The smartwatch market is booming, and two titans dominate: Apple and Samsung. The Apple Watch Series 8 Aluminum and the Samsung Galaxy Watch5 are both excellent choices, but which one reigns supreme? This comprehensive comparison dives deep into their features, performance, and overall value to help you decide.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Galaxy Watch5 offers broader Android compatibility and a slightly more robust feature set for fitness tracking. However, the Apple Watch Series 8 boasts a smoother user experience, tighter integration with the Apple ecosystem, and a more refined design. It depends on your phone and priorities.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - International, China, HK | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International, China, HK | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 25, 26, 39, 40, 41, 66 - USA, LATAM, Canada | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, September 07 | 2022, August 10 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, September 16 | Available. Released 2022, August 26 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, ceramic/sapphire crystal back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Sapphire crystal), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 45 x 38 x 10.7 mm (1.77 x 1.50 x 0.42 in) | 44.4 x 43.3 x 9.8 mm (1.75 x 1.70 x 0.39 in) |
| SIM | eSIM | eSIM |
| Weight | 32 g (41mm), 38.8 g (45mm) (1.13 oz) | 33.5 g (44mm), 28.7 g (40mm) (1.02 oz) |
| | IP6X certified
50m water resistant
ECG certified (region dependent SW application; HW available on all models) | MIL-STD-810H compliant*
50m water resistant (IP68)
Compatible with standard 20mm straps
ECG certified
Blood pressure monitor
Armor aluminum frame with tougher drop and scratch resistance (advertised)
*does not guarantee ruggedness or use in extreme conditions |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Ion-X strengthened glass | Sapphire crystal |
| Resolution | 484 x 396 pixels (~326 ppi density) | 450 x 450 pixels (~321 ppi density) |
| Size | 1.9 inches | 1.4 inches |
| Type | Retina LTPO OLED, 1000 nits (peak) | Super AMOLED |
| | Always-on display | Always-on display |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Dual-core | Dual-core 1.18 GHz Cortex-A55 |
| Chipset | Apple S8 | Exynos W920 (5 nm) |
| GPU | PowerVR | Mali-G68 |
| OS | watchOS 9.0, upgradable to watchOS 26.1 | Android Wear OS 4, One UI Watch 5 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 32GB 1GB RAM | 16GB 1.5GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | - |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | No | No |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, dual-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, heart rate, barometer, always-on altimeter, compass, SpO2, VO2max, temperature (body) | Accelerometer, gyro, heart rate, barometer, thermometer (skin temperature) |
| | Temperature sensing (0.01˚ accuracy)
Natural language commands and dictation (talking mode)
Ultra Wideband (UWB) support | Natural language commands and dictation
Samsung Pay |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | Wireless, 0-80% in 45 min | 10W wireless |
| Type | Li-Ion 308 mAh | Li-Ion 410 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Midnight, Starlight, Silver, Red | Graphite, Silver, Pink Gold, Sapphire |
| Models | A2773, A2775, A2772, A2774, A2857, A2858, A2770, A2771, watch6,14, watch6,15, watch6,16, watch6,17 | SM-R915F, SM-R905F |
| Price | About 340 EUR | About 170 EUR |
| SAR | 0.31 W/kg (head) 0.55 W/kg (body) | - |
| SAR EU | 0.31 W/kg (head) 0.55 W/kg (body) | - |
Apple Watch Series 8 Aluminum
- Seamless iOS integration
- Premium design and build quality
- Smooth and responsive performance
- Excellent app ecosystem
- Bright and vibrant display
- Shorter battery life
- Limited Android compatibility
- Higher price point
Samsung Galaxy Watch5
- Broader Android compatibility
- Extensive fitness tracking features
- Customizable Wear OS experience
- Faster wireless charging
- More affordable price
- Occasional performance lag
- Design less refined than Apple Watch
- Wear OS app ecosystem less mature than watchOS
Display Comparison
Both watches feature vibrant, always-on AMOLED displays. The Apple Watch Series 8 has a slightly brighter display, while the Galaxy Watch5 offers more customizable watch faces and a more prominent bezel design. The Apple Watch's display is generally considered more visually appealing due to its refined software.
Camera Comparison
Neither the Apple Watch Series 8 nor the Samsung Galaxy Watch5 have a built-in camera. This is a consistent feature across most smartwatches.
Performance
The Apple S8 chip in the Apple Watch Series 8 provides a consistently smooth and responsive experience. While the Exynos W920 in the Galaxy Watch5 is a capable processor, it can occasionally exhibit slight lag, particularly when using third-party apps. Apple's optimization of watchOS gives it an edge.
Battery Life
The Galaxy Watch5 generally offers slightly better battery life, often lasting a full day and a half with moderate use. The Apple Watch Series 8 typically requires daily charging, although low-power mode can extend its lifespan. The Galaxy Watch5's 10W wireless charging is faster than the Apple Watch's wireless charging.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the Apple Watch Series 8 Aluminum? iPhone users seeking seamless integration, a premium design, and a polished user experience. Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy Watch5? Android users wanting extensive fitness tracking, a customizable Wear OS experience, and a more affordable price point.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Apple Watch Series 8 compatible with Android?
No, the Apple Watch Series 8 is exclusively compatible with iPhones.
❓ Does the Samsung Galaxy Watch5 require a Samsung phone?
No, the Galaxy Watch5 is compatible with most Android phones, although some features may be limited without a Samsung device.
❓ Which smartwatch has better fitness tracking?
The Samsung Galaxy Watch5 offers a more comprehensive suite of fitness tracking features, including advanced sleep tracking and body composition analysis.
❓ Which smartwatch has a better user interface?
The Apple Watch Series 8 generally has a more polished and intuitive user interface thanks to Apple's tight control over watchOS.
