Apple Watch alternatives start with one question: which phone do you own? An Apple Watch only works with an iPhone, and most of its best-known rivals only work with Android. Of the seven watches below, four pair with an iPhone and three need an Android phone, so the phone narrows the list before price or features come into it.
The other big difference is charging. Apple rates the Series 12 at up to 24 hours of normal use, while four of these watches are rated in days or weeks rather than hours. Where a feature depends on a particular brand of phone, the section says so.
Samsung rates its watches by battery capacity rather than hours, so those two rows show milliamp-hours; every other figure is the maker’s rated runtime in normal smartwatch use.
| # | Watch | Works with iPhone | Battery (maker rating) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Samsung Galaxy Watch9 | No, Android 13 or later | 390 mAh (40mm), 445 mAh (44mm) | Samsung Galaxy phone owners |
| 2 | Google Pixel Watch 5 | No, Android 12 or later | Up to 30 hours (41mm), 40 hours (45mm) | Pixel and other Android phones |
| 3 | Garmin Venu 4 | Yes | Up to 12 days (45mm) | iPhone owners tired of nightly charging |
| 4 | Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra2 | No, Android 13 or later | 800 mAh | An Apple Watch Ultra rival on Android |
| 5 | Garmin Forerunner 570 | Yes | Up to 11 days (47mm) | Runners and triathletes |
| 6 | Amazfit Balance 3 | Yes | Up to 21 days | Value, with offline maps |
| 7 | Withings ScanWatch 2 | Yes | Up to 35 days | An analog look with an ECG |
1. Samsung Galaxy Watch9: Best for Galaxy Phone Owners
The Galaxy Watch9 is the closest thing Android has to an Apple Watch, and it is at its best beside a Samsung phone. Samsung announced it on July 22, 2026, and it went on sale on August 7 in 40mm and 44mm aluminium cases with sapphire crystal, a display that reaches 3,000 nits and the new Snapdragon Wear Elite chip.
Samsung Health does the heavy lifting: Vitals tracks overnight heart rate, heart rate variability, skin temperature and blood oxygen against your own baseline, Heart Health Score rolls several signals into one number, and the Sleep Apnea feature builds on the FDA authorisation Samsung received in 2024. Several of those, including Vitals and Heart Health Score, require a compatible Samsung Galaxy phone rather than just any Android handset.
What it does well
- Sapphire crystal and a 3,000-nit display on both sizes.
- Samsung says the 40mm battery is 20% larger than last year’s, at 390 mAh.
- Gemini voice help without a wake phrase, according to Samsung.
What to know before buying
- Needs Android 13 or later and a phone with Google Mobile Services; it cannot pair with an iPhone.
- Several headline health features only work with a Galaxy phone.
2. Google Pixel Watch 5: Best for Pixel and Other Android Phones
Google’s Pixel Watch 5 arrived on August 20, 2026 in 41mm and 45mm sizes, with a round, domed design running Wear OS 7.0 and Gemini. It works with most phones on Android 12 or later, not only Pixels, through the Google Pixel Watch app.
The spec sheet reads like an Apple Watch rival should. It has an ECG app, blood oxygen and skin temperature sensors, a skin conductance sensor for stress tracking, dual-frequency GPS, satellite SOS and 5 ATM plus IP68 water and dust resistance. Google rates the 41mm at up to 30 hours with the always-on display and the 45mm at up to 40 hours, and says a 15-minute charge reaches 50%.
What it does well
- Satellite SOS and dual-frequency GPS in a slim 12.3mm case.
- ECG, blood oxygen and skin temperature sensors on both sizes.
- Fast charging to 50% in about 15 minutes, by Google’s figures.
What to know before buying
- Android 12 or later only; no iPhone support.
- Still a daily or near-daily charge, much like an Apple Watch.
3. Garmin Venu 4: Best Apple Watch Alternative for iPhone Owners
If you own an iPhone and want to stop charging your watch every night, start here. Garmin’s Venu 4 pairs with iPhone or Android, and Garmin rates the 45mm version at up to 12 days in smartwatch mode, against the Apple Watch Series 12’s 24 hours. It comes in 41mm and 45mm sizes with a metal case, a built-in LED flashlight, and a speaker and microphone for calls through your phone.
Its health tools are broad: HRV status, Body Battery, sleep coaching, an ECG app, women’s health tracking with skin temperature, and a Health Status view that flags when overnight readings drift from your usual range. A software update on September 22, 2026 added fall detection and hands-free “Okay, Garmin” voice commands.
What it does well
- Works with both iPhone and Android through Garmin Connect.
- Up to 12 days per charge on the 45mm model, 10 days on the 41mm.
- Flashlight, calls, Garmin Pay and onboard music storage.
What to know before buying
- A fitness-first app store is much smaller than Apple’s or Google’s.
- Health Status, which flags unusual overnight readings, is still labelled beta.
4. Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra2: The Apple Watch Ultra Rival for Android
The Galaxy Watch Ultra2 is Samsung’s answer to the Apple Watch Ultra 4, and on paper it goes further in places. The 47mm titanium case has a display Samsung says reaches 5,000 nits, which it calls a first for a smartwatch, and an 800 mAh battery that is 35% larger than the previous Ultra’s while the case is 12% thinner.
It is built for the outdoors: 10 ATM water resistance, IP69K dust and water protection, EN13319 certification for dive instruments, military-standard 810H testing and dual-frequency GPS. A Trail Run mode shows elevation and climbing progress, and dive tracking records depth, time and water temperature, with more advanced diving features from Mares due later in the year.
What it does well
- Dive certification and IP69K protection that most rivals lack.
- Samsung’s brightest display so far, rated at up to 5,000 nits.
- LTE built in on the models sold on Amazon.
What to know before buying
- Android 13 or later only.
- At 61.5g it is heavy to wear overnight for sleep tracking.
5. Garmin Forerunner 570: Best for Runners
Runners who want Apple Watch convenience without its battery life should look at the Forerunner 570. It has a bright AMOLED touchscreen plus five physical buttons, handy with sweaty or gloved hands, and Garmin rates it at up to 11 days as a smartwatch in the 47mm size and up to 18 hours with GPS running. It pairs with iPhone and Android.
The training tools are where it pulls ahead: training readiness each morning, wrist-based running power and running dynamics, VO2 max, PacePro pacing, multi-band GPS and adaptive Garmin Coach plans for running, cycling, strength and triathlon. A built-in speaker and microphone handle calls and voice commands, and it downloads playlists from Spotify, Deezer or Amazon Music with a premium subscription.
What it does well
- Up to 18 hours of GPS recording, by Garmin’s rating.
- Detailed running metrics without a chest strap.
- Five buttons as well as a touchscreen, useful mid-run.
What to know before buying
- No ECG app; that stays on the pricier Forerunner 970.
- Smart features are basic next to Wear OS or watchOS.
6. Amazfit Balance 3: Best Value With Offline Maps
Amazfit launched the Balance 3 in June 2026 with specs usually reserved for pricier watches. It has a 1.5-inch AMOLED display under sapphire glass, a stainless steel or grade 5 titanium case, 10 ATM water resistance, and up to 21 days of battery in typical use by Amazfit’s rating.
It is also a capable navigator, with dual-frequency GPS across six satellite systems, 64GB of storage and preloaded full-colour contour maps, so it can guide a hike without your phone. Amazfit confirms it works with iPhone and Android, and it handles Bluetooth calls and Zepp Flow voice control.
What it does well
- Up to 21 days per charge with offline maps on the watch.
- Sapphire glass and a titanium option at a mid-range price.
- HYROX race mode and automatic strength-exercise recognition.
What to know before buying
- Sold through Amazfit’s own store rather than Amazon for now.
- The Zepp app ecosystem is thinner than Apple’s or Google’s.
7. Withings ScanWatch 2: Best Analog-Style Alternative
The Withings ScanWatch 2 looks like a traditional watch, with real hands and a small inset screen, but it carries serious health hardware. Its ECG is cleared by the FDA to detect atrial fibrillation, and it also tracks blood oxygen, heart rate variability overnight and temperature around the clock.
Withings rates it at up to 35 days per charge, the longest on this list by two weeks, with a full charge in about two hours. It comes in 38mm and 42mm stainless steel cases with sapphire glass and 5 ATM water resistance, and works with iPhone and Android, showing incoming calls and app notifications on the dial.
What it does well
- FDA-cleared ECG with AFib detection.
- Up to 35 days of battery, recharged in about two hours.
- Passes for a normal dress watch.
What to know before buying
- The small screen shows notifications but cannot run apps.
- Cardiologist ECG reviews come through the paid Withings+ service.
Why Most Wear OS Watches Will Not Pair With an iPhone
Phone lock-in runs in both directions. The Apple Watch Series 12 needs an iPhone 11 or later running iOS 27, so an Android owner cannot use one at all; our list of iOS 27 supported devices shows which iPhones qualify. Google and Samsung mirror that restriction: the Pixel Watch 5 needs Android 12 or later, and both Samsung watches need Android 13 or later on a phone with Google Mobile Services.
Samsung adds a second layer. Features such as Vitals and Heart Health Score require a compatible Galaxy phone, and the Sleep Apnea feature needs a Galaxy phone on Android 12 or later, so a Galaxy Watch on a Pixel phone loses some of what makes it worth buying. Garmin, Amazfit and Withings avoid all of this by running their own apps on both platforms, which is why all four iPhone-friendly picks come from those three brands.
Apple Watch Battery Life Compared With the Alternatives
Battery is where the alternatives separate most clearly, and it falls into three groups:
- About a day: the Apple Watch Series 12 is rated at up to 24 hours, or 38 in Low Power Mode, and the Pixel Watch 5 at 30 to 40 hours with the always-on display.
- Two days: the Apple Watch Ultra 4 reaches up to 50 hours, the benchmark for the Galaxy Watch Ultra2 to beat.
- Ten days to five weeks: the Forerunner 570 and Venu 4 last 10 to 12 days depending on size, the Amazfit Balance 3 up to 21 days, and the ScanWatch 2 up to 35.
Those are maker ratings in normal smartwatch use. Always-on displays, GPS workouts and LTE all cut into them, but the order between the groups holds: a Garmin, Amazfit or Withings charge is measured in weeks. If you are staying with an Apple Watch rather than replacing it, our guide to the best apple watch bands covers the cheaper way to change how it looks.
Which Apple Watch Alternative to Buy
On an iPhone, the Garmin Venu 4 is the most complete alternative, with calls, payments, an ECG and nearly two weeks between charges. Runners should pick the Forerunner 570 instead, bargain hunters the Amazfit Balance 3, and anyone who wants a watch that looks like a watch the Withings ScanWatch 2.
On Android, match the watch to the phone. Galaxy owners get the most from the Galaxy Watch9, or the Galaxy Watch Ultra2 if they dive, hike or want the brightest screen. Everyone else on Android should buy the Pixel Watch 5, which gives the full Wear OS and Gemini experience without tying health features to a Samsung phone.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the closest thing to an Apple Watch for Android?
The Google Pixel Watch 5 and Samsung Galaxy Watch9 are the closest, with round Wear OS designs, ECG apps, contactless payments and full app stores. Choose the Galaxy Watch9 if you own a Samsung phone and the Pixel Watch 5 for any other Android phone.
Can you use a Samsung Galaxy Watch with an iPhone?
Not the current models. The Galaxy Watch9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra2 require Android 13 or later and a phone with Google Mobile Services to activate, so they cannot be set up with an iPhone.
Which smartwatch works best with an iPhone besides the Apple Watch?
The Garmin Venu 4 is the strongest all-rounder, pairing with iPhone through Garmin Connect and lasting up to 12 days per charge. The Forerunner 570, Amazfit Balance 3 and Withings ScanWatch 2 also work with an iPhone.
Do Garmin watches work with an iPhone?
Yes. The Venu 4 and Forerunner 570 both pair with iPhone and Android phones through the Garmin Connect app, including smart notifications and calls through the watch’s speaker and microphone.
Related Articles
- iPhone Duo vs Galaxy Z Fold 8: Foldable Specs Compared
- AirPods 5 Specs, Price and Battery Life Compared
- Best AirPods 5 Cases: 7 Compared on Locks, MagSafe and Water Sealing
- Pixel Watch 5 Bands
- How to Change Apple Watch Face
As an Amazon Associate, CanyonWire earns from qualifying purchases.
