The smartwatch market is booming, and two heavyweights are battling for your wrist: the Samsung Galaxy Watch5 and the Google Pixel Watch. Both offer a compelling blend of fitness tracking, notifications, and smart features, but which one truly comes out on top? Let's dive into a comprehensive comparison.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Galaxy Watch5 boasts a more powerful processor, longer battery life, and a wider range of health features. However, the Pixel Watch shines with its seamless Google integration, Wear OS experience, and sleek, minimalist design. For fitness enthusiasts, the Watch5 wins; for Android purists, the Pixel Watch is the better choice.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28 | 2, 4, 5, 12, 13, 17, 25, 26, 66, 71 - GWT9R |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | - | 5, 7, 26 - GBZ4S |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, August 10 | 2022, October 06 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, August 26 | Available. Released 2022, October 13 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Sapphire crystal), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), stainless steel frame |
| Dimensions | 44.4 x 43.3 x 9.8 mm (1.75 x 1.70 x 0.39 in) | 41 x 41 x 12.3 mm (1.61 x 1.61 x 0.48 in) |
| SIM | eSIM | eSIM |
| Weight | 33.5 g (44mm), 28.7 g (40mm) (1.02 oz) | 36 g (1.27 oz) |
| | 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 | 50m/5ATM water resistant (IP68)
ECG certified |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Sapphire crystal | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 450 x 450 pixels (~321 ppi density) | 450 x 450 pixels (~320 ppi density) |
| Size | 1.4 inches | 1.2 inches |
| Type | Super AMOLED | AMOLED, 1000 nits (peak) |
| | Always-on display | Always-on display |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Dual-core 1.18 GHz Cortex-A55 | Dual-core 1.15 GHz Cortex-A53 |
| Chipset | Exynos W920 (5 nm) | Exynos 9110 (10 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G68 | Mali-T720 |
| OS | Android Wear OS 4, One UI Watch 5 | Android Wear OS 3.5 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 16GB 1.5GB RAM | 32GB 2GB RAM |
| | - | eMMC |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | No | No |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, heart rate, barometer, thermometer (skin temperature) | Accelerometer, gyro, heart rate, altimeter, compass, SpO2 |
| | Natural language commands and dictation
Samsung Pay | - |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 10W wireless | Wireless (Qi) |
| Type | Li-Ion 410 mAh | Li-Ion 294 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Graphite, Silver, Pink Gold, Sapphire | Matte Black, Polished Silver, Champagne Gold |
| Models | SM-R915F, SM-R905F | GQF4C, GBZ4S, GWT9R |
| Price | About 170 EUR | About 220 EUR |
Samsung Galaxy Watch5
- More powerful processor
- Longer battery life
- Advanced health tracking (ECG, body composition)
- Larger, brighter display
- Wider app ecosystem
- Bulkier design
- Samsung's One UI can feel cluttered to some
Google Pixel Watch
- Seamless Google integration
- Clean and intuitive Wear OS experience
- Sleek, minimalist design
- Fitbit integration for fitness tracking
- Shorter battery life
- Less powerful processor
- Smaller screen size
- Limited third-party app support compared to Samsung
Display Comparison
The Galaxy Watch5 features a vibrant Super AMOLED display with excellent brightness and color accuracy. The Pixel Watch utilizes an edge-to-edge OLED display, offering a unique, rounded aesthetic. While both are visually appealing, the Watch5's larger screen size and slightly higher resolution provide a more immersive experience.
Camera Comparison
Neither the Galaxy Watch5 nor the Google Pixel Watch have a built-in camera. This is a common limitation in smartwatches.
Performance
The Galaxy Watch5's Exynos W920 chipset (5nm) provides noticeably faster performance compared to the Pixel Watch's Exynos 9110 (10nm). Apps launch quicker, animations are smoother, and overall responsiveness is superior on the Watch5. The Pixel Watch's performance is adequate but occasionally shows signs of lag.
Battery Life
The Galaxy Watch5 consistently delivers longer battery life, typically lasting 2-3 days on a single charge. The Pixel Watch, with its smaller battery, generally requires daily charging, often needing a top-up by late afternoon with moderate usage.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy Watch5? Fitness enthusiasts, users seeking advanced health tracking (ECG, body composition), and those who prefer a robust smartwatch experience with a wider app ecosystem. Who should buy the Google Pixel Watch? Android users deeply invested in the Google ecosystem, those prioritizing a clean and intuitive Wear OS experience, and those who appreciate a stylish, minimalist design.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which smartwatch is better for fitness tracking?
The Samsung Galaxy Watch5 offers more advanced health tracking features like ECG, body composition analysis, and advanced sleep tracking, making it a better choice for serious fitness enthusiasts.
❓ Is the Google Pixel Watch compatible with iPhones?
No, the Google Pixel Watch is designed exclusively for Android devices. It is not compatible with iPhones.
❓ How does the Pixel Watch's Fitbit integration work?
The Pixel Watch seamlessly integrates with Fitbit, providing access to Fitbit's fitness tracking data, challenges, and premium features (with a Fitbit Premium subscription).
❓ Which watch has better app support?
The Samsung Galaxy Watch5 generally has better app support due to the larger and more established Samsung Galaxy Store.
