Best smartwatch for music

Apple Watch Series 12 is the best smartwatch for music if you use an iPhone, giving you the most natural everyday listening experience. Android users should start with Samsung Galaxy Watch 9, choose Google Pixel Watch 5 for Google’s music ecosystem, or pick a Garmin when longer phone-free training matters most.

On this page

• Smartwatches for music at a glance
• What makes a good smartwatch for music
• Best for iPhone users - Apple Watch Series 12
• Best for Android users - Samsung Galaxy Watch 9
• Best for everyday fitness - Garmin Vivoactive 6
• Best for structured run training - Garmin Forerunner 170 Music
• Best for Google’s music ecosystem - Google Pixel Watch 5
• How do I choose a smartwatch for music?
• Frequently asked questions

Smartwatches for music at a glance

The deciding factor is whether your phone and preferred music service can download audio to the watch for offline listening.

What makes a good smartwatch for music

A good music smartwatch must work with your phone, support the way you obtain audio and remain comfortable for the full workout or commute.

Genuine phone-free offline listening

Phone-free offline music means audio is downloaded onto the watch itself. Pair Bluetooth headphones with the watch and you can listen without carrying your phone or maintaining an internet connection.

That distinction matters outdoors. The watch can record your route with GPS while playing downloaded audio, leaving your phone safely at home. Basic music controls do not offer the same freedom because they merely operate audio playing from a nearby phone.

Battery life while GPS and music are active

GPS tracking and Bluetooth audio place a heavier load on a battery than normal smartwatch use, so everyday battery figures do not tell the whole story.

If you mainly listen on a commute or during a short gym session, general smartwatch endurance may be enough. Long runs, hikes and extended training sessions make the combined GPS-and-music figure much more useful: it tells you whether the watch can record the activity and entertain you until the finish.

Storage and service support

Storage capacity matters only when the watch can fill it with audio you actually use.

Start with your preferred service rather than the largest storage figure. Some watches download playlists through subscription apps; others also accept personal music files transferred from a computer. A large library is of little value if it cannot move between your service, phone and watch.

Secure, washable wrist comfort

A music watch should feel secure without becoming distracting as your wrist warms up.

Silicone is the strongest all-round strap material for a sweaty run or commute. It sits close to the wrist, dries quickly and can be rinsed clean. Nylon gives you a softer, lighter fabric feel, although it needs longer to dry after a hard session. Leather, milanese and metal are better kept for work, travel and less sweaty listening.

Best for iPhone users - Apple Watch Series 12

Apple Watch Series 12 is the best music smartwatch for an iPhone owner because the phone, watch and listening experience feel like parts of the same everyday setup.

Compatibility is clear: it requires an iPhone 11 or later running iOS 27 or later. Downloaded audio then plays directly through Bluetooth headphones, so you can track a run or walk without carrying the phone. It is the least complicated starting point if your day already revolves around Apple hardware and services.

• Battery life: up to 24 hours
• Case sizes: 42 mm or 46 mm
• Case weight: 31.5 g to 52.9 g
• Display: Always-On Retina display with 2000 nits peak brightness
• Storage: 64GB capacity
• Water resistance: 50 m
• Price: £369 at the time of writing

The case choice affects how noticeable it feels. The smaller option is easier to forget during a run, while the larger display is easier to glance at when changing tracks in motion. Its bright screen also remains practical in direct sunlight.

Strap choice sharpens that fit. Apple Watch 12 straps are available in silicone, nylon, leather, milanese and metal, but silicone is the sensible training choice. Nylon suits you if a softer fabric feel matters more than instant drying.

Choose it if: you own a compatible iPhone and want the most natural balance of music, daily apps and phone-free listening.

Best for Android users - Samsung Galaxy Watch 9

Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 is the best place for most Android users to start, combining downloaded listening with a conventional smartwatch experience.

It comes in 40 mm and 44 mm case sizes, so you can favour a less intrusive fit or a larger surface for controlling playback. The cases weigh 31.5 g and 34.0 g respectively, keeping either version light enough for commuting and regular workouts.

• Battery life: up to 30 hours / up to 40 hours
• Battery capacity: 390mAh / 445 mAh
• Case sizes: 40 mm / 44 mm
• Case weights: 31.5 g / 34.0 g
• Price: £349 for the 40 mm model or £379 for the 44 mm model at the time of writing

There is no published combined GPS-and-music battery figure here, so do not treat the general battery claim as a promise for a long phone-free race. For ordinary runs, gym sessions and the daily journey, however, the lighter cases make a persuasive wrist-level difference.

The catalogue for Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 straps includes silicone, nylon, leather, milanese, metal and titanium options. That unusually broad choice lets you keep silicone for training and move to metal or titanium when the watch needs to look more formal.

Choose it if: you use Android and want music, communication and everyday smartwatch functions in one balanced watch.

Best for everyday fitness - Garmin Vivoactive 6

Garmin Vivoactive 6 is the practical choice when fitness and longer phone-free endurance matter more than having the broadest smartwatch app experience.

Its clearest advantage is the published combined figure: up to 8 hours with GPS and music active. That gives you something useful to plan around, whether you are preparing for a long run, walking all day or training without a phone nearby.

• Smartwatch battery: up to 11 days
• GPS and music: up to 8 hours
• GPS only: up to 21 hours
• Music storage: 8 GB
• Case: 42.2 x 42.2 x 10.9 mm and 36 g
• Display: 390 x 390-pixel AMOLED
• Water resistance: 5 ATM
• Price: £269.99 at the time of writing

You can transfer personal .mp3 and .m4a files from a computer, which is useful if you own music rather than keeping everything inside a subscription service. Once loaded, those files play through Bluetooth headphones without the phone.

At 36 g, the case should remain unobtrusive for everyday exercise. Available Garmin Vivoactive 6 straps include silicone, nylon, leather, milanese and metal, giving you a washable training setup and smarter alternatives without changing the watch.

Choose it if: you want useful phone-free music endurance in a fitness watch that also works comfortably for ordinary days.

Best for structured run training - Garmin Forerunner 170 Music

Garmin Forerunner 170 Music is the better Garmin for structured runners who want downloaded playlists and personal audio alongside their training tools.

The word “Music” is crucial. Only the Music edition belongs on this shortlist, so check the exact model before paying. It supports Spotify and Deezer as well as personal .mp3 and .m4a files transferred from a computer.

• Smartwatch battery: up to 10 days
• GPS and music: up to 6.5 hours
• GPS only: up to 20 hours
• Music storage: 4 GB
• Case: 42.6 x 42.6 x 11.9 mm
• Case material: fibre-reinforced polymer
• Display: 390 x 390-pixel AMOLED
• Water resistance: 5 ATM
• Price: £259.99 at the time of writing

The up to 6.5-hour GPS-and-music figure is lower than the Vivoactive’s, but it still gives runners a clear planning number rather than asking them to infer training endurance from general battery life. The polymer case also keeps the design focused on exercise rather than jewellery-like weight.

You can get Garmin Forerunner 170 straps in silicone, nylon, leather, milanese and metal. Silicone is the straightforward race-day fit; nylon is worth considering when you want a softer strap for long easy runs.

Choose it if: structured running comes first and you are specifically buying the Music edition.

Best for Google’s music ecosystem - Google Pixel Watch 5

Google Pixel Watch 5 is the Android alternative to choose when Google’s music ecosystem and health tracking shape your daily routine.

It requires Android 12.0 or newer and comes in 41 mm or 45 mm sizes. The smaller case is the natural option for a less noticeable wrist fit; the larger one gives you more screen area for playback controls and mid-workout glances.

• Battery life: up to 30 hours / up to 40 hours
• Battery capacity: 332 mAh / 465 mAh
• Case sizes: 41 mm / 45 mm
• Display: AMOLED LTPO, 320 ppi and up to 3000 nits
• Storage: 64 GB eMMC flash
• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 Gen 2
• Water resistance: 5 ATM + IP68
• Price: £369 for the 41 mm model or £399 for the 45 mm model at the time of writing

The up to 3000-nit display is the standout wrist-level feature, making playback controls easier to read outside. Its case is made from 100% recycled aluminium, which keeps the finish familiar without pushing the watch towards a heavy sports-watch look.

Fitment differs by case size, so match the strap to the watch you own. There are dedicated Google Pixel Watch 5 - 41mm straps and Google Pixel Watch 5 - 45mm straps, with silicone, nylon, leather, milanese and metal available for both.

Choose it if: you have a compatible Android phone and your listening habits already sit inside Google’s ecosystem.

How do I choose a smartwatch for music?

Choose by phone and music service first, then use training endurance and wrist fit to settle close decisions.

• If you use a compatible iPhone: choose Apple Watch Series 12 for the most natural everyday listening experience.
• If you use Android and want a balanced smartwatch: start with Samsung Galaxy Watch 9.
• If Google’s music ecosystem matters most: choose Google Pixel Watch 5.
• If you want the longer published GPS-and-music figure: choose Garmin Vivoactive 6.
• If structured running is the priority: choose the Garmin Forerunner 170 Music, checking that it is the Music edition.
• If a smaller or lighter-feeling watch matters: compare the available case sizes and wear it with silicone for security or nylon for a softer feel.

For most iPhone owners, Apple Watch Series 12 remains the clearest answer. Android buyers have a more personal split: Samsung for balance, Pixel for Google-led listening, and Garmin when phone-free training endurance carries more weight than smartwatch apps.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a paid music subscription to download playlists to a smartwatch?

A paid subscription is required when a service reserves offline downloads for subscribers. It is not required when you load personal .mp3 or .m4a files onto Garmin Vivoactive 6 or Garmin Forerunner 170 Music.

Can I stream music over cellular without taking my phone?

Yes, if you use a cellular Apple Watch Series 12, Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 or Google Pixel Watch 5 with an active service plan. The Garmin models on this list play downloaded audio rather than streaming it over cellular.

Can I download podcasts and audiobooks as well as music?

Apple Watch Series 12 can download podcasts and audiobooks, while Galaxy Watch 9 and Pixel Watch 5 can download podcasts through YouTube Music. Forerunner 170 Music supports podcast downloads from compatible third-party music services.

What is the difference between music controls and music stored on the watch?

Music controls operate audio playing on your phone. Stored music plays directly from the watch through Bluetooth headphones, so the phone does not need to be nearby.

Can I take calls while listening without my phone nearby?

Yes, if you have a cellular Apple Watch Series 12, Galaxy Watch 9 or Pixel Watch 5 with active cellular service. You can take calls and listen through Bluetooth headphones without carrying the phone.