5 smartwatches you should buy instead of the Google Pixel Watch 5 - Android Authority

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The Google Pixel Watch 5 is the company’s newest smartwatch, featuring fresh case and band colors, improved performance, larger batteries, more local storage, and new health and fitness tracking metrics. On the surface, it looks virtually identical to the Pixel Watch 4, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing, as the Watch 4 was already a fantastic-looking smartwatch. The Pixel Watch 5 costs more, though, as is the case with all new tech launches in 2026.

The higher cost is particularly annoying, given that the hardware in the Pixel Watch 5 is not very different from that of its predecessor. Thankfully, if you’re disappointed by the price increase and limited changes, you’re not out of luck.

I’ve chosen my top five alternatives to the Pixel Watch 5 that offer similar or even better features, depending on what you prioritize. So, before you buy Google’s latest, give these other watches a look.

The Google Pixel Watch 4 from 2025 is the closest competitor to the Pixel Watch 5, and will be even better value once it gets a permanent price drop. The multi-day battery life, very fast charging, and impressive sleep tracking are among my favorite features. The addition of dual-band GPS makes the Pixel Watch 4 a fantastic tool for runners.

Starting at $350 for the 41mm, Wi-Fi-only variant, the Pixel Watch 4 is currently the most affordable smartwatch to support Google’s Gemini Intelligence features. Plus, many of the new Health Guardian and fitness tracking features from the Pixel Watch 5 should make their way to the Watch 4 in future updates.

The Pixel Watch 4 shares a lot of hardware traits with the Pixel Watch 5. Both have the same dimensions and weight, and use the same mechanism for the watch bands. Google is also promising the same battery life for both watches, despite the Watch 5 having a slightly larger battery. The display specs, waterproofing, and health tracking sensors are also pretty much identical across both smartwatches. Plus, the Watch 4 will be getting software support until October 2028, at the very least.

Add it all up, and the Pixel Watch 4 is the best Wear OS smartwatch to buy today in terms of value and performance.

My second-best pick would have to be the Samsung Galaxy Watch 9. Launched in July 2026, Samsung’s latest smartwatch is a tad cheaper than the Pixel Watch 5, but it one-ups Google by offering a more modern SoC, a sapphire crystal display, and a much larger battery in the 40mm model. It’s also the first non-Pixel smartwatch to boast the Raise-to-talk feature for Gemini. It runs the latest One UI 9 Watch software, based on Wear OS 7, which unlocks a ton of AI-powered health features. The display sizes are also slightly larger than those of the Pixel Watch 5.

One of the big advantages, in my opinion, of the Galaxy Watch 9 over the Pixel Watch 5 is its use of the latest Snapdragon Wear Elite platform. The Pixel Watch 5 uses the Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 Accelerated SoC, which has modest performance gains over the W5 Gen 2 from the Pixel Watch 4. Comparatively, the Wear Elite platform promises up to 5x CPU performance, up to 7x GPU performance, and up to 30% longer battery life than the previous generation.

While these gains might not be that apparent right now, the Galaxy Watch 9 feels more future-proof for more demanding local AI processing down the road. Charging speed is the only real pain point with the Galaxy Watch 9, as the 10W charging puck is slower than the Pixel Watch 5.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 from 2024 remains a viable option and my bargain choice for a Wear OS smartwatch in 2026. It will continue to receive software updates until 2028, and some of the new features from the Galaxy Watch 9, like Daily Cardio Load, will come to the Watch 7 via an update. It also has premium features like sapphire crystal glass over the display, something that the Pixel Watch 5 still lacks.

Prices of the Galaxy Watch 7 keep fluctuating, and the 40mm version can be hard to find. However, the 44mm, non-LTE version usually ranges anywhere from $220 to $280 online, making it an excellent value pick. The Galaxy Watch 7 packs plenty of useful Galaxy AI features like Energy Score. The design is sleek and refined, there’s that familiar Wear OS experience, and health tracking is spot on.

A few things worth noting are that GPS tracking can be wonky around tall buildings, and some of the health tracking features require the use of a Samsung phone. But at its current discounted price, I’m willing to overlook these niggles.

If the only smarts you’re really after are fitness tracking and training, you’re better off with a smartwatch built for the job. The Amazfit Balance 3 checks all the right boxes and is currently one of the best fitness smartwatches on the market. It’s still a bit cheaper than the Pixel Watch 5, but the Balance 3 promises up to 21 days of battery life, has 64GB of storage, a 1.5-inch AMOLED display with sapphire glass, and comes with specialized competitive training tools for HYROX.

Compared to the Balance 2, the Balance 3 has a stainless steel body, a built-in flashlight, a brighter display, and twice the amount of storage. The core upgrade of the Balance 3 includes the new HybridCharge Energy Intelligence system, which focuses on metrics like LifeLoad and BioCharge to better predict energy levels and readiness score. Amazfit is also the exclusive wearable partner for HYROX, and the Balance 3 gets exclusive HYROX training plans, race simulations, and analytics.

The Balance 3 handles regular smartwatch duties too, like making and answering calls, viewing notifications, and getting turn-by-turn navigation on your runs.

The COROS PACE 4 is the latest model in the series and makes for a solid fitness training alternative to the Pixel Watch 5. The PACE 4 is available in multiple variants, starting at $250 for the plastic build, $280 for the aluminum casing, and $290 for the Jakob Ingebrigtsen special edition. The PACE 4 features a 1.2-inch AMOLED display, functional crown for navigation, up to 19 days of battery life with regular use, and a redesigned heart rate sensor for more accurate readings.

The COROS PACE 4 weighs just 32 grams and has a 5ATM water resistance rating. If you’re a competitive runner, the PACE 4 can help accurately track your training runs thanks to dual-band GPS, and the built-in microphone lets you capture voice notes. You also have a suite of training tools to help keep track of your fitness scores, race predictions, and build personalized marathon plans.

Overall, the PACE 4 is a fantastic little smartwatch that tracks all your important health and fitness vitals, without weighing your wrist down.

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