Smartwatches have seen a surge in popularity in recent years as more and more companies join the wearable device race. While Apple, Garmin, and Fitbit arguably lead the field in fitness tracking, gamers like Samsung are focusing on the extended functionality of the smartwatch. Whether you’re looking for a basic activity tracker, a budget-stable smartwatch, or a high-end Apple Watch rival, Samsung probably has a device for you. Here’s a look at 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 functionality, from fitness tracking to smartwatch functionality. If you are looking for something to use regularly during your workouts, choose a Samsung watch with a sportier design. Are you looking for something a little smaller? Samsung’s line of fitness trackers probably have what you need. We single out four devices from this list that offer users the best value for money.
The best Samsung smartwatches
- The Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 is the best samsung smartwatch, without exception. It’s a stylish smartwatch and also comes with a healthy dose of fitness tracking features.
- The Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 is the best Samsung smartwatch for fitness. It balances the aspects of smart watch and fitness tracking of wearable devices well.
- The Samsung Galaxy Watch Active is the best cheap samsung smartwatch. It lacks some of the features of the Active 2, but buyers benefit from a lower overall price.
- The Samsung Galaxy Fit 2 is the best Samsung fitness tracker. This entry-level tracker is unlike any of its peers, but it’s a great start for those entering the wearable clothing market.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 3: the best Samsung smartwatch
Credit: Jimmy Westenberg / Android Authority
If your goal is to buy the high-end Samsung smartwatch, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 should be your target. It is the most expensive Samsung smartwatch and comes with a long list of features.
The physical rotating dial makes its return in a slim, streamlined body that’s also lighter than the Galaxy Watch it replaces. Decent battery life for a smartwatch is also satisfied with great software built into the Tizen operating system. If you are serious about your health, an ECG also makes an appearance.
The high end is not without its flaws, however. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 is not designed with sensor precision in mind. If fitness tracking is a key feature for you, then it’s worth spending your money elsewhere. You also won’t find the abundance of apps on Tizen like you would on Wear OS.
In terms of overall functionality, however, it’s hard to fault the Galaxy Watch 3 for being a solid all-rounder and the best alternative to Apple Watch.
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Advantages
- Fantastic display and rotating bezel
- Thinner, lighter design
- Two-day battery life
- Advanced execution metrics can be very useful
- Useful sleep tracking and information
The inconvenients
- GPS and HR sensors may be inaccurate
- No MST payments with Samsung Pay
- Big price increase over the original Galaxy Watch
- The setup process for non-Samsung phones is a pain
- Support for third-party applications is lacking
Check out our full review to learn 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 sports a thinner tactile bezel with a slightly curved glass face and a host of strap options.
It also incorporates LTE support, making it a perfect option for streaming music without a phone at the gym or during runs. Available in 44mm and 40mm sizes, the Watch Active 2 is also more suitable for smaller wrists. Even in its largest size, it weighs only 30 grams. This also makes it the best Samsung smartwatch for fitness and sleep tracking. While it happily wears these badges, that doesn’t mean it’s a great fitness watch.
Major health and activity tracking metrics, such as heart rate monitoring, may be unreliable. The blood pressure monitor is a definite low point. Again, if fitness tracking is a key point of purchase for you, it might be better to go something else. Still, the Galaxy Watch Active 2 remains a viable choice for those who want a Samsung smartwatch but don’t need the Galaxy Watch 3.
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Advantages
- Sleek, premium design
- Sharp AMOLED display
- Touch screen for quick navigation
- Bluetooth + LTE variants for more flexibility
- ~ 2 days of battery life
- Fantastic sleep tracking
The inconvenients
- No MST payments with Samsung Pay
- Tizen app ecosystem still lacks compared to Wear OS
- Heart rate, GPS and altimeter sensors may be wobbly
- The setup process still needs work
Check out our full review to learn more about the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2.
Samsung Galaxy Watch Active: the best inexpensive Samsung smartwatch
The original Galaxy Watch Active deserves a shout out as Samsung’s cheapest smartwatch option. It drops the touchscreen found on the Active 2, but that’s not a huge lack. The AMOLED display is crisp, while a 230mAh battery can be charged with any Qi wireless charger, adding to the Watch Active’s user-friendliness.
These characteristics, however, are offset by a good list of flaws. Like the Watch Active 2 and Watch 3, the Watch Active’s fitness tracking is not as reliable as we would like. It’s also slow to charge, which means it’ll spend less time on your wrist.
Still, if you want a Samsung wearable purely for its smartwatch capabilities, the Watch Active is your cheapest option.
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Advantages
- Lightweight and discreet on the wrist
- Clean and unpretentious style
- Sharp AMOLED display
- Supports Samsung Pay via NFC
- Tizen software wins over Wear OS
The inconvenients
- Blood pressure monitoring is a failure
- No rotating bezel or LTE version
- Very irregular fitness tracking
- No MST payment via Samsung Pay
- Very slow to load
Check out our full review to learn more about the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active.
Samsung Galaxy Fit 2: the best Samsung fitness tracker
The Galaxy Fit 2 is a solid and affordable fitness tracker. It replaces the physical button on the Galaxy Fit with a larger touchscreen – a good decision in our books. This greatly facilitates sliding menus and displaying indicators.
It also covers all the basics of fitness tracking, from stress and sleep monitoring to heart rate monitoring. The latter is on demand however, not continuous. The Galaxy Fit 2 also doesn’t have the styling of its more traditional smartwatch siblings, but that’s not much of a deal-breaker considering its price tag.
While we don’t recommend using it to train for marathons, it’s a solid starting wearable and an affordable gateway into 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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