Which model is best for you?

If you’re an Android user looking for a smartwatch, the Apple Watch is pretty much off limits. The best option is Samsung instead. But with so many Galaxy Watch models out there, how do you know which one is right for you?

Samsung Galaxy Watch: The best choice for most people

The Galaxy Watch is the most popular Samsung series and is intended to compete directly with the Apple Watch. The latest model is the Galaxy Watch 7.

As with all smartwatches, health and fitness are the focus. So it counts your steps and tracks your overall daily activity level. It also tracks your workouts and exercises, including things like running, cycling, and swimming.

The watch monitors your sleep and gives you recommendations on how to improve it via a sleep health score. It also has an FDA-approved sleep apnea risk detection feature that can alert you to potential problems so you can seek further medical help.

In addition, the watch is equipped with sensors that offer comprehensive health functions. Among other things, it can measure your heart rate, your blood oxygen level, your body composition or even your level of stress. You can use it to record an ECG and check your blood pressure when used with a cuff-based blood pressure monitor.

The software uses AI to collect and analyze all this data and provide you with a daily energy score along with other recommendations.

But the Galaxy Watch is more than a glorified Fitbit. It can control or play your music, handle notifications and calls, provide directions in Google Maps, and pay you with Samsung Wallet.

The Galaxy Watch runs WearOS with Samsung’s One UI Watch, meaning you can install apps to significantly expand functionality.

Aside from one or two niche features that require a Samsung Galaxy phone, you can sync a Galaxy Watch with your iPhone or any manufacturer’s Android phone. It is available in two sizes, 40mm and 44mm, and two variants – Wi-Fi only or with Wi-Fi and LTE connectivity.

Samsung Galaxy Watch7

$279 $350 Save $71

The Samsung Galaxy Watch7 offers significant performance and health monitoring upgrades, including an advanced processor and detailed AI-powered sleep tracking.

Samsung Galaxy Watch FE: The budget choice

If the Galaxy Watch is the reference model, all other series offer variations of it. The Galaxy Watch FE is a slightly stripped-down version with some key compromises, making it about $90 cheaper.

Although the hardware is different, the FE – like all newer models in the Galaxy Watch range – has broadly the same software features, delivered through regular updates. Combined with the lower price, this is a great choice for beginners or an option if you’re on a budget.

The main differences between the Galaxy Watch FE and the Galaxy Watch 7 lie in the core specifications. It has less RAM, half the storage and a slower processor. Perhaps most importantly, the battery is about 20% smaller, meaning you can expect a daily charge depending on your usage.

There are also a few design differences. It’s only available in a single 40mm version – with or without LTE – but it’s actually slightly smaller than the regular Galaxy Watch and has a slightly smaller, lower-resolution display.

However, it is still durable and, like Samsung’s other watches, is designed to be dust and water resistant.

Samsung Galaxy Watch FE LTE

The Samsung Galaxy Watch FE is a smartwatch that offers comprehensive health and fitness tracking features. It allows users to take control of their well-being through advanced sleep monitoring, heart health tracking and personalized fitness insights, while seamlessly connecting with other Samsung Galaxy devices.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Classic: For those who love the traditional watch aesthetic

The Galaxy Watch Classic range has much of the same features as the regular Galaxy Watch, but is designed for those who prefer the aesthetics of a classic watch.

The most important thing to note is that the Classic series is a year behind the regular series, meaning the latest model is the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic. On the plus side, this means you can find a good deal on it, while software updates have delivered most of the Watch 7’s features.

The main feature that makes the classic so attractive is its physical rotating bezel. It provides an alternative way to scroll through menus and apps instead of swiping, and provides a satisfying click while driving. It also gives the watch a more traditional look.

The Classic has the same screen size options as the standard Galaxy Watch, but the frame makes it larger and bulkier – it’s almost twice as heavy. It is also available in Wi-Fi or LTE versions.

Since it is a year older, some sensors are from the previous generation, resulting in lower accuracy, and the processor is also slightly slower and less power efficient. The storage capacity is the same, but there is only half the storage space.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic

$270 $400 Save $130

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic is a return to the design and functionality of the Watch 4 Classic. The rotating bezel is back, along with thinner bezels and larger displays.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra: For the more adventurous user

The Galaxy Watch Ultra is Samsung’s largest and most expensive smartwatch series, designed for the most active and adventurous users.

Compared to the Galaxy Watch 7, it is more robust and has a significantly longer battery life.

Samsung prides itself on its durability in extreme conditions, operating in temperatures between -4°F and 131°F and at altitudes of nearly 30,000 feet. Water resistance is rated at 10ATM, which is about 330 feet, although Samsung doesn’t recommend using it for diving or water sports.

It’s made of titanium, which Samsung says makes it the toughest Galaxy Watch ever. The safety features you need while on the go include a powerful 86-decibel siren that can be heard up to 500 feet away. You also get features like fall detection, which are also available on the other models.

Additionally, you get the same health, fitness and sleep features as the other Galaxy watches, as well as the AI ​​reporting tools and general smartwatch features and app support.

There is only one model of the Galaxy Watch Ultra. At 47mm, it’s the largest size in the range, although it has the same screen as the 44mm Galaxy Watch 7 and supports both Wi-Fi and LTE.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra

Designed for serious athletes, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra features 10ATM water resistance and a long-lasting battery that lasts for days.

Samsung Galaxy Fit: The Fitbit replacement

Finally, a quick mention of the Galaxy Fit, Samsung’s most affordable and feature-rich watch series. It’s not a real smartwatch as it doesn’t run Wear OS. Instead, it focuses solely on health and fitness and is essentially Samsung’s version of a Fitbit.

The latest model, the Galaxy Fit 3, is available in parts of Europe, Asia and South America. Although it hasn’t officially launched in the US, you can still buy a Galaxy Fit 3 online.

It has a small 1.6-inch rectangular display and is protected from rain and dust. As a fitness device, it gives you virtually all of the fitness, health, and sleep features you get on the Galaxy Watch, minus some advanced features like AI recommendations and sleep apnea tracking.

One of the benefits of the watch’s lack of features is that it results in significantly longer battery life. The Fit 3 is said to last up to 13 days on a single charge.

In summary, if you just want to buy a smartwatch without having to think too much about it, the Galaxy Watch is the model of choice. It’s the default choice for everyone, and you can’t go wrong with it.

The Galaxy Watch FE is ideal as a first smartwatch or if you’re on a budget. The Galaxy Watch Classic is heavier and looks like a traditional watch.

The Galaxy Watch Ultra is Samsung’s version of the Apple Watch Ultra. It’s probably overkill for everyone but the outdoorsy types. The Galaxy Fit is a simple option if you just want to count your steps, monitor your health, and track your sleep.