Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 vs. Google Pixel Watch 3: Which Wear OS watch is worth your time?

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 is finally here, and with it, we get our first out-of-the-box look at Wear OS 6, adding new health features, and bringing an "innovative" design. However, the question everyone wants to know is how the Galaxy Watch 8 compares to the existing Google Pixel Watch 3.

The Pixel Watch 3 and the current Galaxy Watch 7 already have key differences, as the former offers style and simplicity while the latter provides a more advanced feature set. That continues with the Galaxy Watch 8, only with more advanced health tracking metrics. Let's dive into how these two Wear OS smartwatches compare.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 vs. Google Pixel Watch 3: Pricing and availability

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The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 is up for pre-orders starting July 9 and goes on open sale from July 25. Prices have gone up, though, with the cheapest Watch 8 model (sans LTE) now costing more than $350. This was actually the launch price of the Pixel Watch 3 in 2024, but Google has officially reduced it to $269.99 for the 41mm model with Wi-Fi only.

This makes all variants of the Pixel Watch 3, across all sizes, cheaper than the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8. The latter will no doubt see a price reduction come the holiday season, but that's still a few months away. Right now, the Pixel Watch 3 is going to be the more affordable option compared to the Watch 8.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 vs. Google Pixel Watch 3: Design and display

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 features a Watch Ultra-inspired design, albeit more subtle and less in-your-face than the Watch 8 Classic. Samsung has finally done away with its circular design as the Watch 8 features a squircle frame. Who knows, based on sales and user feedback, we might just come full circle in the next generation.

Samsung claims the Watch 8 is 11% thinner than the Watch 7, and this was particularly noticeable during our brief hands-on session. Even with the straps, the Watch 8 felt a lot lighter than usual, which is a good thing if you have the habit of wearing it all the time, including sleeping.

Both sizes of the Galaxy Watch 8 are smaller and lighter than the Pixel Watch 3. The weight is a massive difference, where the largest Watch 8 weighs 34 grams, compared to 37 grams of the similarly sized Pixel.

Compared to the Pixel Watch 3's "waterdrop" design, the Galaxy Watch 8 looks very different. The Pixel Watch 3 has a circular design with black bezels that help the display blend into the frame, and is offered in 41mm and 45mm sizes. It has a recycled aluminum case that can be configured in matte or polished finishes.

There's a crown on the right side of the watch that is used for navigation, providing haptic feedback as you scroll. You also get another button for controls and power options.

Compared to the Pixel Watch 2, the Pixel Watch 3 has slimmer display bezels, a higher 60Hz refresh rate, and a brighter 2,000 nits of peak brightness. However, those figures simply help the Pixel Watch 3 catch up to the Galaxy Watch 8.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 vs. Google Pixel Watch 3: Software and specs

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 sports the same Exynos W1000 chip from the Watch 7. There's also 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, matching the Pixel Watch 3. The Watch 8 is also very rugged, featuring a 5ATM, IP68, and MIL-STD-810H certifications.

The Google Pixel Watch 3 is equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 5100 chip and a Cortex-M33 co-processor, plus 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. Both watches are more than capable of handling all your smartwatch needs. It too has similar rugged ratings, but the display does not use Sapphire Glass like the Watch 8, making it more prone to hard scratches.

Software and health sensing are where the Galaxy Watch 8 pulls away from the Pixel Watch 3. Our testers found that while the Pixel Watch 3 can handle basic activity tracking and running workouts, other workout metrics are less reliable. Plus, there have been inconsistent experiences with GPS data on the Pixel Watch 3. Meanwhile, the Galaxy Watch 7 is known for offering more detailed data with better hardware sensors.

That should continue with the Galaxy Watch 8, and we'll be able to confirm this once we've reviewed it. The new Samsung BioActive Sensor added to the Galaxy Watch 7 gets new metric tracking like Antioxidant Index and Vascular Load monitoring.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 vs. Google Pixel Watch 3: Which one deserves your money?

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 is the one you should pick if you're serious about health and fitness tracking, need a light and slim watch for all-day wear, and want to get the best battery life. The new design is something that could grow on you, even if you're not a fan of it right now. Be prepared to pay a slight premium, though, since it has just launched.

The Pixel Watch 3 is now lower in price, making it a much more attractive offering than when it launched. It's not the best for tracking data, and the display could use a screen protector since it doesn't have the hardest glass, but it's hard to beat that classic circular design. Not to mention, it will receive new features regularly through Google's periodic Pixel Drops.