Wondering what is the best always on display smartwatch? If you want to know what is the best smartwatch with always on display, then you have clicked on the right article.
There are a lot of options available for always on smartwatch, each one with its unique sets of features. Some are premium while others are more affordable, some excel at tracking your workouts and health metrics while others prioritize communication with standalone smartwatches that feature LTE connections.
Since there are so many varieties of AOD smartwatches available, it’s easy to get confused. But don’t worry, I’ve done the due diligence and curated a list of 9 best smartwatches with always on display. So without any delay, let’s get started.
Top Picks
IMAGE | PRODUCT | SPECIFICATIONS | VIEW ON AMAZON |
Best Smartwatch With AOD  | Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 |
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Apple Watch With Always On Display  | Apple Watch Series 9 |
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Cheap Always On Display Smartwatch  | Fitbit Versa 3 |
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Best Transflective Smartwatch With Always On Display  | Garmin Instinct 2 Solar |
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Best Always On Display Smartwatches
1) Fitbit Versa 3
The first always-on-display watch I have for you is Fitbit Versa 3. It comes up with a bright AMOLED screen with a display resolution of 336 x 336. During my usage, I never had any problem reading the screen even under bright sunlight.
As a result, Fitbit comes with a reliable always-on feature. Though it is switched off by default, I could easily turn it on by going to the smartwatch settings.
This seems to be a good option because there are times when you want to save your battery life by switching off this feature. You can watch my YouTube video to know how to turn on the always-on display on Fitbit Versa 3 quickly.
One of the most noticeable features of Versa 3’s always-on feature is that it is customizable. Here, you will find various options for the always-on watch face which you can select by downloading watch faces from the Fitbit app.
Though previously Versa 3 was limited to only one analog or digital watch face, now there is a new update in the smartwatch.
Here, I could add various other always-on faces with the help of many third-party apps. Not only I was able to use them but some of them were customizable too.
This is highly beneficial for people who prioritize a good watch face in the always-on mode and give their smartwatch an aesthetic look via fancy watch faces.
Other than this, Fitbit Versa 3 is a smartwatch with a great interface and smart features. Versa 3’s processor is exceptionally fast and reliable. I never faced any lag in the performance.
This smartwatch has built-in Alexa as well as Fitbit Pay for contactless payments. Speaking of Alexa, it allowed me to get weather updates, set reminders, & alarms using my voice.
Talking about fitness features, the heart-rate monitor and sleep tracking are the key USPs of this watch. Fitbit offers best-in-class sleep tracking & analysis compared to any other wearable. I was also able to monitor my blood oxygen as well as my breathing levels with the help of Versa 3.
Despite so many features, the battery life of Versa 3 is pretty good. This smartwatch lasted me for an average of 4 days on a single charge when I was using it. You can watch my Fitbit Versa 3 review to know more about battery life & day to day performance.
Fitbit Versa 3 is available for under 150$ on Amazon. It is one of the best cheap smartwatches with always on display that is totally worth the price considering the features provided.
2) Apple Watch Series 9
The second smartwatch on this list is the Apple Watch Series 9. It is the latest watch by Apple which comes with an Always-on LTPO Retina OLED display. The display of this watch is exceptionally bright and clear. This watch remains easily readable in dark and brightly lit environments as it has an ambient light sensor that dims or increases the screen brightness based on the light in the surroundings.
As the Apple Watch Series 9 dims the existing watch face and uses it as the always-on display, it is highly versatile and customizable. If you use an animated or motion graphic watch face, then while in always-on display mode, the watch will also pause the animation.
The Apple Watch Series 9 supports offline music playback. Now you won’t need to carry your smartphone with you to enjoy music while running or jogging. Although, keep in mind that the music playback is only supported through Bluetooth-enabled earphones or speakers.
Series 9 automatically detects your workout within one minute of starting it. I tested this feature and it works flawlessly. The Apple Watch automatically started tracking my cycling, running, walking, and swimming. Speaking of swimming, this watch boasts a water resistance of 50 meters.
Apart from activities, the Apple Watch Series 9 also excels at health monitoring along with comprehensive sleep tracking. I took multiple measurements of my heart rate and blood pressure and got accurate results every time. Watch the video below to see the blood oxygen accuracy test of the Apple Watch Series 9.
Perhaps the most compelling feature of this watch is the double-tap feature. It allows you to perform the primary action in a bunch of apps and situations. I was able to pick up incoming calls, end ongoing calls, reply to text messages, pause or resume my workouts, and much more, all without touching the screen.
This watch also has onboard Siri support which was much more convenient and productive to use than I initially thought. Using Siri on the Apple Watch, I was able to set timers/Alarms, open apps, start workouts, make calls, send text messages, and play music. This Apple smartwatch supports wireless charging, during the testing, I was able to get it from 0% to 80% in just 45 minutes.
The list of features is long, so it is not possible to discuss all of them here. You can check out this video in which I’m discussing the features of the Apple Watch Series 9.
3) Samsung Galaxy Watch 6
The next smartwatch on this list is from Samsung. The Galaxy Watch 6 is the best and latest Samsung smartwatch with an always-on Super AMOLED display. This Samsung smartwatch has thin bezels which are not just good-looking but also very useful and interactive. Using its touch-sensitive bezels, I was able to conveniently navigate the watch. Durability is not an issue, as this smartwatch comes with sapphire crystal glass which is incredibly tough and scratch-resistant.
Samsung Galaxy Watch lineup runs on Wear OS which is an operating system for smartwatches by Google. It allows these smartwatches to have Google Play Store support. I was able to download WhatsApp on Galaxy Watch along with Gboard, Spotify, and many more. I was even able to watch YouTube videos on this smartwatch. You can also check out this video in which I show how to watch YouTube videos on Galaxy Watch.
The Galaxy Watch 6 comes with offline music storage, which is a really handy feature. It allowed me to store songs offline on the Galaxy Watch and enjoy them while running or working out without the hassle of carrying my phone. I was also able to make calls from the Galaxy Watch without the phone through the LTE variant.
Apart from this, Galaxy Watch 6 excels at health tracking. It offers advanced health features such as ECG monitoring and Blood pressure measurement. I took multiple measurements on it and got accurate results. It is not just health tracking; the Galaxy Watch also offers a wide variety of activity-tracking tools. The exercise list of the Galaxy Watch has 90+ activities listed and you also have the option to create new exercises.
Samsung Galaxy Watches come with its native voice assistant Bixby. I used it to set reminders, start navigation, open apps, and more. If you want, you can also install other voice assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant on your Galaxy Watch. This watch is one of the best always-on-display watches for Android users.
Just like Series 9, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 also has numerous features that I won’t be able to cover here. So you can check my review of Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 in which I discuss its compelling features.
4) Garmin Instinct 2 Solar
The next smartwatch on my list is a rugged watch by Garmin with military-grade specifications that also offer an always-on display.
Garmin Instinct 2 Solar has a monochrome display, that is, it is a black-and-white screen without any vibrant bright colors.
I also had the option to switch on/off the always-on display mode from the display settings.
The most notable feature of the Garmin Instinct 2 Solar is the backlight. It can be a huge advantage in low light & sunlight as it increases readability.
This feature is especially useful in the always-on mode too because the monochromatic display is hard to read in low light. So I was able to the time and stats on the screen in the always-on display at night time.
If the sunlight is creating a problem in seeing the screen clearly, you can press the button on the left-hand side to switch on the backlight.
The brightness of the backlight is also customizable here. If it is not enough for the screen, you can always increase the brightness.
However, you can always dim the brightness in case you want to save some battery life.
Though you will never face any battery problems here in the Garmin Instinct 2 Solar. This is because it is a solar-powered smartwatch that can work up to 65 days in battery-saving mode when given proper sunlight.
Other than this, it has an accurate heart-rate monitoring feature and reliable location tracking. This smartwatch uses three navigation systems which are GPS, Galileo, and GLONASS.
There are a lot of workout tracking options with more than ten workout profiles. You can also enjoy the Virtual Trainer tool for personal training and assistance.
This smartwatch supports NFC payments therefore Garmin Pay is also available here in this smartwatch. To use this feature, you don’t need your smartphone to be nearby which makes it an excellent and highly reliable feature.
Other than the heart-rate sensor on this Garmin, you also get the SpO2 sensor. You can check your blood oxygen levels here.
Coming to the battery life without solar power, Garmin Instinct 2 Solar can live up to 28 days with good use of all the features. And with solar mode on, you get unlimited battery life.
5) Amazfit T-Rex 2
Like Garmin Instinct 2 Solar, Amazfit T-Rex 2 comes with military-grade built quality. So if you are someone who goes on hiking and trekking a lot then here is another option for you.
This watch comes with an AMOLED touch screen that is 1.39″ in size. It displays pretty crisp text and vibrant colors. Considering its price, I have to say I am pretty much impressed with the quality of this watch’s display. Once you look at it, you will not at all like the display of the Garmin Instinct 2 Solar.
Like other always on smartwatches on this list, this watch from Amazfit came with plenty of watch faces. And I was even able to download more than 100 from Amazfit’s Zepp app. You can watch my Amazfit Watch Face customization video in case you want to know step by step process for the same.
To turn the always display on and off, I had to go to the watch’s display settings. As far as its battery life goes, this does not come with solar charging like Instinct 2 Solar but it does come with long battery life.
On a single charge, it managed to run for around 12-13 days on normal usage with always on display turned off. And, when I turned on the always-on display then it lasted for around 6-7 days on a single charge. This I think is a pretty good battery life on a smartwatch and that’s why I will definitely keep T-Rex 2 on my always-on display smartwatch list.
Like Galaxy Watch 5, this watch also offers some hidden features which you can see in my T-Rex 2 tips and tricks video below. I made this video after using T-Rex 2 extensively for around 30 days.
Overall, Amazfit T-Rex 2 is one of the best affordable outdoor smartwatches from the brand Amazfit. If you are an outdoorsy person and are looking for a smartwatch with AOD then this can be the watch for you. You can watch the video below of my thoughts on T-Rex 2 after using it for more than 30 days.
6) Amazfit GTR 4
Another always-on-display smartwatch on my list is from Amazfit as well. Unlike T-Rex 2, this smartwatch does not come with the military build quality and is more suitable for everyday use.
Opposite to T-Rex 2, this watch’s design is sleek and not bulky. The process of turning on and off the always-on display on GTR 4 is the same as on T-Rex 2. In fact, other than design, I found almost everything on GTR 4 to be the same as T-Rex 2. If you want to know the difference between the two then you can check out my comparison video of both the watches below.
One major difference that I have found between the two watches is their battery life. While T-Rex 2 gave me an average battery life of 1 week with always on display on a single charge, GTR 4 only managed to last 5-6 days with similar usage. This is kind of disappointing because the claimed battery life of Amazfit GTR 4 by the brand is 14 days.
Like T-Rex 2, I was able to download more than 100 watch faces for my GTR 4 smartwatch. Moreover, this smartwatch comes with a host of features that you see on T-Rex 2.
If you want a budget smartwatch with always on display that you can wear every day then Amazfit GTR 4 is the watch for you. Do not forget to watch my in-depth review video of GTR 4 if you want to know whether it is worth buying or not.
7) Fossil Gen 6
Powered by Google’s Wear OS, Fossil Gen 6 is also one of the best-looking smartwatches available in the digital world.
I like the fact that this smartwatch comes with a minimalistic design with a bright 1.28-inch AMOLED screen display. The screen resolution of the watch is 416 x 416 with a case size of 44 x 12mm.
Fossil Gen 6 also comes up with a pixel density of 328ppi.
This fabulous-looking smartwatch supports the always-on screen display mode which can be switched on and off according to the needs of the customer.
The always-on display mode helped me read the smartwatch’s screen anytime without tapping on the screen or pressing any button.
There are a lot of watch face options provided by Fossil Gen 6. You can choose your favorite and put it on the main screen.
With the always-on mode switched on, I could see some of my basic stats, battery life, and time on the display all the time.
Other than the features provided by Google, Fossil Gen 6 AOD smartwatch comes with a built-in GPS that lets you track your running workouts on the map without your phone.
This smartwatch is waterproof up to 3ATM which means splashes of water weren’t an issue for me. Although you will not get LTE connectivity in Fossil Gen 6, you can always use your high-speed WiFi connection as this smartwatch has WiFi connectivity.
Fossil Gen 6 also has a built-in speaker that comes in handy when you are in a pinch and you have to take a call.
Coming to the fitness features, this smartwatch can also be connected to Google Fit. I found it to be pretty useful as I prefer the Google Fit app for all my health data.
Other than that, this has an extremely reliable heart-rate monitoring feature similar to Garmin fitness smartwatches.
Another thing that I liked is the fact it has a built-in altimeter, gyroscope, and accelerometer too.
Similarly, since the watch is powered by Google’s Wear OS, I was able to download various third-party apps through the Play Store on the watch.
One huge drawback is the battery life, Fossil Gen 6 didn’t even last me a single day with always-on display mode turned on. This can be a huge problem if you are not back home at the end of the day or not carrying a power bank.
8) TicWatch Pro 5
The TicWatch Pro 5 by Mobvoi is a capable and unique smartwatch that is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1 processor which makes this one of the smoothest watches that runs on Wear OS.
I called this watch unique because this watch comes with two displays. Yes, you heard it right, there are 2 displays fitted on this watch. The main display that you are going to see while using the watch is an AMOLED display that produces crisp and sharp images.
On top of that, you get a ULP (ultra-low power) display which also functions as the always-on display. Unlike the normal Always on display on other smartwatches that just dims the brightness of the screen, this ULP display is a separate display that is power efficient and highly functional at the same time.
I was able to set it to show important information like time, day, date, steps, NFC, heart rate, calorie burn, and more. I was intrigued when I found out that the ULP display could also change color during workouts based on my heart rate.
This TicWatch Pro 5 lasted roughly 4 days on a single charge with fair usage. It has incredible battery life considering that it is a Wear OS smartwatch. You can further increase its already amusing battery life to about 30 days by enabling the essential mode. And if that’s not mind-blowing enough, you get to use all the basic functions of this watch such as date and time, heart rate, NFC, sleep tracking, and even step tracking in this essential mode.
Just like the Galaxy Watch and Apple Watch, this TicWatch Pro 5 is also water resistant for up to 50 meters. You can also download apps on this watch just like any other watch that runs on Wear OS. This watch also has a built-in microphone and speaker which allows you to take calls right from your wrist.
So, if you want a smartwatch with an always-on display and incredible battery life, then you can consider this one.
9) Google Pixel Watch 2
The last watch on our list is the Google Pixel Watch 2 which comes with an always-on AMOLED display. With the protection of Gorilla Glass 5 on this watch, the display is durable and highly scratch-resistant.
As Google makes this watch, it comes with some perks. The Google Voice Assistant works like a charm and lets you do almost everything on this watch. I used it to make calls, send text messages, open apps, start workouts, set reminders, and alarms, and more. I was even able to use the translation function through the Google Assistant on this Pixel Watch 2.
Apart from this, you also get the support of Google Maps directly on the Pixel Watch 2. I could see the full view of the map and even zoom in and out. You can pay directly from your wrist as this watch has NFC support.
The battery of this watch has been significantly improved since the previous Pixel Watch and it can now last for up to 24 hours on a single charge which is acceptable.
The Pixel Watch 2 comes with an IP68 water resistance, which means you won’t have to worry about getting this watch wet or taking it off while swimming. You can track various activities on this watch like walking, running, hiking, and more.
By using the Google Camera app, I was able to control the camera of my smartphone using this watch. It also lets you switch from the rear camera to the front-facing camera directly from your watch and by rotating the crown you can zoom in or zoom out.
Apart from this, this watch provides accurate health tracking. During testing, I compared it to other smartwatches, and it correctly measured my heart rate and tracked my sleep with great accuracy. This Google Pixel Watch 2 is one of the best always-on-display smartwatches with great health and sleep tracking.
Wrapping Up
I have mentioned above the 9 best smartwatches with the always-on display that are not just good looking but also feature-packed. All these smartwatches are versatile and can be the right choice for you. So you should choose the one which best fits your requirements and budget.
