Wear OS smartwatches languished with the now outdated Snapdragon 2100 chip powering a vast majority of these devices, but things started to get a lot better in 2018 when Android Wear was renamed to Wear OS which has since then undergone series of updates that has now seen it measure up favorably with other outstanding operating systems like the Tizen OS by Samsung and the WatchOS by Apple.
And towards the end of 2018, Qualcomm announced the Snapdragon 3100 chip that’s stated to power the next generation of Wear OS smartwatches and promises to bring a handful of improvements which includes a longer battery life.
To that end, there’re some very good Wear OS smartwatches on the market and we’ve chosen the 10 best Wear OS smartwatches you can buy right now.
Introducing the Snapdragon 3100 Chip
Snapdragon 3100 released last year is no doubt the game changer that will see more Wear OS smartwatches compete favorably with the likes of Samsung Galaxy watch and Apple watch series 4. The new chip brings some significant improvements to Wear OS smartwatches which includes;
- More Attractive Ambient Mode
- Activity Tracking is More Accurate
- Battery Life is Longer
Snapdragon 3100 powered smartwatches will feature a more attractive ambient mode that displays 16 colors, watch hands and other complications. The iconic Co-processor which consumes far lesser power takes care of the ambient mode while the main processor remains idle.
With the 3100 chip, smartwatch makers will now be able to write their own algorithm unlike the 2100 chip where smartwatch makers had to make do with already configured algorithm.
Snapdragon 3100 powered smartwatches will have the ability to switch to a traditional watch mode that extends battery life. Fossil Gen 4 Sport had its battery life extended to almost 12 hours with the traditional watch mode activated. However, with the watch mode active sees a lot of Wear OS features remain inactive.
Unfortunately, Snapdragon 3100 powered smartwatches are only three which are; Fossil Gen 4 Sport, Montblanc Summit 2 and Louis Vuitton Tambour Horizon. This is quite surprising, considering the announcement was made over 6 months ago, yet the newly released Wear OS smartwatches are all powered by the older Snapdragon 2100 chip.
Anyway, we hope to see new Wear OS smartwatches come with the 3100 chip, so we can actually be able to give a clearer judgment on the new chip.
Latest Wear OS Version
The latest Wear OS version 2.6 brings some really nice features to the table;
- One of those, is the new complications section that allows you to access your most recent app. You can add this feature by simply tapping on the complication area you want to add it to.
- Secondly, the latest version now adds a download indicator that shows download progress. A long overdue feature that should have been here long ago. But, it’s all good we can see how much progress is made with the next download.
- The size of text for notifications now changes based on how much is being shown on the screen at once.
- Before now, Wear OS users have companied about accidental swipes and gestures, Wear OS 2.6 fixes those problems.
- Wear 2.6 also features the ability to see Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and cellular icons in your Quick Settings page that enables faster access.
Besides, Wear OS also integrates into your watch the much improved Google Fit that’s has now become a great app for managing your fitness goals, and Google Assistant that’s also very easy to access, ready to take the next voice command just by you saying “OK Google”, while also giving you access to all your favorite apps.
How to Setup Wear OS
Setting up Wear OS on either Android or iPhone is pretty much a straight forward process that should take less than 2 minutes. For Android and iOS devices, the process is almost similar.
- It starts by first ensuring your watch is compatible with your phone
- Turn on your watch.
- On your phone, open the Wear OS app.
- Tap “set it up”.
- From your watch, follow the onscreen instructions to choose a language and accept terms of service.
- From your phone, follow the onscreen instruction until you notice the name of your watch.
- Tap the name of your watch to connect.
- You will find a code on both your watch and phone which should be same, tap pair to connect.
- To finish, follow the onscreen instructions.
Check out the
Wear OS help page for other setup instructions.
10 Best Wear OS Smartwatches at a Glance
| Key Features | |
|---|---|
TICWATCH PRO - Best Wear OS Smartwatch for Men | Display: 1.39 inch | FSTN LCD/AMOLED | 407 ppi | 400 x 400 px | Connectivity: GPS | NFC | HRM | Wi-Fi Memory: 0.5GB RAM | 4GB ROM | Waterproof Rating:IP68 | OS: Proprietary Wear OS | Compatibility: Android 4.4+, iOS 9.3+ | Battery: 2-5 days on regular usage |
LG Watch W7 – Best Wear OS Hybrid Smartwatch For Men | Display: 1.2 inch | LCD | Connectivity: WiFi | Bluetooth | Memory: 4GB |Waterproof Rating:IP67 | OS: Wear OS | Compatibility: Android/iOS | Battery life: 1-2 days on regular usage |
Fossil Gen 4 Sport – Best Wear OS Fitness Smartwatch | Display: 1.2 inch | Full color AMOLED display | touchscreen | Connectivity: GPS | NFC (Google Pay) | Memory: 0.5GB RAM | 4GB ROM | Waterproof Rating:5ATM (Swim-proof) | OS: Wear OS | Compatibility: Android 4.4+ & iOS 9.3+ | Battery: approx. 1 day on regular usage | Sensors: Accelerometer | Gyroscope | HRM |
Montblanc Summit 2 – Best Wear OS Luxury Smartwatch For Men | Display: 1.2 inch | Full color AMOLED display | touchscreen | Connectivity: GPS | NFC (Google Pay) | Memory: 1GB RAM | 8GB ROM | Waterproof Rating:5ATM (Swim-proof) | OS: Wear OS | Compatibility: Android 4.4+ & iOS 9.3+ | Battery: approx. 1 day on regular usage | Sensors: Accelerometer | Gyroscope | HRM |
Fossil Gen 4 Explorist – Best Wear OS Designer Smartwatch For Men | Display: 1.4 inches | AMOLED | 454 x 454 px | Connectivity: GPS | HRM NFC | Wi-Fi Memory: 4GB | 512GB RAM | Waterproof Rating:IP67/3ATM | OS: Wear OS | Compatibility: Android 4.4+/iOS 9.3+ | Battery: over 1 day on regular usage | Sensors: Accelerometer | Gyroscope | HRM |
Casio Pro Trek WSD-F30 – Best Wear OS GPS Smartwatch | Display: 1.2 inches/60.5mm | Monochromic LCD/OLED | Connectivity: GPS | Bluetooth | Wi-Fi |Waterproof Rating:5ATM | Compatibility: Android 4.4+ (excluding Go Edition) /iOS 9.3+ | Battery: 2 days+ on regular usage |
Fossil Gen 4 Venture – Best Wear OS Designer smartwatch For Women | Display: 1.2 inches | AMOLED | Connectivity: GPS | NFC | Wi-Fi Memory: 4GB | 512GB RAM | Waterproof Rating:IP67/3ATM | OS: Wear OS | Compatibility: Android 4.4+/iOS 9.3+ | Battery: over 1 day on regular usage | Sensors: Accelerometer | Gyroscope | HRM |
Ticwatch S2 – Another Fine Wear OS Fitness Smartwatch For Men | Display: 1.39 inch | Full color AMOLED display | touchscreen | Connectivity: GPS | Memory: 0.5GB RAM | 4GB ROM | Waterproof Rating:5ATM (Swim-proof) | MIL-STD-810G | OS: Wear OS | Compatibility: Android 4.4+ & iOS 9.3+ | Battery: 2-3 days on regular usage | Sensors: Accelerometer | Gyroscope | HRM |
Ticwatch E2 – A Low Budget Wear OS Fitness Smartwatch | Display: 1.39 inch | Full color AMOLED display | touchscreen | Connectivity: GPS | Memory: 0.5GB RAM | 4GB ROM | Waterproof Rating:5ATM (Swim-proof) | OS: Wear OS | Compatibility: Android 4.4+ & iOS 9.3+ | Battery: 2-3 days on regular usage | Sensors: Accelerometer | Gyroscope | HRM |
Kate Spade Scallop 2 – Best Feminine Wear OS Smartwatch | Display: 1.19 inch | AMOLED | 390 x 390 pixel |Connectivity: WiFi | Bluetooth | NFC | Memory: 4GB |Waterproof Rating:IP68 | OS: Wear OS | Compatibility: Android/iOS | Battery life: 1 day on regular usage |
Check @ Amazon10 Best Wear OS Smartwatches in Details
1. Ticwatch Pro – Best Wear OS Smartwatch For Men
The Mobvoi Ticwatch Pro is undoubtedly the best Wear OS smartwatch, perhaps because of its dual layered display architecture that sees the battery last a little longer than other Wear OS Smartwatches. Although, a growing number of Wear OS smartwatches now feature a dual display in a bid to elongate battery life.
The Ticwatch Pro has an outstanding premium design that’s characterized by its somewhat bulky sizes. It’s not the ideal watch for people with smaller wrists. Although a great choice for men and with its classic appearance it’s a perfect fit for high profile events.
The highlight of the Ticwatch pro design is its dual display architecture that makes it possible to switch between two modes; the smart mode powered by the interactive AMOLED display that sees the battery last just over a day and the essential mode powered by FSTN LCD display that will see it last up to 30, but puts off all Wear OS features.
The watch face is customizable and there’re thousands of watch faces to choose from which off course allows you define your style for the next occasion.
The Ticwatch pro has robust features to complement your modern lifestyle. Its ships with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi support and compatible with both Android and iOS devices which when successfully paired syncs notifications from phone to the watch.
While also boosted with about 2.5GB ROM available for onboard storage of your favorite tracks and as well a microphone that gives you access to the Google Assistant.
It’s also a great choice for keeping tabs on your fitness level. It has GPS inbuilt, a heart rate monitor and accelerometer that makes it capable of tracking a number of activities which includes your steps, distance and calories.
You can choose the companion Mobvoi app or the much improved Google Fit app to manage your fitness goals. Both do have nice intuitive interface and interesting features.
There’s an NFC chip in the Ticwatch Pro that supports Google Pay contactless payment system that allows you to make payments on the go from the watch.
You can buy the Ticwatch Pro for about $250 and it ships with a premium double layered silicone/leather straps that’s comfortable to wear.
Pros
- Classic and elegant design.
- Reinforced carbon fiber and leather/silicon strap.
- A great choice for fitness tracking.
- There is a loudspeaker, microphone and NFC onboard.
- Onboard music storage.
Cons
- It isn’t swim-proof.
- Slight lagging in performance.
Recommendation – The Ticwatch Pro doesn’t have such a blazing performance which perhaps its only major drawback, but considering the dual display architecture that sees the battery last a little longer, the premium build and off course the interesting features present, it’s actually a great choice and one of the best smartwatches on the market.
2. LG Watch W7 – Best Wear OS Hybrid Smartwatch For Men
The LG Watch W7 isn’t one of those feature ladened smartwatches, however, if you’re out for a good looking timepiece, it fills that void perfectly well.
The Watch W7 according to LG took about 3 years of work, and I must add that the result of that long-term effort was actually remarkable. It was a fine attempt at making a hybrid smartwatch that looks like a traditional watch.
The aesthetics of the Watch W7 is quite outstanding, it features mechanical hands with a precision movement developed in partnership with Soprod SA, a Swiss company. The mechanical hands give the Watch W7 that real watch appearance that makes it a bit more difficult to tell it’s actually a smartwatch.
The case is made of stainless steel, while the silver engravings on the bezel further brings it to par with other high-end smartwatches in terms of design. The sizes suggest a man’s kind of watch, at 44.5mm it’s not bulky, but a bit thick at 12.9mm.
The 1.2-inch display powered by LCD is awesome, it’s bright and lively, while the watch face can be customized. The Watch W7 comes with a number of watch faces to choose from which all lacked the minute and hour hands sighting the presence of the mechanical hands.
Navigation is via the touchscreen support which is supported by 3 physical buttons with the middle one being a digital crown button.
The Watch W7 comes with 4GB onboard storage and as well a microphone that comes handy in accessing Google Assistant. It, however, lacks a heart rate sensor, NFC and ambient light sensor.
As per fitness tracking, the Watch W7 is a nice choice as it comes with an accelerometer, gyroscope, and altimeter that enables it to track a number of activities such as steps, distances, and altitude levels.
Notwithstanding that the Watch W7 is powered by the 2100 chip from Qualcomm, the battery life is quite impressive considering that you’ll get just over a day or perhaps two days from a single charge which isn’t bad.
Initially the price tag on Watch W7 was pegged at about $450 which was quite pricey, but that price has dropped to about $320. A more reasonable price.
Pros
- A premium hybrid smartwatch with sophisticated design.
- The Straps and watch faces are customizable.
- Microphone and 4GB onboard storage available.
- Mechanical hands with precision.
Cons
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 2100 is outdated.
- Lacks NFC, HRM, ambient light and speaker.
- It isn’t swim-proof.
Recommendation – The Watch W7 lacks quite a handful of features you’d find on close competitors like the Samsung Galaxy watch which doesn’t argue well for it, however, the design is quite outstanding even while spotting a somewhat long battery life and a remarkable performance.
3. Fossil Gen 4 Sport – Best Wear OS Fitness Smartwatch
Ticwatch Pro has one problem and like many other Wear OS smartwatches powered by the 2100 chip lag sometimes. Performance was somewhat slow often, but that’s not the case with the Fossil Gen 4 Sport – One of the few Snapdragon 3100 powered smartwatches which is undoubtedly the best Wear OS fitness smartwatch.
The Gen 4 Sport is powered by Snapdragon 3100 chip – The new chip debuted to improve performance and extend battery life on the next generation of Wear OS smartwatches.
Although the battery life of the Gen 4 Sport is abysmal, it would be too early to judge until we see the new chip on more Wear OS smartwatches. Moreover, Gen 4 Sport has a small battery capacity of 145mAh.
The Gen 4 Sport comes in a rather moderate case size; 41mm and 43mm while measuring 12mm thick which sort of makes it a nice choice for greater number of people. It’s also lightweight, thanks to the aluminum case and has one the most eye-catching designs. It’s the kind of watch that draws attention and is actually attractive, but does look cheap.
AMOLED powers the 1.2 inches display that’s very lively and with touchscreen support in addition to two physical buttons by the side which makes navigating the interface a lot easier.
Under the hood, the Gen 4 Sport packs 4GB onboard storage, a microphone is also present and as well there’s NFC which supports Google Pay.
Fitness enthusiasts will also find the Gen 4 very useful as it does come with all the standard sensors that enables it to track your steps, distance, routes, and calories.
Although performance is a lot faster on the Gen 4 Sport, same positive remark can’t be said of the abysmal battery life that lasts just about a day. Obviously not the best watch for people who engage in longer hours workout activities.
The Gen 4 Sport has the $250 price tag and is available in a variety of colors that includes blue, silver, black and gray.
Pros
- Elegant and stylish design.
- The Straps and watch faces are customizable.
- A great choice for fitness tracking.
- Amongst the very few smartwatches powered by Snapdragon 3100.
- It is swim-proof.
- There’s microphone.
- Google pay is available.
Cons
- Battery life isn’t so impressive.
- Design looks cheap.
Recommendation – Although lacks the premium tag, not to mention the quite abysmal battery life. However, the Gen 4 Sport has a stylish design, is lightweight, and has nice features with an impressive performance which makes it a great choice.
4. Montblanc Summit 2 – Best Wear OS Luxury Smartwatch For Men
The Montblanc Summit 2 is another Wear OS smartwatch that houses the Snapdragon 3100 chip, but beyond that it’s actually one of the best luxury smartwatches with its premium design and rich features. However, at about $1000, its certainly not the watch for everyone, but for those who can afford it, like the designer tag and off course the premium quality found on this timepiece.
The Summit 2 spots a spectacular design that features a well-crafted mix of DLC and stainless steel for the casing while the back casing is made of fiberglass resin which leaves it with such a classy premium appearance.
The 1.2 inch display looks great, although I am not surprised since its AMOLED while featuring 3 physical buttons by the side with one being a digital crown sort of the type seen on the Apple Watch Series 4. The size of Summit 2 at 42mm is moderate and should look great on men and women of course. However, the 14.3mm thickness size isn’t slim and obviously makes the watch a bit bulky.
The Summit 2 gets 1G RAM for the 3100 chip to play with which results in the blazing performance on this device. Also available is 8GB onboard storage space for downloads and installations. There’s also a microphone available and an NFC that supports Google pay.
As per fitness tracking, Summit 2 houses a heart rate sensor, an inbuilt GPS and as well an accelerometer that makes it capable of tracking a number of activities which include steps, distance, calories and outdoor activities such as routes and locations.
The Battery life of Summit 2 isn’t so impressive considering it lasts just over a day on regular usage. However, the Snapdragon 3100 chip which brings to the table the switching over to traditional watch mode which is overseen by the tiny co-processor that comes with the chip ensuring the Summit 2 can last just over a week or two. That sounds a lot better.
To own the Summit 2, you will have to part ways with about a $1000 or more if you go for the Milanese edition, but it’s actually a nice watch to grace your wrist if you can afford it.
Pros
- A sophisticated design crafted with great precision.
- The Straps and watch face are customizable.
- A nice choice for activity tracking.
- There’s Google pay.
- It is swim-proof.
- Runs on the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 3100 chip.
Cons
- Not a standalone smartwatch.
- Pricey, not for everyone.
Recommendation – Although this isn’t the watch for everyone, it’s expensive, but looking beyond that, the Summit 2 has an outstanding aesthetics and rich features to back it up. And the 3100 chip which offers a remarkable performance on this device makes it such a fantastic choice.
5. Fossil Gen 4 Explorist – Best Wear OS Designer Smartwatch For Men
The Fossil Gen 4 Explorist joins this list as one of the best Wear OS smartwatches with an outstanding design. In few words, it’s a classy and elegant watch.
The Gen 4 Explorist coming from a top name in the fashion world, is not much of a surprise. It has a well-crafted design with a stainless steel case and 22mm stainless steel straps that can be changed, that’s if you don’t like them.
Fossil did specify the Explorist as a man’s watch, going by the sizes at 45mm case and 13mm thickness size respectively. It’s obviously a great choice for men.
The display powered by AMOLED is pleasing to watch and supports touchscreen in addition to a digital crown rotating button that’s flanked by two other physical buttons which makes navigation on this device very easy.
The Gen 4 Explorist has quite a lot of features that includes NFC chip that power’s Google Pay, microphone that comes handy in accessing Google Assistant, while there’s also 4GB onboard storage out of which about 2.5GB is available for downloads and installations.
With HRM, accelerometer, and inbuilt GPS on the Gen 4 Explorist, it’s a great choice for tracking your daily activities.
Battery life on the Gen 4 Explorist isn’t so impressive, but that’s no different from other Wear OS smartwatches. On regular usage, you should expect about a full day of battery life.
The Gen 4 Explorist sales for about $280 and is available in rose-gold color, silver, smoke gray and black color. Quite a lot of varieties giving you lot of options to choose.
Pros
- One of the most fascinating designs.
- The Straps and watch faces are customizable.
- It has a LED flashlight.
- Customizable buttons.
- There is a microphone and NFC for Google pay.
- It is swim -proof.
Cons
- The battery is not so great.
Recommendation – Perhaps one of the most handsome watches, the Gen 4 Explorist is outstanding in the design and packed with nifty features that makes it a great choice. Although battery life isn’t so impressive, it’s no doubt a great choice.
6. Casio Pro Trek WSD-F30 – Best Wear OS GPS Smartwatch
Casio Pro Trek WSD-F30 – Best Wear OS GPS Smartwatch
Just like the Garmin Fenix 5x Plus, the Pro Trek WSD-F30 from Casio is an outstanding GPS smartwatch running on the Wear OS platform. It’s actually one of the best GPS smartwatches that can be a great companion in adventurous activities.
The Pro Trek WSD-F30 comes in a rugged and sophisticated design that leaves it with a bold appearance which of course suggests a smartwatch for men. Although, at 60.5mm case size and 14.9mm thickness, It’s obviously bulky, thick and heavy too at 79 grams.
Joining other Wear OS smartwatches with dual display architecture, the Pro Trek WSD-F30 features a dual display that includes a monochromic LCD display and a more interactive OLED one. With the monochromic display switched on, Wear OS features are turned off leaving the watch boring, but you’ll be able to access altitude levels and compass data.
The monochromic LCD display will see the WSD-F30 last as long as about 2 weeks which is great, while with the OLED, it’s just over a day. That’s quite surprising considering that it still powered by the Snapdragon 2100 chip.
The body of the watch indicates great quality, featuring a stainless steel case and resins 26mm straps. It also certified MIL-STD-810G – US military grade rating, it could take quite a few harder knocks than the average device.
It’s also swim-proof with 5ATM water resistant rating which obviously means it’s water-resistant up to 50 meters and as such could be worn to the pool.
Being one of the most outstanding GPS smartwatches, the WSD-F30 features a full-color map that can be accessed both online and offline, so that even if you’re out of service, you’ll still be able to access saved map data.
The WSD-F30 does lack a heart rate sensor but comes with an accelerometer, gyroscope, and barometer in addition to the inbuilt multi GPS satellite system which collectively makes it a great choice for tracking your active life and even a more fantastic choice for tracking outdoor activities like climbing and hiking activities.
Also available on the WSD-F30 is a microphone that comes handy in accessing Google Assistant and 4GB ROM for your downloads and installations.
The WSD-F30 sales for about $550 and is available in three different colors, indigo, blue and black.
Pros
- Sophisticated, stylish and rugged design .
- Full color online and Offline map supported.
- It is swim-proof.
- Innovational dual display.
- A great choice for outdoor activity tracking.
- Huge list of native and third-party GPS apps, making it a great companion for adventurous activities.
- Rugged and tough smartwatch ready to withstand tougher weather conditions.
Cons
- Its quiet expensive.
- It lacks NFC chip.
- There’s no HRM.
Recommendation – The Casio Pro Trek WSD-F30 is without doubt a spectacular timepiece which has nifty GPS tracking features, and as well a host of other interesting features including a solid build that no doubt makes it a great choice for tracking outdoor activities.
7. Fossil Gen 4 Venture – Best Wear OS Designer smartwatch For Women
While the Explorist is a nice choice for men, the smaller 40mm Gen 4 Venture is specified for women. It has just the right sizes that sound more like a woman’s watch.
The Gen 4 Venture is an outstanding smartwatch with what I’d call a fascinating design. It looks very stylish and classy, a befitting match for high profile occasions. The Venture is one of the best choices for women, not just because of the design, it has got nice features too.
The Venture has a top quality build, the case is made of stainless steel, same with the 18mm straps which are also available in leather and are interchangeable just in case you don’t like them. The display is powered by AMOLED which offers deep color depth that’s rich and interactive. It’s touchscreen just like the Explorist and in addition, has three buttons by the sides to help in easy navigation of the small 1.2 inches interface.
The Venture is packed with quite a number of other interesting features – NFC which supports Google pay is available, there’s also 4GB onboard storage with about 2.5GB available for your downloads and installations, and as well a microphone that’s useful in performing some tasks including Google Assistant using your voice.
Also, fitness enthusiasts will find Gen 4 Venture a very nice choice as it comes with a handful of sensors which includes heart rate sensor, an accelerometer, gyroscope, and inbuilt GPS. Thus, it can track a number of indoor and outdoor activities which include the number of steps, calories, and distance.
The battery life isn’t so remarkable, but just like most Wear OS smartwatches, it will last just about a day on mixed usage.
The Gen 4 Venture is priced $280, and its available in rose-gold, silver, smoke gray, black and gold color.
Pros
- Sleek and classy, a perfect fit for women.
- A great choice for tracking your active life.
- Customizable straps and watch face.
- It has a LED flashlight.
- Customizable buttons.
- There is microphone and NFC that supports Google pay.
- It is Swim-proof
Cons
- The battery is not so great.
Recommendation – The Gen 4 Venture is a decent looking smartwatch with what I’d term a sophisticated design while also having all the nifty gritty of a high-end smartwatch with quite impressive battery life. It’s small sizes and appearance makes it a perfect choice for women.
8. Ticwatch S2 – Another Fine Wear OS Fitness Smartwatch For Men
The Ticwatch S2 released same time as the E2 is another fantastic Wear OS smartwatch you should check out.
It has a solid build that consists of a polycarbonate case and silicone straps that are comfortable to wear which doesn’t wet the skin. Its rated MIL-STD-810G – US military grade that ensures it can take some harder hits which of course makes it a great choice for your next adventure.
It’s a man’s kind of watch going approx. 47mm case size and it’s quite thick too, but moderately lightweight. Also, the circular shape with curved edges suggests it’s a nicer fit for men.
I like the display which is powered by AMOLED offering such a nice picture quality, although there’s no ambient light sensor in this device, so no automatic adjustment for the display.
But, that doesn’t impact negatively on the battery life. It’s almost same battery life as other Wear OS smartwatches. It does quite well to last about two days which for me is quite impressive.
And that makes it a great choice for fitness tracking, you can be sure to track your whole workout for the day. Perhaps, one of the reasons it’s grossing a huge number of sales at Amazon.
Furthermore, the Ticwatch S2 comes with all the standard sensors you’d find on many smartwatches. These include a heart rate sensor, an accelerometer, and a gyroscope with inbuilt GPS support that enables this device to be capable of tracking a number of activities which includes calories, steps, heart rate, sleep with automatic tracking of 6 preloaded sport modes.
Beyond being a great choice for fitness tracking, the S2 also has some more goodies such as onboard storage for your downloads, and as well as a microphone that comes handy in performing some tasks with your voice and that, of course, include the much improved and easier to access Google Assistant.
The Ticwatch S2 has the $180 price tag which I think isn’t overboard considering such an outstanding smartwatch that it is.
Pros
- Rugged, stylish and elegant design.
- AI technology for more responsive and accurate activity tracking.
- Its swim-proof.
- A great choice for indoor and outdoor activity tracking.
- MIL-STD-810G US military standard durability test makes it tougher.
- Has microphone.
Cons
- Ambient light sensor not available.
- Snapdragon 2100 is outdated.
- It lacks NFC chip and loudspeaker.
Recommendation – The Ticwatch S2 is a low price smartwatch, yet great quality in the design, has quite a lot of features while spotting a decent battery life. It’s a fantastic choice for fitness tracking and being MIL-STD-810G certified including the AI technology inbuilt makes it a comprehensive choice that’s ideal for tracking both indoor and outdoor activities.
9. Ticwatch E2 – A Low Budget Wear OS Fitness Smartwatch
Occupying the 9th spot on this list is the Ticwatch E2 that was announced alongside the S2 earlier in the year. Unfortunately, it was disappointing to see it had the 2100 chip, despite the fact that the 3100 chip had been announced some months earlier.
However, beyond that, the Ticwatch E2 is an outstanding timepiece. It doesn’t have that prestigious design, but quite like the Gen 4 Sport, it’s a fitness-focused smartwatch with a rather decent sporty design that stylish and elegant.
It has a solid build which consists of a polycarbonate case that’s accompanied by 22mm silicone straps that can be changed, while also featuring AMOLED on the display with touchscreen support that’s supported by a physical button by the side which off course makes navigating the tiny interface a bliss.
The Ticwatch E2 comes with a handful of sensors including a heart rate sensor with inbuilt GPS, and now features Mobvoi’s AI technology – A self-learning algorithm that proactively tracks your activity without you needing to activate anything and as such does make it a great choice for fitness tracking.
Over 6 preloaded sport modes can automatically be recognized and tracked with the option to add more customized activity modes.
Rated 5ATM makes it water-resistant up to 50 meters. You can wear it to the pool or ocean, and in addition to its swim tracking capabilities and features such as lap count, swim style detection, calories and duration stats makes it a great choice for swimmers who’d like to track their swimming activities.
The battery life of the Ticwatch E2 is quite impressive and should last just over a day or perhaps up to 2 days on mixed usage.
The E2 is actually the cheapest Wear OS smartwatch on this list and cost about $160, while its available in black color.
Pros
- Stylish and elegant sporty design.
- A great choice for fitness tracking.
- Its swim-proof.
- Quite impressive battery life.
- It has inbuilt microphone.
Cons
- There is no NFC.
- Lacks ambient light sensor.
- Runs on Snapdragon 2100 which is outdated.
- Lacks a loudspeaker.
Recommendation – The Ticwatch E2 is an outstanding device going by the features and as well its decent design. It has nice fitness tracking features and a remarkable performance is also great and at $160 price tag, it’s no doubt a great choice for an entry level smartwatch.
10. Kate Spade Scallop 2 – Best Feminine Wear OS Smartwatch
Last on this list is the Kate Spade Scallop 2 which has been termed the most feminine smartwatch and obviously one of the best choices for women.
Kate Spade actually brushed up the Scallop 1 which sees the Scallop having some more features and all the nitty-gritty of a spectacular modern smartwatch.
I like the circular shape which looks nice on women, furthermore, the rather small 42mm case size and very slim 9mm thickness size which confirms it as a perfect fit for women.
The design looks gorgeous in the stainless steel case accompanied by thin 16mm leather straps that bring out your personality, while the AMOLED display offers such an interactive display that’s nice to watch.
The watch faces catch my interest more as it’s easy to customize with the “choose my look” feature that allows you to customize the watch face based on your outfit.
Moreover, you can choose more watch faces from the Play store, and as well the straps can be changed to your preferred choice which allows you to define your style for the next occasion.
In addition, there’s 4GB ROM available and a 0.5 RAM that facilitates a great performance leaving a smooth experience. It also has a microphone that comes handy in accessing Google Assistant.
Beyond the aforementioned features, Scallop 2 which packs a heart rate sensor, accelerometer, and inbuilt GPS can track your daily activities such as your heart rate and calories giving you more insight on your performance enabling you to know when to intensify the effort.
With GPS built-in it does a great job in outdoor activity tracking and could actually track your activities that long.
As a result of what I would call a fair battery life that goes a full day on mixed usage.
That’s cool and to get the Scallop 2 you’ll have to part ways with about $350 which is a bit pricey, but then it’s actually fair for the effort put into making this device. The Scallop 2 is available Beige, rose-gold and black color.
Pros
- A classy feminine smartwatch.
- Its very slim, only 9mm thick.
- It is swim-proof.
- It has GPS and NFC inbuilt
- There is microphone.
Cons
- Its powered by Snapdragon 2100.
- Battery life is not so impressive.
- Lacks a loudspeaker.
Recommendation – The Kate Spade Scallop 2 is a decent smartwatch that looks so nice on women. Its stylish and sleek while having nifty features and also a remarkable fitness tracker. I highly recommend the Scallop 2.
Other Nice Wear OS Smartwatches
Below are some more outstanding Wear OS Smartwatches I strongly recommend, you should check it all out.
- Huawei Watch 2 Sport
- Huawei Watch 2 Classic
- Ticwatch C2
- Misfit Vapor 2
- Diesel On Full Guard 2.5
- Asus Zenwatch 3
Conclusion
In conclusion, Wear OS smartwatches might not be there yet to offer such great experience on the vast majority of smartwatches running on the platform, but there’re encouraging improvements that has seen it compete favorably well against the likes of WatchOS and Tizen OS.
Moreover, Wear OS gives you more access to your favorite apps and for now, I think Google Assistant is better than Bixby from Samsung and as well as Siri from Apple.
And in addition, the Snapdragon 3100 chip which will be welcoming future Wear OS smartwatch is a greater relief and further states it can be better.
Hi! I’m Jude, the chief editor at Smartwatchseries.com
I’m a graduate of biochemistry, a 3D artist and a passionate fitness enthusiast. On here, I and other smartwatch fans work hard to help you find the right smartwatch for you with our guides, reviews, and comparisons.
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