For the previous few years, I’ve been avoiding utilizing third-party watch faces on my Galaxy Watch and Pixel Watch as a result of they’re simply irritating throughout. Most third-party watch faces are gradual, heavy, and poorly designed, and it’s robust to search out one which works effectively. Worse but, they typically drain the battery very quick, they don’t present correct well being stats and information, and typically additionally they need me to put in a companion app on my telephone for some motive.
However issues are altering due to Google and Samsung, and third-party Put on OS watch faces have began to get higher, and I’ve discovered 10 favorites to share with you.
How did third-party watch faces get higher?

Rita El Khoury / Android Authority
Earlier than I share my favourite faces, let me clarify how third-party watch faces began getting higher. In Could of final yr, Google introduced Watch Face Format, a preset template for watch face designers. It’s already built-in in Samsung’s Watch Face Studio, too, so growing with it needs to be fairly straightforward.
Mainly, in case you’re a developer, it is best to undertake this format to verify your watch face behaves like a local one on any trendy Put on OS watch. It gained’t drain the battery greater than vital; it would present folks their well being information and stats correctly; it is going to be customizable straight on the watch and contained in the Pixel Watch app for many who have that watch. And it’ll usually have a smaller set up measurement as a result of it’s basically an XML file. Higher but, it gained’t require a companion app on the telephone, and also you gained’t must preserve updating it to use battery and efficiency optimizations on a regular basis — the Put on OS platform handles all of that.
Faces developed with Watch Face Format behave like a n
So what’s the catch? Properly, as a result of they comply with a set of parameters made by Google, watch faces developed with this format usually look a bit fundamental and comparable to one another — except the designer has gone to nice lengths to make theirs look distinctive.
They’re additionally very robust to search out. There’s no devoted part within the Play Retailer to find faces developed with Watch Face Format, and it’s not straightforward to inform if a face makes use of the format except the developer explicitly mentions it someplace.
However I did the digging for you and located 10 totally different, cool, and fascinating watch faces constructed by totally different builders on high of Watch Face Format. These ought to work along with your Pixel Watch 2 and 1, Galaxy Watch 6, 5, and 4, OnePlus Watch 2, and another watch working Put on OS 4.
Awf Sport xR by AmoledWatchFaces

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Let’s begin with my favourite digital watch face in the meanwhile: Sport XR by Amoled Watch Faces. The brilliant gradient colours and dotted sample within the background caught my eye after I first noticed this face, and I nonetheless discover them totally cool now. I preserve switching between the totally different shades of blue that match my Pixel Watch 2’s band, however I’ll be trustworthy: The inexperienced, pink, and orange shades are spectacular too.
The center fee complication on the left is fastened right here, however since I all the time select that on any watch face, I don’t thoughts it in any respect. The fitting and high stats are customizable, although, and all 4 app shortcuts too. The one draw back is that I can’t change the textual content on the corners, so I’ve to do not forget that I set App 1 to Spotify, App 2 to Google Dwelling, and Timer to Google Pay. No less than I set the Alarm to my Alarm!
And for the All the time-on Show, you possibly can present all the pieces, however I opted for the straightforward clock-only design.
Nothing Fancy by Time Flies Watch Faces

Rita El Khoury / Android Authority
Shifting on to my favourite analog watch face: Nothing Fancy by Time Flies Watch Faces. To be honest, although, it’s fairly fancy. I like the design and the bonkers variety of customizations obtainable right here.
There are 30 coloration schemes, eight totally different indexes, 5 arms, eight always-on show choices, and a setting to indicate or cover the seconds ticker.
On high of that, you get eight customizable information slots — 4 large ones within the center and 4 small textual content ones on the ring round it. I’ve been utilizing this face for some time and I preserve discovering new seems to be with it each time I attempt to customise it.

Rita El Khoury / Android Authority
My solely concern is that it’s buggy and doesn’t all the time open within the Pixel Watch app. When that occurs, I’ve to do all of the edits on my wrist, and that will get tedious and clunky when you have got 30 coloration schemes to scroll by way of. Small worth to pay, although, for such a unbelievable analog watch face..
Pixel Watch 2 Face I by SOC Creations

Rita El Khoury / Android Authority
The following watch face by SOC Creations may be very — uh, how do I say this — Google-inspired. Pixel Watch 2 Face I is ideal for me, although, as a result of I actually just like the official Digital Daring watch face on my Pixel Watch, however I want it had extra information in it.
This watch face provides 4 customizable problems across the unique design. I selected to indicate the date, battery, steps, and coronary heart fee; that’s all the pieces I want.

Rita El Khoury / Android Authority
There are 18 coloration choices right here, and the always-on show reveals all the pieces however in a battery-friendly method. A ten out of 10 throughout.
Minimal Digital Watch RE02 by Recreative Watch Faces

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However some information slots are locked: The date, notifications, steps, coronary heart fee, and battery can’t be modified. As soon as once more, although, these are all problems I personally select to indicate on any watch face I’m utilizing, so the fastened selection works for me.
I normally go for the climate and Subsequent Occasion complication within the two empty slots. You additionally get two app shortcuts on the left you could present or cover. The seconds ticker will be turned off, and the always-on show is straightforward with the time, date, and battery.
Analogue Watch Face CRC082 by Creation Cue

Rita El Khoury / Android Authority
I just like the internal shadow round it, which blends the brilliant index numbers completely into the black bezels of my watch. The clock arms aren’t one of the best, however having the ability to assign a special coloration to them is a pleasant perk.

Rita El Khoury / Android Authority
The problems within the center are sadly fastened to the battery, coronary heart fee, distance, and subsequent occasion, however you possibly can add 4 totally different problems on either side. I discover that too busy, although, so I normally go for the left and proper aspect solely, leaving the highest and backside empty. In the event you ask me, it’s the massive dial numbers that make this watch look good, so eradicating extra of them ruins the look.
Materials Stack by JH Watchfaces

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Going again to the Google inspiration, Materials Stack by JH Watchfaces seems to be like one of many official Pixel Watch faces however with two additional problems and two shortcuts on the left aspect.
All the pieces is customizable right here, and it might probably get a bit busy in case you fill each slot, so I normally preserve the shortcuts empty. However I like that I’ve the choice to go overboard if I want extra. My solely request can be an easier always-on-display with out the left-side problems and shortcuts. Proper now, all the pieces is seen when the watch is off and I discover that too crowded.
SG-128 by SG WatchDesign

Rita El Khoury / Android Authority
The gradient colours and patterned background on SG-128 by SG WatchDesign look similar to the primary design I confirmed you. As soon as once more, these make this watch face pop when it’s on. It’s simply attractive.
There’s a ton of information right here, however the skinny fonts and contours assist quite a bit in protecting the design smooth. Sadly although, nearly all the pieces is fastened on this watch, so you must be OK with the battery, date, distance, steps, and coronary heart fee exhibiting up always.

Rita El Khoury / Android Authority
You get two customizable problems on the underside and three app shortcuts, although. And the always-on show may be very effectively carried out: You’ll be able to’t beat the simplicity of white on black.
Typograph by WatchFace-Designs

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Typograph by WatchFace-Designs is the straightforward however very customizable analog watch face everybody ought to have of their assortment. You get eight clock fonts, six index kinds, two hand shapes, 20 coloration themes, and three customizable problems.

Rita El Khoury / Android Authority
I like that I can go from a basic font to a cool one to a easy one very simply and that the always-on show retains the font and index selections. I might’ve cherished just a few additional selections for the clock arms, although.
Prime Dwelling OS 2 by Prado Design Watch Faces

Rita El Khoury / Android Authority
The Prime Dwelling OS 2 watch face by Prado Design® is made for anybody who wants plenty of shortcuts on their watch. There are 9 of them right here, although six are fastened to messages, calls, settings, coronary heart fee, music, and the calendar. Solely three of the shortcuts are customizable, plus the three problems on the aspect and the one on the underside.
What I like right here is that the background isn’t one strong coloration and that there are 10 totally different icon packs to select from so the look can change drastically between one design and the opposite.

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The always-on show could possibly be a bit extra elaborate, although. Proper now, it’s simply the time with a black overlay on all the pieces else.
Pixel Fanboy by Dobleuxyz

Rita El Khoury / Android Authority
The final watch face, Pixel Fanboy by Dobleuxyz isn’t overselling its identify. Between the fonts, the tablet form on the underside, and all of the totally different colours, this all the time makes me really feel like I’m taking a look at my Pixel 8 Professional’s homescreen. There’s even an all-dark mode in case you want that!
I like how dense this face is, with out wanting too busy, and the way customizable all the pieces is. The battery and date are fastened, however all the pieces else is yours to select from. That’s eight totally different slots to customise, between icons, stats, and textual content.

Rita El Khoury / Android Authority
And there you have got it: 10 totally different watch faces, all distinctive in their very own methods. For now, these faces have gone into my private rotation, however I like to recommend you take a look at the developer pages of every of those as a result of they’re doing nice work. And there are lots of, many different choices to choose from.
Watch Face Format continues to be comparatively new, although, so I hope we see much more watches and extra builders utilizing this format sooner or later.