What is the best Samsung watch? The answer depends on what you prioritize most in a smartwatch. We've been testing Galaxy Watches for over a decade and the best overall model for most folks in 2024 is the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7; it's also the best Samsung Watch for fitness tracking. But, that's not your only option worth considering.
For those on a budget, last year's Galaxy Watch 6 and fan-favorite Galaxy Watch 6 Classic can often be found for a discount. Or, if battery life and a tough-built design appeal most, the Galaxy Watch Ultra is Samsung's most rugged wearable yet.
The best Samsung Watch today
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Best Samsung Watch for fitness
The Galaxy Watch 7 is the best Samsung watch for fitness and wellness tracking. It boasts the same impressive AI-backed holistic features as the far pricier Galaxy Watch Ultra in a comfier and more wallet-friendly package. It's also one of the best Android smartwatches, alongside the Google Pixel Watch 3, which offers better battery life but costs more.
Thanks to Samsung's latest BioActive sensor and an updated processor with more power and better efficiency, the Galaxy Watch 7 is a lean, mean machine and all about helping you live a healthier life via a daily Energy Score, in-depth sleep analysis, custom-tailored workout and wellness suggestions and more.
It additionally monitors for health anomalies like sleep apnea and abnormal heart rhythms and can help you keep tabs on menstrual and metabolic health, perform ECG readings, and of course, track your workouts, over 100 types.
- Read our full Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 review
Best budget-friendly Samsung Watch
With the launch of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 and Ultra, we expect to see more frequent savings on the last-generation Samsung Galaxy Watch 6.
Still an excellent Android smartwatch in its own right, the wearable comes in several varieties: The standard model strikes a balance of sleek and sporty. While the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic elevates style with the fan-favorite physical rotating bezel. Our comparison of Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 vs. Galaxy Watch 6 Classic can help you decide which is right for you.
Health, sleep and fitness tracking features on the Galaxy Watch 6 aren't quite as comprehensive as on the Galaxy Watch 7 but that doesn't mean they're to be overlooked. You can still keep tabs on a huge range of workouts, learn about the quality of your sleep, monitor stress and track women's menstrual health.
Beyond that, the Galaxy Watch 6 offers the same basic design as its predecessor with a bright and responsive touchscreen, dual buttons along the case side and a nifty interchangeable band mechanism.
- Read our full Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 review
Best Samsung Watch for battery life
The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is the closest thing to an Apple Watch Ultra for the Android crowd. Sporting a large 47mm titanium case, a bright AMOLED screen with up to 3,000 nits of brightness and a trio of physical buttons, one of which is customizable, the Galaxy Watch Ultra is Samsung's most rugged model. It's also the best Samsung Watch for battery life.
Only two Android smartwatches surpass the 48-hour mark, the Galaxy Watch Ultra and the Pixel Watch 3 in 46mm. However, the Ultra can cruise for as long as 72 hours or more when using the battery-saver mode.
You also get the very best of Samsung's health and fitness tracking tech, including the ability to monitor complex multisport activities, like triathlons. Like the Galaxy Watch 7, rest, recovery and wellness insights are underpinned by AI, and tools like the daily Energy score, combined with advanced sleep insights, make this one heck of a holistic device.
- Read our full Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra review
How to choose the best Samsung watch for you
Choosing the best Samsung watch for you doesn’t need to be a hard decision. In most cases, it will come down to the newest Samsung Galaxy Watch 7, Galaxy Watch Ultra or Galaxy Watch 6 Classic. The Galaxy Watch 5 or Galaxy Watch 5 Pro can also be found on sale sometimes. We’d recommend getting the Galaxy Watch 7 if you want to have a smartwatch with the ambitious Wear OS software and the most advanced health monitoring features — and you own a Samsung smartphone.
And, if you’re still questioning which Samsung watch is best, or whether a Galaxy Watch is the best smartwatch for you, take a look at our smartwatch buying guide. It includes a number of Galaxy Watch and fitness tracker comparisons, which may help you determine whether one of the best Fitbit devices or best Garmin watches better suits your needs.
How we test the best Samsung watches
We test Samsung smartwatches the same way we do all smartwatches: By wearing them for several days to see how they hold up in a series of everyday trials. We first see how well the watches fit on our wrists, and how easy the displays are to navigate and read, especially in sunlight. Depending on its capabilities, we also test the watches' sensors, such as GPS and heart rate monitors.
Other criteria that factor into our ratings include the smartwatch’s software and app collection, how well it interacts with our smartphone, and battery life. In all of this, we also take into account the price of the smartwatch. The less a watch costs, the more leeway we're inclined to give it. In the case of the best Samsung watches we also analyze how each new Galaxy Watch compares to its predecessor, and how well (or not) the company continues to push the boundaries of wearable technology.
