This app lets Apple Watch owners pair up with an Android phone
A third-party app called Merge Watch allows Apple Watch users to connect their device to an Android phone, though the paid experience has some rough edges.
Apple Watch officially does not work with Android phones, leaving users who switch platforms stuck carrying an iPhone just to keep their watch functional. A third-party app called Merge Watch aims to close that gap, letting an Apple Watch pair with an Android device without requiring the watch's cellular model.
Setting it up
The Apple Watch must first be activated using an iPhone. After that, Merge Watch is installed on the watch via the App Store and on the Android phone via the Play Store. The app requests several permissions, including Bluetooth access, health data, notifications, and an exception from battery optimization. Pairing is completed by entering a six-digit code shown on the phone.
Once set up, notification forwarding from Android to the watch works well, including the ability to reply to messages and control music playback directly from the wrist. Health data syncs with Google Fit, including ECG readings and detailed sleep tracking, though syncing takes some time to appear initially.
Trade-offs and cost
Testing revealed that notifications appear inside the Merge Watch app itself rather than as native watchOS notifications, giving an "app within an app" feel. Additionally, the Android phone continues buzzing with notifications even after they've already appeared on the watch, since the system doesn't automatically split them the way an iPhone does.
In some cases, notifications failed to arrive on the watch automatically, requiring the app to be manually relaunched, which sometimes caused a batch of delayed notifications to arrive all at once. Slightly higher battery consumption on the watch was also noted, since the app runs continuously in the background.
Merge Watch offers two subscription tiers, with full features requiring a $6 monthly payment. Despite its shortcomings, the app is considered a reasonably reliable option given the scarcity of working alternatives.
