Android Wear has evolved a lot since it was first announced back in 2014. In the early days, there were only a few options, mainly from Motorola and LG. These days, many handset makers have thrown their weight into Android Wear, and even traditional watchmakers have begun to embrace the Google-powered smartwatch platform.
With the number of watches available increasing dramatically, it’s hard to keep track of which watches stand out as the best. For one thing, most of the watches are all quite similar in software and hardware, leaving design preferences as the biggest factor. In order to help you make the most informed decision on which watch is right for you, we’ve rounded up what we feel to be the best Android Wear smartwatches you can buy right now.
Huawei Watch
The Huawei Watch was first unveiled towards the beginning of 2015 at MWC, though it didn’t actually make its way to retail until the tail-end of the summer. Offering a design that is much more “watch-like” then many of its competitors, the Huawei Watch is certainly one of the more attractive Android Wear watches on the market and benefits from easily replaceable watch straps and a long-lasting battery.
For those that aren’t a fan of the flat-tire look we’ve seen with Motorola’s circular watches, you’ll be happy to know that this isn’t the case here. As for the rest of the specs? Everything is pretty standard fare, as most of the newer Android Wear watches feature roughly the same internals. That said, the AMOLED display on the Huawei Watch is one of the best displays available in the Android Wear market right now.
As far as pricing is concerned, starting at $350, the Huawei Watch isn’t at the very top of the pricing totem, but it is certainly not the lowest priced either.
Specs
- 1.4-inch AMOLED display with 400 x 400 resolution
- 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor
- 512MB of RAM
- 4GB of on-board storage
- 300mAh battery
- 42.0 x 42.0 x 11.3mm
- IP67 dust and water resistance
Read more
- Huawei Watch review
- Huawei Watch unboxing and initial impressions
- A closer look at the sleek and sexy Huawei Watch (IFA 2015)
Motorola Moto 360 (2nd Generation)
The original Moto 360 was one of the best Android Wear watches around for quite some time, and now its successor is also at the top of the list.
The Motorola Moto 360 (2nd Gen.) has a bigger battery than its predecessor, a Snapdragon 400 processor and comes in two different sizes to fit more users’ wrists. You’ll even be able to customize it with Moto Maker. Overall, the biggest advantages the new Moto 360 brings to the table are the refreshed processing package, a customizable design and the addition of lugs that will make it much easier to swap out watch bands.
The Moto 360 (2nd Gen.) starts at $299.99, though pricing increases considerably once you start making customizations.
Specs
42mm variant:
- 1.37-inch IPS LCD display with 360 x 325 resolution
- 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor
- 512MB of RAM
- 4GB of on-board storage
- 300mAh battery
- 42.0 x 42.0 x 11.4mm
46mm variant:
- 1.56-inch IPS LCD display with 360 x 330 resolution
- 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor
- 512MB of RAM
- 4GB of on-board storage
- 400mAh battery
- 46.0 x 46.0 x 11.4mm
- IP67 dust and water resistance
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LG Watch Urbane
Although the LG Watch Urbane was announced almost a year ago, it’s still one of the better options out there. Sporting a completely circular 1.3-inch P-OLED display with a premium build, this device excels in almost every area… especially for a first-generation Android Wear device. It has just about the same specifications as all other current watches on the market, including a high-resolution display, powerful processor, plenty of on-board storage and an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance.
Nowadays you can find the Watch Urbane on Amazon or eBay for just under $250, which is a pretty decent price for a good Android Wear watch. Oh, and if you’re looking for a more luxurious version of this watch, LG released a 23k gold version called the Watch Urbane Luxe. That will cost you about $1,200 though, so we’re not expecting everyone to rush out and pick one up right away.
Specs
- 1.3-inch P-OLED display with 320 x 320 resolution
- 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor
- 512MB of RAM
- 4GB of on-board storage
- 410mAh battery
- 45.5 x 52.2 x 10.9mm
- IP67 dust and water resistance
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Best luxury option: TAG Heuer Connected
Up until now, most Android Wear powered devices were priced in the $150 to $350 range, but the TAG Heuer Connected changes all of that. This new luxury smartwatch from TAG is called the Connected, and is inspired by the company’s Carrera watch. It’s made from grade 2 titanium, comes in seven different color options, and boasts similar specs to those of most other Android Wear offerings on the market.
Since smartwatches become obsolete after a year or two, the company is allowing buyers to trade in their new wearables (along with some additional cash) for a mechanical watch. After two years of owning the Connected, you’ll be able to pay another $1,500 and trade in your smartwatch for a more traditional TAG Heuer Carrera watch. Standard Carrera watches cost about $3,000 a piece, meaning TAG is nice enough to give users a long-lasting alternative.
Should everyone go out and purchase a TAG Heuer Connected? Probably not. But if you’re a fan of luxury watches and want to see what the whole smartwatch craze is all about, this is certainly a viable option. Interested? You can purchase the Connected from TAG Heuer’s website for $1,500.
Specs
- 1.5-inch transflective LTPS LCD display with 360 x 360 resolution
- 1.6GHz dual-core Intel Atom Z34XX processor
- 1GB of RAM
- 4GB of on-board storage
- 410mAh battery
- 46.0 x 46.0 x 12.8mm
- IP67 dust and water resistance
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Best budget option: ASUS ZenWatch 2
The original ASUS ZenWatch was one of the best Android Wear devices on the market for some time, and now the company has brought a new model to market with a slightly different philosophy. ASUS is going for the entry-level pricing market with the ZenWatch 2, though the specs and build quality don’t necessarily feel all that cheap to us.
Unlike most current Wear devices, the ZenWatch 2 comes with a square display, which will admittedly turn some folks away at the start. If you can get past that caveat, though, you’ll find this device to be quite the little powerhouse. It has an AMOLED display that will help save precious battery life, a Snapdragon 400 processor, more than enough on-board storage for applications and music, as well as a 400mAh battery. You can even choose between a larger 1.63-inch model and a 1.45-inch model if you happen to have smaller wrists. Do note, however, that the smaller variant also comes with a smaller battery.
You can purchase the ASUS ZenWatch 2 from Amazon starting at only $129.99.
Specs
WI501Q (22mm) model:
- 1.63-inch AMOLED display with 320 x 320 resolution
- 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor
- 512MB of RAM
- 4GB of on-board storage
- 400mAh battery
- 49.6 x 40.7 x 10.9mm
- IP67 dust and water resistance
WI502Q (18mm) model:
- 1.45-inch AMOLED display with 280 x 280 resolution
- 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor
- 512MB of RAM
- 4GB of on-board storage
- 300mAh battery
- 45.2 x 37.2 x 11.8mm
- IP67 dust and water resistance
Read more
- ASUS ZenWatch 2 review
- Hands-on with the ASUS ZenWatch 2 at IFA 2015
- ASUS ZenWatch 2 now available from the Google Store
There you have it, our list of the best Android Wear devices on the market. Did we miss something? Be sure to tell us what you think in the comments below!
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