The idea that Google maps would one day come to smartwatches was nothing short of a unicorn at best.
But times change and technology evolves. Now you can get a smartwatch with map navigation if you need a wearable device that can give you directions to wherever you want to go.
I’ve no idea how many smartwatch brands or models support Google maps integration. But here are the five wearable devices that offer optimal performance on maps navigation:
I dive deeper into each of these smartwatches in this guide, with my goal being to explain what makes them stand out, as well as what I believe could be better.
4 Best Smartwatches that Support Google Maps
The following is a quick review of the top four of some of the best smartwatches that allow you to access and use Google maps for easy navigation to your destination:
1. Suunto 7 GPS Smartwatch
Whether you want to map your routes for proper workout or you’re planning to an unknown destination, Suunto 7 GPS smartwatch can point you in the right direction.
This smartwatch features a 1.39 inches OLED display, which is big enough for comfortable taps and swipes. When it comes to clarity, every content displayed on the screen is clear, so you never have to worry about screen tearing or blurring when working with maps.
Suunto 7 GPS smartwatch uses a 1GB of RAM and a Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 3100 processor, which ensures faster data processing. It means you can load maps fast and use the navigation system for an extended period without worrying about performance lags.
As if that’s not enough for a smartwatch in its price range, the Suunto 7 GPS watch allows you to download offline apps, so you can use the navigation system without worrying about Internet connection.
The watch’s companion app is available to Android and iOS, and that offers a great deal of flexibility when it comes to cross-device compatibility.
Expect Suunto 7 GPS smartwatch to work for up to 2 days on a full battery charge in standard mode and about 7 hours in GPS mode.
2. Apple Watch SE (GPS + Cellular) Smartwatch
Although locked into an iOS only ecosystem, the Apple Watch SE stands out as one of the best smartwatches with Google Maps at a price almost 53% less the cost of the Apple Watch Ultra.
So if you’re in the market for a relatively inexpensive Apple Watch because you use an iPhone, the SE just might be a good deal for you.
The one thing I love about the Apple Watch SE is the OLED screen. It’s not just clear, but also comfortable enough to the eyes both indoors and under direct sunlight.
Because Apple Watch SE GPS + Cellular is an LTE smartwatch, it means you can access Google Maps and even make smart calls without your iPhone.
Also, the 1 GB RAM and 32 GB internal storage space means you can load and use Google Maps without worrying about performance lags.
Although the Apple Watch SE is an affordable smartwatch with Google Maps, it has the worst battery life on a complete charge. However, if you’re comfortable charging the watch every 15 hours or so, this shouldn’t be a problem at all.
3. TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra GPS Smartwatch
The TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra stands out as an upgrade of a kind in its class. Frankly, I haven’t come across a smartwatch that helps a human monitor their mental fatigue and energy levels as this model.
But that’s beside the point.
What you want to know is whether you can use the TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra to access Google Maps to track your routes from your origin to destination.
Given that Wear OS powers the model, you have access to Google Play Store from which you can download maps for occasional or regular use.
With the help of the Snapdragon Wear 4100 built-in processor, TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra doesn’t freeze, even when you have Google maps and other apps running simultaneously. And with companion apps available for Android and iOS, this smartwatch should work well with any latest smartwatch.
TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra offers a decent runtime on a single charge. You get up to 72 hours runtime on GPS mode, which is by far the best runtime I have ever seen on a smartwatch. Then, it can last up to 45 days in normal mode.
How cool is that?
4. Huawei Watch 2
The first impression of the Huawei Watch 2 is that you’re paying under $100 for a smartwatch with a killer look and premium features that often increase a wearable’s cost otherwise.
Designed to run on Wear OS, this smartwatch has a companion app for both iOS and Android smartphones. And it’s just great to see that Huawei hasn’t locked the model to a specific ecosystem.
In my view, the Huawei Watch 2 has three features that make it a suitable choice for Google Maps.
First, the display is on point. The OLED, always-on screen is crystal, thus allowing you to get a clear view of the maps – even under direct sunlight.
Second, the watch’s 1.1 GHz Quad-core processor ensures fast data processing so you never notice an instance of performance lags as you interact with the maps.
And finally, the battery runtime on a single charge is decent enough to make the model suitable for maps. Expect up to 26 hours of operation on GPS mode and about 14 days in smartwatch mode.
Final Thoughts
The ability to use Google Maps on some of the best smartwatches is no doubt incredible. Now more than ever you don’t need your phone to get direction to your destination because you can map your route right from your wrist.
In my view, getting directions from your wrist is more convenient than looking at your phone, as it makes it easier for you to navigate traffic when cycling or driving.
And given that there are quite a few incredible smartwatches that allow you to access maps, you have no excuse as to why you should become a victim of a bike or car accident in pursuit for the direction to your destination.
