Smartwatches truly come in all shapes and sizes, which is wonderful because you have the freedom to choose what works best for you. There are round smartwatches, square smartwatches, and a bevy of designs in between. Samsung’s smartwatches are usually round, evoking the past designs of a more traditional wristwatch, but that’s not always the case. Some of its more active and fitness-oriented devices, such as the Galaxy Fit series, are closer to a band type of wearable (think Fitbit devices). There are many reasons you would buy and wear a Samsung smartwatch. You might want to track your heart rate or the calories you burn during a workout. Maybe you want to leave your phone on the counter or somewhere nearby and read the incoming messages on your wrist. Perhaps you want to track your sleep cycle and see if you’re getting a healthy amount of sleep. All of these scenarios are possible using one of Samsung’s smartwatches. Because there are many different devices, you should be able to find something that suits your needs. We rounded up all of the best Samsung smartwatches and break each one down in more detail, below. Overall, it’s thinner and more lightweight than previous models, so it feels great to wear, even if you have a smaller wrist. The larger 45-millimeter model has a bigger battery, so it will last up to 56 hours on a single charge, compared to 43 hours for the smaller size. The vibrant and beautiful Super AMOLED display ensures that onscreen content looks amazing, and it’s bright enough to see even in the daylight. It tracks a bevy of health stats, including SPO2 (blood oxygen levels), heart rate, stress, sleep, distance, and calories burned. Fall detection is also onboard for those who need it. The bezel rotates and acts as a makeshift controller to scroll through menus and options. It works well and is easy to make selections, and it also complements the responsive touchscreen. Overall, the Galaxy Watch3 is one of the best currently on the market, second only to the Apple Watch. If you own a Samsung smartphone, or an Android device, the Watch3 is the better and more compatible option. Screen Size: 1.4 inches | Weight: 1.9 ounces | Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, LTE | Battery Size: 340mAh | Battery Life: 2 to 3 days | Water Resistance: Up to 50 meter There are also two sizes available, including 40 millimeters and 44 millimeters. Like most of Samsung’s smartwatches, it’s powered by the Tizen operating system and has an Exynos 9110 processor inside. The 1.4-inch Super AMOLED display looks crisp and vibrant and is comparable to the Watch3 models. Automatic run and workout tracking is onboard, with support to monitor ECG, blood pressure, sleep, stress levels, and much more. Some of the features are compatible only with Samsung smartphones, however, like the ECG and blood pressure monitoring. Connectivity options include Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and LTE, although the LTE is available only in the stainless steel variant. Overall, it’s easy to use and an excellent entry point for anyone who wants to move from a fitness band to a smartwatch, or jump right into the smartwatch experience. Screen Size: 1.4 inches | Weight: 1.48 ounces | Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, LTE, GPS, NFC | Battery Size: 340mAh | Battery Life: 2 to 3 days | Water Resistance: Up to 50 meters The Fit2 is the latest model in the series, which includes a curved AMOLED display and excellent battery life. It will last for up to 15 days on a single charge, well beyond what most smartwatches offer. The silicone band comes in a few colors, allowing you to personalize your style. It is water-resistant up to 5ATM or 50 meters, which means you can use it in the pool or take it in the shower. It syncs with mobile devices via Bluetooth, but does not include any other connectivity such as GPS, NFC, or mobile pay support. It’s lightweight, fits almost any-sized wrist, and it’s super easy to use. It’s one of the best options for people who want a fitness-focused device that’s more about health, active lifestyles, and smart tracking. Its far superior battery life is also ideal if you don’t want to charge a watch every night. Screen Size: 1.1 inches | Weight: 0.74 ounces | Connectivity: Bluetooth | Battery Size: 159mAh | Battery Life: 15 days | Water Resistance: Up to 50 meters (5ATM) Of particular note is the rotating bezel, which acts as an analog controller, and the two crown dials on the side. Except for the 1.3-inch touchscreen display, there’s no indication it’s a smart device at all. Inside is a 380mAh battery that offers 2 to 3 days of use on a single charge, which can be underwhelming, but also puts it on par with most comparable models. It does have onboard GPS to ping the current location, and it will track a bevy of fitness stats, albeit with questionable accuracy. It has an onboard speaker and mic to take calls remotely and supports Samsung Pay, as well as mobile and app-based notifications. Let’s be clear, though—the added features are a nice touch, but they wouldn’t be the main reason you’d get this watch. The Gear S3 Classic is for those who want the best of both worlds: a stylish watch that also has smart features baked in. Screen Size: 1.3 inches | Weight: 2.08 ounces | Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS | Battery Size: 380mAh | Battery Life: 2 to 3 days | Water Resistance: IP68 (up to 1.5 meters) It does include all of the same features, such as automatic workout tracking, heart health, fitness monitoring, and sleep tracking. An LTE variant is available, but otherwise, it comes with Bluetooth 5.0 and GPS connectivity. The 1.2-inch Super AMOLED screen is beautiful and vibrant. It also includes 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage. The battery will last for about 2 to 3 days on a single charge, depending on what features you have active—LTE drains the battery much faster. Screen Size: 1.2 inches | Weight: 1.7 ounces | Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS, NFC | Battery Size: 340mAh | Battery Life: 2 to 3 days | Water Resistance: Up to 50 meters It has a steel rotating bezel with measurements lining its edges—much like you’d see with a traditional outdoor-friendly watch. The beautiful 1.3-inch AMOLED display is designed to stay on, so there’s always something to look at on the watch face, and it still offers up to four days of battery life. Yoona might not have been fond of the size, but she did love the outdoorsy look and the major resistances, including water, dust, and impact protection. It can receive notifications, take calls, and even make hands-free calls thanks to the built-in speaker and microphone. Samsung Pay, fitness tracking, and several sports modes round out the features list. Just remember, this thing is a bit bulky, and it weighs more than comparable models, so it’s better for bigger wrists and people who spend most of their days out in the wilderness. Screen Size: 1.3 inches | Weight: 2.22 ounces | Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS, NFC | Battery Size: 380mAh | Battery Life: 3 to 4 days | Water Resistance: IP68 (up to 1.5 meters) That said, the Gear Sport is an affordable and feature-rich smartwatch with a 1.2-inch Super AMOLED display. It has a lightweight and sporty look, similar to the Active2, but it’s also a bit more stylish thanks to the steel design. It is dust-proof and water-resistant (up to 5ATM), so it’s a good watch to wear while working out, running, or exercising. The compact design makes it a good fit for smaller wrists, and the silicone band is stretchy yet comfortable. It has a built-in pedometer to track steps, can monitor fitness and health stats, and will receive SMS, email, app, and call notifications. Bluetooth 4.2 is the wireless connectivity inside, as opposed to 5.0 for the Watch3. Wi-Fi and GPS are on board, as well. It even supports Samsung Pay, so you can pay for orders with your wrist. With its 300mAh battery, the watch can last up to seven days, offering one of the better ranges. Screen Size: 1.2 inches | Weight: 2.37 ounces | Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS, NFC | Battery Size: 300mAh | Battery Life: 5 to 7 days | Water Resistance: Up to 50 meters Yoona Wagener is a technology and commerce writer. She has tested a variety of peripherals, laptops, headphones, and wearables for Lifewire, including several of the Samsung smartwatches on this list. Andrew Hayward is a Chicago-based tech reviewer who’s previously been published on TechRadar, Stuff, Polygon, and Macworld. He’s covered a number of our top smartwatches and wearables, including the Samsung Galaxy Watch which he praised for its rotating bezel and easy navigation.
What to Look For in Samsung Smartwatches
Size
Almost all smartwatches, from Samsung’s Galaxy Watch3 line to the Apple Watch, come in different sizes. For example, the Galaxy Watch3 can be ordered in 41-millimeter or 45-millimeter sizes. This doesn’t just affect the size of the wrist band, but also the device in question, namely the display. Generally, a bigger-sized watch is more expensive and it comes with additional considerations such as a longer-lasting battery, larger display, and sometimes more powerful internal hardware. The Samsung Galaxy Gear S2 can take calls directly on the watch, as is true of most LTE and mobile-ready watches. In fact, smartwatches that have an active mobile connection don’t need to be synced to a smartphone to use the network features. They can directly receive calls, messages, and alerts. If your watch has a SIM card and connects to mobile networks then yes, you can use the device without a phone, which means you can leave your phone at home. Some things you can do on a Samsung smartwatch with 4G access include streaming music, taking calls, and receiving and responding to messages.
Connectivity
Like most modern devices, there are different types of connectivity or wireless connections available for smartwatches and fitness bands. The most common include 4G LTE (mobile networks), Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. A 4G-ready smartwatch will always include Wi-Fi and Bluetooth along with it. However, a Wi-Fi-only device will not include mobile connectivity support for 3G and 4G networks—it may still include Bluetooth. While this can seem confusing, all smartwatch manufacturers will clearly list connectivity for their product(s). Choose the wireless medium that works best for you. Some devices may also include GPS, which means the smartwatch has GPS-tracking support built-in and does not need a phone to track location. Also, be on the lookout for 5G smartwatches, as those are surely on the horizon.
Battery Life
Today’s smartwatches can last from half a day to a full day or more. Many factors influence battery life, such as the software, internal hardware, display size, and the size of the battery. When choosing a smartwatch, consider how long you want the device to last, at the very least. If you need it to last for several days, for instance, you will be limiting your options. So, you may be better off looking for a less powerful device, like a fitness tracker, instead of a full-size smartwatch.
