Android Watch Mega thread 2025

[Steve Adams]

When would be a good time to update the watch hardware. I'm still using the Galaxy Watch 7 and it's still very good. I think the only thing I don't like about it is it locks easily and I find I need to unlock it twice a day for the most part. I'm just wondering what are the signs that say maybe one should update the watch.

I would say, 1. when it does not work anymore, or 2. when it does not do something you want it to do. I am done upgrading for the sake of upgrading. I used to do that. Now it's buy it use it till it stops, breaks, or doesn't do something I want.

I have moved on from smartwatches anyways. they are rent a watch. After a few years they stop getting updates, batteries die etc. I will have a gard Pro for when I want to track things. It's only 180 bucks cdn and does 99 percent of what the brand name stuff does. I am moved back to real timepieces. Spend the same money and have a forever item.

 

[robvalentine]

Having resurrected my watch ultra, I find the battery life is atrocious. A 45 minute run with spotify, and no LTE as I don't subscribe used 40% of the battery. I get about a day of battery, even after a factory reset and set up as new, without using GPS. Not sure if mine is duff, but tempted to cancel as some report poor battery life on the watch 9,which also has a bigger battery than it's predecessor.

So I cancelled. a couple of reasons, but main one is having watched chasing the summits video review he mentioned routing is basic, and when I tried a route on my galaxy watch 1 with my phone at home so no lte or data, the health app just crashed. luckily I knew the route, but was testing it.

The smart features I actually are available on my Garmin, just maybe not as polished and I find notification management easier using the buttons on my fenix 8. I do prefer the form factor of the galaxy watch, but I think I'll just save the £324.

 

[sjsharksfan12]

I would say, 1. when it does not work anymore, or 2. when it does not do something you want it to do. I am done upgrading for the sake of upgrading. I used to do that. Now it's buy it use it till it stops, breaks, or doesn't do something I want.

I have moved on from smartwatches anyways. they are rent a watch. After a few years they stop getting updates, batteries die etc. I will have a gard Pro for when I want to track things. It's only 180 bucks cdn and does 99 percent of what the brand name stuff does. I am moved back to real timepieces. Spend the same money and have a forever item.

I ended up going back to the Apple ecosystem and got an Apple Watch 11 a couple months ago. I was surprised how many watches won’t get 27 though. I have a feeling I will be in that same boat in a couple years.

 

[Steve Adams]

I wore my seiko sport 5 dive watch today. It was a joy. Kept time, no batteries needed. With it's black bezel and orange face it's awesome looking. I love it.

 

[MarkX]

I wore my seiko sport 5 dive watch today. It was a joy. Kept time, no batteries needed. With it's black bezel and orange face it's awesome looking. I love it.

I'm in the process of selling off my smartwatches and returning to traditional watches, I'm literally fed up of the constant chasing of new tech just for the sake of it. I will however keep my Garmin but only wear it when I run.

 

[Steve Adams]

I'm in the process of selling off my smartwatches and returning to traditional watches, I'm literally fed up of the constant chasing of new tech just for the sake of it. I will however keep my Garmin but only wear it when I run.

Thats why we are getting Gard Pros. Cheap, tracking is mostly spot on and has all the exercise tracking we need. Besides traditional watches are much more comfortable anyways. I find the smart stuff getting more uncomfortable.

 

[robvalentine]

Whilst my galaxy watch fits my wrist better than my fenix 8, (both 47mm) the battery on my Fenix lasts a full week instead of a day, and charging takes about the same time. my run just now used 5% battery unlike 40% on my galaxy ultra 1 with spotify and GPS. I need to ditch my addiction to health data lol.

 

[jamezr]

Whilst my galaxy watch fits my wrist better than my fenix 8, (both 47mm) the battery on my Fenix lasts a full week instead of a day, and charging takes about the same time. my run just now used 5% battery unlike 40% on my galaxy ultra 1 with spotify and GPS. I need to ditch my addiction to health data lol.

The Garmin Fenix line up is insanely good. Battery life and the ability to charge with solar as well depending on the model of course.

 

[robvalentine]

The Garmin Fenix line up is insanely good. Battery life and the ability to charge with solar as well depending on the model of course.

I have the non-solar version as I prefer the AMOLED screen. What really prevented me from switching to wear os is that I use an app called runna for a training plan, and it doesn't sync to wear os, but will to Garmin (and Apple Watch)

edit:- switched to pixel watch 5 as fenix 8 is bulky and I got annoyed with it lol.

 

[NeonNights]

I just upgraded to the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 and trading in my 2024 Galaxy Watch Ultra. According to Google, I only need to send in the watch body and can still keep the charger and watch band from the 2024 GWU. Anyone else traded old watches to Samsung? Do you really only send in the watch body? Thank you!

 

[Ludatyk]

I just upgraded to the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 and trading in my 2024 Galaxy Watch Ultra. According to Google, I only need to send in the watch body and can still keep the charger and watch band from the 2024 GWU. Anyone else traded old watches to Samsung? Do you really only send in the watch body? Thank you!

Yeah, that’s true. Back when I had the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic… I only sent the watch body and kept everything else, was approved on the trade-in. This was when I upgraded to the 2024 Galaxy Watch Ultra.

 

[NeonNights]

I am really shocked at how comfortable the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is. I never bothered sleeping with my 2024 GWU, but immediately did so the first night with the GWU2. I really didn't expect a millimeter or two thinner would make a difference but the combination of soft Peakform band (in Camel color) just conforms to the wrist so well that I don't want to take the watch off.

I upgraded purely because the trade-in and promos were so good, and the expectation of better battery life. I didn't expect the GWU2 to feel this good on my wrist. I used to feel a little relieved to take off the 2024 GWU at the end of the day, but with the GWU2 I want to keep it on all the time. Small differences definitely add up in this case.

I will test the new band on the old watch to see how much of the comfort is attributed to just the band.

EDIT: The comfort improvements are not due to just the band. I swapped bands between both watches and the 2024 GWU feels more comfortable than before, but you definitely notice the extra raised height and top-heaviness. With the nicer band it's even more apparent that the 2024 GWU doesn't sit flush on the wrist, whereas the GWU2+Peakform band stays more secure and doesn't slide around the wrist all the time like before. The sliding didn't necessarily bother me before and just accepted it, but now I've been spoiled by the GWU2 and know it doesn't have to be the old way anymore.

The combo of GWU2 with old Marine band looks great and fits my wrist better than the old 2024 GWU. But maximum comfort is achieved with the new watch and new band.

 

[NeonNights]

Oh, not all is rosy with the GWU2. Verizon is unable to switch my NumberShare account from the old GWU to the new GWU2. But I guess this is more a Verizon issue and not the watch per se. Verizon is still working on it and my account shows the new GWU2, but the NumberShare feature isn't working yet.

 

[Ludatyk]

I am really shocked at how comfortable the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is. I never bothered sleeping with my 2024 GWU, but immediately did so the first night with the GWU2. I really didn't expect a millimeter or two thinner would make a difference but the combination of soft Peakform band (in Camel color) just conforms to the wrist so well that I don't want to take the watch off.

Yeah, that was one of my main issues with my 2024 Ultra... sleeping with it was kinda uncomfortable, especially laying on my wrist sometimes.

I made it work... but it's a much better experience with my current Pixel Watch.

Oh, not all is rosy with the GWU2. Verizon is unable to switch my NumberShare account from the old GWU to the new GWU2. But I guess this is more a Verizon issue and not the watch per se. Verizon is still working on it and my account shows the new GWU2, but the NumberShare feature isn't working yet.

Never really enabled cellular on the GWU when I had it... didn't think it was necessary to add an additional line, already using a line for the iPad. But there's a new AT&T plan where I can add a smartwatch for free... never got a round to doing it.

But if NumberShare isn't working... when cellular is enabled on your GWU2, it's using an entirely different number for calls/text?

 

[NeonNights]

Yeah, that was one of my main issues with my 2024 Ultra... sleeping with it was kinda uncomfortable, especially laying on my wrist sometimes.

I made it work... but it's a much better experience with my current Pixel Watch.


Never really enabled cellular on the GWU when I had it... didn't think it was necessary to add an additional line, already using a line for the iPad. But there's a new AT&T plan where I can add a smartwatch for free... never got a round to doing it.

But if NumberShare isn't working... when cellular is enabled on your GWU2, it's using an entirely different number for calls/text?

The LTE line for Galaxy Watch Ultra is free due to perks associated with my main phone plan. All three of our LTE Watch lines are free this way (GWU and two Apple Watches). As a family, it's a backup option in case our phones are lost/stolen/out of battery while out and about, then we can still call with the watch. Beyond emergency use, I like leaving my phone at home when heading to the lap pool and still be reachable.

Verizon is still having trouble activating or transferring the mobile line from old watch to new watch -- so no LTE on the new watch yet.

IIRC, when NumberShare is actually working the watch still has its own number and will respond to either your number or its own private number.

 

[robvalentine]

Oh, not all is rosy with the GWU2. Verizon is unable to switch my NumberShare account from the old GWU to the new GWU2. But I guess this is more a Verizon issue and not the watch per se. Verizon is still working on it and my account shows the new GWU2, but the NumberShare feature isn't working yet.

Be grateful you even have that option lol. O2 UK only has a data sim option, you can't share your number. The O2 rep seemed surprised I wanted the ability to take and make phone calls if I went on a run without my phone, and not just stream up to 1 gb of music a month lol.

When I was on vodaphone, they have one number which extends your plan onto your smartwatch for £7.50ish a month. It's a shame O2 are the only ones to offer visual voicemail on a pixel, roaming in the EU and are the only network with 5g in my area not that it's fast 5g.

I am liking my pixel watch 5 though. I wish google health came out earlier as I would have stuck with the 4 as the old fitbit app was a bit naff IMO

 

[NeonNights]

Oh, not all is rosy with the GWU2. Verizon is unable to switch my NumberShare account from the old GWU to the new GWU2. But I guess this is more a Verizon issue and not the watch per se. Verizon is still working on it and my account shows the new GWU2, but the NumberShare feature isn't working yet.

A quick visit to the Verizon store remedied the situation and the GWU2 has full LTE service now. 🙂

The reps were more interested in my TriFold, as they haven't seen one yet.

 

[MarkX]

So I recently picked up the new Galaxy watch ultra 2 to go with my S26. Noticeably lighter on the wrist and the new bundled rubber strap is miles better than the one on the ultra 1, it's thinner, more pliable making comfort much better.

So far I love it but there is still that one thing that frustrates me, that's the ability to pair a chest strap to it without having to download a specific app! Why oh why do they not allow this?

I really like the redesigned health app, it's looks much more modern and is better organised, good job Samsung

Battery so far with 2 one hour runs is just short of 3 days. AOD off and gestures on. Good enough for me.

 

[Matthew-Mahgerfteh]

I feel like Android watches finally got to the point where they’re actually interesting instead of just being a phone notification screen on your wrist. Battery life is still the thing that annoys me most though. I don’t need 50 new health features if I’m constantly thinking about when I have to charge it again. Curious what everyone here is actually using in 2025 and which one you’d buy again.

 

[SteveJUAE]

I feel like Android watches finally got to the point where they’re actually interesting instead of just being a phone notification screen on your wrist. Battery life is still the thing that annoys me most though. I don’t need 50 new health features if I’m constantly thinking about when I have to charge it again. Curious what everyone here is actually using in 2025 and which one you’d buy again.

Are you having issues with your current watch as its 2026 now LOL

Else I assume your comparison is to some other brand and not Apple re battery life ?

 

[robvalentine]

So just did my first run with my pixel watch 5, and 33 minute run listening to YouTube music and phone left at home and it used 9% battery. I did a 40 minute run with same setup with my galaxy watch ultra 2024 and it used 39% battery (I think it may be a duff one).

The post run stats are simpler than my Garmin, but probably more actionable.

 

[MarkX]

Just picked up a bargain off of Marketplace, a new in box Galaxy watch 8 Classic for £100.

Have put it on a Spigen velcro strap and it may just be thee most comfortable smartwatch I have.

I think I actually prefer it's proportions and build vs the ultra 2 I recently bought. Battery life after a full 24 hours has been decent enough, 100% to 55%, aod off and raise to wake on, that included a 50 minute GPS run.