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Best Samsung Watches

Updated March 2024
Bottom line
Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
Samsung Galaxy Watch Active2 Golf Edition
Samsung
Galaxy Watch6
Check Price
Most Versatile
Bottom Line

A slim design combined with a larger screen size makes this watch the best choice for everyday use regardless of the activity.

Pros

The battery life lasts up to 40 hours. Includes enhanced sleep coaching that is designed to help you optimize healthy sleeping habits. Measures heart rates on a regular basis. IP68 dust resistance and waterproof. The larger screen makes it incredibly easy to navigate tasks such as checking texts and changing music.

Cons

Some health features are only accessible when using a Samsung phone.

Best Bang for the Buck
Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 with ECG, GPS
Samsung
Galaxy Watch4 with ECG, GPS
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Feature-packed
Bottom Line

This watch looks like an average watch with realistic time screens but boasts all you want from a modern smartwatch.

Pros

Comprehensive fitness features, from ECG monitoring to several other body readings. Tracks your sleep and gives you valuable information. VO2 Max readings track your breathing habits as you run. Read your texts, notifications, and easy-access Google features.

Cons

Some complaints about bloatware that is hard to work around.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 5
Garmin
Venu 3
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Simple Yet Solid
Bottom Line

Our tester found this Android-powered smartwatch to be one of the best they've ever used thanks to its wide range of functions.

Pros

The modular design lets you customize it to your taste and liking. Those with Samsung devices will appreciate how simple it is to connect it to your phone and go. It's great for activities, messages, music, calendars, and more. It's a great starter watch for Android users.

Cons

The instructions aren't clear enough. Some iOS users may get frustrated.

Samsung Galaxy Watch4 Classic
Samsung
Galaxy Watch4 Classic
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Superior Smartwatch
Bottom Line

Top-of-the-line model with a classic design, up-to-date health, and connectivity features, as well as the latest WearOS.

Pros

The circular face and bezel set it apart from competitors. New detailed screen elements and faces. Health tracking includes body composition and blood O2 as well as heart rate and ECG. Constructed of stainless steel for quality and heft.

Cons

Not compatible with non-Android smartphones and devices.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Pro 5
Samsung
Galaxy Watch5 Pro
Check Price
Functional & Stylish
Bottom Line

A high-end smartwatch with a stylish design that's perfect for those with an active lifestyle.

Pros

This smartwatch conducts body composition analysis to give you readings on body mass index, skeletal muscle, basal metabolic rate, and body water. It has a sapphire crystal glass cover and a titanium case for superior durability.

Cons

Some apps are unavailable if it's not synced to a Samsung smartphone.

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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
HOW WE TESTED

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

36
Models
Considered
161
Consumers
Consulted
16
Hours
Researched
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Buying guide for best Samsung watches

Samsung is a heavy hitter in electronics so it’s no surprise that they produce some of the best smartwatches. A smartwatch is an excellent tool for keeping track of time and gaining insight into your overall health. They’re perfect for anyone with an active lifestyle who wants to monitor their heart rate, calories burned, steps, blood oxygen and sleep patterns.

A Samsung smartwatch can also serve as an extension of your smartphone. For example, you can access the GPS if the smartwatch supports LTE connectivity and listen to saved music from Spotify and connect your watch to wireless headphones. Other phone-related smartwatch functions include receiving notifications from apps and sending text messages.

The BestReviews Testing Lab tested the Galaxy Watch5, the latest Samsung smartwatch, and we can’t recommend it highly enough. We love it for its crisp, responsive touch screen, its fashionable design and the accuracy of tracked health metrics. It’s easy to set up, the battery life is terrific and the case is durable.

Our list: The best Samsung watches

 

Galaxy Watch5

If you want the latest Samsung smartwatch, you’ll want to snag the Galaxy Watch5. The BestReviews testing team thoroughly analyzed and tested its features and functions, and we’re pleased to say it’s one of the best smartwatches on the market that’s both fashionable and suitable for those with an active lifestyle.

We love this smartwatch for its easy setup and other fantastic features, including the highly responsive touch screen and advanced sleep tracker. We were pleasantly surprised to discover that it was more accurate when counting steps than other high-end smartwatches.

The battery can last up to 50 hours on a full charge, which is better than some other smartwatches, and the GPS provides a precise map of outdoor running or jogging sessions. Also, you can send text messages from this watch with pre-set responses and emojis or by typing a new message on the keyboard.

Galaxy Watch4 with GPS and ECG

The Galaxy Watch4 is an older model, but it’s only one generation behind the latest Samsung smartwatches, making it an excellent bargain pick. It boasts many of the same premium features as most high-end smartwatches, including continuous sleep tracking and blood-oxygen tracking. You’ll also be able to get readings of body fat, skeletal muscle, body water, basal metabolic rate and more.

It automatically recognizes specific exercises after three minutes, and you can connect to live coaching sessions to maximize your workouts. The VO2 max tracker helps you assess your lung and heart endurance, and you can access voice assistants such as Bixby and Google Assistant to manage music, get live weather updates and more. Plus, it supports LTE connectivity, meaning you can leave your phone behind and still listen to your favorite tunes or use the GPS on the go.

Galaxy Watch4 Classic

Those who want a fashionable smartwatch with premium features and functions will not be disappointed with the Galaxy Watch4 Classic. This was the first smartwatch to incorporate body composition analysis that provides readings on body fat, skeletal muscle, body water and more. The 46-millimeter case size is slightly bulky for a smartwatch, but its highly durable build is perfect for those passionate about extreme sports or outdoor adventures.

The battery life is one of the most impressive features of this smartwatch, as you’ll get up to 70 hours on standby time. The Super AMOLED screen is crisp and highly responsive, and the processor is fast and keeps the watch running smoothly even when multiple apps are open.

Galaxy Watch3

We understand if you prefer one of the latest Samsung smartwatches, but you can still get the Galaxy Watch3, and it’s an excellent smartwatch for the price. We recommend it to anyone with an active lifestyle who wants to keep track of various health metrics but doesn’t mind sacrificing some features you might get with a newer model.

This watch is available in three colors: pink, black and gray, and you can text, stream music and receive notifications. The military-grade durability and water-resistant build make it suitable for activities such as swimming and winter sports. ECG records can be shared as a PDF with your healthcare provider, and the automatic sleep tracker provides insights into your sleep patterns. Plus, Bixby can read your texts for you, and you can set up Samsung Pay with your credit and debit cards.

Galaxy Watch5 Pro

The Galaxy Watch5 Pro is similar to the entry-level Galaxy Watch5, but some significant differences might sway your preference. If you’re okay with the price of $500, you’ll get a state-of-the-art smartwatch with plenty of advanced features and functions and improved battery life.

The Galaxy Watch5 Pro has a bulkier design than the Galaxy Watch5, but since it’s made of titanium, it has a lightweight feel and offers superior durability. You’ll get all of the same features with this smartwatch as you would with the Galaxy Watch5, but there are some premium features you’ll only get with this model. That includes navigating to a specific point on the GPS map and a backtrack feature that lets you find your way back to your starting point should you get lost.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2

This smartwatch boasts a straightforward design that makes it perfect for those who want something sleek and stylish for various occasions. Like most smartwatches, you can track multiple health metrics, including steps, distance, calories burned and more, and you’ll also receive an alert if the watch detects a low or high rate that’s out of your normal range. 

The sleep tracker is a helpful feature for those who want to monitor their sleep patterns and gain insight into how to get better quality sleep. This watch automatically tracks activities such as cycling and swimming, and you can manually track several pre-set exercises. You can stream content and music from Youtube and Spotify and sync your smartwatch with iOS and Android devices.

How we tested

After researching what each Samsung smartwatch offers, we tested the Samsung Galaxy Watch5 to see how it did in the following areas.  

Ease of use 

  • Setup: We connected the smartwatch to a smartphone via Bluetooth and analyzed how easy the band is to put on and adjust.
  • Display: We tested the responsiveness and sensitivity of the screen by navigating menus and using the primary swiping function.
  • Interface: The swipe setting was used to access settings and apps.

Functions

  • Health tracking: We tested sleep tracking and monitored heart rate during light exercises to determine the accuracy of readings compared to other smartwatches.
  • GPS: We tested the accuracy of the GPS and analyzed the map it provided following an outdoor run.

Advanced features 

  • Texting: We sent text messages using the pop-up keyboard, pre-set messages and emojis.
  • Body composition analysis: We ran diagnostics to determine several aspects of body composition, including body fat, body water, body mass index and metabolic rate.

What to know before buying a Samsung smartwatch

Fitness

Samsung smartwatches feature robust fitness tracking to keep up with health data like heart rate, daily steps and burned calories. However, some smartwatches work much better for highly active users. These watches focus less on a flashy face or stylish wristband and instead highlight features such as deep-dive water resistance or built-in applications that track biking and running routes.

Daily use

Samsung smartwatches for daily wear mix all the cool features you get from a smartwatch with a classic or elegant design, sometimes making it impossible to tell if you’re wearing a smartwatch. Many of these watches have a customizable wristband that ranges from sporty to leather. You can enjoy all of the standard smartwatch features except for some sport-specific features like deep-dive water resistance.

Size

There are two ways size is measured in a smartwatch. For styles with a round face, generally for everyday use, the face is measured in millimeters. Samsung smartwatches range from 42 to 49 millimeters, while the standard strap size is 22 millimeters wide.

Android vs. iOS

All Samsung smartwatches are compatible with current Android smartphones. However, if you own an iPhone and want to enjoy the stylish design of a Samsung smartwatch, you can — but with a catch. Samsung smartwatches will pair with Apple’s iPhone, but the functionality will be limited. Many useful features and applications require Android’s specific software to work. Outside of taking calls and sending texts, if you pair an iPhone with a Samsung smartwatch, you’ll likely be left with a pretty basic, albeit fashionable, smartwatch.

Samsung smartwatch features

Customization

Samsung smartwatches offer the ability to customize the applications, what you see on the face and the look. Many products allow you to replace the wristband to give you more options regarding how the watch feels and looks on your wrist.

Built-in speakers and mic

Built-in speakers and a microphone are very popular features on most Samsung smartwatches. You’ll be able to store and play music from your smartwatch, but if your device doesn’t have speakers, you’ll need to sync a Bluetooth headset to it. Most Bluetooth headsets are compatible with Samsung smartwatches.

FAQ

Q. How much does a Samsung smartwatch cost? 

A.  Entry-level smartwatches cost $150-$250 and offer basic functions such as health tracking and water resistance. However, if you want a high-end smartwatch with highly customizable faces and wristbands, waterproof bodies and advanced tracking software, you can expect to spend up to $500.

Q. Do Samsung smartwatches have their own GPS module, or does it use a phone’s?

A. Samsung smartwatches use their own GPS module and pair with your phone, which makes it useful for personal tracking and keeping tabs on your phone’s location.

Q. What’s the difference between Bluetooth and LTE versions?

A. Bluetooth-only Samsung smartwatches require your phone to deliver information to you. LTE versions need you to sign up for a separate wireless data plan so the smartwatch can send and receive information independently of your phone. Your phone could be miles away or off, and you’ll still receive data this way.

Q. Can I download videos, photos or music directly to my smartwatch?

A. You’ll need to download media to your phone first, and then you can transfer it to your smartwatch.

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