hi all iv been an iPhone user for quite sometime now over the next couple weeks I will be switching over I do use an android tablet..! Had it for years I’ve narrowed down my phone choices to either s10 p30 or a pixel device my question is when it comes to buying a smart watch for one of the above mentioned mobiles what’s the best smart watch to purchase i currently use an Apple Watch series 3 so I would like to buy another watch that works as good as the Apple Watch... many thanks
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Thinking about a switch
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I hate to break it to you, but you are not going to find an experience that works as good as the Apple Watch. Probably the Samsung Watch is the closest but just know that going in.
For phones I would go with the Pixel 3, not saying its the best out of three but at least you get stock android which in my view is the best experience, Samsung especially pushes all sorts of unnecessary crap on their version of Android.
Smart watches are different, as noted above you won't get better than Apple Watch as a solid all-rounder, so you are either going for something dedicated to fitness with limited smart capabilities like the Fitbit Versa or hunt through the vast range of others to find something that most closely matches what you are looking to get from it.
Smart watches are different, as noted above you won't get better than Apple Watch as a solid all-rounder, so you are either going for something dedicated to fitness with limited smart capabilities like the Fitbit Versa or hunt through the vast range of others to find something that most closely matches what you are looking to get from it.
The Galaxy S10/S10e, P30 Pro and Pixel 3 were my top 3 choices as well. The Pixel 3 ruled itself out as hardware wise I don't see it lasting 3 years. Especially with the Android updates its going to get. While it may have the most advanced camera software, its got half the RAM of the other 2 and has UI issues as is at times… and simply too many have this love/hate thing going on with it made it come last. Yes it'll get more updates than the S10/P30 but in a way that's a good thing. My S10 won't get updated to the point it'll slow right down like iPhone do. And you just can't fake an ultra wide camera lens.
Between the S10 and the P30 Pro it came down to the UI. While the P30 has probably the better cameras (be careful as the video from this is horrid - so if video is important look elsewhere… if video is top priority I'd actually stick with an iPhone) EMUI really isn't for me and I went Samsung as OneUI is really nice for single handed use. I have small hands and I have found this to be by far the best UI going in this regard. Not perfect but it is a first iteration coming out of Samsung Experience. There are very few instances where my finger(s) need to go to the top third of the display.
Night mode is a big plus… although I understand its coming to Android Q for everyone soon enough. Not sure what LeeW means by "all sorts of unnecessary crap" but I have removed about the same volume of "stuff" as I'd remove from an iPhone… and the S10s come with double the RAM and double the storage as the iPhones.
The battery runtime with the P30 is king so if that's a priority then there's a big plus there. My S10 is the worst I think of the 3 S10s but even then its a near 2 day battery for me. 8GB RAM is a little overkill for me. I think I've hit the 6GB of the S10e like twice, let alone the 8GB is the S10 but having said that, doesn't mean Android Q and R will keep things that way.
When it comes to the ultrasonic FPR it isn't perfect. Performance did improve greatly when I removed the included plastic "protector". Its definitely more accurate for my fingers than Touch ID but that isn't saying a lot given I'd typically turn Touch ID off during summer as accuracy was so low it wasn't worth even having on.
While I'm slanted toward Samsung at this time doesn't mean it'll always be. It just means the product they had in offer for me to buy was nearest what I wanted. What you're after may well be something different so keep that in mind.
Between the S10 and the P30 Pro it came down to the UI. While the P30 has probably the better cameras (be careful as the video from this is horrid - so if video is important look elsewhere… if video is top priority I'd actually stick with an iPhone) EMUI really isn't for me and I went Samsung as OneUI is really nice for single handed use. I have small hands and I have found this to be by far the best UI going in this regard. Not perfect but it is a first iteration coming out of Samsung Experience. There are very few instances where my finger(s) need to go to the top third of the display.
Night mode is a big plus… although I understand its coming to Android Q for everyone soon enough. Not sure what LeeW means by "all sorts of unnecessary crap" but I have removed about the same volume of "stuff" as I'd remove from an iPhone… and the S10s come with double the RAM and double the storage as the iPhones.
The battery runtime with the P30 is king so if that's a priority then there's a big plus there. My S10 is the worst I think of the 3 S10s but even then its a near 2 day battery for me. 8GB RAM is a little overkill for me. I think I've hit the 6GB of the S10e like twice, let alone the 8GB is the S10 but having said that, doesn't mean Android Q and R will keep things that way.
When it comes to the ultrasonic FPR it isn't perfect. Performance did improve greatly when I removed the included plastic "protector". Its definitely more accurate for my fingers than Touch ID but that isn't saying a lot given I'd typically turn Touch ID off during summer as accuracy was so low it wasn't worth even having on.
While I'm slanted toward Samsung at this time doesn't mean it'll always be. It just means the product they had in offer for me to buy was nearest what I wanted. What you're after may well be something different so keep that in mind.
I find it hilarious that when one seeks a recommendation for an Android phone, the community seems to only recommend Samsung or Pixel, as if the community’s knowledge are only as deep as what the tech youtubers are bragging about.
My recommendation, no need to switch. Keep you iPhone and Apple Watch (no Android wear device can match it). Meanwhile, get an Android One phone like the Nokia 7.1 plus. It will give you pixel-like stock Android experience for less. If you live in a region where Xiaomi is available, get the Mi A2, also Android one, that is available nowadays for $200 or less. Much better than spending $$$ on a Samsung.
The beauty of Android is the availability of many devices at many price points. If you only think about Samsung or Pixel, that’s defeating the fun of choice in Android,
My recommendation, no need to switch. Keep you iPhone and Apple Watch (no Android wear device can match it). Meanwhile, get an Android One phone like the Nokia 7.1 plus. It will give you pixel-like stock Android experience for less. If you live in a region where Xiaomi is available, get the Mi A2, also Android one, that is available nowadays for $200 or less. Much better than spending $$$ on a Samsung.
The beauty of Android is the availability of many devices at many price points. If you only think about Samsung or Pixel, that’s defeating the fun of choice in Android,
Actually, the Pixel 3a is now perfect for people like me that want to dabble in the Android world occasionally.
At $400, the Pixel 3a is an expensive secondary phone, especially if you just want to play with Android. Pocofone F1 brings SD845 flagship for just $300, while the Mi A2 brings stock Android experience for just around $200.
Pixel is boring and expensive, just like Apple, but without the support. :shrug:
The Android watch landscape is dire. All have compromises of some form.
WearOS: Outdated, ancient Qualcomm hardware makes every device feel sluggish. Most miss certain features; some have no NFC (so no Google Pay), some (e.g. Fossil) have no speaker (can't take voice calls/fully interact with Assistant). Only "do everything" devices are Huawei Watch 2 and TicWatch Pro. Former has a small screen, latter has questionable quality control. Again, both are the most full-featured WearOS devices but are sluggish due to that old chip.
Samsung: Runs own Tizen OS, so not Google services (Pay, Assistant, Maps etc). Bixby is near-useless (and S-Voice on Gear S3 even worse). Lovely hardware with slick operation but, again, new Watch Active has no speaker - so no calls.
FitBit/Garmin etc: These are more like fitness trackers with some smartwatch functionality. Models like FitBit Versa have no GPS; the better Ionic is objectively ugly. All lack core services, so no voice assistants or map integrations etc. Even basic functions like music control can be flaky.
In short, the Apple Watch is leagues ahead in almost every metric although, if you are willing to make compromises, there are some nice (and much cheaper) options for Android. It really shows how fragmented everything is, however.
WearOS: Outdated, ancient Qualcomm hardware makes every device feel sluggish. Most miss certain features; some have no NFC (so no Google Pay), some (e.g. Fossil) have no speaker (can't take voice calls/fully interact with Assistant). Only "do everything" devices are Huawei Watch 2 and TicWatch Pro. Former has a small screen, latter has questionable quality control. Again, both are the most full-featured WearOS devices but are sluggish due to that old chip.
Samsung: Runs own Tizen OS, so not Google services (Pay, Assistant, Maps etc). Bixby is near-useless (and S-Voice on Gear S3 even worse). Lovely hardware with slick operation but, again, new Watch Active has no speaker - so no calls.
FitBit/Garmin etc: These are more like fitness trackers with some smartwatch functionality. Models like FitBit Versa have no GPS; the better Ionic is objectively ugly. All lack core services, so no voice assistants or map integrations etc. Even basic functions like music control can be flaky.
In short, the Apple Watch is leagues ahead in almost every metric although, if you are willing to make compromises, there are some nice (and much cheaper) options for Android. It really shows how fragmented everything is, however.
Google really dropped the ball with Wear OS. And it's VERY hard to find a Wear OS watch that checks most of the boxes. Wear OS is like old Android, nothing but bugs and lag.
Samsung Galaxy watches are excellent, but 3rd party app intergration is almost non-existent. If you don't care 3rd party intergration, then definitely go with Samsung. I wear the Gear S3 Frontier and would still highly recommend being that you can get it for cheap, and is still on the same level (or better) than the newer Galaxy watches.
Samsung Galaxy watches are excellent, but 3rd party app intergration is almost non-existent. If you don't care 3rd party intergration, then definitely go with Samsung. I wear the Gear S3 Frontier and would still highly recommend being that you can get it for cheap, and is still on the same level (or better) than the newer Galaxy watches.
You nailed it on the head. Apple Watch is the complete package.
Great example, yesterday I went for a run. Because I have the Cellular Nike version, I was able to leave my phone at home but connect my AirPods to my watch. During the run I got an important text, so I stopped running, my workout automatically paused. I was able to respond to the text and start my run again.
In the reverse, if someone says they want to switch to iOS and that they've narrowed down their search with either a Xs or Xs Max, would you have the same attitude and say to them to buy an iPhone 7? I can still buy the iPhone 6s and SE from my local department store.
Without knowing the reasons for the choice you discuss their choice. At the end of the day unless the OP wants to elaborate on what led them to that choice I'm not going to try and read their minds as to their reasons. For all I know they're looking to an excellent camera experience and they're not going to get that with a Pocophone.
In simply wanting someone to buy at the bottom end is only saying you're scared of them not returning to iOS. The fact of the matter is that if iOS was that much better than Android then they'd return to iOS with a $1,200 phone just the same as a $200 phone.
And don't forget, the OP may well have discounts available to them that make any flagship not so flagship priced. I switched to Android using my experience with a Galaxy A8, which I bought for 260€ (including 21% tax) and the cost of me buying that, selling it, trading in a useless Galaxy J1 from a friend (to get a trade-in bonus) to then buy an S10 128GB cost me 541€ less than that of a Xs 256GB (64GB isn't enough but 128GB is which forces me into pricing against a 256GB model).
I've tried everything, hence my frustration with all the Android watch platforms. I've had loads of really good Android phones - the OnePlus 6T and Samsung Note 9 were my most recent devices - yet I'm sitting here with an iPhone XR and an Apple Watch. Nothing else works so seamlessly and effortlessly. I hate that, but if manufacturers can't get their act together, that's on them.
Like you, I also use my Watch for fitness while listening to music/podcasts. Faultless. Even devices from the same manufacturer can be a disaster - my Gear S3 and Note 9 would constantly disconnect, health data had to be manually synced, the "Gear Plugin" would need to be babysat (switch off battery optimisation, roll back to previous versions etc). At some point you just get sick of all the bugs and inconsistences, no matter how nice the hardware is. It's like wrestling with Windows - there's always something.
People can knock Apple all they want but their ecosystem and device sync didn't happen in a vacuum. They nailed it.
Therein lies the problem. The OP said he “would like to buy another watch that works as good as the Apple Watch”. For the reasons mentioned above, none of them do so there is nothing to splurge on. While some of the Android phones are terrific, the watches are a dead-end.
I have no problem recommending the iPhone 7 or iPhone 8 to those not interested in the more expensive X series. Your trading up experience has no relevance in the discussion since it’s specific to your situation.
Actually, the OP didn't clarify much.
If the OP is looking to duplicate the Apple Watch functionality, then it's better to stick with the iPhone/AW combo.
But if the OP is just looking for a user experience as good as Apple Watch, then IMO Samsung watches match or arguably surpass that experience.
Let's not forget we are talking about watches. The lack of 3rd party watch faces on the AW still urks me. AW battery is hit or miss on any given day for no noticeable reason. Some days I would get amazing battery life, and some days I'm like WTF!!!
Samsung watches fail for the most part, when it comes to 3rd party app integration. But whenever I wear the AW, I rarely use that available 3rd party integration. With the exception for the Samsung Watch Active, the bezel input control is the absolute best on any watch. The Tizen Watch OS is also rock solid. Hasn't failed me once since the Gear S2.
Basically, if the OP is going with Android, Samsung watches offer the best overall experience. And they are pretty tough watches that don't easily nick or dent.
Thankyou all for your comments with my Apple Watch my main use for it is health messages etc I also play golf so with the help of an app called hole 19 it also works as a gps on the course other than I don’t use the watch to play music or use Siri on it.. I’m quite a basic watch user tbh...
That app exists on Android, but I highly doubt there be any app integration on a Samsung Watch.
I played around with a TicWatch Pro for several days before taking it back. I took it back cause moving my wrist upwards keep pressing the buttons. IMO, it's a damn good watch for only about $250 or less. Wear OS wasn't buggy or laggy on it. And Hole 19 has integration with Wear 2.0.