Summary
Samsung’s latest smartwatch, the Galaxy Watch 8, boasts a new design, a powerful chipset, and a Wear OS 6-based user interface, offering numerous fitness-tracking capabilities. But is it better than the Apple Watch Series 10? Let’s find out.
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Price & Availability
you may now pre-order theGalaxy Watch 8, with deliveries starting July 25, as general sales begin. While the 40mm Wi-Fi and LTE variants cost $349.99 and $399.99, the 44mm Wi-Fi and LTE models cost $379.99 and $429.99, respectively.
TheApple Watch Series 10(42mm) costs $399 with GPS and $499 with LTE connectivity. The 46mm variant costs $429 with GPS and $529 with LTE. If you’re eyeing the model with a titanium casing, you’ll have to spend $699 for the smaller and $749 for the larger variants.
40mm Wi-Fi
$349.99
42mm GPS
$399
40mm LTE
$399.99
42mm LTE
$499
44mm Wi-Fi
$379.99
46mm GPS
$429
44mm LTE
$429,99
46mm LTE
$529
It’s Squircle vs. Rectangular Design This Year
Unlike iPhones with flat screens, the Watch Series 10’s screen has slightly rounded edges that seamlessly blend into the rectangular frame (aluminum ortitanium). On the other hand, the Galaxy Watch 8 boasts a flat, circular screen inside its squircle aluminum casing (first seen on theGalaxy Watch Ultra).
With the Galaxy Watch, you get two side buttons, whereas the Apple Watch offers aDigital Crownand aside button.
Coming to variants,Samsung’s latest smartwatch is available in two sizes: 40mm (40.4 x 42.7 x 8.6mm) and 44mm (43.7 x 46 x 8.6mm). While the former weighs 30 grams, the latter weighs 34 grams (only slightly heavier than their predecessors).
Apple’sWatch Series 10 is also available in two sizes: 42mm (42 x 36 x 9.7mm) and 46mm (46 x 39 x 9.7mm). While the former weighs 30 grams, the latter weighs 36.4 grams. Please note that the weights mentioned for both smartwatches refer to their respectiveGPS variants.
Regarding durability, the Watch 8 offers anIP68 rating, a5ATM water resistance, and complies with the MIL-STD-810H standard, making it fit for use in harsh environmental conditions. Similarly, the Watch Series 10 features an IP6X dust resistance rating and 50m water resistance. It is also suitable forshallow diving up to 6 meters.
Last but not least, Samsung’s smartwatch is available in graphite and silver colors, while the Apple Watch is sold in three colorways for the aluminum (Jet Black, Rose Gold, Silver) and titanium (Slate, Gold, Natural) casings.
Apple Watch Series 10 Offers Bigger Screens
While you get a circular dial (inside a square with rounded edges) on Samsung’s Watch 8, the Watch Series 10 features a rectangular screen (that mimics thescreen on smartphones).
Naturally, viewing text in messages, emails, and other notifications feels more natural on a rectangular display, as the text doesn’t go beyond the screen’s round boundaries. However,this shouldn’t be a problem on the Watch 8, given its expansive screen real estate (especially on the larger variant).
The 40mm and 44mm versions of the Galaxy Watch sport 1.34-inch (438 x 438 pixels) and 1.47-inch (480 x 480 pixels) screens, respectively. In contrast, theApple Watch’s 42mm and 46mm versionsfeature 1.89-inch (374 x 446 pixels) and 2.04-inch (416 x 496 pixels) displays, respectively.
The Watch Series 10’s bigger screens are a clear advantage. However, the Galaxy Watch 8 offers a touch-based rotating bezel functionality.
The Galaxy smartwatch uses aSuper AMOLEDpanel with a peak brightness of 3,000 nits. The Apple Watch also sports a RetinaLTPO3 OLED panelwith a 1Hz minimum refresh rate, but substantially lowerpeak brightness(2,000 nits),
While Samsung equips the Galaxy Watch with sapphire crystal glass over the screen, the Apple Watch relies on Ion-X glass for the aluminum and sapphire crystal for the titanium variants.
One UI 8 Watch vs. watchOS 11
Out of the box, the Watch 8 runs on the Exynos W100 (3nm) chip andOne UI Watch 8, which is based on Google’s Wear OS 6. The new user interface introduces a refreshed look with multi-info tiles and adds theNow Barfeature. It also brings theGemini AI assistantto the smartwatch.
The device also gainsnew health-tracking capabilities, including Bedtime Guidance, which formulates a personalized sleeping schedule for you, and Running Coach, which analyzes your running proficiency and creates a training program to improve it.
Then there’s Vascular Load, a feature that determines yourbaseline vascular stressand informs you if it increases or decreases. Another unique Galaxy Watch 8 feature is its ability to estimate the level of antioxidants in your body.
In addition to these features, the smartwatch boasts a functional blood oxygen saturation sensor (which the Apple Watch Series 10 lacks), a BioActive sensor, and a skin temperature sensor, as well assleep apnea detectionand an advanced glycation end products (AGEs) index.
On the other side of the fence,Apple’s Watch Series 10gets the S10 SiP with a four-core Neural Engine and double the storage capacity of its rival (64GB vs. 32GB). WithwatchOS 11, you canpause or edit your Activity Rings, check your Training Load, and explore new exercise types with route maps.
Like the Galaxy Watch, the Apple Watch doubles as a fantastic fitness tracker. It offers a depth gauge and water temperature sensor for snorkeling,sleep apnea detection, and a streamlined view of all your health-related metrics in the Vitals app, in addition to other features likeECG, high/low heart rate alerts, and irregular rhythm notifications.
Later this year, Watch Series 10 users will gain access towatchOS 26, which will introduce a Workout Buddy that provides insights and personalized spoken motivation during workouts, an improvedSmart Stackwith contextual suggestions, and a new one-handedwrist flick gestureto dismiss notifications.
While features likeemergency calls, crash detection, and built-in GPS are standard on both smartwatches, Apple includes an ultra-wideband chip on its latest smartwatch for tracking (in case you’ve misplaced the device) via theFind My app.
Considering everything, it appears that the Galaxy Watch 8 has an upper handin terms of health-tracking features.
Galaxy Watch 8 Lasts Longer Between Charges
Despite having slightly larger batteries, the 2025 Galaxy Watch should offer asimilar usage time as its predecessor. We’re looking at 30 hours with the always-on display enabled and 40 hours without the feature.
The Watch Series 10, like its predecessor, is rated to last for up to 18 hours in regular mode and36 hours in Low Power Mode. It’s high time Apple improved the battery life of its smartwatches, as they have been lagging behind the Galaxy Watches for years now.
Which Smartwatch Is Right for You?
This is the thing with the Samsung vs. Applewearablescomparison. No matter how objectively I compare the two products, ultimately, your choice will depend on the devices you already have.
Given that both smartwatches and their advancedhealth-tracking features are locked to their respective ecosystems, you’re able to get a good idea about which device offers what features, but you’ll have to choose the one that is compatible with your smartphone.
Even so, I’ll say that Samsung has done an excellent job of making the Galaxy Watch 8 more than just a smartwatch: it seems to be a better fitness tracker. However, that doesn’t take away anything from the Apple Watch Series 10’s accuracy, premium build, and comprehensive feature set.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8
Now thinner and more comfortable, the Galaxy Watch 8 adds new health-tracking features like sleep apnea detection and antioxidant readings.
Apple Watch Series 10
Discover the Apple Watch Series 10, the thinnest and most advanced Apple wearable yet. Featuring a vibrant wide-angle OLED display, sleep apnea detection, and enhanced fitness tracking, it supports new water sports apps like Depth and Tides. Powered by the S10 chip, it delivers seamless performance and fast charging.
I’ve also drafted other comparisons between theGalaxy Watch 8 and the Galaxy Watch 7,Galaxy Z Fold 7 vs. Galaxy Z Fold 6, and theGalaxy Z Flip 7 vs. Galaxy Z Flip 6, if you want to check them out.
