Google has opened the gates for developers to build customized Android Wear watch faces. In the short time, they’ve been available, the Play Store’s virtual shelves are already stocked with great choices. We’ve plowed through the Play Store to find the gems that will give your watch a fresh, clean visual boost. Check out our selection, and let us know if something else is worth slapping on your wrist.
StarWatch
We all live under the stars, but you can’t always see them. Depending on the time of day or how much artificial light surrounds you. Even though it’s a small screen, StarWatch puts the critical constellations and other planetary bodies on your wrist. It’s not just a random mashup; the map is based on your location. You can opt for a digital or analog watch in the foreground. As with many watch faces in the Play Store, the developer promises more customization options soon. Such as the ability to tweak the color scheme constellation grid.
StarWatch ($0.99)
Pujie Black
Pujie Black strikes the right balance for those who want a traditional watch face. But want the customization that comes with a smartwatch. By default, the watch has a constant report of your phone and watch battery, along with the current weather forecast. The customization options make it shine with an accompanying Android app that lets you tweak. The type of analog clock hands, color schemes, size of the tickmarks, and digital readout. It also reconfigures well for when the watch face fades away during the standby mode. Displaying a faint digital time outline of the watch face.
Pujie Black ($1.27)
InstaWeather for Android Wear
Forget digging for your phone to get the latest weather forecast. Get it right on your watch. InstaWeather is a good choice for weather enthusiasts. Or someone who may be in for some inclement weather and wants frequent access to information. There are several ways to change the face here. Including turning your watch into a radar map or a forecast screen. There’s also an option to put it in a low-power state. If you don’t want all that weather data draining your battery.
InstaWeather for Android Wear (Free)
Water Ripples Live Watch Face
Maybe you want the serenity from watching the water ripple as sea creatures swim by. If so, then get Water Ripples Live Watch Face. Beyond that, there isn’t much to it, but it’s a pretty neat example of what is possible on a smartwatch. The developer says there’s an update coming soon with additional analog and digital watch face options. So this should liven things up a bit. In the meantime, enjoy the sea life.
Water Ripples Live Watch Face (Free)
Retro Pop HD
Your watch face can’t always be severe. But a little fun on the front of it with Retro Rocket. If you recognize the design, that’s intentional. The developer says it’s designed to mimic Disney’s Tomorrowland. Which is why it looks like a retro take on the future. It works on both square and round watches and includes the option for a dark or light color scheme. It could use a little more customization. But it makes a list here for its clever design triggering the memories of Disney Tomorrowland.
Retro Pop HD ($0.99)
Planets Watchface Android Wear
Want to know the position of the solar system by just glancing at your watch? Of course, you do! So get Planets; you can geek out on your home screen with planetary science. You can still see the tiny planets when the watch is faded. Touch the home screen or raise your wrist for the brightness to see the Copernican-style orbital patterns. Another nice touch is the comet that circles around the clock to count the minutes.
Planets Watchface Android Wear (Free)
Dots Watch Face
Sometimes the best things are elementary. The smallest dot slowly rotates around the screen, ticking the time away. The hour-minute dots are also positioned just as minute hour hands would be. So you can get the time with a quick glance. This could make for a nice break from all those watch faces that offer a deluge of information. Or maybe you prefer a clean and modern design. Either way, it’s a great-looking watch face, even if it doesn’t give you much extra functionality.
Dots Watch Face ($0.99)
Material Watch Face Clock
With this face, Material Design meets a digital watch. When on standby, the screen goes dark with a stark, sans serif font presenting the time, date, and temperature. When the watch lights up, you get various color choices, with a white or dark background against bright colors. It adjusts to either round or square watch faces. One caveat is that it’s designed for Android Wear 5.0. So ensure your watch has been updated to the latest operating system version.
Material Watch Face Clock ($1.20)
Pac-Man Watch Face
Pac-Man never gets old. The watch face version isn’t a game. It instead uses a brilliant display of the hungry creature eating his way across your screen. He works through a series of power pellets, fruit, and ghosts running away with their frantic face on. If nothing else, it’s a great conversation starter.
Pac-Man Watch Face ($0.99)
Slate Watch Face
If you’re more excited about what Android Wear can do after swiping away from the watch screen. Check out Slate Watch Face. It puts a good-looking watch on the home screen to make your Android Wear device look like a watch. And has some modest customization for changing up the color scheme. It also reconfigured the design for round and square watch faces. The app could use some more options for tweaking the look. But you can’t go wrong if you want something simple and clean.
Slate Watch Face (Free)
