When it comes to Android smartwatches, choosing between the Google Pixel Watch 4 and the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 can stir up strong opinions. But here's the real kicker: each watch has unique strengths that could make one the ideal choice for you!
Google Pixel Watch 4 vs. Samsung Galaxy Watch 8: Which One Should You Choose?
Google Pixel Watch 4
Rating: 4.0
Summary:
The Pixel Watch 4 boasts an impressive design characterized by its curved display, extended battery life, and personalized wellness coaching features.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8
Rating: 4.0
Summary:
While the squircle shape of the Galaxy Watch 8 may take some getting used to, it excels in health monitoring capabilities, offering advanced AI-driven fitness and sleep coaching.
Overview
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 has earned the title of our Editors’ Choice for the best Android smartwatch, primarily due to its innovative AI-driven wellness coaching and standout features like antioxidant testing and arterial health assessments. It also includes standard functionalities such as snore detection and body composition analysis. In contrast, the Google Pixel Watch 4 distinguishes itself with a sleek appearance and superior battery longevity, giving you potentially more reasons to consider it. So, which smartwatch deserves a place on your wrist? Let’s delve deeper and explore the facts.
Detailed Specifications
| Feature | Google Pixel Watch 4 | Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 |
|------------------------|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
| Phone OS Compatibility | Android | Android |
| Watch OS | Wear OS | Wear OS |
| Processor | Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 with Cortex-M55 co-processor | Samsung Exynos W1000 |
| Display Size | 1.27 inches / 1.46 inches | 1.34 inches / 1.47 inches |
| Display Type | AMOLED | Super AMOLED |
| Fitness Features | Accelerometer, Heart Rate Monitor, GPS, Blood Oxygen Monitor, Temperature Sensor, Pedometer, Gyroscope, Barometer, ECG, Light Sensor | Accelerometer, Heart Rate Monitor, GPS, Blood Oxygen Monitor, Pedometer, Barometer, Temperature Sensor, Gyroscope, ECG, Light Sensor |
| Battery Life | 56 hours (tested) | 26 hours (tested) |
| Separate App Store | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Call Capability | Yes | Yes |
Pricing
Both the Galaxy Watch 8 and Pixel Watch 4 come in different sizes: the Samsung offers 40mm and 44mm, while Google’s options are 41mm and 45mm. The starting price for the smaller models is $349. The larger Samsung variant is priced at $379.99, while Google’s larger model costs $399. If you prefer LTE connectivity, it adds an additional $50 to either Samsung model or $100 for the Google version.
Samsung's earlier models were generally less expensive than Google’s, but with the latest generation, both brands have adjusted their pricing strategies to meet at a similar entry point. Nevertheless, Google still requires a higher premium for its top-tier smartwatch models.
Winner: Galaxy Watch 8
Design
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 sports a more angular bezel compared to its predecessor, adopting what Samsung refers to as a "cushion design." It incorporates a dynamic lug system inherited from the Galaxy Watch Ultra, promoting more natural wrist movement and comfort. At first glance, its squircle shape might be jarring, but after extensive use, I found it surprisingly comfortable and appealing.
Comparatively, the Pixel Watch 4 captivates attention with its elegant curved display and the iconic teardrop glass design that has become a hallmark of this series. Notably, this model is the first to feature a curved screen beneath its glass. This Actua 360 display isn’t just aesthetically pleasing; it provides 10% more active screen area and 15% thinner bezels than its predecessor, the Pixel Watch 3.
In terms of display technology, the Galaxy Watch 8 utilizes Super AMOLED, whereas the Pixel Watch 4 features an AMOLED screen. Both timepieces reach a maximum brightness of 3,000 nits, ensuring visibility even in direct sunlight.
Winner: Pixel Watch 4
Durability
When it comes to durability, the Galaxy Watch 8 is MIL-STD-810H certified, which indicates its ability to withstand extreme temperature fluctuations, blowing sand, and other environmental challenges, including shock and vibration—something that the Pixel Watch 4 lacks. Both watches share a 5ATM waterproof rating, allowing for immersion in up to 164 feet of fresh or saltwater for a maximum of 10 minutes, along with an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance.
I have grown cautious about the long-term durability of the curved glass on Google’s smartwatches, with the Pixel Watch 4's curved screen raising concerns. However, the good news is that it marks the first in this lineup to offer full reparability, meaning if something goes wrong, you can easily replace the display or the battery. On the other hand, while Samsung hasn’t made similar commitments regarding serviceability, the military specification enhances its ruggedness right off the bat.
Winner: Galaxy Watch 8
Battery Life
Both the smaller Galaxy Watch 8 and Pixel Watch 4 share the same 325mAh battery capacity. However, the 45mm version of the Pixel Watch 4 takes the lead with its 455mAh cell compared to the Galaxy Watch 8’s 425mAh battery for its larger variant.
Samsung suggests that both sizes of the Galaxy Watch 8 will last up to 30 hours with the always-on display activated and around 40 hours with it turned off. Google estimates that the smaller version of the Pixel Watch 4 can achieve a similar 30 hours, while the larger model can last up to 40 hours under similar display settings. Ultimately, the smaller versions align in performance, while the larger Pixel Watch 4 has a notable advantage.
During our testing, the Galaxy Watch 8 slightly fell short of expectations, running for 39 hours with the always-on display disabled and only 26 hours active. On the flip side, the Pixel Watch 4 surpassed its anticipated battery life, delivering a remarkable 56 hours even with the always-on display functioning.
The Pixel Watch 4 comes with an innovative charging dock that allows the watch to rest vertically, showcasing the time, battery level, and alarms while charging. In contrast, the Galaxy Watch 8 utilizes a standard magnetic puck-style charger. Additionally, the Pixel Watch 4 maintains a faster charging capability, needing just 43 minutes to juice up from 5% to full; the Galaxy Watch 8, on the other hand, requires 64 minutes for the same charge using their respective standard chargers and an 18W brick (not included).
Winner: Pixel Watch 4
Processing Power
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 is equipped with a reliable Exynos W1000 processor, the same five-core unit as its predecessor. Meanwhile, the Pixel Watch 4 features a dual-processor design that integrates a Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 processor paired with a Cortex-M55 co-processor, both of which are significant upgrades over earlier models.
Noteworthy is that the new Snapdragon chip in the Pixel Watch 4 is the first wearable processor to enable emergency satellite communication. This means, if you find yourself off the grid while hiking and without phone connectivity, you can still seek assistance.
Both of these smartwatches come with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage.
Winner: Pixel Watch 4
Features Beyond Fitness
Both the Galaxy Watch 8 and Pixel Watch 4 run on Wear OS 6, enhanced with Google’s conversational AI, Gemini. Users can engage with Gemini for tasks like answering questions, sending texts, and managing applications such as Calendar, Clock, Health, and Reminders, providing a fresh hands-free experience. You can prompt Gemini through a customizable button on the Galaxy Watch 8, while the Pixel Watch 4 allows you to summon the AI just by raising your wrist.
Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 8 enhances the experience with its interface, One UI 8, layered over Wear OS 6. This interface supports gesture controls, allowing users to dismiss alarms by twisting their wrist or take pictures via a double pinch. Both smartwatches also provide access to the Play Store, featuring an ever-expanding selection of compatible apps. Additionally, both devices excel in performing standard smartwatch tasks, like making calls and facilitating contactless payments.
Winner: Tie
Health and Fitness Features
When comparing previous models, the Pixel Watch 3 had more sophisticated AI health assessments than the Galaxy Watch 7. The Pixel Watch 3 offered features such as Daily Readiness Score, Cardio Load, and Target Load, which give users insights into their fitness capabilities, progress, and goals. In contrast, the Galaxy Watch 7 provided a holistic Energy Score and a personalized daily Wellness Tip.
Both series have evolved to include enhanced health features. The Pixel Watch 4 presents an AI fitness coach, set to launch as a preview soon, that offers tailored fitness and sleep advice. It can track a broader scope of activities compared to its predecessor, including basketball and pickleball. This model promises more accurate automatic workout detection, improved skin temperature monitoring for reliable overnight health assessments, and dual-frequency GPS for precise mapping in urban and natural settings. Plus, it has the capability to transmit real-time cycling data to the Fitbit app for convenient display on your handlebars.
The Pixel Watch is compatible with the Fitbit app, and while many features are available for free—including the AI-driven health assessments—there's also a premium service at $9.99 per month. This premium option offers daily running suggestions and a selection of audio and video workouts. On the other hand, the Galaxy Watch 8 does not require any fees for its health features.
The Galaxy Watch 8 has also introduced numerous new features. Its AI now serves as a running or sleep coach, offering unique metrics like antioxidant levels and nighttime vascular load assessments that indicate arterial health. Furthermore, existing capabilities such as body composition tracking remain, allowing users to measure metrics similar to a smart scale. Additionally, it can track snoring patterns if paired with a compatible Samsung phone.
Both the Galaxy Watch 8 and Pixel Watch 4 are equipped with an array of sensors to monitor activity, exercise, sleep, and stress levels. They are both proficient in taking ECG readings and tracking sleep cycles while also monitoring blood oxygen saturation. While both devices serve as powerful health and wellness instruments, the Galaxy Watch 8 truly shines with its extensive assortment of specialized features.
Winner: Galaxy Watch 8
The Final Verdict
Ultimately, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 takes the crown for the best Android smartwatch, rated 4.0. It stands out as our Editors’ Choice largely due to its impressive array of lifestyle and fitness features. Both devices offer access to Google’s Gemini AI, yet the Galaxy Watch 8 also includes its proprietary AI tools for running and sleep coaching, available without additional costs. The Pixel Watch 4 shines with its comprehensive health insights, enhanced by features like the Readiness score, Cardio Load, and Target Load, but these come at a premium due to subscription fees for daily recommendations.
That being said, the Pixel Watch 4 impresses with a more sophisticated design and significantly longer battery life, making it a formidable competitor to Samsung’s latest Galaxy offerings. If you’re a Pixel enthusiast, the Pixel Watch 4 is certainly worthy of your consideration.
