Everyone knows that Samsung is one of the leading manufacturers of Android smartphones, but the South Korean tech company also has a history of producing some of the best smartwatches on the market. If you’re trying to pick the best Samsung watch for you, you’ve come to the right place — we’ve got a list of our favorites below, alongside everything you need to know to make an informed decision.
Our top pick is the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5, a versatile wearable that pairs cutting-edge health and fitness tracking with a sleek design and the same Exynos W920 processor that made its predecessor — the Galaxy Watch 4 — one of the best Android smartwatches ever made. That being said, there are plenty of great Samsung watches to consider, so keep reading to explore the best options out there.
Which Samsung watch is best for you?
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As we noted in our Galaxy Watch 5 review, Samsung’s newest flagship wearable is not that different from its predecessor. You get the same Exynos processor, the same display size, and even the same 1.5GB of RAM. Instead of making huge changes, for better or worse, Samsung has taken an “if it’s not broke, don’t fix it” approach with the Galaxy Watch 5, thoughtfully refining everything that made the Watch 4 such an outstanding wearable, while fixing the watch in the areas where it needed improvement.
Look under the hood of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 and you’ll find a large battery that’ll last up to three days on a single charge, incredibly smooth Wear OS 3.5 software, and all of the intelligent sleep and health tracking features that you could ever want in a smartwatch. The durable Sapphire Glass display means that the watch can withstand all of the scratches and tumbles of daily life, and lightning-fast 10W charging means you can fully re-juice your wearable in under an hour. The Galaxy Watch 5 retails for around $279.99 for the 40mm Wi-Fi version, while the 44mm Wi-Fi watch will set you back around $309.99. In most cases, you can also get LTE versions of the same watch for an additional $50 or so.
When Samsung first unveiled the Galaxy Watch 5 series back in August 2022, we were a little confused that they had chosen to drop the familiar “Classic” variant of the flagship wearable in favor of the Galaxy Watch 5 “Pro”. But all names aside, any hesitation instantly dissipated when we took a hard look at the specs of the rugged yet premium smartwatch.
As detailed in our Galaxy Watch 5 Pro review, this smartwatch boasts a rugged outdoor-ready construction with a three-day battery life, a durable titanium construction, and blazing performance thanks to some great internal hardware. Although it may be too bulky for some folks, the 1.4-inch AMOLED display is truly beautiful to look at. It’s certainly not for everyone, but if you want a feature-packed Samsung watch with some heft, the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro might be the wearable for you. The Pro is pretty pricey, starting at around $450, but it’s not unusual to find a good deal at Amazon or Best Buy.
If you want most of the same features of the Galaxy Watch 5 at a lower cost, the Watch 4 may be the pick for you. Just like its newer sibling, the Galaxy Watch 4 comes in 40mm and 44mm variants, and the lightweight yet durable aluminum build of the Galaxy Watch 4 won't weigh you down while getting your sweat on. Plus, with its high durability ratings, whether you are swimming, lifting, running, diving, or any of the other 90 sport modes available on the smartwatch — it can handle it. It will also keep track of your heart rate, SpO2 levels, along with taking ECG readings, skeletal muscle, and body fat percentages.
Like the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic, this smartwatch is sporting the new Wear OS 3, so you will have access to all of the best Wear OS apps as well as other Google Services. However, unlike the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic, you won't have a physical rotating bezel on the Galaxy Watch 4. Instead, it uses a capacitive style to get the job done, but it can be a bit finicky to use at times — especially if your fingers are damp.
After focusing on its more fitness-focused smartwatches in 2019, Samsung pivoted back to its more refined design philosophy with the Galaxy Watch 3. The watch isn't radical in sporting any sort of redesign, and it will look familiar to anyone who knows Samsung's smartwatches. But it is smaller, lighter, and thinner, making it more appealing to a greater subset of wearers. The genuine leather band is casual and elegant all at once, and the standard lugs mean you can always strap on another one.
It's also feature-laden, though you might find the software lacking if you usually trend towards cutting-edge devices. Coming up on its third birthday, much of Galaxy Watch 3's software is quickly becoming outdated, and the watches we've described above will certainly provide a faster and more powerful user experience. But if style is your main priority, the Galaxy Watch 3 is still one of the best-looking watches on the market.
The Galaxy Watch Active 2 is Samsung's value smartwatch because you get all of the software and fitness features of the Galaxy Watch 3 at a much lower price point. With 2.5GB of free onboard storage, the watch's Spotify integration is really useful because you can go to the gym or out on a run by playing music offline stored on the watch, paired with Bluetooth headphones. Built-in GPS also comes in handy for those outdoor runs, though it becomes a battery drain, which is why this watch may not always last longer than two days tops.
It's far from the most premium device on this list, but the Galaxy Watch Active 2 is a reliable and fairly feature-packed device that's still powerful enough to handle most daily tasks with ease, even though it's nearly four years old. Many retailers will discount this watch heavily, so if you just want a simple wearable without breaking the bank, the Active 2 is a solid choice.
What are the top 5 Samsung smartwatches?
Although they were far from the first company to produce smartwatches and fitness trackers, it's undeniable that Samsung makes some of the best wearables on the market today. So whether you want something that'll just let you track basic fitness stats or allows you to leave your phone at home, Samsung's lineup has you covered.
If we were forced to make a choice, then the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 is the best option available. This smartwatch still has a slew of bells and whistles while looking a bit more stylish and professional.
