360. There’s also a bright always-on display mode in case you’re interested. Samsung’s Exynos 9110 is a pretty capable SOC and paired with up to 1.5GB of RAM, the performance is fast. However, I can’t really be happy about the 4GB of Internal Storage which clearly isn’t enough. The non-LTE variant also comes with 768MB of RAM so, do keep that in mind.

As far as software goes, Samsung’s Tizen is a great operating system for wearables and there are enough number of customizations and 3rd party app options available. For music, Samsung has integrated Spotify right into the software. So, you just log in and you’re good to go. Sadly there is no support for Amazon or Apple Music so, Spotify is the only way to go there. And it is recommended to stream only because you get slightly more than 1GB free out of that 4GB storage which isn’t ideal for storing a bunch of songs.

Samsung also does health and fitness really well. You can easily track your sleep, heart rate, and stress using the Galaxy Watch Active 2. In case you live in the US, you also have the option to take an ECG using the device which can come really handy at times. For activity tracking the device can seamlessly track your daily indoor workouts alongside outdoor ones like running, swimming, and more.

Talking about battery life now, it is better than the Apple Watch. You’ll get slightly more than 60 hours on a single charge with your regular, mixed use case scenarios and if you’re willing to use the essential features only, you can get about 131 hours out of it. So, if you were expecting some super extraordinary battery life, this is not that but, it’s actually pretty good.

And that is the Galaxy Watch Active 2 in a nutshell. If you like Samsung’s approach to wearables, this is the device to get and I do recommend this over the flagship Galaxy Watch 3. If you have a Samsung smartphone, you can also take advantage of cellular connectivity to stay connected outdoors. In case these things aren’t your jam, maybe look at the other devices that I’ve mentioned in the list.

10. Cheapest Option: Moto 360 3rd Gen

Coming back to Google’s Wear OS ecosystem now, Motorola has been making quite a bit of noise with their Moto 360 series for the last couple of years and the 3rd generation is no different. The major focus for this device is remaining as premium as it gets at its respective price point while having as many features as possible.

The build quality, as suggested earlier, is fantastic. Motorola has used stainless steel for the frame and they even used screws made out of Titanium. So, the company has gone all-in for the new 360 3rd gen. The top layer is made out of Corning Gorilla Glass 3, which gives good protection against scratches.

It is compatible with both Android & iOS ecosystems, so you can get this device working with whatever smartphone you have. For connectivity, we do not get a cellular option like the Galaxy Watch Active 2 but, we do get GPS, GLONASS, Beidou & Galileo for navigation with Bluetooth 4.1 and 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi for the rest of your wireless needs. So, Motorola kinda does an okay job here which is what we’ve been seeing in most other WearOS powered devices.

Coming to the hardware now, there is a 1.2-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 390×390 which is pretty great actually. Motorola has gone with the Snapdragon 3100 from Qualcomm which is a powerful SOC and paired with 1GB RAM, the performance is pretty good. The 8GB internal storage, well, it’s fine.

Health & Fitness monitoring features are actually pretty much limited to the basics. So, heart rate, sleep tracking, step counting, and stuff like that are present but you don’t get ECG or Blood Oxygen Monitoring or any other premium feature that is available on more expensive devices like the Galaxy Watch Active 2. This is another constant that we’ve been noticing in this price segment.

Finally, it’s time to talk about battery life and in the Moto 360, it is similar to what we’ve been seeing with other WearOS powered smartwatches. With mixed usage, it can do up to 24 hours on a single charge. The battery life may vary depending on if you push the device harder or use the basic features instead.

So, that’s how the Moto 360 3rd Gen stacks up in this crazy list of smartwatches. So, in case you want that premium build quality while having the flexibility and third party app availability of WearOS, the Moto 360 is definitely an excellent option.

FAQs

Verdict

It’s time to wrap this up and move on. I hope you already found the perfect smartwatch for yourself. However, in case you still haven’t, I can give you an idea on which one you should pick, based on the specific type of user you are. Check out the listing below:

• If you live in the Apple Ecosystem, get the Apple Watch SE or even the newer Apple Watch Series 6 if you have the budget.
• If you prefer Google’s Wear OS, my first choice will be the third-gen Moto 360 but, you can also get Fossil Gen 5 Carlyle if you want something fancier.
• If you have an android phone and you want 4G connectivity, the TicWatch Pro LTE is your best bet. But, you do need to make peace with Verizon as your network provider. On an iPhone, you’ll need the cellular version on the Apple Watch SE or any other Apple watch for that matter.
• Samsung smartwatch users who need LTE and better ecosystem integration can go for the Galaxy Watch Active 2.
• If you have an Amazon Prime Subscription and you use Amazon Music, you’ll have to go to Apple or Garmin as of now.
• If you use YouTube Music, it’s currently not available on Wear OS but it should be available soon, so that seems like a safe patch.
• Spotify users can choose the Apple Watch SE or Samsung’s Galaxy Watch Active 2, Garmin’s Venu, or Vivoactive 4.
• If you want Blood Oxygen Monitoring, the Garmin devices, the Fitbit Versa 3, The Amazfit GTS 2 and the Huawei Watch GT 2e are your options.
• For those who need ECG, only the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 has that feature and it is restricted to the US only so, keep that in mind.

So, that’ll be all for this article. It should now be clear for you which device suits you the best. If you follow correctly, you won’t be making much or any sacrifices and you’ll get your money’s worth out of your smartwatch. In case you’d like to have a look at some other types of smartwatches, there are a lot of other articles on the website, digging deep into that. So, you can check those out if you want.