{"id":663531,"date":"2026-08-30T11:01:21","date_gmt":"2026-08-30T11:01:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/663531\/"},"modified":"2026-08-30T11:01:21","modified_gmt":"2026-08-30T11:01:21","slug":"we-asked-toms-guide-readers-which-2026-android-smartwatch-they-prefer-and-the-winner-is-clear","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/663531\/","title":{"rendered":"We asked Tom\u2019s Guide readers which 2026 Android smartwatch they prefer \u2014 and the winner is clear"},"content":{"rendered":"<p id=\"elk-686387d8-a329-11f1-81d8-f5cd7a763d06\">We asked Tom\u2019s Guide readers which 2026 full-featured Android smartwatch they prefer, and the winner is crystal clear.<\/p>\n<p>With 830 total votes, one device proved way more popular than the others, but was it the <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/wellness\/smartwatches\/google-pixel-watch5-review\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/wellness\/smartwatches\/google-pixel-watch5-review\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-article-category=\"wellness\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/wellness\/smartwatches\/google-pixel-watch5-review\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Google Pixel Watch 5<\/a>, the <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/wellness\/smartwatches\/5-things-to-know-about-the-new-samsung-galaxy-watch-9\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/wellness\/smartwatches\/5-things-to-know-about-the-new-samsung-galaxy-watch-9\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-article-category=\"wellness\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/wellness\/smartwatches\/5-things-to-know-about-the-new-samsung-galaxy-watch-9\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Samsung Galaxy Watch 9<\/a>, or the <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/wellness\/smartwatches\/galaxy-watch-ultra-2-hands-on-review\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/wellness\/smartwatches\/galaxy-watch-ultra-2-hands-on-review\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-article-category=\"wellness\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/wellness\/smartwatches\/galaxy-watch-ultra-2-hands-on-review\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2<\/a>? Check out the results for yourself below.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-68638904-a329-11f1-a42f-a347cca60009\"\/>Which full-featured 2026 Android smartwatch would you rather own?<\/p>\n<ul id=\"elk-686389ea-a329-11f1-977b-91acc6cfc059\">\n<li><strong>1st place<\/strong>: 50%, Google Pixel Watch 5<\/li>\n<li><strong>2nd place<\/strong>: 24%, Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2<\/li>\n<li><strong>3rd place<\/strong>: 16%, Samsung Galaxy Watch 9<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a id=\"elk-seasonal\"\/><\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-abee94de-a329-11f1-904b-47406531def6-0\">With a total of 418 votes, 50% of respondents said that the Pixel Watch 5 is their preferred current-model Android smartwatch. The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 came in second place with 203 votes, or 24%.<\/p>\n<p>Latest Videos FromTom&#8217;s Guide<\/p>\n<p>The Samsung Galaxy Watch 9, meanwhile, was the least popular of the three, with just 135 folks preferring it to the other options, or 16% of respondents. And then we have those who prefer something other than the models listed; 74 of y\u2019all selected that option, which begs the question: what would you buy instead?<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-the-pixel-watch-5-is-the-clear-winner-but-why\"\/>The Pixel Watch 5 is the clear winner, but why?<\/p>\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:56.25%;\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/UedGRJgfxxBpcTJLDkJwmi.jpg\" alt=\"Close-up of the Pixel Watch 5 in 45mm on a user's wrist\"   loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/UedGRJgfxxBpcTJLDkJwmi.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/UedGRJgfxxBpcTJLDkJwmi.jpg\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] inline\"\/>\n<\/p>\n<p>(Image credit: Dan Bracaglia\/Tom&#8217;s Guide)<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-68638b20-a329-11f1-8da9-ed98e0b6aa2b\">So, why did the Pixel Watch 5 decimate the competition in this popularity poll over its peers? I think it simply comes down to the fact that it\u2019s the more exciting model of the three. The Galaxy Watch 9 is a seriously minor update to the <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/wellness\/smartwatches\/samsung-galaxy-watch-8-review\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/wellness\/smartwatches\/samsung-galaxy-watch-8-review\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-article-category=\"wellness\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/wellness\/smartwatches\/samsung-galaxy-watch-8-review\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Galaxy Watch 8<\/a>. Likewise, the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 adds some cool new features for <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/wellness\/smartwatches\/samsung-turned-the-galaxy-watch-ultra-2-into-a-fully-fledged-dive-computer-but-theres-a-catch\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/wellness\/smartwatches\/samsung-turned-the-galaxy-watch-ultra-2-into-a-fully-fledged-dive-computer-but-theres-a-catch\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-article-category=\"wellness\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/wellness\/smartwatches\/samsung-turned-the-galaxy-watch-ultra-2-into-a-fully-fledged-dive-computer-but-theres-a-catch\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">scuba divers<\/a>, but little else.<\/p>\n<p>            You may like<\/p>\n<p>The Pixel Watch 5, meanwhile, is also pretty much a carbon copy of its predecessor, but it does boast some unique and possibly groundbreaking new preventive health and safety tools, including <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/wellness\/smartwatches\/exclusive-google-pm-says-the-pixel-watch-5-is-like-an-airbag-on-your-wrist-thanks-to-features-like-breathing-emergency-detection\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/wellness\/smartwatches\/exclusive-google-pm-says-the-pixel-watch-5-is-like-an-airbag-on-your-wrist-thanks-to-features-like-breathing-emergency-detection\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-article-category=\"wellness\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/wellness\/smartwatches\/exclusive-google-pm-says-the-pixel-watch-5-is-like-an-airbag-on-your-wrist-thanks-to-features-like-breathing-emergency-detection\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Breathing Emergency Detection<\/a>, Insulin Resistance Trends, and Blood Pressure Trends.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-68638cba-a329-11f1-9f57-d933600eaaaf\"\/>Bottom line<\/p>\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:56.26%;\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1788087680_387_Su4KjbbvHMUJPbJL3EjFJV.jpg\" alt=\"Close-up of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 next to the Google Pixel Watch 5\"   loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1788087680_387_Su4KjbbvHMUJPbJL3EjFJV.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1788087680_387_Su4KjbbvHMUJPbJL3EjFJV.jpg\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] inline\"\/>\n<\/p>\n<p>(Image credit: Dan Bracaglia\/Tom&#8217;s Guide)<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-68638d1e-a329-11f1-a008-0ff447241392\">The Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 may be the most affordable of its 2026 Android smartwatch class, but the Google Pixel Watch 5 wins prom king by a 2:1 margin versus the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 and a 3:1 margin against the Samsung Galaxy Watch 9.<\/p>\n<p class=\"newsletter-form__strapline\">Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqKAgKIiJDQklTRXdnTWFnOEtEWFJ2YlhObmRXbGtaUzVqYjIwb0FBUAE\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" id=\"elk-68638ea4-a329-11f1-a031-174e81700c5a\" data-url=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqKAgKIiJDQklTRXdnTWFnOEtEWFJ2YlhObmRXbGtaUzVqYjIwb0FBUAE\" target=\"_blank\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-article-category=\"wellness\"><\/p>\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:31.51%;\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1788087681_83_r3t8zZ5ve4GewFTeoCM3R6.jpg\" alt=\"Google News\"   loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1788087681_83_r3t8zZ5ve4GewFTeoCM3R6.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1788087681_83_r3t8zZ5ve4GewFTeoCM3R6.jpg\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] pull-right\"\/>\n<\/p>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-68638f26-a329-11f1-aa19-edc8c4cc0a7b\">Follow <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqKAgKIiJDQklTRXdnTWFnOEtEWFJ2YlhObmRXbGtaUzVqYjIwb0FBUAE\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqKAgKIiJDQklTRXdnTWFnOEtEWFJ2YlhObmRXbGtaUzVqYjIwb0FBUAE\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-article-category=\"wellness\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Tom&#8217;s Guide on Google News<\/a> and <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tomsguide.com\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tomsguide.com\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-article-category=\"wellness\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">add us as a preferred source<\/a> to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. Alternatively, you can read our content on the Tom&#8217;s Guide app available now for <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/apple.sjv.io\/c\/338476\/435410\/7643?subId1=tomsguide-us-9199396724982649342&amp;sharedId=tomsguide-us&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fapps.apple.com%2Fng%2Fapp%2Ftoms-guide-tech-reviews%2Fid6761195019\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/ng\/app\/toms-guide-tech-reviews\/id6761195019\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" rel=\"sponsored noopener nofollow\" data-hl-processed=\"hawklinks\" data-article-category=\"wellness\" data-google-interstitial=\"false\" data-placeholder-url=\"https:\/\/apple.sjv.io\/c\/338476\/435410\/7643?subId1=hawk-custom-tracking&amp;sharedId=hawk-prefix&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fapps.apple.com%2Fng%2Fapp%2Ftoms-guide-tech-reviews%2Fid6761195019\" data-merchant-name=\"Apple Australia\" data-merchant-id=\"111944\" data-merchant-network=\"ImpactRadAu\" data-merchant-url=\"apple.com\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\">iOS<\/a> and <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.futureplc.peregrine.tomsguide&amp;pli=1\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.futureplc.peregrine.tomsguide&amp;pli=1\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-article-category=\"wellness\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Android<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-more-from-tom-s-guide\"\/>More from Tom&#8217;s Guide<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"We asked Tom\u2019s Guide readers which 2026 full-featured Android smartwatch they prefer, and the winner is crystal clear.&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":663532,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[258],"tags":[18,282,19,17,82],"class_list":["post-663531","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-gadgets","tag-eire","tag-gadgets","tag-ie","tag-ireland","tag-technology"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@ie\/117184122490422844","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/663531","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=663531"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/663531\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/663532"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=663531"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=663531"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=663531"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}