Google Pixel Watch 3 vs. Samsung Galaxy Watch 7: which Android smartwatch should you buy?

The latest Wear OS smartwatches have dropped and already the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 has claimed a top spot in our best Android smartwatches buying guide. We just started testing Google's freshly launched Pixel wearable — read my colleague Kate's hands-on review of the Google Pixel Watch 3 — and first impressions are also quite positive. 

Having debuted just months apart, these shiny new smartwatches have much in common, beyond running the latest Wear OS 5 software. For example, both are available in a smaller and larger option and with or without LTE connectivity.

You also get a ton of wellness and workout-tracking tech built into either and plenty of third-party apps. The question is, which new Android smartwatch is should you invest in? I've spent time with both devices, checking out the newest features and assessing comfort, responsiveness and build quality. 

So, I've compared the Google Pixel Watch 3 vs. Samsung Galaxy Watch 7, and examined each watch's strengths and weaknesses across six categories: price, battery life, design and wearability, workout features, health-tracking features and connectivity. 

Pixel Watch 3 vs. Galaxy Watch 7: price and availability

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 starts at $299 for the 40mm model with Bluetooth and jumps to $349 for LTE connectivity. Google's smaller model with Bluetooth is $349, or $50 more than its Galaxy Watch 7 counterpart, while the LTE edition is $449, or $100 more than the Samsung alternative.

The larger Galaxy Watch 7 is $329 for Bluetooth and $379 for LTE. By comparison, the 45mm Pixel Watch 3 is $399 for Bluetooth-only, $70 more than its Samsung equivalent, while the LTE model is $499, or $120 more than the bigger LTE Galaxy Watch 7.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 is available for purchase now while the Google Pixel Watch 3 is available for preorder with devices expected to ship in early September. 

Winner: Samsung Galaxy Watch 7

Pixel Watch 3 vs. Galaxy Watch 7: specs compared

Pixel Watch 3 vs. Galaxy Watch 7: battery life

Neither the Pixel Watch 3 nor the Galaxy Watch 7 offer any serious battery life improvements over their predecessors, which means that you can expect up to around 24 hours of usage per charge under standard operating conditions.

The Pixel Watch 3 promises up to 36 hours of juice when using battery saver mode. Google notes that health-tracking and safety features aren't turned off when conserving power with this method. The mode also kicks in automatically at 15% charge. 

From my experience, the Galaxy Watch 7 lasts a little longer than the Pixel Watch 3 promises in power-saving mode, closer to 40 hours. Still, your mileage (kilometers for my international friends) may vary. 

Both devices can be fully recharged in under 90 minutes when using an appropriate adapter. The Pixel Watch 3, for instance, needs a 30W adapter to reach its promised speeds. 

We've yet to test the Pixel Watch 3's longevity claims but based on expectations, it appears to mostly be a match with the Galaxy Watch 7, making this category too close to call.

Winner: draw

Pixel Watch 3 vs. Galaxy Watch 7: design

Google and Samsung played it safe with the designs of their latest flagship smartwatches. Both look nearly identical to their predecessors, though Google made more aesthetic changes than Samsung, notably, shrinking its previously chunky bezel down 16% and adding a second larger-sized model to the mix. Samsung has long since offered a larger and smaller option. 

The Pixel and Galaxy devices sport circular AMOLED touchscreens that max out at 2,000 nits. This should be more than bright enough for viewing in direct sunlight. While the larger pixel watch has a 1mm size advantage over its Samsung equivalent, the Galaxy Watch has an ever-so-slightly larger display. 

The smaller Pixel Watches weigh a tiny bit more than the Galaxy Watches but the difference is fairly negligible. The Pixel Watches are noticeably thicker, though, by 2.6mm. On the wrist, I found both devices quite comfortable. 

The Galaxy Watch offers two physical buttons on the side of the case. The Pixel Watch on the other hand (see what I did there?) provides one physical button and a digital crown that can be rotated as well as pressed. 

Both devices are responsive to operate but I prefer Google's digital crown to a second button. Speaking of operation, the Pixel Watch uses a Qualcomm SW5100 processor paired with a Cortex M33 co-processor. 

The Galaxy Watch, meanwhile, sports an equally capable Exynos W1000 processor. Whichever watch you choose, you'll be getting 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. Water resistance is 50 meters across the board. 

Winner: draw

Pixel Watch 3 vs. Galaxy Watch 7: workout features

The Pixel Watch 3 and Galaxy Watch 7 each shine when it comes to fitness features and insights. Either device will let you create a custom workout routine, help you keep your pace while running and provide a daily score to help you better understand your body's training condition. 

Samsung has its Energy Score while Pixel Watch 3 users get access to Fitbit's previously paywalled Readiness Score, both of which are a number ranging from one to one hundred. The Pixel Watch also includes a new Training Load metric to help you avoid over-excursion. 

The Pixel Watch 3 can track 40 exercise types while the Galaxy Watch 7 tracks over 100. Post-workout metrics are thorough whichever device you choose. However, the Pixel Watch hides some features behind the Fitbit Premium paywall ($80 per year), while Samsung provides all data for free in the Samsung Health app. 

Google put a lot of attention on improving workout metrics for runners, adding data points like ground contact time, stride length, vertical oscillation and vertical ratio. Google also says the latest Pixel Watches have the most accurate heart rate tracker to date, especially when it comes to keeping tabs on heart variations while you run.  

I've yet to dig too deeply into the new Pixel Watch's fitness data but appreciate the fact that workout metrics from the Galaxy Watch are accompanied by lots of useful insights within the app. 

While it's a close call between these two smartwatches when it comes to fitness features, and this decision could very well change with more testing, I'm giving the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 the nod because it tracks more than double the number of exercises as the Pixel Watch 3. 

Winner: Samsung Galaxy Watch 7

Pixel Watch 3 vs. Galaxy Watch 7: health-tracking

Sleep-tracking on the Galaxy Watch 7 is impressive, with loads of insights after just one night of wearing the watch to bed, including details on body temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate and movement while you snooze. It also detects snoring. The Galaxy Watch 7 is additionally FDA-authorized to detect signs of sleep apnea; the Pixel Watch 3 is not.

While the Pixel Watch 2 provided comprehensive sleep detection data — I've yet to wear the 3 overnight — I'm more impressed with Samsung's daily sleep report. Google made no mention of any major changes to sleep-tracking, so Samsung may have the competition beat on this front.

On the other hand, the Pixel Watch 3 boasts a first-of-its-kind Loss of Pulse Detection feature which can contact emergency services if triggered. However, this feature will not be available in the U.S. for launch, but will be enabled in the U.K. and EU. 

Ultimately, both of these devices are jam-packed with sensors to keep tabs on heart health, movement, stress levels and menstrual health, but the Pixel Watch 3 keeps some functionality paywalled while the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 doesn't. Because of that, the Galaxy Watch gets the W. 

Winner: Samsung Galaxy Watch 7

Pixel Watch 3 vs. Galaxy Watch 7: connectivity

It should be noted that to get the most out of either of these devices, you'll likely want to pair them with the latest Samsung or Google Pixel handsets. The Galaxy Watch, in particular, requires a Galaxy smartphone to unlock features like sleep apnea detection. 

Only the Pixel Watch 3 sports an ultra-wideband chip, which can be used to lock and unlock an array of devices, not just your Pixel phone but also things like your car or even your house. For launch, Google partnered with BMW/MINI to bring wrist-based automotive unlocking to compatible car models. 

While both devices can be used to control smartphone cameras, the Pixel Watch 3 can also control compatible Google TVs. But, perhaps even cooler than that is the ability to check a Nest camera feed from the wrist via the Pixel Watch 3. You can even communicate back and forth with someone on the other side of the camera.

Samsung in theory could bring more functionality over other Samsung devices to the Galaxy Watch 7, but at present, the Pixel Watch 3 is the better-connected smartwatch.

Winner: Google Pixel Watch 3 

Pixel Watch 3 vs. Galaxy Watch 7: which is right for you?

With the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 winning three categories compared to the Google Pixel Watch 3 winning just one — the other two were draws — Samsung is hereby declared the winner of this flagship Android smartwatch showdown. Again, though, this outcome could change once testing on the Pixel Watch is completed.

Ultimately, the most significant factor setting Google's new smartwatch apart from Samsung's is the fact that it costs more, no matter which model you pick, between $50 and $100. So, if even both devices provided similar user experiences and features, that alone would ensure Samsung's victory. 

Winner: Samsung Galaxy Watch 7

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