Wear OS watches, and what each needs from your phone

Wear OS watches all pair with Android phones, but 3 of the 6 here hold some features back for the maker's own phones. The column on the right says which, in the maker's words. None of them works with an iPhone.

How this list is ordered: Every Wear OS watch, ordered by price, with the maker's own statement of what needs its own phone. 6 of the catalog’s watches qualify.

  1. OnePlus Watch 3 smartwatch

    1OnePlus

    ~$300

    OnePlus Watch 3

    OnePlus pairs a Snapdragon W5 with a low-power BES2800 chip so that Wear OS runs alongside a lightweight RTOS, which is how it claims multi-day battery.

    Phone limits
    OnePlus: 'Only supports smartphones with Android 9.0 and above... iOS and Android (Go edition) devices are not supported.' Camera remote and short-video control need a OnePlus/OPPO phone on OxygenOS/ColorOS 15+
    Type
    Everyday smartwatch
    Android only
  2. Google Pixel Watch 4 smartwatch

    2Google

    ~$350

    Google Pixel Watch 4

    Still on sale a year after launch, the 2025 Pixel Watch shares the Pixel Watch 5's case sizes, weights, dual-frequency GPS, satellite SOS and battery ratings.

    Phone limits
    Google: 'Works with most phones running on Android 11.0 or newer'; requires the Google Pixel Watch app. No iPhone support
    Type
    Everyday smartwatch
    Android only
  3. Samsung Galaxy Watch9 smartwatch

    3Samsung

    ~$380

    Samsung Galaxy Watch9

    Samsung's 2026 mainstream watch is the first Galaxy Watch on the Snapdragon Wear Elite platform, per Samsung, and its 40 mm battery is 20% larger than Galaxy Watch8's.

    Phone limits
    Samsung: 'Newer Samsung watches with Wear OS are not compatible with iOS.' On Android, ECG Monitor, Irregular Heart Rhythm Notification, blood pressure, sleep apnea, Energy Score and Vitals need a Samsung Galaxy phone with Samsung Health / Samsung Health Monitor (Android 13+ for several)
    Type
    Everyday smartwatch
    Android; some features need the maker's own phone
  4. Google Pixel Watch 5 smartwatch

    4Google

    ~$400

    Google Pixel Watch 5

    Google's 2026 watch keeps Pixel Watch 4's case, weights and battery ratings but moves to Wear OS 7, doubles storage to 64 GB and, per Google, runs 20% faster.

    Phone limits
    Google: 'Works with most phones running on Android 12.0 or newer'; requires the Google Pixel Watch app. No iPhone support
    Type
    Everyday smartwatch
    Android only
  5. Samsung Galaxy Watch8 Classic smartwatch

    5Samsung

    ~$500

    Samsung Galaxy Watch8 Classic

    Samsung did not release a Watch9 Classic, so this 2025 model remains its only watch with the physical rotating bezel, now paired with a Quick Button.

    Phone limits
    Samsung: 'Newer Samsung watches with Wear OS are not compatible with iOS.' On Android, ECG Monitor, Irregular Heart Rhythm Notification, blood pressure, sleep apnea, Energy Score and Vitals need a Samsung Galaxy phone with Samsung Health / Samsung Health Monitor (Android 13+ for several)
    Type
    Everyday smartwatch
    Android; some features need the maker's own phone
  6. Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra2 smartwatch

    6Samsung

    ~$700

    Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra2

    An 800 mAh battery, the largest Samsung has put in a Galaxy Watch, gives the Ultra2 a rated 60 hours with the always-on display on, double the Galaxy Watch9.

    Phone limits
    Samsung: 'Newer Samsung watches with Wear OS are not compatible with iOS.' On Android, ECG Monitor, Irregular Heart Rhythm Notification, blood pressure, sleep apnea, Energy Score and Vitals need a Samsung Galaxy phone with Samsung Health / Samsung Health Monitor (Android 13+ for several)
    Type
    Rugged outdoor
    Android; some features need the maker's own phone

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