The best WearOS watch is the Skagen Falster 3. It's a wonderfully elegant watch that looks luxurious and solid, but is reasonably priced. And thanks to excellent internals, it's one of the smoothest WearOS watches we've tested. The Falster 3 looks great on a variety of wrists and outperforms direct competitors.
We tested dozens of smartwatches, including many luxury models that are specifically aimed at watch enthusiasts. Our rigorous field tests give us unmatched insight into the smartwatch market. While we think the Falster 3 is the best WearOS watch overall, we've picked a few other options in case it doesn't have the features we were looking for.
The best: Skagen Falster 3
The Skagen Falster 3 ($ 295) blends perfect design with the best technology currently available from WearOS and is our pick of the models available today.
The 42mm case has a 1.2-inch OLED screen and three side buttons for a sleek look that fits most wrists. The stainless steel Falster 3 is available in red-gray with a choice of colorful straps or in a stealthy, all-black design if you opt for the special edition Falster 3 X By Kygo.
It uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 3100 platform with 1GB of RAM, plus NFC for Google Pay, GPS, a heart rate monitor, the ability to make and receive calls from your phone, and the latest version of Google's WearOS software. The performance is also good and the battery lasts for a day even during a training session. It also fully charges in about an hour. Only WearOS's frustrations disappoint, but they're minimized with the otherwise excellent Skagen Falster 3.
If the design is too minimalist for you, check out the Fossil Gen 5, which features the same technology but has a slightly larger 44mm case.
Read our in-depth Skagen Falster 3 X Kygo review.Moto 360
After a much-needed price cut to $ 299, the Moto 360 has become a more enticing prospect. Made of thick stainless steel, it is available in gold, steel or black finishes with a choice of bracelets. It's a great looking smartwatch. The top button on the side of the case rotates for easy navigation in WearOS. There is a heart rate monitor on the back. Qualcomm's Snapdragon Wear 3100 platform with 1GB of RAM powers the Moto 360.
We added this to the list because of its classy design and manageable size, making it suitable for a lot of people, as well as the simple software that strictly adheres to standard WearOS for relatively smooth performance. Battery life is good too, although you don't get more than a full day.
Read our in-depth Moto 360 review.Misfit Vapor X.
Not too big, not too flashy, and with the right balance of style and sportiness, the Misfit Vapor X ($ 279) is for those who find that the minimalist Skagen Falster 3 doesn't suit their lifestyle. The 1.2-inch screen, 42mm case, and simple design make it suitable for most wrists, while the dials and easy-to-swap bracelet allow numerous customizations to give it a flash of lightning when needed.
It uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 3100 platform with 512MB of RAM, making it a little less powerful than the Falster 3 but still providing a good user experience and never frustrating. The watch has GPS and NFC as well as a heart rate monitor and a battery that can easily last a day. It has a water resistance of up to 50 meters, so it is suitable for swimming and has Google Fit for fitness tracking as well as the possibility of installing other fitness apps via Google Play.
Read our in-depth review of Misfit Vapor X.Kate Spade Scallop 2
Kate Spade is known as a fashion-forward, tech-friendly company and the Kate Spade Scallop 2 proves it. The Scallop 2 has a similarly reserved and classic design as the original, but then takes into account other design aspects of the Kate Spade brand to achieve a fresher look. It's slim - which is helpful in making sure the watch looks stylish - and has brand new tech like GPS and a heart rate monitor, new watch faces, and NFC for Google Pay.
We like the clever watch face that can be set up to complement the color scheme of your outfit. Don't be put off by the large-sounding 42 mm case. The screen is only 1.2 inches, so the watch is very compact and portable. There are several Wear OS smartwatches made specifically for women, but this is by far our favorite. Don't dismiss the original scallop if you're looking at it too much because it has most of the benefits of its continuation.
Read our in-depth Kate Spade Scallop review.Suunto 7
Suunto is best known for its hardcore fitness watches. However, earlier this year, the first smartwatch with Google's WearOS was introduced. The Suunto 7 stands out for the brand's sporty design and excellent fitness tracking ability, combined with the more mundane software and great battery life. Yes, really, excellent battery life. It regularly took two days on a single charge in our review with regular use.
Fans of the brand will want more than that, and luckily, Suunto's own comprehensive workout app is included, along with a clever "Heat" map showing local hiking and running routes. On the back there is a heart rate monitor and GPS as well as the usual functions like NFC. The battery improvements come from a close partnership with Qualcomm and improvements to the Snapdragon 3100 chipset in the watch.
It's expensive for a $ 500 WearOS watch, but about what you'd expect for a top-notch GPS-based fitness tracking smartwatch without Google's software.
Read our in-depth Suunto 7 review.Mobvoi TicWatch E2
It's not the most stylish or even the most updated watch out there, but the one Ticwatch E2 is an option to consider if you are shopping on a budget.
The watch has a Snapdragon 2100 processor, a heart rate sensor and a built-in GPS. Thanks to the waterproof design, you can track your training with TicMotion or Google Fit and even wear the watch while swimming.
The Ticwatch E2 is compatible with the Google Assistant. From the clock display, you can view your notifications, text messages, and see who is calling you. The case measures 46 mm and contains a 1.4-inch screen with a resolution of 400 x 400 pixels.
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