For better or worse, Wear OS smartwatches have followed the same path as Android phones: Samsung and Google dominate mind share. This year, they released the Galaxy Watch 9 and Pixel Watch 5 — but which to choose? I decided to wear both.

A smartwatch can do far more than show notifications or count your steps, especially if it's connected to the rest of your smart home. Google's ecosystem has quietly turned the wrist-worn device into a surprisingly capable remote control, letting you interact with devices around your home without reaching for your phone.