The best Apple Watch Series 9 alternatives: 5 other smartwatches to consider

Apple’s watches always send waves through the wearables market as others compete to keep up with the latest and the leading. However, while Apple’s devices are iconic, they’re not the only smartwatches in the game. Whether your phone is incompatible or you simply don’t want an Apple wearable, you can find plenty of other powerful devices up for grabs. We round up the best Apple Watch Series 9 alternatives to help you shop around.

Buying the right Apple Watch Series 9 alternative for your needs

Before we lead anyone astray, we wholeheartedly believe that an Apple Watch is the best iPhone companion available. The company’s seamless integration and unmatched app support make its in-house devices hard to beat. The Series 9 is Apple’s newest traditional model, and it’s loaded with useful health and fitness features. The Apple Watch Ultra or Ultra 2 offers a more rugged experience and niche features for outdoor adventuring. Apple also offers the pared-down Apple Watch SE 2 for those on a budget.

But what if you don’t want an Apple Watch? Devices from Garmin, Fitbit, and Google also have much to offer. Determine which features you’d like your Apple Watch alternative to emulate so you know what to look for while shopping. For example, we highly recommend Garmin’s stable for accurate fitness stats and reliable GPS. For a well-rounded smartwatch experience compatible with Android phones, we suggest the Galaxy Watch 6 series.

The best Apple Watch Series 9 alternatives

• Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic: The best Wear OS devices available, Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 6 series consists of the two top choices for Android phone users. We recommend the Classic model with its rotating bezel and elevated look.
• Garmin Venu 3: Garmin’s newest smartwatch is the company’s most powerful yet, building on the successful Venu 2 Plus with automatic sleep detection and more.
• Google Pixel Watch 2: Google’s top smartwatch, the Pixel Watch 2, is the best smartwatch for anyone committed to the Fitbit ecosystem.
• Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5: Another loaded Wear OS device, the Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5, packs impressive specs and a unique dual-display, plus a rotating crown similar to that of the Apple Watch.
• Withings ScanWatch 2: The Withings ScanWatch 2 is the best medically approved hybrid device with a dedicated health focus and an attractive build.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic: The best Wear OS Apple Watch Series 9 alternative

The Galaxy Watch 6 Series may only feature iterative improvements compared to last year’s lineup, but that doesn’t make the devices anything less than powerful smartwatches with much to offer. For the most refined, elevated aesthetic, we recommend the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic. It features the company’s fan-favorite rotating bezel for easier on-device navigation.

Beyond the bezel, the watch boasts a crisp AMOLED display for large onscreen stats and colorful graphics. Below the glass, it packs the top-tier Wear OS featuring a bevy of useful smartwatch features, snappy performance, updated Google apps, and much more. It also offers a robust fitness tracking and health tracking suite, including the same temperature sensor the company debuted last year for deeper sleep insights and women’s health tracking. We also found the devices provide accurate GPS and heart rate data during workouts. Meanwhile, they’re comfortable on the wrist for all-day wear, as well as for sporting overnight to track your Zs.

Garmin Venu 3: The best Garmin Apple Watch Series 9 alternative

Compared to Apple, Garmin devices don’t offer as many smartwatch features, but an Apple vs Garmin guide shows the devices still have plenty in common. Garmin’s Venu 3 is its most feature-packed smartwatch to date and the best device for anyone looking for rich fitness tracking. On top of the impressive features found in its predecessor, the Venu 3 adds new tools for more advanced training, including Recovery Time, Workout Benefit, and Perceived Exertion. During our review period, we found the watch’s GPS sensor and Elevate V5 optical heart rate sensor incredibly accurate. Garmin also added tracking for wheelchair pushes as well as wheelchair-specific activity.

Between workouts, the Venu 3 offers automatic nap detection, which is a first for Garmin’s watches. This is in addition to the device’s complete overnight sleep tracking package, including sleep coaching. Additionally, the device is FDA-approved to provide ECG readings. It also still provides phone call support and voice assistant compatibility when a paired phone is nearby and features onboard music storage for soundtracking your longest runs.

To ensure users have plenty of battery for stats day and night, the Venu 3 offers nearly 50% longer battery life. The 45mm model improves battery life to 14 days from 9, while the Venu 3S offers up to 10 days.

Google Pixel Watch 2: The best Apple Watch Series 9 alternative for Fitbit loyalists

Google’s second go at an in-house smartwatch, the Pixel Watch 2, delivers many of the successful features of the original model. Fortunately, it also refines some of the first-generation’s shortcomings. First and foremost, it offers 24-hour battery life and a fast charging cable, alleviating the biggest headache of 2022’s Pixel Watch. The Pixel Watch 2 also boasts Google’s newest software, Wear OS 4, which runs flawlessly and offers users many useful tools, including built-in Google Assistant, Google Play Store, Calendar, Gmail, Maps, and more.

Meanwhile, Fitbit still stars prominently on the Pixel Watch 2 with thorough integration. The watch offers the best of Fitbit’s toolkit for basic health and activity tracking with added health monitoring tools, including an EDA sensor, a new temperature sensor, and an upgraded multi-path heart rate sensor. From its robust sleep platform to stress tracking to useful training tools like heart rate zones during workouts, the Pixel Watch 2 offers the best experience for anyone interested in a Fitbit smartwatch. It’s also just a fantastic-looking wearable.

During our review, we found much to like about the upgraded Google watch, but it’s still imperfect. GPS tracking was flukey, and setup can be a headache. We’ll continue testing the watch in the months to come to see how Google manages users’ experiences via software tweaks.

Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5: Another great Wear OS Apple Watch alternative

Another solid Wear OS pick despite currently running a slightly older Wear OS, Mobvoi’s TicWatch Pro 5 boasts a powerful package that will only continue to improve as Google’s Wear OS 4 update reaches the device. With Qualcomm’s Snapdragon W5 Plus Gen 1 chipset, the device offers snappy performance, impressive battery specs, and tons of features. Plus, the watch now features a useful digital crown (similar to the one found on Apple’s watches), so navigating tools and tiles is easier than ever.

On the smartwatch front, users will find staples like Google Maps, Google Wallet, Google Pay, and the Google Play Store for access to even more tools. For fitness tracking, the watch features 100 workout modes and records everything from basic activity to VO2 max. It also tracks overnight stats, including sleep stages. Our favorite new feature is the device’s ability to show color-coded heart rate zones during workouts on its unique dual display.

We were also impressed with Mobvoi’s improvements to the line’s battery life. During our review period, the device typically lasted about three days, including workout tracking.

Withings ScanWatch 2: The best health-focused Apple Watch Series 9 alternative

Stylish enough for daily wear and smart enough to keep users health-aware, the Withings ScanWatch 2 is a unique wearable within the crowded market. The hybrid smartwatch offers a more subtle experience that tracks key health stats. Below its mostly analog face, the watch packs sensors for SpO2, ECG, and round-the-clock temperature tracking. It also provides continuous heart rate monitoring and on-device cycle tracking. The device will soon add irregular heartbeat notifications, overnight heart rate variability (HRV) for sleep tracking, and respiratory rate data.

Meanwhile, because it doesn’t feature a flashy touchscreen, the ScanWatch offers fantastic battery life. The device offers up to 30 days of use between charges, an incredible time frame compared to AMOLED-touting watches. Of course, the device is also lacking in smart features compared to the alternatives as well. Users won’t find conveniences like NFC support on the ScanWatch 2. However, the latest from Withings is a beautiful choice if you’re after a pared-down smartwatch experience and a medical-grade health companion.

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