What Android Smartwatch Can You Talk On?

Android Smartwatches That Support Calls and Texts

A smartwatch is an excellent companion for anyone who wants to stay connected without fully relying on their smartphone. You can answer calls and texts, track your workouts, check your notifications, and control your music — all from your wrist. While the Apple Watch continues to dominate the smartwatch market, Android smartwatches are just as capable, with robust sensors and features that allow for in-depth health tracking on a daily basis.

Most smartwatches are compatible with both Android and iOS devices, but some models may have enhanced features or exclusive compatibility with certain operating systems. Some smartwatches offer standalone calling and texting through built-in cellular connectivity (LTE), while others require a paired smartphone nearby. When you receive a call or text, your smartwatch will display a notification on its screen. You can answer calls, read messages, and respond using voice commands, quick replies, or the touchscreen, depending on the watch model.

Google Pixel Watch 4

The Google Pixel Watch 4 is the best option for most people with Android phones. It has a slimmer case that's more comfortable to wear than that of the Pixel Watch 3, advanced health and fitness tracking, and some actually useful AI features, and it runs the latest Wear OS software.

• Sizes: 41mm, 45mm
• Battery life: roughly 24 hours with AOD enabled
• Display type: always-on OLED
• GPS: built-in GPS
• Connectivity: LTE (optional), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
• Water resistance: 5ATM
• Music storage: 32GB

The Pixel Watch 4 comes with an enhanced skin-temperature sensor, dual-frequency GPS for more accurate route tracking, and a bigger battery. It also features a subscription-free satellite SOS mode, which allows LTE versions of the watch to connect to emergency services even if you're in a remote area without your phone or service. Google made repairability a focus with the Pixel Watch 4 by designing it with a replaceable battery and screen. The more powerful processor enables additional on-device smart replies. You can take calls directly from the watch and use Google Gemini as a voice assistant on your wrist.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 and Galaxy Watch 8 Classic

For Samsung Galaxy owners, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 and Galaxy Watch 8 Classic are the recommended options. The Galaxy Watch 8 has a squircle shape, which makes it look better and feel more comfortable than its predecessor. It features two side keys you can customize to trigger certain features with a short or long press. The display reaches a peak brightness of 3,000 nits, so you can easily see notifications and metrics in direct sunlight.

Sizes

40mm, 44mm

Weight

30g (40mm), 34g (44mm)

Battery life

Up to 30 hours with AOD

Display type

Always-on OLED

GPS

Built-in GPS

Connectivity

LTE (optional), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi

Water resistance

Up to 50 meters, IP68

Music storage

32GB

The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic comes in a larger, 46mm case size and has the look of a more traditional smartwatch. It is made of stainless steel, which gives it a more premium look. The Classic model has a rotating bezel that you can use to navigate the display, and it comes with a bigger battery so you don't have to charge it as often. It has all the same sensors as the standard Galaxy Watch 8, including an accelerometer, gyroscope, barometer, temperature sensor, light sensor, and bioactive sensor.

The Samsung Health app delivers a good overall fitness tracking experience. You get built-in GPS, body composition analysis, irregular heart rate notifications, fall detection, emergency SOS features, and EKGs. You can answer calls directly from the watch. It's worth noting that EKGs and sleep apnea detection require the Samsung Health Monitor app, which is limited to Samsung phones.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is the upgrade pick for those looking for a large, rugged Android smartwatch. It has the same sensor array, processor, dual-band GPS, double-tap gesture, and ECG and FDA-approved sleep apnea detection as the Galaxy Watch 7. The Galaxy Watch Ultra offers a customizable quick button, which can also activate its emergency siren.

• Best battery life of all Samsung watches, lasting around three days in testing
• Dual-frequency GPS
• New multisport activity
• Emergency siren
• Increased durability, 10ATM of water resistance
• Quick button acting as a customizable shortcut

Garmin Venu 3

The Garmin Venu 3 caters to people who want top-notch fitness tracking without sacrificing productivity features. It has a colorful and vibrant always-on OLED display and comes in two sizes: 41mm and 45mm. Like its predecessor, the Venu 2 Plus, it has a microphone and speaker so you can take and make calls directly from the wrist.

1. It uses Bluetooth to work with whatever assistant is already on your phone, acting as a clever workaround for digital assistants.
2. Android users can send quick responses for texts.
3. The watch works with either iOS or Android.
4. It has fall detection, live tracking, and contactless payments.
5. It features Garmin's FDA-cleared EKG app to detect atrial fibrillation.
6. Battery life is up to 10 days for the 3S and 14 days for the 3.

Sizes are 41mm with 18mm straps and 45mm with 22mm straps. Music storage is 8GB, and water resistance is rated at 5ATM. The Venu 3 also improves sleep tracking with nap detection and adds audio-guided meditation sessions.

Amazfit Active 2

The Amazfit Active 2 is a budget-friendly option that punches far above its weight at $99.99. While it doesn't run Wear OS, its proprietary Zepp OS makes for a platform-agnostic smartwatch.

• Size: 43mm with 20mm straps
• Battery life: up to 10 days
• Display type: OLED touchscreen
• GPS: five GNSS systems
• Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
• Water resistance: 5ATM

Feature-wise, you get continuous heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen rate, heart rate variability, stress tracking, alerts for abnormally high and low heart rate, and skin temperature tracking. You also get offline maps with turn-by-turn navigation, 160 different sport activity profiles, and a strength training activity that automatically tracks reps. The watch includes access to an AI assistant on wrist and AI chatbots within the Zepp app. The Zepp Flow assistant can be used to control the watch's on-device settings and handle basic queries. The Zepp Coach can be used to generate custom training plans.

Fitbit Sense

The Fitbit Sense supports quick replies or talk-to-text replies for messages, and you can answer calls directly on the watch. It is compatible with both Android and iOS devices. The Fitbit Sense is positioned as an advanced health smartwatch and is available in Silver, Graphite, and Soft Gold color options.

• Answer calls directly on the watch
• Quick replies for messages
• Talk-to-text reply capability
• Compatible with Android and iOS
• Advanced health tracking features

Key Considerations When Choosing an Android Smartwatch for Calls and Texts

Texting on smartwatches can be done by quick replies with pre-saved texts, by using a touchscreen keypad, or through voice-to-text conversion. Not all smartwatches support all three methods. Wear OS watches generally offer the broadest texting capabilities for Android users.

LTE vs. Bluetooth-only

Some smartwatches offer standalone calling and texting through built-in cellular connectivity (LTE), while others require a paired smartphone nearby. LTE models allow you to make and receive calls even without your phone present.

Ecosystem compatibility

Galaxy watches work best with Samsung phones. Features like EKGs and sleep apnea detection require the Samsung Health Monitor app, which is limited to Samsung phones. Pixel Watch health features are available to everyone so long as you have a Fitbit account, with fewer features locked to Pixel phones specifically.

Battery life trade-offs

Smartwatches should last a full day (at least 16 to 18 hours). Smaller watch cases usually suffer from shorter battery life. Most smartwatches need to be on their charger every night.

Notifications and reply options

A smartwatch should mirror notifications from your phone quickly, making it easy to dismiss them or reply in a couple of taps. Many smartwatches support popular third-party messaging apps, allowing you to receive and reply to messages directly from your wrist.