Garmin
There is a lot to like about the popular Apple Watch Series 9There are many reasons to choose a different smartwatch. Maybe you are a Android phone Owner – the Apple Watch is largely not compatible with Android. Maybe you want a smartwatch designed for a specific sport, like running. Or maybe a $300 smartwatch isn’t in your budget.
Whatever your reason for looking for an Apple Watch alternative, there are plenty of top-notch options out there. We’ve done the research to bring you six Apple Watch 9 alternatives that will serve you well no matter your needs, wrist size, or budget.
Our top alternatives to the Apple Watch Series 9
Our internal team of Technology experts has put together this roundup of the best smartwatches currently available that are good alternatives to the Apple Watch Series 9. Some of these smartwatch options are cheaper, have more specialized features, or are geared toward Android phone users (rather than iPhone users).
Pro tip: You can always save money by buying a smartwatch without cellular functionality, but these devices need to stay close to your smartphone to use all the features. Instead, we recommend investing in a smartwatch with cellular (LTE) functionality so that the watch can be used autonomously to call, send text messages, stream music, access the internet, and more.
Overall the best alternative to the Apple Watch: Apple Watch SE (2nd Generation, Wi-Fi + Cellular)
Amazon
The Apple Watch SE (2nd generation) is perfect for iPhone users who are new to smartwatches. It’s the perfect “starter watch” – and it’s affordable too. This is a stripped down version of the Apple Watch Series 9, but it still offers all the popular features that people love about Apple’s smartwatch line.
We recommend the GPS and cellular version of this watch for children (instead of giving them a smartphone) or for monitoring older adults. Without the wearer needing their own iPhone, parents or caregivers can track the watch’s location and communicate with the wearer via phone call or text message.
The GPS/Cellular version of the Apple Watch SE also functions autonomously when using its safety features, including fall detection, emergency SOS, and impact detection.
This version of the Apple Watch runs the same version of the WatchOS operating system and has the same collection of pre-installed apps as all other current Apple Watch models. There is also a wide selection of apps, watch faces and straps available. The phone must first be paired and then managed with an Apple iPhone.
Best affordable alternative to Apple Watch: Amazfit Bip 5 Utility
Amazon
Although the Amazfit Bip 5 Utility looks a lot like an Apple Watch, its $70 price tag should be a good indication that this smartwatch doesn’t have all the features you’d get from a real Apple Watch. However, for the price, it does have some impressive built-in features.
The Bip 5 Utility features a 1.9-inch display and a battery life of up to 11 days. It also offers more than 120 sports modes, customizable watch faces, heart rate monitoring, stress monitoring, an oximeter and sleep tracking.
In addition to the pre-installed apps, the Bip 5’s Zepp OS 3.0 operating system provides access to mini-apps and games, all of which can be downloaded to the watch via the Zepp app running on your smartphone.
Since this watch works with both iPhones and Android phones, it can share data wirelessly with third-party health and fitness apps like Strava, Adidas Running, Apple Health, Google Fit, Relive and Komoot.
While you won’t have a cellular connection, when the watch is paired with your smartphone, it can perform a variety of functions beyond those of simple fitness trackers and health monitors. If you’re on a tight budget and looking for an entry-level smartwatch, the Bip 5 Utility is a good option for many people.
Best Apple Watch alternative for outdoor adventurers: Apple Watch Series 2
Amazon
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is currently Apple’s most powerful and robust smartwatch. It is designed primarily for outdoor adventurers. Among other things, it has a longer battery life and more security features than the Apple Watch Series 9. However, the advanced features can be used by virtually any iPhone user.
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 offers a brighter, always-on display. Its case is made of robust titanium and the special straps available for it are just as robust. In addition to more precise GPS navigation, the watch has a built-in emergency siren and a range of other health, fitness and safety features.
The watch offers advanced metrics and views in the Workout app, including heart rate indicators, custom workouts, and views for cycling training. Meanwhile, the precise dual-frequency GPS ensures incredible accuracy in calculating distance, pace, and route maps. The Compass app offers helpful views and details such as altitude, gradient, longitude, and latitude.
Mark your location with compass waypoints, then retrace your steps using GPS. Apple Watch Ultra 2 is also designed for recreational water sports, scuba diving, and freediving for descents of up to 40 meters.
For recreational divers, the Depth app shows the time, current depth, water temperature, time underwater and maximum depth reached, while the Oceanic+ app puts a dive computer on your wrist. And that’s just a small sample of what the Apple Watch Ultra 2 can do.
Best Apple Watch alternative for fitness-oriented users: Garmin Venue 3
Amazon
The Venue 3 from Garmin is a smartwatch with a stainless steel bezel and matching silicone strap. It’s a good alternative to the Apple Watch, whether you use an iPhone or an Android smartphone. You can choose between two case sizes – 41 mm or 45 mm – and it’s available in a range of colors.
A standout feature of the Venue 3 is that the battery lasts up to 14 days before it needs to be recharged. This smartwatch comes with more than 30 activity-specific fitness apps built in, as well as a sleep tracker.
The watch features a bright 1.4-inch round AMOLED touchscreen display. You also get a built-in speaker and microphone, as well as the ability to pair the watch with Bluetooth headphones or earbuds. These features are great for hands-free calls or streaming music.
Of course, the watch also offers the usual selection of sensors that can track heart rate, skin temperature, HRV status, blood oxygen levels and more, making it a useful health and fitness tool as well as a smartwatch for general use. In addition to the built-in apps, you can add more functionality to the watch with optional apps from the Garmin Connect IQ Store.
Best Apple Watch Alternative for Android Users: Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
Samsung
This latest version of the Samsung Galaxy Watch takes advantage of Galaxy AI and a more powerful processor to offer new and personalized ways to use and interact with the watch while wearing it strapped around your wrist.
Normally, this smartwatch costs $350, but Samsung is offering it at an introductory price of just $300. Plus, you can get up to $250 in instant trade-in credit with a qualifying smartwatch or device.
Choose between three band styles and multiple case and band colors. Compared to the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic, this latest version is lighter, has a more powerful processor, a slightly larger display, improved sensors, an additional body temperature sensor, as well as the new AI functionality.
If you like the idea of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 but want a slightly cheaper smartwatch, there’s the stripped-down Samsung Galaxy Watch FE ($200). Its feature set isn’t as extensive, but it’s still a useful health and fitness tool and a well-rounded, yet affordable smartwatch. Both Samsung Galaxy Watchs are the perfect complement to any Samsung Galaxy smartphone, but these watches will work just fine with any Android smartphone, too.
Best budget alternative to Apple Watch for Android users: Google Pixel Watch 2 LTE
Amazon
If you’re an Android user, you probably know that the Android operating system is developed by Google and that many of the features built into the Android operating system are well compatible with Google apps and services. The same goes for Google’s smartwatch operating system, WearOS.
So if you are looking for a smartwatch from the same manufacturer, the Google Pixel Watch 2 is the right choice. There is also a cheaper version of this watch with pure GPS available, but we recommend the LTE version so that the watch can communicate with the Internet on its own and offer call and SMS functions.
Since Fitbit is now owned by Google, all the health and fitness tools that come with Fitbit trackers are built into the Google Pixel Watch 2. It too is a powerful and versatile communication, productivity, entertainment, health/fitness and safety tool in the form of a wristwatch. (It can also tell the time quite well, by the way.)
The watch comes in eight colors, each with a matching strap. You also get up to 24 hours of battery life and a bright, always-on display. The Google Pixel Watch 2 works seamlessly with any Google Pixel or Android smartphone. You can extend its features by installing optional apps available from the Google Play Store.
