Your phone may have a colorful case and a cool wallpaper, but it’s in your pocket or bag most of the time. A smartwatch is on your wrist, out there for the world to see. That’s why I was so happy to finally find a watch face that fit my specific needs.
Look, I know writing an entire article about a watch face may seem like overkill, but I really have been looking for the “perfect” watch face for a long time. I change the wallpaper on my phone almost every day, so suffice it to say I’m not easy to please. I’m even more particular when it comes to my smartwatch.
My Most Personal Device
Phones nowadays pretty much all look the same, but smartwatches have much more variety. For me, the design of a smartwatch is more important than the functionality. I was impressed with the OnePlus Watch 3’s battery life, but the industrial aesthetic is not my vibe, so I don’t wear it. I’m just as picky when it comes to the watch face.
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So, let’s get down to it. For the longest time, I’ve been on the hunt for a watch face that checks several boxes. I want it to be informational, but not a mess of dials, progress bars, and icons all crammed together. I like the look of analog watches, but prefer the precision of digital. I also want some level of customization for accent colors and complications. Many watch faces have come close, but none have hit all the marks. Then I found Digalog.
I Finally Found It
The other day, I was randomly browsing the Play Store when I stumbled upon a watch face called “Digalog.” I immediately knew I liked it. First, it allows for some color customization with the second hand. This is not an eye-opening pop of color, but that’s what I want. I like the minimal black and white look with just a touch of color.
Second, there’s ample room for complications without being too crowded. I’ve got the battery level, current temperature, and date all on the watch face very cleanly. But most importantly, I can choose what is in these spots—or have nothing at all—which is not always the case with third-party watch faces.
I must admit I’m burying the lede here, though. While those things contribute to the overall package, the real stars of the show are the hour and minute hands. At the end of each hand is a digital number labeling its position on the clock. This allows me to have the analog look that I like while also still being able to quickly see the exact time down to the minute without any guesswork. It’s simple, but I love it.
How to Find Wear OS Watch Faces
Part of the reason why I’ve shuffled through so many watch faces is it’s not easy to find good ones. Google doesn’t exactly make it clear where you should look. In an effort to change that, I’ll outline the process for you here.
Regardless of which Wear OS watch you have, the companion phone app should have a shortcut to the watch faces section of the Play Store. Here you’ll find the top paid and top free charts, new and trending, and various theme categories. It’s much, much easier to browse watch faces on your phone than on the small screen of your watch.
For a Samsung Galaxy Watch, you’ll want to open the Galaxy Wearable app and tap “Watch Faces,” then scroll down and tap “More watch faces on Google Play.” This will take you directly to the watch faces section of the Play Store.
For a Pixel Watch, it’s a bit less direct. Open the Pixel Watch app on your phone and select “Play Store.” This will open the Play Store to the “Watch” section, but you’ll need to go one extra step and select the “Explore watch faces for your watch” card for the watch faces section.
A watch face may be a small thing, but I’m a firm believer in celebrating the small wins. For the first time in a very long time, I have a watch face that isn’t just good enough. Will I use Digalog for the rest of my smartwatch-wearing days? Probably not, but I will wear it proudly on my wrist for the foreseeable future.
