Do you want to see important things on your smartwatch all the time? Are you looking for an always-on display smartwatch?
There are a lot of varieties of smartwatches available in the digital market. All these smartwatches, affordable and premium, have their own unique features.
While some of the smartwatches are more focused on workout modes and fitness tracking, there are many other smartwatches that provide LTE connectivity.
However, there is one display feature that I prefer a lot. Of course, I am talking about the always on display smartwatch feature. This does not let the smartwatch’s screen sleep and allows you to read the screen without unnecessary taps on the screen or wrist flicks at odd times.
Although many smartwatches are now coming up with this feature, you still need to find the most balanced one.
It is very hectic work to search the internet and put so much time and effort to buy a smartwatch.
Therefore, I have written this article featuring the best smartwatches with an always on display to make your work easy.
Read this full article to choose the smartwatch which fits your budget and requirements.
Quick Navigation
- Smartwatch With Always On-Display Comparison Table
- Best Always-On Display Smartwatches Video
- Best Smartwatches With Always-On Display Feature
- Which Smartwatch With AOD Should You Get?
- FAQs
Smartwatch With Always-On Display Comparison Table
IMAGE | PRODUCT | SPECIFICATIONS | VIEW ON AMAZON |
Best Smartwatch With AOD  | Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 |
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Apple Watch With Always On Display  | Apple Watch Series 8 |
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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 Video
Best Smartwatches With Always-On Display Feature
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 8
The second watch on my list of best AOD smartwatches is none other than Apple Watch 8. This smartwatch not only has an AOD mode but also some exceptionally advanced and reliable features which I really enjoyed on my wrist.
The always-on display mode is switched on by default and I did not have to turn it on manually. If by any chance you don’t want it then you can go to the settings and switch the always-on display on the smartwatch off.
Here in Apple Watch Series 8, time and watch face were present on the screen during the always-on mode. Other than these, my recently used apps were also present on the watch screen for quick access.
Although while using it for days, I have noticed that the always-on display drains a lot of battery. Apple Watch 8 offers something to save your battery life here. It has an ambient sensor that automatically dims the brightness in the always-on mode. This prevents the battery from draining quickly.
I could also test this sensor myself, all I had to do was put my hand on the screen. Watch Series 8 detected low brightness in my surrounding and took care of the brightness level.
This is probably the best feature because Apple smartwatches don’t come up with excellent battery life and drain very quickly with full use of features.
You also get a lot of options for the watch faces in the always-on display mode. I could select and customize the watch face to my liking.
I found the performance of the Apple Watch 8 to be very good. The watchOS worked great and you can also enjoy some new features of watchOS on this smartwatch.
There are some good fitness tracking options and workout modes available on this smartwatch.
The built-in GPS, accelerometer works fine. The heart-rate measurements are also quite accurate.
A compass is also available on the watch. It really helps me in keeping track of direction while wearing this watch for skiing.
Other than the fitness features, you get app notifications, calendar alerts, and various other smart features.
If you buy the premium version of the Apple Watch 8, you can also enjoy LTE connectivity right on your wrists. As this is one of the fewest smartwatches that get LTE connectivity.
Coming to the battery life, this smartwatch can work up to 18 hours of battery life with full use of GPS and the always-on mode. And it lasted a whole day for me on a single charge, but I did have to charge it before using it the next day.
3) Samsung Galaxy Watch 5
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 is the best Samsung smartwatch with always on display yet. It is the latest smartwatch by Samsung and it is also the first Samsung watch that runs on Google’s operating system for watches.
This watch comes in two sizes i.e. 40mm and 44mm. The 40mm option has a screen size of 1.2” and the 44mm option has a screen size of 1.4”. Watch 5 with a 40mm size is one of the best small smartwatches and comes with a resolution of 396 x 396 pixels. The 44mm option has a resolution of 450 x 450 pixels.
I have the Galaxy Watch 5 of 44mm size and let me tell you, I just love its display quality. It displays everything bright and crisp and I have no complaints regarding its readability on a bright sunny day as well.
During my usage, I found turning on/off the always-on display on Watch 5 to be extremely easy. All I had to do was to access the quick settings panel and there was an option to turn it on and off. The quick settings panel is accessible by sliding down on the home screen.
Like other smartwatches, the always-on display takes a toll on the battery life of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 as well. On normal usage, it managed to last for around 1.5 days on a single charge for me. But when I used it with always on display then it did not manage to last more than a day on a single charge. However, charging this watch was a hassle-free experience as this smartwatch comes with Qi wireless charging support.
There are some good always-on-display screens available on the watch. I was also able to download even more from the Galaxy Wearable app and third-party apps like Facer. The thing that I really liked about Watch 5 is that it even gave me the option to customize watch faces to my liking. You can check out my video below to know how you can customize watch faces on Galaxy Watch 5.
This AOD smartwatch supports Spotify. This means you can easily sync offline songs on this smartwatch from your Spotify playlist.
Other than that, this budget smartwatch with always on display comes with a lot of features that I love. You can check out my Galaxy Watch 5 tips and tricks video to see some cool things about the watch. I have compiled these tips and tricks after using the smartwatch for more than a month.
Overall, Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 is one of the best always-on-display watches for Android users out there. It has almost all the features that you can ask for from a smartwatch. To know about these features, you can check out my Galaxy Watch 5 review video below.
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 good 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 3 GPS
TicWatch Pro 3 GPS comes with a screen size of 1.4” that has a resolution of 454×454 pixels. That’s why the quality of the always-on-display is good and it displays everything crisp and clear.
Always on display feature of this watch can be turned on or off from the smartwatch’s display settings. The main highlight of this watch is its Qualcomm Snapdragon 4100 processor. It makes the operation and working of the smartwatch superfast. I never experienced even a slight amount of lag in the performance of the watch.
This smartwatch supports more than 1000+ watch faces. So if I want, I can keep changing the watch face daily for more than 2 years straight.
Other than that, TicWatch Pro 3 GPS comes with more than 100 sports modes. You can also take this on your adventure trips. This smart watch with always on display has the IP68 dust and water-resistant rating, a built-in altimeter, barometer, and multiple satellite navigation like GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Beidou, and QZSS.
Moreover, this smartwatch has a built-in microphone and speaker. Therefore you can talk on calls with it.
Coming to its battery life, it has a claimed battery life of 3 days but you can expect a battery life of not more than 2 days with its screen always on.
If you want a smartwatch with always on display that you can wear daily and can also take on your adventure trips then TicWatch Pro 3 GPS is the smartwatch for you.
9) HUAWEI GT 3 Pro
The last smartwatch on my list of best AOD smartwatches is HUAWEI GT 3 Pro. This watch comes with a 1.43” AMOLED display which is one of the biggest on this list. It is one of the few smartwatches that comes with sapphire crystal.
The quality of the screen is good and I don’t have any complaints. The always-on screen feature of this watch works perfectly and you can turn it off or on from settings. You can select from a number of watch faces and if you select an analog watch face then you can even wear this watch with your dress.
I was also impressed by the titanium case on the watch which is one of the strongest metals that can be used to make a watch. You can check out the list of other metals that are used in watches here.
Moreover, this smartwatch supports wireless charging. As a result, you can charge this watch hassle-free. If you like to pay using your watch then also you are going to like this smartwatch, because this watch supports NFC payments.
If you are looking for an always-on smartwatch that can disguise as a premium analog watch then this might be the best option for you.
Which Smartwatch With AOD Should You Get?
In the above list of the 10 best smartwatches with the always-on display mode, we have listed some of the best smartwatches ranging from 100$ to 500$.
With versatile features for different requirements, you can select the smartwatch which falls under your requirement and budget.
Choose whether you want a fitness-focused smartwatch or a smartwatch with payment options. For further doubts, you can go to the Amazon links of the above smartwatches and look at your preferred options.
FAQs
Which Smartwatch Has An Always-On Display?
There are several smartwatches in the market with the always-on display mode. Out of those, Samsung, Apple, Garmin, Fitbit, Amazfit, etc. are some of the best smartwatch brands which you can rely on.
Is It Safe To Use Always-On Display?
It is absolutely safe to use the always-on display. This feature will always prove to be a benefit for smartwatch users.
Will Always On Display Cause Burn-in?
No, this feature does not cause a burn-in.
Does Always On Display Kill Battery?
Yes, the always-on display drains a lot of battery. However, the settings are customizable and hence, you can switch it on and off according to your requirements.
How Much Battery Does Always-On Display Use On Apple Watch?
The recent Apple smartwatches offer a battery life of a day with always-on mode switched on.
