Moving your photos, contacts and apps between iPhone and Android is the easy part of switching phones. Your smartwatch and earbuds are where the expensive surprises hide: an Apple Watch won’t work with an Android phone, and a Galaxy Watch from the Watch4 on won’t pair with an iPhone. Here’s what works on both platforms, what AirPods and Galaxy Buds lose on the other side, and how to sell what won’t make the switch.
Quick Answer
Watches are the problem. An Apple Watch needs an iPhone, while a Galaxy Watch4 or newer and every Pixel Watch need an Android phone, so plan to replace the watch. Earbuds are more forgiving: AirPods, Galaxy Buds and Pixel Buds all work as regular Bluetooth earbuds on the other platform, but they lose their smart features. Garmin, Fitbit and Oura work with both, as do Beats, Sony and Bose headphones through their apps. Unpair anything that won’t come along, sell it, and put the money toward a used replacement.
Check Smartwatch and Earbud Prices on Swappa
The Short Version: What Works on Both Platforms
This matrix covers the devices people ask about most. Every compatibility line comes from the maker’s own support or spec pages, linked in the sections below.
| Device | With an iPhone | With an Android Phone | What Changes After a Switch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Watch | Yes (iPhone 11 or later, or iPhone SE 2nd generation or later, for watchOS 27) | No | It won’t pair with an Android phone |
| Galaxy Watch4 and newer | No | Yes | On non-Samsung Android phones, no ECG, irregular rhythm notifications, sleep apnea feature or Samsung Find |
| Pixel Watch 4 | No | Yes (Android 11 or newer) | It won’t pair with an iPhone |
| Garmin watches, such as the Venu 3S | Yes | Yes | On iPhone, no text replies or images in notifications |
| Fitbit trackers | Yes | Yes | The same Google Health (Fitbit) app runs on both |
| Oura Ring 4 | Yes | Yes | The same Oura app runs on both |
| AirPods | Yes, every feature | Basic Bluetooth | No Siri, automatic switching, Adaptive Audio or hearing features, and firmware updates need an Apple device |
| Galaxy Buds3 Pro | Basic Bluetooth | Yes, every feature | No Samsung app on iPhone for most models |
| Pixel Buds Pro 2 | Basic Bluetooth | Yes, every feature | Full features need an Android phone |
| Beats | Yes, built into iOS | Yes, with the Beats app | Little changes |
| Sony WH-1000XM5 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) | Yes, with the maker’s app | Yes, with the maker’s app | Little changes |
The phones themselves are a separate decision. iPhone vs. Samsung Galaxy: Which Used Phone Should You Buy? compares them, and this guide sticks to what you wear.
Apple Watch After You Switch to Android
An Apple Watch only works with an iPhone. Apple’s watchOS 27 page says the software requires an iPhone 11 or later, or an iPhone SE (2nd generation or later), running iOS 27, and there’s no Android option on that list. Once your iPhone is gone, the watch has nothing to pair with.
Unpair it before you wipe the iPhone. Unpairing in the Watch app is what turns off Activation Lock, according to Apple. Keep the watch and iPhone close together, open the Watch app, tap My Watch, then All Watches, tap the Info button next to your watch, and tap Unpair Apple Watch. On a cellular model, also remove the cellular plan. If you already erased or sold the iPhone, sign in at icloud.com/find, erase the watch, then remove it from your account. Activation Lock on a Used Apple Watch: What to Check explains the lock in full, and How to Sell a Used Smartwatch for the Most Money covers photos and pricing.
What it’s worth. Swappa sale data from early October 2026 shows an Apple Watch Series 10 46mm selling for about $234 and an Apple Watch SE (2nd generation) 44mm, which watchOS 27 no longer supports, for about $121. Prices move with condition, size and demand, so check the Series 10 price page or your model’s page before you list.
What to replace it with. On a Samsung Galaxy phone, a Galaxy Watch gets every feature. A Galaxy Watch8 sold for about $178 and a Galaxy Watch7 for about $129 on Swappa. On a Pixel or another Android phone, a Galaxy Watch still works, but Samsung says its ECG, irregular heart rhythm notifications and sleep apnea features need a Samsung phone, so a Pixel Watch 4, at about $224, is often the better match. Used Samsung Galaxy Watch & Wear OS Buyer’s Guide compares the Android options.
Sell Your Apple Watch on Swappa
Galaxy Watch and Pixel Watch After You Switch to iPhone
Samsung’s US compatibility page is blunt: newer Samsung watches with Wear OS are not compatible with iOS. It says the Galaxy Watch4, Watch5, Watch6, Watch7, Watch Ultra and Watch FE rely on Google Play services, which iOS doesn’t support. Samsung’s Canadian support page, updated in September 2026, says the same of the Watch4 and newer, and lists the new Galaxy Watch9 and Watch Ultra 2 only with Android requirements (Android 13 or higher).
Older Tizen models are a special case. Samsung still lists the 2018 Galaxy Watch, Watch Active and Watch Active2 as iPhone-compatible through the Galaxy Wearable app, on an iPhone 5 or later with iOS 9 or later. The matching iPhone app, Samsung Galaxy Watch (Gear S), was last updated in February 2022, according to its App Store listing, so treat that as legacy support rather than a reason to buy one for an iPhone.
The Pixel Watch is Android-only too. Google’s Pixel Watch setup page asks for a compatible Android phone, and the Google Store lists the Pixel Watch 4 as working with most phones on Android 11 or newer and requiring the Google Pixel Watch app, which isn’t on Apple’s App Store.
Before you sell, clear the accounts, and do it before you reset the old phone. For a Galaxy Watch, turn off Reactivation lock, remove the watch from your Samsung account and Samsung Find, then reset it. Samsung Reactivation Lock & Knox: What Buyers Must Know explains the lock. For a Pixel Watch, remove it from your Google account and factory reset it, as the smartwatch selling guide above describes. A Pixel Watch 4 sold for about $224 on Swappa in early October 2026, and a newer Pixel Watch 5 for about $317.
What to replace it with. Buy a model that still gets new software. Apple’s watchOS 27 runs on the Apple Watch SE (3rd generation), Series 9 and newer, and Ultra 2 and newer, and it dropped the SE (2nd generation). An Apple Watch SE (3rd generation) 44mm sold for about $184 on Swappa in early October 2026, on few listings, and the 40mm version for about $204. A Series 10 46mm at about $234 is the step up. Used Apple Watch Buyer’s Guide: Series, SE & Ultra Ranked ranks every generation, and you can browse every model on the Apple Watch family page.
AirPods on Android: What Still Works and What Doesn’t
AirPods do work with an Android phone, just not as AirPods. Apple’s AirPods User Guide says you can use them as a Bluetooth headset with a non-Apple device: you can’t use Siri, but you can listen and talk. To pair them, turn on Bluetooth on the Android phone, then:
- AirPods (1st to 3rd generation) or AirPods Pro (1st or 2nd generation): With the AirPods in the open case, hold the setup button on the back for about 5 seconds, until the status light flashes white.
- AirPods 4, AirPods 5 or AirPods Pro 3: Open the case next to the phone and double-tap the front of the case until the light flashes white.
- AirPods Max: Hold the listening mode button for about 5 seconds, until the light flashes white.
Then pick the AirPods from the phone’s list of Bluetooth devices. Here’s what you give up, based on Apple’s AirPods comparison page and support notes:
- Siri and automatic switching. Automatic Switching needs an Apple Account and a compatible Apple device.
- Adaptive Audio and Conversation Awareness. Apple says both require a compatible Apple device.
- Personalized Spatial Audio, which Apple says isn’t available on other devices.
- Hearing Test and Hearing Aid on AirPods Pro 2 and Pro 3, which need a compatible iPhone or iPad on iOS 18 or later (the Hearing Aid feature also works with a Mac), in Apple’s words.
- Heart rate sensing on AirPods Pro 3, which works with the Fitness app on iPhone.
- Easy firmware updates. Updates install from an iPhone, iPad or Mac. Without one, Apple’s firmware page says to book an appointment at an Apple Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider.
Basic AirPods 4, which sold for about $83 on Swappa in early October 2026, lose the least. AirPods Pro 2, at about $109, lose the most, so selling them and buying earbuds made for Android often makes more sense. If you sell, remove them from Find My first, because AirPods stay tied to your Apple Account until you do, and Apple says it can’t remove that Find My Lock for a buyer. Used AirPods Buyer’s Guide: Gen, Pro & Max Compared covers each model if you’re moving the other way.
Galaxy Buds and Pixel Buds on iPhone
Samsung’s earbuds connect to an iPhone, but mostly as plain Bluetooth earbuds. Samsung’s earbuds connection guide says only the Galaxy Buds+ and Galaxy Buds Live work with its iPhone app, and there’s no app support on iOS for the Galaxy Buds, Buds Pro, Buds2, Buds2 Pro, Buds3 or Buds3 Pro. Those models still stream music, take calls and use their touch controls over Bluetooth, but notifications, Gaming mode and Spotify integration aren’t available on iOS. The iPhone app itself was last updated in 2021, per its App Store listing, and Samsung’s US list doesn’t yet cover the Buds4 line.
Google’s earbuds work the same way. The Google Store says the Pixel Buds Pro 2 pair with any Bluetooth 4.0 or later device, including iPhones, but full access to their features requires a Google Account and an Android phone running Android 6.0 or newer.
Moving to an iPhone with Samsung or Google earbuds? They’ll keep working for music and calls. For the full iPhone experience, used AirPods Pro 2 sold for about $109 on Swappa in early October 2026.
Watches and Earbuds That Work With Both
If you switch phones often, or your household mixes iPhones and Android phones, these work on either side.
Garmin. Garmin lists smartphone compatibility for watches like the Venu 3 as iPhone and Android, and the Garmin Connect app is on both app stores. Two features are Android-only, per Garmin: replying to texts (or rejecting a call with a text) and viewing images from notifications. On Swappa, the Venu 3S sold for about $164, the Vivoactive 5 for about $144 and the Fenix 8 for about $556 in early October 2026. Used Fitness Trackers: Garmin vs. Fitbit Buyer’s Guide compares the two brands.
Fitbit. Google’s Fitbit app is now called Google Health (Fitbit), and Google Health offers the same app on the App Store and Google Play. Browse used Fitbit trackers by model.
Oura. Oura says its app is available on iOS and Android. The Oura Ring 4 sold for about $134 on Swappa in early October 2026, with plenty of listings to choose from.
Beats. Beats are made by Apple, so they work like AirPods on an iPhone, and the Beats app for Android adds one-touch pairing, Locate My Beats, widgets and firmware updates on Android. The Beats Studio Pro sold for about $104 and the Powerbeats Pro 2 for about $115, though Powerbeats listings were scarce.
Sony and Bose. Sony’s Sound Connect app is on Google Play and the App Store, and the Bose app is on both stores and supports the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones. A Sony WH-1000XM5 sold for about $166 and a Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) for about $287, both on limited listings. Used Over-Ear Headphones: Sony vs. Bose Buyer’s Guide compares them.
Moving Your Health and Fitness Data
Your health history doesn’t move as neatly as your photos. Here’s what the platform makers document:
- Apple Health: In the Health app, tap Summary, tap your picture or initials, then tap Export All Health Data. Apple exports everything as an XML file, according to its iPhone User Guide. Apple doesn’t describe a way to load that file into Android apps, so treat it as your personal archive.
- Android’s Health Connect: Google’s Health Connect manages which health and fitness apps share data on an Android phone. When you connect an app, it can read the last 30 days of data plus anything new, and the data is stored on your phone.
- Samsung Health: Samsung says the Samsung Health app can be downloaded on other Android phones and on iPhones, though some services vary by phone, and its ECG and blood pressure tools run through Samsung Health Monitor on a Galaxy phone, per Samsung.
- Garmin Connect, Google Health (Fitbit) and Oura: These apps tie your history to your account rather than to your phone, so sign in with the same account on the new phone.
As with any health feature, this is how the makers describe their tools, not medical advice.
Sell What Won’t Make the Switch, Then Buy Used
The order matters, because most locks are easiest to clear while you still have the old phone:
- Unpair or remove each device while the old phone still works. Unpair an Apple Watch in the Watch app, remove AirPods in Find My, and turn off Reactivation lock and remove your Samsung account on a Galaxy Watch.
- Reset each device so the next owner sees a fresh setup screen.
- Check real sale prices on Swappa’s price pages, then list. How to Sell Used AirPods and Headphones for the Most Money covers earbuds and headphones.
- Buy the replacement used. The table below pairs common swaps using Swappa average sale prices from early October 2026. They’re approximate and change with condition and demand.
| If You’re Leaving | Sold For About | Used Replacement | Sold For About |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone, with an Apple Watch Series 10 46mm | $234 | Galaxy Watch8 or Pixel Watch 4 | $178 or $224 |
| iPhone, with AirPods Pro 2 | $109 | Pixel Buds Pro 2 | $130 |
| Android, with a Galaxy Watch7 | $129 | Apple Watch SE (3rd generation) 44mm | $184 |
| Android, with a Pixel Watch 4 | $224 | Apple Watch Series 10 46mm | $234 |
Listing is free, and selling fees are lower than other auction-site fees: Swappa charges a 3% seller fee on your Ask Price, the buyer’s 3% fee is already included in the listed price, and you pay payment processing (PayPal is 3.49% + $0.49). Real people approve Swappa listings before they go live, and buyers are entitled to a refund if an item isn’t as described. Listings must be fully functional, so for a cracked or dead watch, get a quote from Swappa Trade-In instead.
Still planning the phone move itself? Best tips for switching from iPhone to Android and Best tips for switching from Android to iPhone cover the phone side. For the wider wearables picture, see Used Smartwatches: The Complete Guide to Buying and Selling, and for headphones, Used AirPods and Headphones: The Complete Buyer and Seller Guide.
FAQ
Does an Apple Watch work with an Android phone?
No. An Apple Watch requires an iPhone, and Apple says watchOS 27 needs an iPhone 11 or later, or an iPhone SE (2nd generation or later), running iOS 27. If you’re switching to Android, unpair the watch in the Watch app on your iPhone before you erase it, then sell the watch and buy a Galaxy Watch or Pixel Watch.
Do AirPods work with Android?
Yes, as basic Bluetooth earbuds. Apple says you can listen and talk on a non-Apple device, but you can’t use Siri. Automatic switching, Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, Personalized Spatial Audio and the hearing features need an Apple device, and firmware updates install from an iPhone, iPad or Mac.
Does a Galaxy Watch work with an iPhone?
Not any recent one. Samsung says the Galaxy Watch4 and newer rely on Google Play services, which iOS doesn’t support, so they need an Android phone. Samsung still lists the 2018 Galaxy Watch, Watch Active and Watch Active2 as iPhone-compatible, but their iPhone app hasn’t been updated since 2022.
Does a Pixel Watch work with an iPhone?
No. Google’s setup page asks for a compatible Android phone, and the Pixel Watch 4 works with most phones running Android 11 or newer and needs the Google Pixel Watch app, which isn’t offered for iPhone.
Do Galaxy Buds work with an iPhone?
Yes, over Bluetooth for music, calls and touch controls. Samsung says only the Galaxy Buds+ and Galaxy Buds Live work with its iPhone app, so models like the Galaxy Buds2 Pro and Buds3 Pro have no app support on iOS, and notifications, Gaming mode and Spotify integration aren’t available.
Which smartwatches work with both iPhone and Android?
Garmin watches, Fitbit trackers and the Oura Ring all work with both, because their apps run on iPhone and Android. Garmin keeps a couple of features, such as replying to texts, for Android only. Apple Watch, Pixel Watch and Galaxy Watch4 and newer each work with only one platform.
Conclusion
When you switch between iPhone and Android, plan to replace the watch and decide about the earbuds. Apple Watch stays with iPhone, Galaxy Watch and Pixel Watch stay with Android, and AirPods, Galaxy Buds and Pixel Buds keep working on the other side with fewer features. Garmin, Fitbit, Oura, Beats, Sony and Bose make the switch with you. Unpair and sell what won’t, then buy the right match used on Swappa.
