Android smartwatches still suck, so I’m sticking with the Apple Watch

Apple Watch Series 8
(Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)

I got on the smartwatch bandwagon fairly early on, picking up the LG G Watch as soon as it launched back in 2014. I loved the convenience it offered — the fact that I could view incoming notifications on my wrist was pretty cool Although Android Wear (as it was called at the time) didn't have much in the way of third-party apps and the design of the G Watch was decidedly utilitarian, it was a promising start.

Then I switched to the Moto 360, and while I liked the design, the battery life was abysmal, and the black bar at the bottom of the screen was infuriating. So when LG launched the Watch Urbane in 2015, I bought it immediately. It was the perfect smartwatch — the design was elegant, the software was a little more polished, and LG added custom features that gave it an edge.

I briefly dabbled with Samsung Gear S3 as I was drawn to its design and the promise of Tizen UI. But as I stayed away from Samsung phones at the time (I loathed TouchWiz), it didn't make much sense to use the brand's smartwatch. So I stuck with the Watch Urbane for two years, and when Google rebranded Android Wear to Wear OS 2.0 and introduced Google Assistant and a slew of new features, I was excited for all the forthcoming changes.

OPPO Watch

(Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)

That's when the problems started. Wear OS 2.0 on the Watch Urbane was a laggy mess, and what was promised to be a fluid interface with plenty of features turned out to be a half-baked effort, and it made the smartwatch unusable. Thinking it was down to the older hardware, I switched to the Huawei Watch 2, Mobvoi TicWatch S, and Skagen Falster in quick succession, and it was the same across all devices — the interface was laggy, there were errant freezes, and the experience degraded with every new smartwatch I tried.

I went through a half-dozen smartwatches in the course of a year and a half to find one that was usable, and while the OPPO Watch came close thanks to its decent hardware and large battery, it didn't mitigate the issues inherent to Wear OS 2.0. 

So at the end of 2020, I decided to try out the Apple Watch Series 6; I started to use an iPhone alongside my Android phone, and wanted to see if watchOS was all it was made out to be. The difference was immediately noticeable — the interface was fluid like no Wear OS smartwatch I'd used up to that point, all the apps I wanted to use were present on the watch, and the rotating crown was fun to use.

Apple Watch Series 8

(Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)

In the three years since, I had no inclination to switch back to Wear OS — if anything, I felt vindicated when Google introduced Wear OS 3 and essentially fragmented its smartwatch ecosystem by guaranteeing Samsung exclusivity for a year. The best part about using the Apple Watch is its reliability; I used the Series 6, Series 7, and Series 8 over the last three years, and I never encountered lag or any sort of issues with the interface. More than anything else, it's this continued reliability that gives watchOS a distinct edge over Wear OS. 

Apple Watch Series 8

(Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)

The software ecosystem continues to be unmatched on the Apple Watch, and while Wear OS 3 has made a lot of positive strides in this area, it just doesn't measure up. A common use case for me is controlling Spotify playlists from my wrist, and it still continues to be buggy on Wear OS 3 — I haven't had a single issue with either Spotify or Apple Music on the Apple Watch thus far.

Apple Watch Series 8

(Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)

There's a lot to like on the hardware front too; while I would've liked a rounded design, the Apple Watch looks very polished — particularly in the stainless less version I'm using. And because of its popularity, it has a significantly wider selection of bands than any Android smartwatch, and it's straightforward to change the feel of the watch by switching to a sportier band.

Apple Watch Series 8

(Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)

Of course, the Apple Watch isn't without its flaws. The biggest issue with the Series 8 is the battery life; in the year I used the smartwatch, I averaged a day's worth of use before having to charge it — and that's after turning off the always-on mode. In this regard, it's not on par with the best Android smartwatches, which manage to last a day and a half with relative ease.

Apple Watch Series 8

(Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)

That's why I'm excited to switch to the Series 9. Apple's latest smartwatch is powered by the S9 chipset, and along with a lot more power, it has tangible gains on the efficiency front, so I'm looking forward to finding out if it lasts at least a day and a half. Then there's the Double Tap gesture, which just looks plain cool — yes, I know the Galaxy Watch 6 has a similar feature.

As for Wear OS, I'm cautiously optimistic for the upcoming Pixel Watch 2. I wanted to use the Pixel Watch last year, but having been letdown by Google's hardware in the past, I decided to wait for the second-gen model to try out the brand's smartwatch efforts. That said, Google will have to do something truly spectacular to lure me away from the Apple Watch. 

Harish Jonnalagadda
Senior Editor - Asia

Harish Jonnalagadda is Android Central's Senior Editor of Asia. In his current role, he oversees the site's coverage of Chinese phone brands, networking products, and AV gear. He has been testing phones for over a decade, and has extensive experience in mobile hardware and the global semiconductor industry. Contact him on Twitter at @chunkynerd.

  • fuzzylumpkin
    AC News said:
    Android smartwatches made a lot of progress in the last 18 months, but they're still not on the same level as the Apple Watch.

    Android smartwatches still suck, so I’m sticking with the Apple Watch : Read more
    Yes, yes, we get it. We should all switch to iPhones.
    Reply
  • Sniper_Cobra
    ...has no one ever heard of the garmin venu sq.? In addition to the fitness & sleep tracking, it also lets your respond to texts, accept or decline calls, view notifications & control the media your phone is playing.

    I've had mine for a few years now... it's one of the better fitness trackers/smart watch hybrids I've used.
    Reply
  • Joshua Luther1
    If the apple Watch worked with android phones, I still wouldn't use one.
    Reply
  • gbertoli
    So, author has obviously switched to the "dark side". Problem is that the Apple watch isn't any good if you use an Android Phone. I do agree that Wear OS watches have been terrible as I have owned many. It's mostly a processor issue. My current watch is a Samsung Watch 4 Classic using Wear OS 3.5. It works perfectly, no lags or other issues EXCEPT the Health App wants a Samsung Phone in order to work. Stupid choice. Samsung could own the Android Watch market if they opened everything up so it works with any Android phone.
    Reply
  • cribble2k
    This dude should be writing for iMore.

    He's certainly useless around here on Android Central. 🤨
    Reply
  • kxc1279
    I find myself in the opposite direction. I have had Apple Watches since Series 0 Gen 1 and recently on Series 8. I enjoy the polish and smoothness of Apple Watches. They're actually quite excellent when it comes to my jogs/runs with the easy interface, esp for music. BUT, I absolutely HATE the battery or should I say lack of battery. Like Harrish, the AOD is off, the wake gesture if off and I even have low power on but it still can't make it to 2 days. So I started using the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic and it's battery is much better. I can make it to 3 full days with everything on. I am seriously looking into the Garmin Venu 3 or the Amazfit GTR4. They advertise battery of up to 15 days!!! My Apple Watch days are coming to an end.
    Reply
  • Mooncatt
    Sniper_Cobra said:
    ...has no one ever heard of the garmin venu sq.? In addition to the fitness & sleep tracking, it also lets your respond to texts, accept or decline calls, view notifications & control the media your phone is playing.

    I've had mine for a few years now... it's one of the better fitness trackers/smart watch hybrids I've used.
    I have the Garmin Vivo Active 4 and has all those as well, though I keep the fitness tracking turned off because it kills the battery. At least I try to. There's a bug that keeps turning activity tracking on by itself, but otherwise a fine watch.

    Not that it matters here on imore, where Apple is king.
    Reply
  • gwinegarden
    As the Apple watch does not play well with anything other than an iPhone and this is "android" central, I have to say WHAT?
    Reply
  • OhAlfie
    My Fitbit Sense suits my needs just fine and battery lasts for days.
    Reply
  • CaribMas
    Future US, Inc. why are there so many articles about Apple devices in a blog called "Android Central" when there is a blog called "iMore" that doesn't mention anything about Android?

    For what it's worth, my Samsung Galaxy Watch5 with Wear OS 4.0 and my Samsung Galaxy S23+ work together flawlessly. My Watch5 battery usually lasts 2 days without a charge.
    Reply