Nowadays smartwatches have evolved into all encompassing devices that do much more than mere timekeeping. With the advent of internet of things (IoT) smartwatches have made our lives simpler. They depend on various smartwatch operating systems that maintain their efficacy and help them pair with third-party apps and smartphones.
Down below is a list of some of the best smartwatch operating systems on the market developed by companies such as Samsung and Fitbit. Interestingly, there are many smartwatches that also rely on Google’s WearOS which is an open-source platform. Without further ado, let’s get started.
7 of the Best Smartwatch Operating Systems (OS)
Google WearOS
Previously called Android Wear, WearOS is the wearable OS platform developed by Google. Many top-tier watchmakers such as Skagen, Sony, Fossil, and Michael Kors rely on WearOS interface which is a stripped down version of the popular Android OS on smartphones. Hence, it pairs well with Android phones although it can also work with iPhones.
You can operate WearOS using a touch screen, although many watchmakers have added a crown dial for switching through the apps. WearOS offers a uniform user interface and a massive collection of third-party apps as well as custom launchers tailor made by the watchmaker.
You can make and receive phone calls from your Android phone or use LTE connectivity on the watch without using your smartphone. WatchOS also lets you reply to texts from your notifications menu.
PROS
✅ Android and iPhone integration.
✅ Third-party apps
✅ Google Maps, Keep, and Google Assistant available
✅ Make and receive calls via watch.
✅ Google Pay integration
CONS
❌ Poor battery life.
❌ Cannot read older texts
Samsung Tizen
Samsung’s very own Tizen operating system is available on Samsung’s smartwatches and smart TVs. Jointly developed by Intel and Samsung, Tizen is an open-source platform that is somewhat similar to WearOS. Although it’s a lot more faster and lightweight than WearOS, Tizen lacks many of Google’s apps. However, Tizen does support third-party apps but the real novelty lies in Samsung’s native apps such as Samsung Health, a must-have for monitoring health and fitness and Bixby voice assistant.
The user interface on Tizen is smooth and responsive for scrolling through apps and notifications as it is tied to the rotating bezel found on Samsung smartwatches.
PROS
✅ Helps in smooth scrolling via rotating bezel
✅ Samsung Pay Integration
✅ Android and iPhone integration
✅ Make and receive calls through your watch.
✅ Samsung and Third-party apps integration
CONS
❌ Bixby voice assistant isn’t as reliable as other voice assistants.
❌ Poor battery life.
Apple watchOS
WatchOS is Apple’s watch operating system that is a formidable competitor to Google’s WearOS. Based on iOS, the super slick user interface is well designed and uses a crown dial and touchscreen for smooth controls. However, it should come as a no-brainer that watchOS is only compatible with iPhones considering it is developed by Apple. Luckily, you can still pair it with some of the best apps on the market from Apple’s native app ecosystem such as Apple Music, Apple Pay, and iMessage.
Being iPhone-only does not deter watchOS from being used by an array of third-party apps that can be downloaded to the watch including ESPN for tracking your favourite live sporting action as well as Ebay and Twitter. watchOS also lets you make and receive calls, either through your iPhone or via inbuilt cellular connectivity on specific Apple Watches.
PROS
✅ Supports third-party apps and Apple’s trademark apps like Apple Music, Siri, and Apple Health.
✅ Make and receive calls via iPhone
✅ Messaging apps support: iMessage and Whatsapp
✅ Hand write on the screen and it’s turned into text via Scribble feature
✅ Apple Pay integration
CONS
❌ Compatible with iPhones only
❌ Poor battery life
Garmin OS
Renowned watchmaker Garmin has launched it own Garmin OS on the market. For starters, it offers a nifty Garmin Coach feature that provides bespoke training plans based on your performance measured by the watch’s sensors. Although you can reply to texts via the notifications menu, canned responses are limited which can be pre-set via the Garmin Connect app on your smartphone.
Also, you cannot use Garmin watches for making or receiving calls. On the customization front, you can tweak the watch face, and use widgets for daily step count and calorie intake. What’s more, GarminOS is one of the best smartwatch operating systems that that allows you to download music to your device from music streaming apps including Spotify, Amazon Music and Deezer.
The GarminOS also offers a plethora of sports tracking options with onscreen animations for guidance including yoga workout poses and guided meditation.
PROS
✅Long battery life
✅ Garmin Pay Integration
✅ Download and play music from Spotify, Amazon Music and Deezer
✅ Third-party apps integration
CONS
❌ Limited Messaging Options
❌ Cannot make calls
❌ No voice assistant support
Fitbit OS
A name synonymous with fitness trackers and healthwear, Fitbit has introduced one of the best watch operating systems in the smartwatch market with the Fitbit OS platform. It can be used seamlessly with both Android and iPhone. However, users can reply to text messages only on the Android platform. Some of the nifty features of FitbitOS include providing data on fitness sensors, food intake, tracking exercises, and sleep time detector.
FitbitOS also allows users to download music and MP3 tracks for offline playback through services such as Deezer, Pandora. Please note that Spotify is not integrated for offline playback currently. Also, you may first need to sync tracks via the Fitbit Connect app for smooth offline playback.
Moreover, Fitbit OS has both Alexa and Google Assistant (who respond via text) integrated so you can relish talking to whichever voice assistant you may like.
PROS
✅ Long battery life
✅ Fitbit Pay integration
✅ Third-party apps integration
CONS
❌ Fitbit Premium subscription for advanced reporting
❌ No offline Spotify playback
❌ Fitbit OS can’t send messages when paired with an iPhone
Amazfit
Touted as one of the most lightweight smartwatch operating systems, Amazon’s proprietary OS Amazfit offers a durable battery life. You can tweak music controls from within the watch but won’t be able to download music from streaming services. Please note that Amazfit is still in its nascent stages and significant changes to this smartwatch operating system can be expected in the near future.
On the downside, you cannot make or receive calls on the watch. Also, you can only read messages and not reply to them via the smartwatch itself. Amazfit was jointly developed jointly with Huawei hence many of Lite OS limitations can also be found on Amazfit’s smartwatches.
PROS
✅ Long battery life
✅ Affordable watch collection
CONS
❌ Cannot make/receive calls
❌ Can send messages from watch
❌ No voice assistant
❌ No payment integration
Huawei Lite OS
Rounding off our list of the best smartwatch operating systems is Lite OS which a Linux-based smartwatch platform developed by Huawei for their own line of smartwatches. However, the watch can be paired with both Android smartphones and iPhones hence you can make and receive calls using your Huawei smartwatch. On the downside, you can only read messages and won’t be able to send them from the watch.
Furthermore, Lite OS doesn’t allow any third-party app integration except for those developed and pre-installed by Huawei. Lite OS offers fitness tracker, step tracker and more that collect data from the watch sensors compiled in the Huawei Health app on your smartphone. While music streaming options are limited, you can load move MP3s onto Lite OS watches that offer internal storage. Also, you cannot download music for offline playback via music streaming services.
PROS
✅ Supports Android and iPhone
✅ Make and receive calls
✅ Health tracking through Huawei Health app
CONS
❌ Third party apps integration is not possible
❌ Limited music streaming options
❌ Sending messages is not possible
❌ No voice assistant
Defunct Smartwatch Operating Systems
Since the technological world is ever evolving and changing with time, there are many smartwatch operating systems that come and gone. Down below is a very popular OS of its time that has bit the dust now.
Pebble OS
In the early days of smartwatches when Google’s WearOS (then known as Android Wear) was the only operating system available, a little know startup Pebble launched its own PebbleOS and emerged as a force to reckon with. It particularly took aim at the poor battery life of Wear OS and started off as a crowdsourced watch on Kickstarter at the time.
However, it has now been discontinued, after its intellectual property and technology was transferred into Fitbit which likely shaped the current FitbitOS platform that we know today.