Best 2024 Smartwatches for third-party app support

#1 Apple Watch Ultra 2
4.8

Third-party app support was a standout, with reviewers praising the selection and the ability to fill mapping or sports gaps with apps.

Pros: app ecosystem, smartwatch features

Cons: cross-platform compatibility, blood oxygen tracking

#2 Xiaomi Watch 2
4.6

Third-party app support was a major advantage, with multiple reviewers praising access to Google Play apps and big-name services.

Pros: charging speed, Bluetooth connectivity

Cons: ECG functionality, recovery insights

#3 Garmin Lily 2 Active
4.5

Third-party app support is positive, especially syncing workout data outward and broadcasting heart rate to other devices.

Pros: health tracking accuracy, blood oxygen tracking

Cons: ECG functionality, onboard music storage

#4 Coros Pace Pro
4.5

Third-party app support was positive where mentioned, with a rich set of apps and quick data sharing.

Pros: outdoor visibility, display quality

Cons: contactless payments, flashlight usefulness

#5 OnePlus Watch 2R
4.4

Third-party app support was strong overall through Wear OS, but one reviewer noted that some wanted apps were missing.

Pros: software smoothness, charging speed

Cons: ECG functionality, safety features

#6 Samsung Galaxy Watch FE
4.3

Third-party app support was rated well, with reviewers highlighting popular apps and an advantage over cheaper non-Wear OS watches.

Pros: materials quality, workout tracking variety

Cons: size options, cross-platform compatibility

#7 Ticwatch Atlas
4.2

Third-party app support is solid through Wear OS and the Play Store, with Strava, Spotify, and other apps working well.

Pros: touchscreen responsiveness, software smoothness

Cons: ECG functionality, LTE connectivity

#8 Ticwatch Pro 5 Enduro
4.1

Third-party app support was a Wear OS advantage, with Strava, Spotify, WhatsApp, and low-power display integrations mostly viewed positively.

Pros: menu navigation, battery life

Cons: ECG functionality, voice assistant quality

#9 Apple Watch Series 10
4.0

Third-party app support was valuable for sports and customization, though reviewers wanted better APIs for route syncing and deeper integration.

Pros: reliability, comfort

Cons: calorie tracking usefulness, mapping and navigation

#10 Google Pixel Watch 3
4.0

Third-party app support was generally strong, especially for Wear OS fitness and smartwatch apps, though app updating and some ecosystem limitations remained less intuitive.

Pros: outdoor visibility, pairing reliability

Cons: calorie tracking usefulness, materials quality

#11 Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
3.4

Third-party app support is generally good through Wear OS and the Play Store, but deeper Samsung Health data export and integration remain limited.

Pros: display quality, durability

Cons: cross-platform compatibility, antioxidant index

#12 Garmin Forerunner 165
3.3

Third-party app/widget support was available and sometimes useful for tailoring data, though one reviewer did not find it especially useful.

Pros: smartphone notifications, watch face quality

Cons: music controls, Wi-Fi connectivity

#13 Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra (2024)
3.3

Third-party app support was useful through Wear OS, but custom watch-face support created a notable limitation for one reviewer.

Pros: build quality, software smoothness

Cons: stress tracking, blood oxygen tracking

#14 Suunto Race S
3.3

Third-party app support is useful but not fully baked in, with praise for the app store offset by criticism that some tools should be native.

Pros: workout tracking variety, value for money

Cons: blood oxygen tracking, contactless payments

#15 Amazfit T-Rex 3
3.2

Third-party support was mixed: Strava and apps could work well, but route syncing and data exports had clear limitations.

Pros: resume later function, brightness

Cons: safety features, activity auto-detection

#16 Garmin Enduro 3
2.5

Third-party app support was judged weak compared with Apple’s ecosystem, with reviewers saying the Connect IQ offering does not rival fuller smartwatches.

Pros: contactless payments, reliability

Cons: onboard music storage, watch face quality

#17 Garmin Fenix 8
2.2

Third-party app support was a weakness compared with Apple, Samsung, watchOS, or Wear OS options.

Pros: workout tracking variety, onboard music storage

Cons: LTE connectivity, value for money

#18 CMF Watch Pro 2
2.0

Third-party app support was constrained: Strava and health-platform integrations helped, but reviewers still criticized missing real third-party apps or broken Strava export.

Pros: pairing reliability, materials quality

Cons: data privacy, health tracking accuracy

#19 Xiaomi Redmi Watch 5
2.0

Third-party app support is weak because reviewers noted no native major music/map apps, no third-party apps, and limited accessory support.

Pros: step counting accuracy, display quality

Cons: voice assistant quality, contactless payments

#20 Fitbit Ace LTE
2.0

Third-party app support is weak because reviewers noted there are no apps and that older kids may want more app capability.

Pros: operating system experience, watch face quality

Cons: app ecosystem, third-party app support

#21 Polar Grit X2 Pro
1.5

Third-party app/program support was weak, especially the lack of TrainingPeaks support on the watch.

Pros: recovery insights, build quality

Cons: contactless payments, onboard music storage

#22 Xiaomi Redmi 5 Active
1.5

Third-party app support was weak because reviewers noted that extra apps such as Google Maps cannot be installed.

Pros: wellness insights, Bluetooth connectivity

Cons: contactless payments, third-party app support

#23 Xiaomi Redmi Watch 5 Lite
1.5

Third-party app support was weak because one reviewer explicitly listed the lack of third-party apps among the watch's cons.

Pros: cross-platform compatibility, pairing reliability

Cons: third-party app support, contactless payments

#24 Polar Vantage M3
1.0

Third-party app support is consistently criticized, with no app store or downloadable extensions.

Pros: brightness, display quality

Cons: call handling, voice assistant quality