The best Samsung smartwatches you can buy
Smartwatches have become more and more popular in recent years as more and more companies take part in the wearables race. While Apple, Garmin and Fitbit are arguably leaders in fitness tracking, gamers like Samsung focus on comprehensive smartwatch functions. Whether you’re looking for a basic activity tracker, a budget smartwatch, or a long-range Apple Watch rival in the market, Samsung probably has a device for you. Here are the best Samsung smartwatches you can buy right now.
See also: The best smartwatches you can find
How to choose the right Samsung smartwatch for your needs
Samsung smartwatches cover every corner of the market from style to practicality, fitness tracking and smartwatch features. If you’re looking for something to use regularly during your workout, choose a Samsung watch with a sportier design. Are you looking for something smaller? Samsung’s line of fitness trackers probably has what you need. This list selects four devices that will give users the best bang for their buck.
The best Samsung smartwatches
- The Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 is the best samsung smartwatch, cash no. It’s a stylish smartwatch, and it has a healthy dose of fitness tracking capabilities too.
- The Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 is the best samsung smartwatch for fitness. It’s a good job of balancing the smartwatch and fitness tracking aspects of wearables.
- The Samsung Galaxy Watch Active is the best cheap samsung smartwatch. The Active 2 lacks some features, but buyers benefit from a lower overall price.
- The Samsung Galaxy Fit 2 is that best Samsung fitness tracker. This entry-level tracker doesn’t look like any of its peers, but is a great start for those entering the wearable device market.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 3: The Best Samsung Smartwatch
Recognition: Jimmy Westenberg / Android Authority
If you are looking to buy the top of the line Samsung smartwatch, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 should be your destination. It is the most expensive Samsung smartwatch and it has a number of features.
The physically rotatable dial returns in a sleek, streamlined case that is also lighter than the Galaxy Watch it replaces. Decent battery life for a smartwatch is also achieved thanks to excellent software built into Tizen OS. If you are serious about your health, an EKG will also appear.
The range topper, however, is not without its flaws. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 is not designed for sensor accuracy. If fitness tracking is key to you, your money is best spent elsewhere. You won’t find the abundance of apps on Tizen the same as on Wear OS.
However, when it comes to all-round functionality, it’s hard to fault that the Galaxy Watch 3 is a solid all-rounder and the best Apple Watch alternative.
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benefits
- Fantastic display and rotating bezel
- Thinner, lighter design
- Two days of battery life
- Advanced running metrics can be very helpful
- Useful sleep tracking and insights
disadvantage
- GPS and HR sensors can be inaccurate
- No MST payments with Samsung Pay
- Big price increase over the original Galaxy Watch
- The setup process for non-Samsung phones is tedious
- There is no third-party app support
Check out our full review to find out more about the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3.
Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2: The best Samsung smartwatch for fitness
The Galaxy Watch Active 2 is arguably the most attractive Samsung smartwatch. Unlike the Galaxy Watch 3, it has a slimmer, touch-sensitive bezel with a slightly curved glass face and a variety of strap options.
It also offers LTE support, making it the perfect option for streaming music without a phone at the gym or while running. The Watch Active 2 is available in sizes 44 mm and 40 mm and is also better suited for people with smaller wrists. Even in its largest size, it only weighs 30 grams, which also makes it the best Samsung smartwatch for fitness and sleep tracking. While they enjoy wearing these badges, that doesn’t mean it’s an excellent fitness watch.
Key health and activity tracking metrics like heart rate monitoring can be unreliable. The blood pressure monitor is a definite low point. Again, if fitness tracking is a major buying point for you, it might be best to opt for something else. Still, the Galaxy Watch Active 2 remains a great choice for those who want a Samsung smartwatch but don’t need the Galaxy Watch 3.
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benefits
- Slim premium design
- Sharp AMOLED display
- Touch-enabled front panel for quick navigation
- Bluetooth + LTE variants for more flexibility
- ~ 2 days of battery life
- Fantastic sleep tracking
disadvantage
- No MST payments with Samsung Pay
- The Tizen app ecosystem is still missing compared to Wear OS
- Heart rate, GPS, and altimeter sensors can be shaky
- The setup process has yet to be worked on
Check out our full review to find out more about the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2.
Samsung Galaxy Watch Active: The Best Cheap Samsung Smartwatch
The original Galaxy Watch Active deserves a reputation as Samsung’s cheapest smartwatch option. It drops the Active 2’s touch-sensitive bezel, but that’s not a huge mistake. The AMOLED display is sharp, while a 230 mAh battery can be charged with any Qi wireless charger, making the Watch Active easier to use.
However, these characteristics are offset by an appropriate list of errors. As with the Watch Active 2 and Watch 3, the Watch Active’s fitness tracking isn’t as reliable as we’d like it to be. Charging is also slow, which means you spend less time on your wrist.
However, if you want a Samsung that is wearable just because of its smartwatch features, the Watch Active is the cheapest option.
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benefits
- Light and inconspicuous on the wrist
- Clean, nondescript style
- Crisp AMOLED display
- Supports Samsung Pay via NFC
- Tizen software trumps Wear OS
disadvantage
- Blood pressure monitoring is an idiot
- No rotating bezel or LTE version
- Very irregular fitness tracking
- No MST payments through Samsung Pay
- Very slow to charge
Check out our full review to find out more about the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active.
Samsung Galaxy Fit 2: the best Samsung fitness tracker
The Galaxy Fit 2 is a solid, affordable fitness tracker. It turns off the Galaxy Fit’s physical button for a bigger touchscreen – a good move on our books. This makes it much easier to scroll through menus and view indicators.
It also covers all of the basics of fitness tracking, from stress and sleep monitoring to heart rate tracking. However, the latter is not continuous on demand. The Galaxy Fit 2 also lacks the style of its more traditional smartwatch siblings, but this isn’t a real deal-breaker given its price point.
We wouldn’t recommend training marathons with it, but it’s a solid wearable starter and an affordable gateway to the Samsung smartwatch ecosystem.
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Read our full list of the best fitness trackers to find out more.
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