The best Apple Watch alternatives depend first on your phone. Apple Watch needs an iPhone, most Wear OS watches need Android, and only a handful of brands make watches that work with both. Of the seven below, four pair with an iPhone and three are Android-only.
After the phone, the biggest trade-off is charging. Apple rates the Series 12 at up to 24 hours, while the longest-lasting watch here is rated at 35 days. Battery and feature figures are the makers’ own claims.
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The Best Apple Watch Alternatives, Side by Side
Samsung gives battery capacity rather than hours, so its two watches are listed in milliamp-hours.
| # | Watch | Phone | Rated battery | Why pick it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Garmin Venu 4 | iPhone or Android | Up to 12 days (45mm) | All-rounder that skips the nightly charge |
| 2 | Samsung Galaxy Watch9 | Android 13+ only | 390 or 445 mAh | Best partner for a Galaxy phone |
| 3 | Google Pixel Watch 5 | Android 12+ only | Up to 30 or 40 hours | Wear OS and Gemini on any Android |
| 4 | Withings ScanWatch 2 | iPhone or Android | Up to 35 days | Analog looks with an FDA-cleared ECG |
| 5 | Garmin Forerunner 570 | iPhone or Android | Up to 11 days (47mm) | Running and triathlon training |
| 6 | Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra2 | Android 13+ only | 800 mAh | Diving, trails and a 5,000-nit screen |
| 7 | Amazfit Balance 3 | iPhone or Android | Up to 21 days | Most features for the money |
1. Garmin Venu 4: The Best All-Round Alternative for iPhone
The Venu 4 is the watch to buy if you want most of what an Apple Watch does without charging it every night. Garmin rates the 45mm at up to 12 days and the 41mm at up to 10, and it works with iPhone and Android alike. It has a metal case, a bright AMOLED screen, an LED flashlight, and a speaker and microphone for taking calls through your phone.
Health coverage is wide: an ECG app, HRV status, Body Battery energy scores, sleep coaching, skin temperature and a Health Status screen that flags when overnight readings move away from your normal range. Garmin’s September 22, 2026 update added fall detection and hands-free “Okay, Garmin” commands.
What it does well
- Pairs with any iPhone or Android phone.
- Days of battery rather than hours.
- Calls, Garmin Pay, music storage and a flashlight.
What to know before buying
- A much smaller app catalogue than watchOS or Wear OS.
- The Health Status trend view is still a beta feature.
2. Samsung Galaxy Watch9: The Pick for Galaxy Phones
Samsung’s Galaxy Watch9 went on sale on August 7, 2026 in 40mm and 44mm aluminium versions, each with sapphire crystal, a 3,000-nit display and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Wear Elite chip. By Samsung’s figures the 40mm model weighs 31.5g and the 44mm 34g, light enough to wear to bed.
It is strongest as part of a Samsung setup. Vitals, Heart Health Score and the sleep apnea check all rely on a compatible Galaxy phone, and the watch itself needs Android 13 or later with Google services to activate. On a Galaxy phone it is the most complete Apple Watch equivalent you can buy.
What it does well
- Light cases in two sizes with sapphire crystal.
- Deep sleep and heart tracking inside Samsung Health.
- Gemini voice assistance built in.
What to know before buying
- Will not pair with an iPhone.
- Loses several health features on non-Samsung Android phones.
3. Google Pixel Watch 5: The Pick for Every Other Android Phone
Google launched the Pixel Watch 5 at Made by Google on August 12, 2026, with sales from August 20. It runs Wear OS 7.0 with Gemini and works with most Android 12 or later phones, not just Pixels. The 41mm and 45mm cases share a Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 chip, 64GB of storage and a display rated at 3,000 nits.
Sensors cover ECG, blood oxygen, skin temperature and skin conductance, and it adds satellite SOS, dual-frequency GPS and 5 ATM water resistance. Google rates battery at up to 30 hours on the 41mm and 40 hours on the 45mm with the always-on display, stretching to 48 and 72 hours in Battery Saver mode.
What it does well
- Works with most Android phones, not only Pixels.
- Satellite SOS for emergencies without signal.
- Battery Saver mode stretches the 45mm to three days.
What to know before buying
- No iPhone support.
- Needs charging every day or two in normal use.
4. Withings ScanWatch 2: The One That Looks Like a Watch
Withings hides serious health hardware inside a classic analog watch. The ScanWatch 2 has real hands, a small inset display for notifications and readings, and an FDA-cleared ECG that can detect atrial fibrillation, alongside blood oxygen, overnight HRV and round-the-clock temperature tracking.
Its battery is the headline: Withings rates it at up to 35 days, and a full charge takes about two hours. It comes in 38mm and 42mm stainless steel cases with sapphire glass, is water resistant to 5 ATM, and pairs with iPhone and Android phones.
What it does well
- Five weeks between charges, by Withings’ rating.
- Medical-grade ECG in a dress-watch design.
- Works on iPhone and Android.
What to know before buying
- No app store and no touchscreen apps.
- Cardiologist ECG reviews need a Withings+ subscription.
5. Garmin Forerunner 570: The Runner’s Alternative
The Forerunner 570 is a running watch first, and a very good smartwatch second. Garmin gave it an AMOLED touchscreen plus five buttons, a speaker and microphone, and battery rated at up to 11 days in the 47mm size or 10 days in the 42mm, with up to 18 hours of GPS recording.
It reads your training in far more detail than an Apple Watch: morning training readiness, wrist-based running power and dynamics, VO2 max, PacePro guidance, multi-band GPS and Garmin Coach plans that adapt after every run. It pairs with iPhone and Android, pays with Garmin Pay and stores music from Spotify, Deezer or Amazon Music.
What it does well
- Buttons that work with wet or gloved hands.
- Adaptive running and triathlon coaching.
- Up to 18 hours with GPS on.
What to know before buying
- No ECG, unlike the Venu 4 and the Forerunner 970.
- Sporty looks that do not dress up well.
6. Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra2: For Divers and Trail Runners
Samsung built the Galaxy Watch Ultra2 to take on the Apple Watch Ultra 4 outdoors. It has a 47mm titanium case, an 800 mAh battery that Samsung says is 35% larger than the last Ultra’s, and a display rated at up to 5,000 nits, which Samsung calls a first for a smartwatch.
Toughness is the point: 10 ATM and IP69K ratings, EN13319 dive certification, MIL-STD-810H testing and operation from minus 20 to 55 degrees Celsius. Trail Run adds elevation and climbing data, and dive tracking logs depth, time and water temperature, with Mares-developed diving features due later this year.
What it does well
- Certified for recreational diving.
- The brightest screen on this list.
- Titanium case that Samsung made 12% thinner.
What to know before buying
- Android 13 or later only.
- At 61.5g it weighs almost twice as much as the 44mm Galaxy Watch9.
7. Amazfit Balance 3: Most Watch for the Money
The Balance 3, released by Amazfit in June 2026, brings specs usually found on pricier watches: a 1.5-inch AMOLED screen under sapphire glass, stainless steel or titanium, 10 ATM water resistance and a rated battery of up to 21 days.
It also navigates without a phone, using dual-frequency GPS across six satellite systems, 64GB of storage and preloaded colour contour maps. Amazfit says it works with both iPhone and Android, with Bluetooth calls, Zepp Flow voice control and a HYROX race mode for hybrid training.
What it does well
- Three weeks of rated battery.
- Offline maps stored on the watch.
- Sapphire glass at a mid-range price.
What to know before buying
- Bought from Amazfit’s store rather than Amazon at the moment.
- Fewer third-party apps than Wear OS.
Your Phone Decides Half of This List
Apple Watch is locked to the iPhone, and the Apple Watch Series 12 needs an iPhone 11 or later on iOS 27. Google and Samsung lock their watches the other way: the Pixel Watch 5 wants Android 12 or later, and Samsung’s Galaxy Watch9 and Ultra2 need Android 13 or later on a phone with Google services.
That leaves iPhone owners with Garmin, Withings and Amazfit, which all run their own companion apps on both platforms. Android owners can buy anything here, but Galaxy Watch buyers should know that Samsung reserves several health features for its own phones. For a wider look at the market beyond Apple rivals, see our best smartwatches.
Charging Every Night or Every Few Weeks
Rated battery life on these watches spans a huge range:
- Around a day: Apple Watch Series 12 (up to 24 hours) and Pixel Watch 5 (30 to 40 hours).
- About two days: the Apple Watch Ultra 4 at up to 50 hours, the watch the Galaxy Watch Ultra2 is chasing.
- Over a week: Forerunner 570 and Venu 4 at 10 to 12 days.
- Weeks: Amazfit Balance 3 at up to 21 days and Withings ScanWatch 2 at up to 35.
Heavy GPS use, LTE and always-on screens shorten every one of these, but the gaps between the groups are too large for settings to close.
Which Apple Watch Alternative Fits You
iPhone owners should start with the Garmin Venu 4 for the best balance of features and battery. Pick the Forerunner 570 if running is the priority, the Withings ScanWatch 2 if you want a watch that looks like one, and the Amazfit Balance 3 if price comes first.
Android owners with a Galaxy phone get the most from the Galaxy Watch9, or the Ultra2 for water and trails. Any other Android phone pairs best with the Pixel Watch 5, which keeps its health features regardless of phone brand.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Apple Watch alternative for iPhone users?
The Garmin Venu 4. It pairs with iPhone through Garmin Connect, has an ECG app, calls and Garmin Pay, and is rated at up to 12 days per charge on the 45mm model.
Does the Pixel Watch 5 work with an iPhone?
No. Google says it works with most phones running Android 12 or later, and it needs the Google Pixel Watch app, which is Android-only.
Which Apple Watch alternative has the longest battery life?
The Withings ScanWatch 2, rated at up to 35 days. Among touchscreen smartwatches, the Amazfit Balance 3 leads at up to 21 days.
Is there a Samsung watch that works with iPhone?
Not in the current lineup. The Galaxy Watch9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra2 need Android 13 or later and a phone with Google Mobile Services, so they cannot be set up with an iPhone.
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