Android owners have two main brands of smartwatches: the Samsung Galaxy Watch or the Google Pixel Watch. I’ve spent a lot of time with both, but recently switched back to the Galaxy Watch after wearing the Pixel Watch for the past few years. I will explain why.
Here are my credentials. I’ve used every Galaxy Watch since its inception Look active, except the latest Galaxy Watch 8 (not a fan of squirrels). I’ve also been lucky enough to use every Pixel Watch model. Before the Pixel Watch 3, I was firmly in the Galaxy Watch camp, but it’s finally been good enough to earn some extended wear on the wrist. I’m wearing the Pixel Watch 3 and Pixel Watch 4 since then. Now I’m back on the Galaxy Watch 7 and it feels good.
Samsung’s kitchen sink approach is the best in smartwatches
The part of my story that I haven’t mentioned is that my thoughts on phones are the exact opposite of my thoughts on smartwatches. Although I’ve preferred the Galaxy Watch over the Pixel Watch for several years now, I’d rather have any phone over a Samsung Galaxy.
The main reason for this is One UI, and there it is a lot features. I appreciate the flexibility and customization, but I’ve always found it a bit cumbersome. No phone takes longer to set up and like than the Samsung Galaxy. Ironically, I really like all the changes Samsung has brought to Wear OS with One UI in one watch.
Samsung allows you to put more than one tile on a page. That way, rather than eating up three pages with different health and fitness tiles, they can all be neatly organized in a vertical stack on one page. Samsung also offers more powerful and useful gestures More than Google. I like to tap my fingers twice when I get a text message to send a voice reply.
It’s not just about the watch. Samsung’s Galaxy Wearable app lets me do everything from my phone that I can do on the watch. This includes reorganizing the Quick Settings shortcuts and the app drawer. It’s annoying to use a small watch screen for certain tasks, and it’s very useful for me. Overall, Samsung’s watch app makes Google feel incomplete.
Samsung Health is better than Fitbit (Google Health)
The gap is closing, but there is still a gap
Google is working hard to become a serious health and fitness company, as we’ve seen lately Rebrand Fitbit to “Google Health”. On the other hand, Samsung doesn’t boast much about its health offerings. However, Samsung Health is secretly the most feature-rich and powerful health platform I’ve used.
The most amazing part? While Google puts some advanced features behind a paywall, Samsung Health is completely free. When I was a serious runner, I found that the Samsung Health gave me slightly more information than the Fitbit. My knees forced me to give up running, but I noticed it in other activities as well. You don’t even need a Samsung phone to use it—I’ve mostly paired Galaxy Watches to Pixel phones.
Fitbit/Google Health is certainly good enough and I really like its design, but Samsung Health is better when it comes to data. Maybe one day Google will get there, but it won’t be free.
Easier to use watch bands I already own
But Samsung messed that up too
When I reviewed the original Pixel Watch 2022, I was very critical of it for a variety of reasons. One of the smaller but most personal gripes was Google’s custom watchbands. Instead of using the universal connectors that watches have had for decades, he created his own system for the Pixel Watch.
Meanwhile, Samsung has adopted standardized wristwatch sizes for multiple generations of Galaxy Watches. Since there are so many ribbons in these sizes, I’ve put together a healthy stack that I love to rotate. When I started using the Pixel Watch, I had to give up my collection of watch bands.
Now, there are technically several ways to use standard watch bands with the Pixel Watch. But personally, I think almost all adapters are ugly, so I made the sacrifice Google’s Two-Tone Leather Band for his handles – cost me $50.
Herein lies the problem with ownership groups. The selection is smaller and the prices are higher. Unfortunately, Samsung also went this way. I praised the company to create a better quick release mechanism With standard bands on the Galaxy Watch 7 series, but later gave up the idea and fully owned the Galaxy Watch 8. Lame.
Samsung lowers the standards
Like I said, it’s been a few years since I’ve had a Galaxy Watch. Of course, things have changed over time. I realized the difference between the Pixel Watch and the Galaxy Watch isn’t as big as it used to be, but I’m not sure I like why.
It’s like Samsung has lowered itself to the level of Google. For the first few generations of the Pixel Watch, the Galaxy Watch was the better choice. Universal watch bands, free health and fitness services, better software features and more affordable prices. Now the watchband advantage is gone and Samsung has raised prices to match Google. How much longer will Samsung Health be free?
Despite all that, I still enjoy the Galaxy Watch experience. Even after four generations, Google’s streamlined approach seems fancier than Samsung’s. That’s not to say I still don’t like the Pixel Watch, but it’s clear that Samsung is still king.
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- Heart rate monitor
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Yes
- Operating system
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One UI 6 Watch, Wear OS 5
- GPS on board
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Yes
- Screen Size
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1.3/1.5 inches
- Case material
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Aluminum
- Screen
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Super AMOLED, Sapphire crystal
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 is Samsung’s entry-level smartwatch for 2024. It’s similar to the Galaxy Watch 6, but features an upgraded Exynos W1000 chipset and promises to significantly improve battery life and performance.
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- Heart rate monitor
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Yes
- Color Screen
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Yes
- Notification support
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Yes
- Battery Life
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Up to 40 hours with the screen always on
- Operating system
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Wear OS 6
- GPS on board
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Dual frequency GPS: GPS, Galileo, Glonass
Pixel Watch 4 is designed to work seamlessly with your Pixel (or other Android) device. The domed display provides a fantastic view of everything you need on your smartwatch, from the time to in-depth fitness information.
