Smartwatches are powerful companions for our smartphones, offering quick access to messages and fitness tracking stats. The Apple Watch lineup is filled with many of the best smartwatches of 2025, as they're easy to use, loaded with features, and highly customizable. But if you own an Android phone – or simply don't like the Apple Watch design – you'll be glad to know there are several Apple Watch alternatives for you to choose from.
Ready to find a companion for your wrist? Here are the six best Apple Watch alternatives of 2025. This includes excellent fitness trackers like the Garmin Forerunner 265 and the stylish Withings ScanWatch Nova Brilliant. For more great options, check out our roundup of the best smartwatches.
The best Apple Watch alternative
OnePlus Watch 3
- Classy design
- High quality materials
- Fantastic performance
- Long battery life
- Comprehensive health and fitness features
- Only one size available
- Cheap, awkward charging puck
| Specification: | |
| Sizes | 47mm |
| Battery life | Four days |
| Cellular option | No |
| iPhone compatible | No |
The OnePlus Watch 3 has come out of nowhere to usurp established names and be applauded as one of the best smartwatches of 2025. As such, it's an excellent alternative for the Apple Watch Series 10, and the first watch you should consider if you don't want to buy Apple's wearable.
It's a gorgeous watch. It has a classic watch design, and though the crown is offset at an angle, it gives the Watch 3 an injection of character all its own. It's a stainless steel casing, and while it's a large watch at 47mm, it's comfortable, and doesn't weigh down your wrist. There aren't many color options though, and the fact it only has one size option is disappointing — though the rumors of a smaller version are encouraging. Still, it doesn't stop the OnePlus Watch 3 from looking and feeling fantastic.
The battery life is worth highlighting immediately, too. Unlike most smartwatches, which tap out at around around a day of battery life, the OnePlus Watch 3 has an incredible lifespan of four-times that. We got four days out of the Watch 3 with almost all the features turned on, which is an exceptional performance for any smartwatch. It's certainly one of the biggest reasons to buy it, as a watch you don't need to charge as often is a real boon. It charges back up quickly too, though the cheap-feeling plastic charging puck may not be your tastes.
It runs Wear OS 5 with OnePlus's custom interface, and it's extremely smooth and capable. This is because the watch actually has two processors, the Snapdragon W5, which handles your usual tasks, and a new BES2800 chip, which tackles a bunch of underlying processes. As a result, it's incredibly fast and smooth, and one of the smoothest watches we've used in recent years. There's no option to add an LTE connection though, which could be a disappointment for some.
Fitness tracking is excellent too, with a wide range of exercises, and heart rate tracking, ECG, sleep tracking, stress tracking, and even a mode that assesses your "arterial stiffness". It's certainly not lacking in options, whether you're looking after your overall health, or improving your fitness. Best of all, there's no subscription to access your data.
The OnePlus Watch 3 is one of the best Apple Watch alternatives out there, but it's important to note it only works on Android phones, so this isn't a good alternative for iPhone users. Still, it's good enough that we don't mind recommending it anyway.
The best Apple Watch alternative runner-up
Google Pixel Watch 3
- It finally comes in a bigger size!
- Gorgeous, well-made hardware
- Smaller bezels, more display
- Well over 24-hour battery life
- Excellent running features
- Robust health tracking
- Reliable and easy-to-use software
- Underside scratches easily
- Some Fitbit features require a subscription
| Specification: | |
| Sizes | 41mm, 45mm |
| Battery life | One day-and-a-half |
| Cellular option | Yes |
| iPhone compatible | No |
It's been a very good year for newcomers to the wearables market, and the Google Pixel Watch 3 is another exceptional new entry that deserves your attention. The Pixel Watch 3 has risen to become one of the best all-around smartwatches on the market, and it's absolutely a wearable you should look out for if you're looking for an Apple Watch alternative.
Google has made some big jumps with the Pixel Watch's hardware for this latest version. The bezels have been slimmed down dramatically, and it's finally added another case size, making the Pixel Watch 3 a much more attractive proposition. Speaking of attractive, the Pixel Watch's unique style has really made an impression on us, and it's nice to see a smartwatch that isn't afraid to do something very different. Google's smoothly domed design is a triumph, and looks and feels great to use. The crown rotates nicely, the buttons have a great click, and the Gorilla Glass covering the display is solid. The downside of the slick design is it makes the 41mm case feel a little too small, but the 45mm makes up for that.
It's powered by Fitbit's fitness and health tracking, which has its upsides and downsides. On the plus side, it's comprehensive and detailed, and you'll find tracking for most exercises you'd be happy to do, and the health-tracking features cover every aspect of your health, from physical to mental. Fitbit's subscription cost is the downside, and it offers deeper details for a large range of metrics. At $10 a month it's not enormously expensive, but it's still a cost you didn't have to stump up for many competitors. That was, until Garmin added one, anyway. Still, there's little to be disappointed in here where tracking is concerned.
Battery life is not as good as the OnePlus Watch 3 above, but it's still very good when compared to other smartwatches. We got a day-and-a-half out of a single charge of the Pixel Watch 3, which is a good, solid smartwatch lifespan in 2025. That's with the always-on display on, notifications from a paired phone, sleep tracking, and multiple workouts a week. All-in-all, a solid innings. Charging is also quick, charging from 12% to full in just over an hour.
The Pixel Watch 3 is the watch to grab if the OnePlus Watch 3 seems a bit massive to you, and frankly, we can see why you might think that. It's a strong competitor, and a worthy runner-up.
The best budget Apple Watch alternative
OnePlus Watch 2R
- Rugged, durable design
- Easily replaceable watch bands
- Fluid interface with Wear OS
- Exceptional battery life and charging
- No features locked to OnePlus phones
- Average looks
- Unimpressive health features
- No backup and restore via cloud
| Specification: | |
| Sizes | 47mm |
| Battery life | Two days |
| Cellular option | No |
| iPhone compatible | No |
While we're still waiting for the OnePlus Watch 3R, the Watch 2R is still worth checking out. It has some negatives that its more expensive sibling, the OnePlus Watch 3, does not — but even with that in mind, it's a strong smartwatch that's worth considering if you're looking for a budget alternative to the Apple Watch.
One of the nicest elements of any OnePlus product is how they rarely skimp on premium power, even at a lower price. The Watch 2R uses Qualcomm's Snapdragon W5 processor, and it means it has strong and fast performance regardless of a lower price tag. The display is similarly impressive, and the 1.43-inch AMOLED display is clear and crisp. The battery life is also impressive, lasting at least two days on a single charge.
Unfortunately we start to run into some areas where the budget bit a little harder. The design is nothing special, with a light aluminum frame and underwhelming style. Additionally, we found it displayed very different fitness stats than Samsung's Galaxy Watch 7, which was a fairly large red flag. It's not lacking in numbers of exercises to track though, with over 100 to choose from, and a wide swathe of tracking options too, including comprehensive sleep tracking and heart rate monitoring. It lacks many deeper physical health tracking options though, and doesn't have the ability to perform an ECG, measure your body composition, skin temperature, or even keep an eye on menstrual cycles. It's very much more of a basic option in this regard, and something to think about before you part with your cash.
This isn't to say the OnePlus Watch 2R is a bad smartwatch. Fra from it, it wouldn't be here if it was. No, instead it's a budget option and you need to be aware of its shortfalls. It's fast and fluid, with a solid battery life, and a durable design. It lacks some health features you might want, and we're not sure about how accurate its fitness tracking is, and yes, the design is a bit average. But, if you're looking for an Apple Watch underneath $250, then the OnePlus Watch 2R is worth a look.
The best Apple Watch alternative for athletes
Garmin Forerunner 265
- Extremely comfortable
- Lovely AMOLED screen
- Incredible health/fitness tools
- Highly customizable
- 4-plus days of battery life
- Doesn't require any subscriptions
- Limited smart features
- Proprietary charger
| Specification: | |
| Sizes | 46mm |
| Battery life | Four-plus days |
| Cellular option | No |
| iPhone compatible | Yes |
If you're looking for an Apple Watch alternative that specializes in fitness, then there's nowhere better to go than Garmin. And despite there being more expensive models on offer, for us, there are few choices better for pure value-to-features than the Garmin Forerunner 265. It lacks in smart features because, well, it's not really a smartwatch, but in terms of fitness and health tracking, there are few better.
It's important to note that this is very much a fitness watch, and the overall design reflects that. It's durable and practical, but not much to write home about. This isn't an attractive watch by any means, and it largely just disappears into the background whenever you wear it. It's comfortable though, so if comfort is high up the list of your needs, then this is very much the watch for you. The clear AMOLED display is easy to see, even in the sunlight, and you can choose to use the touchscreen or the five (yes, five) buttons arranged around the watch's display. Versatility is very much the aim of the game here, and it's nice to have so many options.
The Forerunner range is very much centered around running ("for-runners", get it?), so it's unsurprising that it's very good at tracking running. However, that doesn't mean it's lacking in other areas. It'll track a large number of other exercises too, but it really shines when it comes to monitoring your status and your ongoing fitness level. There's the Body Battery feature, which estimates how much energy you have left, but there's also your Training Readiness score, which can tell you if you should take a day off, or suggest some training that's perfect for your current state. There's even active stress monitoring, which can tell you if you're getting stressed, and offer a wellness break to help center yourself. It's the fitness watch that's about looking after you as much as it is helping you to get fit, and we really appreciate that.
The smart features are a little lacking. There are apps you can download from names like Accuweather and Starbucks, but the offering is nothing like you'd find on an Apple Watch. It's also far less interactive than any true smartwatch. You'll get notifications from your paired phone, but you can't do an awful lot with them. No replying to messages, answering calls, or anything like that. The battery is excellent though, and it commonly lasts upwards of four days, so you can take it out for the weekend without worrying about the battery. Turn off the always-on display, and you may even get a week out of it. That's a strong selling point in itself.
The bad news is that Garmin now has a premium subscription to access the best and most detailed stats, and that's a real shame. Garmin's devices have traditionally been more expensive than comparable devices from Fitbit precisely because there was no subscription cost. But we don't see prices going down any time soon, and it seems like the subscription is here to stay. It's still the best Apple Watch alternative for the really sporty, though.
The best hybrid Apple Watch alternative
Withings ScanWatch Nova Brilliant
| Specification: | |
| Sizes | 39mm |
| Battery life | 30 days |
| Cellular option | No |
| iPhone compatible | Yes |
A hybrid smartwatch is a watch that combines elements of a traditional watch with a smartwatch, and Withings is one of the standout names in the space. The Scanwatch Nova Brilliant has all the advanced health tracking and smart features of a fully-fledged smartwatch, with the more elegant style of a traditional watch, and it's a great alternative if you want something a little more stylish.
The design is one of the major reasons to buy this watch, as it's a smartwatch that's been built to appeal to traditional watch lovers. The majority of the watch's face is a traditional analog face, with a a pair of smaller displays that reflect its smart features. The bottom dial, near the 6 o'clock position, shows progress to your daily goals, and the OLED display, up at the 12 o'clock position, is your display for smart features, giving you access to options, notifications, and fitness information. It's a very different approach to usual smartwatches, and that reflects across the design. It's smaller than most smartwatches, measuring 39mm, being drastically smaller than even the smallest 42mm Apple Watch Series 10. This size and the gorgeous materials and style mark it as a dress watch, and a great option if youi want to impress, but also keep tracking your vitals.
Speaking of vitals, it's no slouch when it comes to tracking. It has 24/7 heart rate tracking with ECG capability, temperature, sleep, and blood oxygen tracking. In terms of fitness, it will automatically detect over 40 exercises, which also uses the temperature sensor to provide a unique method of measuring your workout's strength. It's also rated 5ATM, so you can take it swimming too.
Battery life is a true standout for the smartwatch space. Due to its hybrid nature, the ScanWatch Nova Brilliant sports a massive 30 dyas of battery life, making it the true choice for those who really don't want to charge their watches. The Withings app is also easy to understand and learn, and provides solid syncing for the watch.
The Withings ScanWatch Nova Brilliant is exactly as its name suggests: brilliant. It's an excellent hybrid smartwatch, and Withings continues to be the name to look at if you're interested in this type of smartwatch. It's expensive, which may put some people off, and the smart features aren't as far to the forefront as other watches, but that hidden smartness is exactly what will appeal to many.
The best Apple Watch alternative under $100
Amazfit Active 2
- Huge feature set at a low price
- Looks more expensive than it costs
- Great battery life
- Excellent at basic fitness tracking
- Zepp Flow AI can be useful
- Very powerful vibration motor
- Voice commands are awkward
- Many features are limited when disconnected from your phone
- Can’t edit workouts once saved
- Limited customization for the watch face
- Some delays in notifications and getting a GPS fix
| Specification: | |
| Sizes | 44mm |
| Battery life | Up to 10 days |
| Cellular option | No |
| iPhone compatible | Yes |
Apple Watches are expensive, but its alternatives don't have to be. The Amazfit Active 2 doesn't have all the bells and whistles that other options on this list have, but it's an excellent smartwatch for under $100.
You might expect such a cheap smartwatc to look bad, but surprisingly, it doesn't. The Active 2's round face measures 44mm, which is a good size, and honestly, the style is simple, but it looks way better than its price would suggest. The display uses AMOLED tech, another welcome surprise, and it means it looks great.
It's a similar story when it comes to fitness tracking. The Active 2 will track over 160 different activities and exercises, and it's pretty good at doing this. However, keep in mind you can't edit activities once they're done, which will be a red line for some users. The physical and mental health tracking is good though, and it offers a good basic level of tracking with historical data so you can easily compare.
There's a strong emphasis on AI too, and pleasantly, the built-in Zepp Flow AI assistant is actually rather good. It's built on ChatGPT's Portal, and it works very well. As long as you're connected to your phone, that is. It needs a connection to your phone to work, which is a real disappointment. However, given the $100 price tag, it's forgiveable.
It has some shortcomings, as mentioned, but they're easy to forgive thanks to the 10 day battery life. Yes, 10 days. That long battery life, along with the simple design, low price tag, and basic array of good, sold features mean this is an exceptional smartwatch for anyone who's not sure if they want to take the plunge or not.
How we chose the best Apple Watch alternatives
There are dozens of smartwatches to choose from beyond the Apple ecosystem, and many of them are just as exciting as the Apple Watch lineup. Samsung, Google, Fitbit, Garmin, and other big brands are responsible for some of the closest competitors to Apple Watch – but it can be challenging to narrow down your options. Here's a look at how we settled on the finalists above.
Performance
Smartwatches might be tiny, but they still need to pack in enough hardware to offer smooth performance. There's nothing worse than lagging through menus just to read a text or change your music, which is often the case on low-quality products. The six products above are well-equipped to handle your daily needs. Whether that's skimming through your fitness stats, checking your texts, or making a phone call, you should never experience significant lag with these Apple Watch alternatives.
Battery life
Battery life varies dramatically from watch to watch. Some, like the Withings ScanWatch Nova Brilliant, can last weeks before needing a recharge. Others might only last through the day. Price plays a big role in overall battery life (the more you pay, the more juice you'll get), but we only picked smartwatches that offer good battery life for their price point. We also tried to find products that are capable of holding their charge over the years, as many products start to see battery life drop as they age.
Supported OS
Let's face it – if you own an iPhone, you're probably best served by an Apple Watch. The lineup is filled with powerful gadgets for all types of users, and since they're designed by Apple, they sync perfectly with iOS. We've tried to find a nice mixture of products designed for Android and iOS, but the reality is that many of the best smartwatches use WearOS, which does not play with iOS at all. But, even with that being the case, we've recommended a few watches that should work well with your iPhone.
Style and customization
Watches aren't just functional bits of hardware – they're also a fashion statement. And because there are numerous ways to customize Apple Watches, any alternatives should offer much the same. Most of the above smartwatches let you purchase different band colors or customize the watch face via a companion mobile app. You'll also find options for both cellular and Bluetooth models, ensuring you have multiple ways to get the device online.
Fitness metrics
Many people love to use their smartwatch as a way to track fitness goals. Stats like heart rate, mile time, sleep score, and stress levels are common metrics tracked by these devices, and they're a large reason for their popularity. Some are designed specifically for these tasks (such as the Garmin Forerunner 265), while others just offer the basics. Whatever your needs, there's a smartwatch beyond the Apple Watch that should check all the right boxes.
