TicWatch Pro 5

After the Galaxy Watch 6 and Pixel Watch 2, the TicWatch Pro 5 is the most capable Android smartwatch on the market. The Snapdragon W5+ chip makes a real difference — apps open instantly and scrolling is fluid. I use Google Maps navigation during my cycling commute and it works perfectly. The dual display is brilliant engineering: when I go camping, I flip to essential mode and have a watch that lasts the entire trip. Only complaint is the size — it's genuinely large on my 17cm wrist.

I wanted a smartwatch I could wear to work and the gym. The TicWatch Pro 5 does both technically, but the weight makes it uncomfortable after about 4 hours of desk work. It feels like wearing a small brick on my wrist. The features are great on paper but if a watch is uncomfortable, you won't wear it. I'm returning it and getting a lighter Pixel Watch 2 instead.

I switched from Samsung Galaxy Watch because I was tired of the walled garden. With TicWatch Pro 5, I have real Wear OS: Google Maps, Google Pay, YouTube Music, all working without workarounds. The W5+ chip handles everything without hesitation. The essential mode display is technically impressive — a 45-day battery watch hidden inside a full smartwatch. For the price, no Wear OS watch competes. If you can handle the size, this is the definitive Android wearable.