Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Vs Pixel Watch 3: Which Android Smartwatch Should You Buy?

Kerry Wan/ZDNET

Samsung announced its newest lineup of Samsung Galaxy smartwatches connected Wednesday astatine its yearly summertime Unpacked event. The Galaxy Watch 8 and Watch 8 Classic are nan brand's thinnest and lightest smartwatches yet, and they characteristic a wide array of wellness features aimed astatine continuous wellness capture. 

Right astir nan clip of Samsung's hardware announcements, Google stole immoderate of Samsung's thunder erstwhile it announced its Pixel Watches would besides beryllium getting Google's Gemini successful a latest package update. 

Also: Everything Samsung conscionable unveiled Unpacked July: Galaxy Z Fold 7, Watch 8 Ultra, more

Alongside nan Gemini integration, some smartwatches see an ECG for bosom complaint monitoring purposes, a cardiovascular load characteristic that takes into relationship your activity strain to optimize training, emergency wellness features for illustration nonaccomplishment of pulse, and more. 

The mobility remains: if some Android smartwatches will person nan aforesaid AI integration and akin functionalities, which is nan amended buy? I break respective aspects of some smartwatches down for you arsenic you make nan buying decision. 

Specifications

You should bargain nan Galaxy Watch 8 if...

Kerry Wan/ZDNET

1. You want nan brightest display 

The Galaxy Watch 8 boasts a 3,000-nit display. That's an incredibly agleam and vivid display, moreover successful nonstop sunlight. The Galaxy Watch 8's show not only trumps its seventh-generation predecessor but besides that of nan Google Pixel Watch 3 and nan Apple Watch Series 10's 2000-nit brightness. The only awesome smartwatch to lucifer nan caller Galaxy Watch 8's brightness is nan Apple Watch Ultra 2. 

2. You prioritize agelong artillery life

The Galaxy Watch 8 lineup should past wearers astir 30 hours pinch nan always-on show enabled and 40 hours pinch always-on disabled, according to Samsung. This is simply a small spot longer than nan Pixel Watch 3's artillery life, astatine up to 24 hours pinch always-on enabled and 36 hours pinch always-on disabled. 

3. You're a runner

While nan Pixel Watch includes respective workout features designed for runners, for illustration timed warmups and interval training, nan Galaxy Watch 8 has 1 characteristic nan Pixel Watch can't beat: Running Coach. 

Also: The champion Samsung phones to bargain successful 2025

Running Coach connected nan Galaxy Watch 8 takes your training to an moreover much personalized level by analyzing your gait and capacity connected a people from 1 to 10. The personification tin past person a personalized training scheme geared toward completing a 5K, 10K, half, aliases afloat marathon. 

Only Fitbit Premium recommends regular moving routines, whereas Galaxy Watch 8 offers them for nary subscription. 

4. You're willing successful nan caller Antioxidant Index feature

Samsung is debuting a wholly caller characteristic pinch nan Galaxy Watch 8. The Antioxidant Index measures your carotenoids done a light-activated BioActive sensor connected nan watch. Within 5 seconds, Antioxidant Index tells you whether your antioxidant intake is very low, moderate, aliases adequate. 

This is nan first characteristic of its benignant I've seen successful nan wellness wearables market, and I can't thief but admit really excited I americium to trial it retired - and spot if it really useful aliases accurately represents my antioxidant intake. 

5. You want slumber apnea discovery successful your smartwatch 

Sleep apnea is an often undiagnosed information that impacts each parts of health. Luckily, smartwatches for illustration nan Galaxy Watch person made spotting nan information overmuch easier. The Galaxy Watch monitors breathing disturbances passim your slumber and tin make suggestions if it suspects you're astatine risk. This isn't a caller characteristic connected nan latest Galaxy Watch lineup, but it is 1 characteristic Google Pixel Watches still don't have. 

You should bargain nan Pixel Watch 3 if...

Matt Miller/ZDNET

1. You want deeper Google Gemini integrations 

While some smartwatches are integrated pinch Gemini, nan Google Pixel Watch has nan precocious manus because its integrations pinch Google spell beyond nan individual adjunct functionalities. With nan Galaxy Watch, users tin usage Gemini to constitute and nonstop texts aliases multitask requests, for illustration starting a workout playlist and nan workout activity successful nan Health app astatine nan aforesaid time. 

Also: Your Samsung telephone conscionable sewage a large information upgrade for free (these models included)

With Google's Gemini integration, users tin inquire Gemini to create a 10-mile moving playlist, and nan adjunct will do truthful utilizing YouTube Music. Gemini tin besides respond to requests and queries by utilizing respective Google apps to complete said petition aliases query. 

For example, a Pixel Watch personification tin inquire Gemini: "Where's nan java shop my friend emailed maine about?" and Gemini will hunt Gmail, past usage Google Maps to create a way there. 

2. You want a cheaper smartwatch (and connected waste now)

The Galaxy Watch8 will tally you $350 for nan guidelines exemplary aliases $500 for nan classical model. Right now nan Google Pixel Watch 3 is seeing a waste that takes nan value down by $100, to $250. If you're torn betwixt nan 2 Android devices, possibly opt for nan inexpensive 1 instead. 

3. You're a devout Fitbit user

If you want to enactment wrong nan Fitbit ecosystem for signaling workout and wellness, I'd urge nan Pixel Watch 3 complete nan Galaxy Watch 8. Samsung Galaxy Watches and Rings usage nan Samsung Health ecosystem for monitoring and storing wellness data. 

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