Can you listen to music on an Android smartwatch?
Streaming music services like Spotify and Apple Music have exploded in popularity in recent years, with music streaming accounting for over 80% of total music revenue in 2021. In parallel, smartwatches have also gained widespread adoption. Android smartwatches in particular, with models from Samsung, Fossil, Mobvoi and others, represent a significant chunk of the global smartwatch market. With music streaming and smartwatches both being extremely popular technologies, it’s no surprise that the ability to listen to music directly on your Android smartwatch has also emerged as a highly sought-after feature.
Listening to offline playlists or streaming music apps directly on your wrist via Bluetooth headphones or speakers can be incredibly convenient for activities like working out or running. Most major music services now offer apps optimized for Android smartwatch playback. However, there are limitations around storage, audio quality and battery life that users should be aware of. In this article, we’ll take a deeper look at how music listening works on Android smartwatches, including options for downloading music locally vs streaming, which apps are supported, audio quality considerations, and which models offer the best music experience.
Downloading Music to the Watch
To get music onto your Android smartwatch’s local storage, you’ll need to transfer audio files from your smartphone. Most smartwatch manufacturers have companion apps that handle syncing playlists and media files over Bluetooth or WiFi.
According to Samsung support, Galaxy Watches are compatible with common audio formats like MP3, M4A, AAC, and more. The Galaxy Wearable app for Android allows you to seamlessly sync custom playlists from streaming apps or your phone’s local storage.
Huawei notes the Huawei Health app will transfer MP3 and AAC files under 320Kbps to watches like the Huawei Watch 3 according to their specs. This keeps large high-quality files from taking up space.
Garmin states the Garmin Connect app will transfer media in formats like MP3 and M4B audiobooks to Garmin watches with onboard storage, like the Garmin Venu 2 Plus based on their support page. Playlists and podcasts from streaming services can also be downloaded for offline listening.
Streaming From Phone
One of the most convenient ways to listen to music on your Android smartwatch is by streaming it from your smartphone. Thanks to Bluetooth connectivity, you can use your smartwatch as a remote control to play, pause, skip tracks, adjust volume, etc for music playback on your phone.
After pairing your Android watch with your smartphone via Bluetooth, you can control your phone’s music apps directly from your wrist. Apps like Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, etc. can all be controlled on your watch. Just start playing music on your phone like normal, then use the media controls on your smartwatch to remotely control playback, without having to take your phone out.
The music will stream from your phone’s apps over the Bluetooth connection between the devices. So you get the convenience of using your watch as a remote, while still getting the audio playback directly from your phone’s speaker or headphones connected to your phone. The range will depend on your watch and phone’s Bluetooth version.
Offline Streaming
One of the best features of many smartwatches that support music playback is the ability to download playlists for offline listening when you don’t have your phone with you. This allows you to listen to music during activities like running or working out without needing to carry your phone.
Some popular streaming services that support offline listening on smartwatches include Spotify, Amazon Music, and Deezer. Once you download playlists or albums to your watch, you can listen to them anytime, anywhere via Bluetooth headphones, even when you don’t have an internet connection on your watch. This makes streaming music during activities like running much more seamless and enjoyable.
The amount of storage space for offline music varies depending on the watch. For example, the Samsung Galaxy Watch models offer around 4GB of storage for offline playlists. While this may not seem like a lot compared to the storage space on your phone, it’s enough to download several hours worth of playlists which is perfect for workouts and running without having to carry your phone.
Supported Apps
There are several music streaming apps available for Android smartwatches:
Spotify
Spotify is one of the most popular music streaming services. The Spotify app for Wear OS allows you to download playlists for offline listening and control playback right from your watch (Source 1).
Pros:
- Large library of songs and playlists
- Ability to download playlists for offline listening
- Intuitive controls from watch
Cons:
- Requires a premium subscription for offline listening
- Syncing playlists can sometimes be slow
YouTube Music
The YouTube Music app lets you stream music from YouTube’s extensive catalog directly on your Wear OS watch. You can browse playlists, albums, and more (Source 2).
Pros:
- Huge selection of official songs and remixes
- Intuitive touch controls
Cons:
- No ability to save playlists offline
- Audio quality depends on the video upload
Pandora
Pandora allows you to stream curated stations based on artists, songs, or genres. The Wear OS app provides easy access to your personalized stations and thumbs up/down controls (Source 3).
Pros:
- Personalized stations based on your tastes
- Ad-free listening with paid subscription
Cons:
- No ability to play specific songs on-demand
- No offline listening
Audio Quality
Smartwatches have a few limitations when it comes to audio quality due to their small size. The tiny speakers built into smartwatches simply can’t produce the full range of sound, especially bass tones, that you get from larger headphones or speakers (Source). You’ll notice the sound is often quiet, tinny, and lacking in depth.
To improve audio quality for music listening, most smartwatch users pair Bluetooth headphones or earbuds with their watch. Top models like the Apple Watch and Samsung Galaxy Watch support A2DP Bluetooth profiles for high quality stereo audio streaming. This allows you to listen to music stored directly on the watch or stream it from your phone using Bluetooth while maintaining excellent sound. Just make sure to choose Bluetooth headphones that support the proper protocols for optimal audio quality.
Battery Life
Streaming music can significantly impact the battery life of a smartwatch. Most smartwatches have a battery life of 1-3 days on a single charge without music streaming. However, streaming music over Bluetooth or WiFi can reduce the battery life by 30-50% (Source).
To conserve battery life while streaming music, try the following tips:
- Turn off always-on display
- Turn off WiFi and only use Bluetooth
- Lower screen brightness
- Turn off notifications for non-essential apps
- Enable battery saving mode
- Charge the watch every night
Some smartwatches like the Garmin Fenix 7 have a much longer battery life of up to 16 days in smartwatch mode. This makes them better suited for music streaming on long hikes or runs (Source). Choosing a model with a longer battery life can help offset the additional power drain from music.
Waterproofing
One key consideration when using a smartwatch for swimming is its water resistance rating. Most quality smartwatches will have a water resistance rating of 5ATM or 50 meters, which means they can withstand splashes, rain, and swimming in shallow water. However, for more vigorous swimming and deep dives, you’ll want to look for a watch with a 10ATM or 100 meter rating.
According to this article, some top waterproof smartwatch models for swimming include the Wahoo ELEMNT RIVAL GPS with a 50 meter rating and the Mi Xiaomi Smart Band 7 Pro with a 5ATM rating. The key is finding a watch specifically designed for swimming and water sports.
Even with a high water resistance rating, it’s wise to take precautions to protect your watch when swimming. Avoid pressing buttons underwater which can allow water ingress. Rinse the watch with fresh water after swimming in chlorinated or salty water. Check that all seals are intact before use. While waterproof, steam from hot showers can still damage the watch over time, so consider removing it when showering.
Top Models
When it comes to the best smartwatches for listening to music on Android, three models stand out:
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 5
- Garmin Venu 2 Plus
- Fitbit Versa 4
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 offers the most storage space at 16GB, allowing you to download plenty of songs for offline listening. It has a sleek design, bright AMOLED display, and excellent fitness tracking. Prices start at $279.
The Garmin Venu 2 Plus stands out for its built-in microphone and ability to take voice calls directly on the watch when paired to an Android phone. It has 8GB of storage for music and supports offline playlists from Spotify, Amazon Music, and Deezer. The Venu 2 Plus costs $449.
Finally, the Fitbit Versa 4 provides 6 days of battery life, on-screen workouts, and Fitbit’s excellent health/activity tracking features. It includes support for music services like Deezer and Pandora. The Versa 4 retails for $229.
While all three models include onboard storage for music, the Galaxy Watch 5 provides the most capacity. But the Venu 2 Plus offers unique voice calling abilities. For long battery life and fitness focus, the Versa 4 is a great option. Ultimately, choose based on your budget and must-have features.
Conclusion
Android smartwatches offer convenient ways for music lovers to take their playlists with them anywhere. By downloading music directly to the watch or streaming from your phone, you can listen to music while exercising or on the go without carrying your phone. Most smartwatches today are waterproof, so you don’t have to worry about damaging your device, and high quality audio capabilities mean you don’t have to sacrifice sound for portability.
If listening to music is important to you, I recommend choosing an Android smartwatch with at least 4GB of storage for downloading songs and offline listening. Look for a model with good battery life, at least 24 hours, so you can get through a full day without recharging. Waterproofing is also a must if you want to wear your watch while swimming or in the rain. Models like the Samsung Galaxy Watch and Fossil Gen 5 offer these features in sleek, stylish smartwatch designs perfect for music lovers.
With the ability to store hundreds of songs right on your wrist and access streaming apps, Android smartwatches make it easy to take your music anywhere. Just sync up your favorite playlists and get ready to enjoy your tunes wherever life takes you.