Google's recent Pixel hardware event gave us a slew of new devices; including the new Pixel Watch 3. This shift in the calendar has meant that Google’s new wearable arrives only a month after one of its biggest competitors – the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 – made its debut.
These two wearables make for a more direct comparison than perhaps any other smartwatches currently on the market, not least because they’re the two latest and best examples of a modern Wear OS-powered smartwatch available right now. But even with the overlapping experiences powered by their underlying operating systems, Google and Samsung have taken their latest timepieces in different directions with regards to feel, functionality and fitness.
As to which is the better smartwatch for you, it could be as simple as which smartphone you already use, or a matter of budget. If this decision isn’t as clear-cut for you, read on for a more in-depth comparison of the Pixel Watch 3 vs the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7.
Pixel Watch 3 vs Galaxy Watch 7: Price & Availability
With its earlier release launch date, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 is already available; going on sale in most key markets by the end of July. At the time of writing, the new Pixel Watch 3 remains in its pre-order phase, with a shape date of September 10, about a month and a half behind the newest Galaxy Watch.
As for price, Samsung hasn’t changed its formula year-on-year, with two sizes of Watch 7 each available in WiFi and LTE flavors, and all priced the same as their respective predecessors.
The Pixel Watch 3, meanwhile, marks a shift in Google’s wearable strategy by starting at around the same price as the Pixel Watch 2, but sporting a price hike of $50 / £50 / AU$100 hike for the new LTE model. There’s also a new larger 45mm version to consider, something previous generations of Pixel Watch lacked.
Side by side, it’s clear that Samsung can’t be beat on price, with the base WiFi-only 40mm Watch 7 coming in $50 / £60 / AU$30 cheaper than the most modest 41mm Pixel Watch 3. The disparity is even greater when you switch up to the larger-sized watches here too, with the LTE 45mm Pixel Watch 3 coming in at $120 / £130 / AU$140 higher, against its Galaxy Watch equivalent.
- Winner: Galaxy Watch 7
Pixel Watch 3 vs Galaxy Watch 7: Design
These two smartwatches are hewn from similar materials but sport two distinctly different aesthetic styles. Like its predecessors, the Pixel Watch 3 resembles a rounded pebble of recycled aluminum for the casing back and curved Gorilla Glass 5 on the front. To add to Google’s minimalist approach, there aren’t any discernible lugs either, with proprietary straps that connect directly to the casing itself. It’s also worth noting that straps for the larger 45mm model – a new variant added this year – are not compatible with older generations or the smaller 41mm casing size.
In contrast, the Galaxy Watch 7 sports flat aluminum sides with lugs that protrude above and below its flat circular face, which itself is protected by sapphire crystal. Unlike the Pixel Watch’s straps, although Samsung’s watch also comes with quick-release bands of its own, both casing sizes are compatible with conventional 20mm pin straps; widely available across first and third-party retailers, meaning a far larger breadth of band styles and prices are available to Watch 7 wearers. Both Watch 7 sizes are also a few grams lighter (29g vs 31g and 34g vs 37g without straps) than their Pixel Watch 3 equivalents.
As for durability, both watches boast dust and water resistance with IP68 certification, and swim-proofing up to 5ATM. However, the Galaxy Watch comes with MIL-STD-810H approval against shock and temperature extremes, something the Pixel Watch 3 hasn’t been cleared for.
Despite their smaller body sizes, both Galaxy Watch 7 casing options pack Super AMOLED displays that are 0.1-inches larger than their equivalent Pixel Watch 3s, meaning 1.3 and 1.5-inches across the 40mm and 44mm model, respectively. Both brand’s watches now offer up screens with a 2,000-nit peak brightness for better outdoor viewing, but while this is an upgrade for the Pixel Watch 3, Samsung made this move a generation earlier, on the Galaxy Watch 6 line.
As for interaction, beyond their touchscreens the Galaxy Watch has two buttons on the side of its casing, as well as a touch-sensitive digital bezel that surrounds the screen. You might, however, prefer the Pixel Watch’s physical rotating crown, if you’re looking for a more tactile way to scroll through menus and zoom in and out on interface elements.
- Winner: Galaxy Watch 7
Pixel Watch 3 vs Galaxy Watch 7: Features
As mentioned up top, both smartwatches come running the latest Wear OS 5, but as with its phones, Samsung has augmented the base user experience with an interface called One UI 6 Watch, that’s more in keeping with its own-brand phones; especially across Samsung-specific apps and widgets. The Pixel Watch 3 is also compatible with an additional generation of phones, supporting devices running Android 10 or newer, while the Galaxy Watch 7 works with Android 11-powered phones devices or newer.
In both cases, you can expect exclusive features if you also rock a Pixel or Galaxy phone, respectively. The Pixel Watch 3’s new UWB (ultra-wideband) chip – something enabled by Wear OS 5 but that the Galaxy Watch lacks altogether – allows for automatic unlocking of compatible Pixel phones when in close proximity (as well as cars from select brands, like BMW and Mini), along with automated call screening with a hold function (giving you time to properly answer on your phone), plus there’s a revised remote camera control app built into the Watch 3 for Pixel users.
On Samsung’s side of the fence, along with gesture-based customizable shortcuts, like a double-pinch and a knock-knock motion, there are a few health-specific benefits, such as snoring detection and extended battery life from the Galaxy Ring, when both the Watch 7 and Ring share heart rate tracking duties.
Speaking of health and fitness, the Galaxy Watch 7 carries over the body composition sensing from previous entries, while a new BioActive sensor is used for everything from heart rate tracking to blood oxygen monitoring. The Watch 7 is even the first smartwatch to launch with FDA-approved sleep apnea detection in the US.
Despite the new sensor and new insights from Samsung Health, such as the new Energy Score (which uses all the metrics detected over time to calculate your body’s readiness to work out) the Pixel Watch 3 might be the better fitness wearable here.
Multiple reviewers have already generated empirical data that shows the previous Pixel Watch 2’s heart rate sensor was more consistent than the Galaxy Watch 7’s, and with Google confirming that the Pixel Watch 3 sports the same sensing hardware – backed up by an improved algorithm – it stands to reason that the divide in accuracy and consistency between these two smartwatches is even greater.
The Fitbit experience of previous Pixel Watches has been improved too, with Readiness Score no longer a Premium-only benefit, while a new Cardio Load and Target Load metric help you make better decisions about when and how hard to work out, as well as whether you’re looking to improve or just maintain a level of fitness; a nuance not present on the Galaxy Watch. Both watches also let you build your runs and other workouts based on various relevant metrics available, so in that regard, you’re covered either way.
- Winner: Pixel Watch 3
Pixel Watch 3 vs Galaxy Watch 7: Performance & Battery Life
The Pixel Watch 3 uses the same dual-chip architecture – a Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 and Cortex M33 co-processor – as found on its predecessor, which serves up the same quoted 24-hours of use per charge with the AoD (always-on display) enabled. That said, this generation Google has augmented the experience further with a new Battery Saver mode that promises up to 36 hours of use per charge, even with constant heart rate monitoring still running.
Despite similarly-sized batteries to the latest Pixel Watches, even with their larger and sharper displays, both casing sizes of Galaxy Watch 7 promise to deliver up to 30 hours of use per charge, with the AoD active (although most reviewers are getting between 24 and 28 hours). This could be thanks, in part, to the new 3nm Exynos W1000 chip running the show (also found in the new Galaxy Watch Ultra), which Samsung says is three times faster than the chip inside the previous Galaxy Watch; anecdotally, even when power saving is enabled, it makes for an impressively snappy user experience that the Pixel Watch 3 might struggle to keep pace with.
When it comes to recharging both take under 90 minutes to refill, provided you pair them with the optimal power adapter.
- Winner: Tie
Pixel Watch 3 vs Galaxy Watch 7: Conclusion
While there are certain advantages for runners, Fitbit or Pixel fans to go straight for the Pixel Watch 3, Samsung’s greater experience in the smartwatch space has given it more time to tweak and refine its latest Galaxy Watches; resulting in faster, longer-lasting and more affordable wearables than the equivalent offerings from Google.
If you’re looking for a higher degree of accuracy when it comes to fitness tracking, or a cleaner user experience, then consider paying that Pixel Watch premium, otherwise the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 offers an equally holistic smartwatch experience for less.
