Damien Wilde / Android Authority
Time by no means stands nonetheless, and that’s very true for the best smartwatches. Since transferring to Wear OS, Samsung has been on the forefront of the wearable drive for Android smartphone house owners, and the Galaxy Watch 6 is right here to set a brand new benchmark. But what in the event you don’t like Samsung’s iterative replace method or you might be an iPhone person? Read on for our listing of the best Galaxy Watch 6 alternatives.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 6
Large show • Wear OS 4 • Upgraded options
One step nearer to being a pc in your wrist
With improved exercise monitoring and extra superior options, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 is a succesful Smartwatch. A big show and full Samsung Wallet app make the Watch 6 a robust standalone gadget, whereas integration with the Galaxy Z Flip 5 makes the Watch 6 a useful a part of your Galaxy ecosystem.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic
The rotating bezel is again • Elegant design and construct supplies • Ships with Wear OS 4
The rotating crown is again
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic rocks a rotating bezel! Better outfitted than the bottom Galaxy Watch 6, the Classic mannequin is a robust watch with up to date exercise monitoring, improved well being options, and the total Samsung Wallet app on your cell funds.
The best Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 alternatives
Looking to make a fast choice? Here are our prime alternatives to the best Samsung smartwatch on provide and a short breakdown of who these units will go well with:
- The Garmin Venu 2 Plus is the best general different. Although it is pricier than the Galaxy Watch 6, it presents a balanced well being monitoring characteristic set with a smattering of important smartwatch options. It additionally pairs with iPhones — one thing you will not discover with the Galaxy Watch 6.
- The Apple Watch Series 8 is the best different for iPhone customers. Apple’s wearable prowess is nicely documented, and the Series 8 cements this. It presents minimal modifications over its predecessor, making a much-improved person expertise. An added temperature sensor to enhance menstrual well being monitoring and watchOS 10’s updates have additional set it aside. This is the best smartwatch to purchase in the event you’re an Apple aficionado.
- The Google Pixel Watch is the best Wear OS different. Although the Pixel Watch has shortcomings, Google’s first smartwatch offers customers an aesthetically-striking gadget with a clear software program expertise. You’ll additionally profit from Fitbit’s well being monitoring equipment and the wealth of third- and first-party apps from the Play Store. The Pixel Watch is the best choice in the event you crave a novel wearable or already personal Pixel merchandise.
- The Garmin Venu Sq 2 is the best worth different. Garmin has given its premier sq. smartwatch upgraded well being sensors, a brand new show, and a battery life buff to compete in opposition to a lot pricier units. You will not get the wealth of apps out there with Wear OS or deep integration with Android, however iOS customers may take part on the enjoyable. If you need a Venu 2 Plus however cannot afford one, the Venu Sq 2 will fill the hole.
- The Fitbit Versa 3 is the best low-cost different. Fitbit nonetheless has a horse on this race, and it is a budget and cheerful Versa 3. It packs all of the important well being and health monitoring options with a minimal listing of good additions. It’s now exhibiting its age, however time has additionally been form to its worth. Get the Versa 3 in the event you want a Galaxy Watch 6 different for below $200.
Garmin Venu 2 Plus
Garmin Venu 2 Plus
Excellent show • Fast charging battery • Phone calls
Phone calls and a voice assistant in your wrist.
The Garmin Venu 2 Plus takes the entire fitness- and health-tracking options of the unique Venu 2 and provides the flexibility to obtain telephone calls and entry your telephone’s voice assistant.
Garmin’s best smartwatch is the best Galaxy Watch 6 different you should buy. Despite its age, it stays a remarkably succesful wearable that pairs with iPhones and Android smartphones. It blends Garmin’s common stable construct high quality, a concentrate on well being and health, and a handful of helpful good options right into a balanced and succesful wearable.
There’s a lot to love about this watch. As talked about, Garmin constructed a stable but understated wearable that ought to stand up to the workplace, health club, and overgrown path. There are two sizes to select from, too, so all wrist sizes are welcome. Beyond its clear aesthetic, the Venu 2 Plus has a stacked listing of distinctive health and wellness options. As detailed in our overview, one in all our favorites is Health Snapshot, which collates core well being information over two minutes, like coronary heart price, coronary heart price variability, blood oxygen saturation, respiration price, and stress ranges, right into a sheet you may share together with your physician. Other favorites just like the Body Battery vitality estimates and detailed sleep monitoring heighten the watch’s attraction.
Despite the health slant, the Venu 2 Plus is the neatest watch within the Garmin secure. It options voice assistant assist that helps Google Assistant, Siri, and others, whereas you may as well take calls out of your wrist. It stays the one watch in Garmin’s secure with a built-in ECG to observe coronary heart well being.
This watch comes at a worth, although. It’s pricier than the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic and the Apple Watch Series 8. You’ll additionally miss out on Samsung’s physique composition options, the in depth Wear OS app library, and a extra built-in gadget with Android. In our expertise, the brand new good options additionally crush battery life. Nevertheless, in the event you don’t thoughts the premium, the Venu 2 Plus stays probably the most balanced Galaxy Watch 6 different in the marketplace.
Garmin Venu 2 Plus vs Galaxy Watch 6: Advantages
- The Garmin Venu 2 Plus is platform agnostic, pairing with iOS and Android units.
- It has a extra acute concentrate on health, coaching, and restoration than the Galaxy Watch 6.
- Body Battery and Health Snapshot are wonderful Garmin-exclusive options.
Garmin Venu 2 Plus vs Galaxy Watch 6: Disadvantages
- The Galaxy Watch 6 has a bigger array of apps with nearer integration with Android.
- The Galaxy Watch 6 additionally has an LTE variant, the Garmin doesn’t.
- The Venu 2 Plus is $150 dearer than the Galaxy Watch 6 and $50 greater than the Classic.
Apple Watch Series 8
Apple Watch Series 8 (Wi-Fi)
Excellent Retina show • Premium design and construct • Advanced well being monitoring sensors
A really highly effective gadget for anybody inside Apple’s walled backyard
The Apple Watch Series 8 with Wi-Fi connectivity options superior health and well being monitoring instruments, together with a temperature sensor to observe physique variations and higher insights into girls’s cycles. The gadget additionally includes a thick entrance crystal over its show for improved sturdiness. Additional highlights embrace Crash Detection, Low Power Mode, and in depth third-party app assist.
The Apple Watch is the best smartwatch for these in Apple’s ecosystem. If you personal an iPhone, the Galaxy Watch 6 is solely not an choice. The Apple Watch Series 8 might not be probably the most thrilling or adventurous alternative, nevertheless it improves on earlier fashions in small however significant methods.
The present mannequin packs a extra sturdy physique and face, a built-in temperature sensor to enhance fertility monitoring, and the identical launch worth as its predecessors. The common well being options, like a built-in ECG, SpO2 monitoring, and a dependable coronary heart price monitor, make it a perfect wearable for enhancing and monitoring wellness. We’ve seen Apple pay particular consideration to sleep monitoring and exercise administration lately, and watchOS 10 brings welcome modifications too. A brand new UI makes discovering and absorbing related info simpler when required, whereas psychological well being is getting a devoted area inside the Health app. Overall, the OS feels slick and swift.
Of course, even the best units make compromises. The Apple Watch Series 8 is a no-go for Android smartphone customers. Even with low energy mode, we nonetheless need extra battery life than the Series 8 is prepared to present. Its lack of customization choices, and a small number of new watch faces, will go away many who worth a private contact wanting somewhat extra.
At $399, it’s $100 pricier than the Galaxy Watch 6 however on par with the Classic mannequin. However, the worth shouldn’t perturb you in the event you’re already a member of Apple’s walled backyard membership.
Apple Watch Series 8 vs Galaxy Watch 6: Advantages
- The Apple Watch Series 8 can pair with iPhones, one thing the Samsung can not do.
- It has a extra mature array of apps than the Galaxy Watch 6.
- The Apple Watch Series 8 is our coronary heart price monitoring watch of alternative.
Apple Watch Series 8 vs Galaxy Watch 6: Disadvantages
- The Apple Watch Series 8’s battery life is shorter than the Galaxy Watch 6.
- Only iPhone customers can use the Series 8 with their units.
- The Apple Watch Series 8 is $100 pricier than the Galaxy Watch 6.
Google Pixel Watch
Google Pixel Watch
Voice-to-text help • Play Store built-in • Wear OS
The Pixel Watch is the primary wearable with the Big G.
The Google Pixel Watch is a Wear OS-powered wearable that is aiming to be the smartwatch for everybody. It has a sturdy app library, loads of Fitbit-based health-tracking options, and an aesthetic design.
The Google Pixel Watch is much from good, however it’s the best Galaxy Watch 6 different for Pixel smartphone house owners. It comes with the advantage of Google’s backing, a clear software program expertise, Fitbit health monitoring, and distinctive aesthetic traits.
Speaking of that aesthetic, the Pixel Watch seems to be like nothing else in the marketplace. Its easy pebble-like face stands out on the wrist, though it might be too reflective for some. Google makes use of a proprietary band system that makes eradicating and changing bands an absolute chore. Notably, the Pixel Watch solely is available in one comparatively small 41mm dimension. This makes it insufficient for these with bigger wrists. Internally, the Pixel Watch isn’t powered by probably the most thrilling or fashionable {hardware}. It employs an older Samsung chipset, however we by no means actually felt that this was a efficiency concern all through our utilization. We not often encountered graphical hitches whereas utilizing the crown to gloss via menus. The clear implementation of Wear OS additionally aids that.
For health fiends, Google ropes in Fitbit’s characteristic set. Heart price monitoring, blood oxygen monitoring, and sleep monitoring are all dealt with via acquainted Fitbit processes and the Fitbit app. While not marketed as a severe exercise watch, we discovered the Pixel Watch’s GPS efficiency and monitoring sensors are dependable and correct.
As you could have gathered from our preliminary gripes, the Pixel Watch isn’t good. Google’s first smartwatch leaves us wanting within the battery division. As famous in our overview, heavy customers will wrestle to go 18 hours with out reaching for the charger. This has improved for the reason that Pixel Watch’s first days, however the expertise stays inferior to the Galaxy Watch 6. Additionally, whereas its curved glass face is attractive, we wouldn’t advocate utilizing the watch with out some extent of safety.
At $329, it’s barely pricier than the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6, nevertheless it stands out as one thing distinctive within the smartwatch world. If you’re ready to attend a number of months, the Google Pixel Watch 2 might be an fascinating different to the Galaxy Watch 6.
Google Pixel Watch vs Galaxy Watch 6: Advantages
- The Pixel Watch runs the cleanest Wear OS expertise round.
- It includes a extra hanging aesthetic than the Galaxy Watch 6.
- The Pixel Watch’s crown makes navigating Wear OS a breeze.
Google Pixel Watch vs Galaxy Watch 6: Disadvantages
- Google gives a single 41mm dimension choice that’s awkward on bigger wrists.
- The Pixel Watch has worse battery life than the Galaxy Watch 6.
- Google makes use of a lot older {hardware} within the Pixel Watch than the Galaxy Watch 6.
Garmin Venu Sq 2
Garmin Venu Sq 2
Updated coronary heart price sensor • Data downloadable • Bright and colourful show
A brighter show meets newer sensors
The Venu Sq 2 smartwatch lands with a brighter show fitted to its now customary sq. physique. It boasts an in depth array of well being evaluation, from Garmin’s Body Battery to detailed sleep monitoring. The information collected is downloadable, and it gives connective options with exterior captors.
Garmin’s sq. smartwatch gives wonderful worth to these searching for a less expensive companion. While the Venu Sq 2 targets the Apple Watch SE 2, we predict it additionally makes an important Galaxy Watch 6 different.
The sequel builds on what was an already stable platform. It packs a vivid, sq. AMOLED display screen that’s extremely legible in all circumstances. Despite this alteration, we additionally see a pleasant battery bump. As famous in our Venu Sq 2 overview, the watch can now go over every week between fees, even with heavy use. And you’ll need to use it steadily — an correct GPS and an upgraded coronary heart price sensor make the Venu Sq 2 a surprisingly good health club companion. All the well-known Garmin options are current, too, together with Body Battery and Health Snapshot. As far as good options go, you’ll discover a modest choice. The necessities are all right here, together with textual content responses, Garmin’s LiveTrack and incident detection options, and a modest array of apps. However, don’t count on deep integration with Android right here. As a constructive, iPhone customers may seize a Venu Sq 2.
There are some foolish omissions from Garmin, although. If you worth onboard music storage, you could pay an additional $50 for that privilege. It’s ridiculous that that is nonetheless a pay-to-win characteristic on Garmin watches. Fitness-minded people will likely be upset by the dearth of an altimeter, which immediately makes this watch much less interesting to weekend hikers or high-rise dwellers.
At $249, the Garmin Venu 2 Sq is pricier than its predecessor however nonetheless undercuts the Galaxy Watch 6 by $50. If you don’t want all the trimmings supplied by Samsung or the Venu 2 Plus, you’ll be nicely sorted by this modest understudy.
Garmin Venu Sq 2 vs Galaxy Watch 6: Advantages
- Battery life on the Venu Sq 2 trumps the Galaxy Watch 6.
- The Venu Sq 2 comes with Body Battery and Health Snapshot, two helpful well being options.
- The Venu Sq 2 is extra inexpensive than the Galaxy Watch 6.
Garmin Venu Sq 2 vs Galaxy Watch 6: Disadvantages
- Music storage is a paid-for further on the Venu Sq 2.
- It lacks a number of the superior well being options on the Galaxy Watch 6.
- The Venu Sq 2 is much less sturdy than the Galaxy Watch 6.
Fitbit Versa 3
Fitbit Versa 3
Decent battery life • Accurate well being monitoring • Built-in GPS
The best worth Fitbit smartwatch
The Fitbit Versa 3 carries all of the good options you could possibly need on a mid-range smartwatch, together with Google Assistant assist, voice replies, and dependable well being monitoring. It’s successfully a Fitbit Sense with out the pricier specialised sensors.
The Fitbit Versa 3 could also be getting lengthy within the tooth, however we billed it as one of many best Fitbit smartwatches when it launched. In 2023, it’s nonetheless an important choice for price range patrons.
There’s quite a bit to like concerning the Versa 3. It’s a compact smartwatch that’s snug to put on and straightforward to make use of. Although we’re not large followers of the inductive house button, we like how the AMOLED display screen pops in all lighting circumstances and is especially helpful throughout outside exercises. Speaking of breaking a sweat, the Versa 3 covers all of the important health-tracking metrics, from coronary heart price monitoring to blood oxygen monitoring. Premium subscribers additionally profit from a Daily Readiness rating, which advises how arduous to coach on a given day. As for good options, the Versa 3 bests its successor, with assist for third-party apps, the choice to make use of Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant companions, and the flexibility to take calls over Bluetooth. All that is backed by a stellar battery that may guarantee as much as 4 days between fees.
Not all is gold, although. As talked about, Fitbit Premium customers get a extra detailed historical past of metrics and some distinctive options. These are unavailable to normal customers, diminishing the Versa 3’s price range attraction. The third-party app library can also be nothing to write down house about. Additionally, now that Google has the Pixel Watch in its purview, we’re unlikely to see any lively improvement of the present Fitbit OS platform.
You can now commonly snag a Versa 3 for below $200, making it a less expensive different to the Galaxy Watch 6. Shedding these digits additionally sheds good options, but when health monitoring on a price range is your core use case, you may’t go improper with the Versa 3.
Fitbit Versa 3 vs Galaxy Watch 6: Advantages
- The Versa 3 is less expensive than the Galaxy Watch 6.
- Fitbit OS is way less complicated to make use of than Wear OS.
- The Versa weighs barely lower than the Galaxy Watch 6.
Fitbit Versa 3 vs Galaxy Watch 6: Disadvantages
- The Versa 3 lacks the superior health options of the Galaxy Watch 6.
- Fitbit OS isn’t below lively improvement, Wear OS actually is.
- The Versa 3 lacks a number of good options you’ll discover on the Galaxy Watch 6.