Choosing the best Samsung Galaxy Watch isn’t simply a case of buying the newest or most expensive model. Whether you want an everyday smartwatch, something with a more traditional watch design or a tougher companion for outdoor adventures, the right choice depends on how you’ll use it – and how much you’re willing to spend.
Samsung’s watches have come a long way since the camera-toting Galaxy Gear. Today’s Wear OS-powered models combine health and fitness tracking with access to apps on your wrist, making them a compelling alternative to the Apple Watch for Android users.
There are a couple of catches worth knowing before you buy, though. Modern Galaxy Watches don’t work with iPhones, and some features require a paired Samsung Galaxy phone. You can still enjoy much of the experience with another Android handset, but Galaxy owners get the most complete package.
To help you decide, we’ve rounded up the Samsung watches we recommend based on our hands-on testing, weighing up everything from comfort and everyday usability to tracking accuracy and battery life. If fitness is your main priority, our guides to the best Garmin watches and best fitness trackers are also worth a look. Otherwise, read on to find the Galaxy Watch that suits you.
Best Samsung Galaxy Smartwatches at a glance
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Learn more about how we test smartwatches
Every smartwatch we test is used by the reviewer for at least a week, or longer if the battery life lasts beyond that point or we need more time to trial its features.
During testing, we will check it for key metrics including app support, usability and battery life. If the device offers fitness, location or health tracking features, we will also test these for accuracy and reliability.
For distance tracking, we record how accurately the device recorded runs on tracks we know the length of. We also record how much battery is lost using things like in-built or connected GPS per hour. To check heart rate accuracy, we compare the results recorded on the wearable to a dedicated HRM strap.
After recording the data, we then pair it with our general experience using the wearable day-to-day, letting you know if it’s comfortable to wear or if we encountered unexpected bugs during use over the review period.
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Clean circular design
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Excellent bright screen
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Fast performance
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Intuitive WearOS software
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Good fitness features and coaching
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Battery only comfortably lasts a day (on 40mm model)
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Some health features only work on Samsung phones
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Relatively expensive at £349/$379
The Galaxy Watch 9 doesn’t look much different from the Watch 8, but Samsung’s refinements make it the most complete standard Galaxy Watch in years.
It comes in 40mm and 44mm sizes, with 1.34-inch and 1.47-inch AMOLED screens respectively. Both peak at 3,000 nits, so they’re easy to read even in direct sunlight. The aluminium case is light and comfortable enough to wear all day and night, and its IP68 and 5ATM ratings mean you can take it in the shower, the pool or the sea.
The biggest change is inside. Samsung has switched to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Wear Elite chip, and you notice it straight away. Apps open faster, and Gemini now works hands-free: just raise your wrist and ask. Samsung’s take on Wear OS is still the most intuitive version around, with notifications grouped by app and tiles you can fully customise.
It also gets the same dual-GPS as the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, and run tracking was very accurate in our testing. Automatic workout detection is impressive too, picking up walks and even a casual sea swim without a single button press. Sleep tracking is excellent, with results that closely matched the Oura Ring 5 and Whoop MG.
There are a few frustrations. Many advanced health features have to be switched on manually in Samsung Health, and battery life is the weak spot: the 40mm model only comfortably lasts a day, and charging takes around 90 minutes.
Even so, if you’re an Android user after a premium all-round smartwatch, especially with a Samsung phone, the Galaxy Watch 9 is the one to get.
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Exceptionally bright AMOLED screen
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Excellent dual-GPS accuracy
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Slick Wear OS experience
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Superb overview of health and fitness
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Battery life still limited
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Some Samsung-only health features
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AI insights feel generic
The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 doesn’t reinvent Samsung’s rugged flagship, but it fixes enough of the original’s rough edges to make it one of the most capable Android smartwatches you can buy.
It keeps the distinctive cushion design and shockproof titanium body. Durability goes up from IP68 to IP69K, alongside a 10ATM water rating. It’s also slimmer than before at 10.7mm, and with redesigned straps it’s more comfortable to wear day and night. It only comes in a single 47mm size, though, so it may still be too much for smaller wrists.
The 1.52-inch AMOLED screen is the standout. It peaks at 5,000 nits, the brightest of any smartwatch right now, and stays easy to read in dazzling midday sun. The new Snapdragon Wear Elite chip makes the software feel rapid, and it adds hands-free Gemini.
The Ultra 2 is built for the outdoors. Its dual-GPS stayed locked on even among Canary Wharf’s skyscrapers. You also get exclusive trail running and pro diving modes, plus real-time hydration guidance during workouts.
Sleep tracking closely matched the Oura Ring 5, and new Vitals and Heart Health Score features make Samsung’s health data easier to follow. The catch is that the AI insights in Samsung Health feel generic.
Its 800mAh battery is the biggest in Samsung’s range, 35% larger than the original Ultra’s. It comfortably lasted two days with every feature turned on, or three to four with some features switched off.
For Android users who want a premium watch that can handle serious workouts and the odd adventure, the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is easy to recommend.
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Rotating bezel makes it easy to scroll
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New software is a joy to use
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In-depth sleep and health tracking
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Screen is relatively small for a wearable of its size
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Just over a day of battery life
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Some flagship features exclusive to Samsung phones
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You need to install three separate apps on your phone
The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic stands out as the most stylish Galaxy Watch yet, thanks to a combination of its Ultra-inspired squircle design and the return of the fan-favourite rotating bezel, making for a classic watch with a modern twist.
The return of the rotating bezel makes scrolling and navigating Wear OS 6 a pleasure, while the 1.34-inch AMOLED screen is vibrant and easy to read in any light.
Samsung’s top-end Exynos W1000 chip ensures smooth performance, and the watch is packed with advanced health features from body composition and ECG to sleep apnea and antioxidant tracking. The new Running Coach uses AI to personalise your training, and automatic exercise detection is impressively reliable.
Battery life is decent but not class-leading, but if you want a Galaxy Watch that looks as good as it performs, the Watch 8 Classic is a clear choice.
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The new Galaxy Watch Ultra-inspired design
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An actually useful smart assistant
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Welcome user interface changes
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The promised battery life improvement is disappointing
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Some health features still tied to Samsung smartphones
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Some might not be sold on new design
The Galaxy Watch 9 may be Samsung’s newest flagship, but its arrival has made the Galaxy Watch 8 a better buy. Last year’s model is now regularly discounted, and it still offers nearly everything that makes a Galaxy Watch worth having.
You get a choice of 40mm and 44mm case sizes, both in the cushion-shaped design featured in more recent Galaxy wearables. It looks more premium than its new price suggests, though some people may prefer Samsung’s older fully round design.
On the software side, Wear OS 6 and One UI 8 make the Watch 8 easy to get around. Depthless notifications and the Now Bar keep things clean and uncluttered. You also get Gemini, which is one of the best assistants you’ll find on a smartwatch, along with Google Maps, the Play Store and contactless payments through Samsung Pay.
Health and fitness tracking is just as thorough. Sleep tracking, vascular load and the Antioxidant Index all work with any Android phone, and the personalised running coach builds a training plan from a 12-minute fitness test. The ECG and sleep apnoea detection still need a Samsung phone, though.
Battery life is the main drawback. Samsung claims up to 40 hours, but we managed just over a day between charges in testing, so you’ll need to charge it every night.
Even so, if you want a full-featured Galaxy Watch without paying full flagship prices, the Galaxy Watch 8 is the one to buy.
FAQs
At the time of writing, not only is the Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 one of the latest Samsung smartwatches, but we’ve crowned it as being the best. The reason we’ve deemed the Galaxy Watch 9 as being the best is thanks to its stylish design and the inclusion of premium features that are normally reserved for pricier Galaxy Watches.
While it is possible to use your Galaxy Watch for certain functions, you’ll need to ensure your device actually supports a 4G connection, and that you’ve successfully set it up. If this is the case, then you’ll be able to take calls, send and receive text messages, stream music and more while out and about, without needing your phone to hand.
Full Specs
| Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 Review | Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 Review | Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic Review | Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Review | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Samsung | Samsung | Samsung | Samsung |
| Screen Size | 1.34 inches | 1.52 inches | 1.34 inches | 1.47 inches |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP69K | IP68 | IP68 |
| Waterproof | 5ATM | 10ATM | 5ATM | 5ATM |
| Battery | 390 mAh | 800 mAh | 445 mAh | 435 mAh |
| Size (Dimensions) | 42.7 x 8.6 x 40.4 MM | x x INCHES | 46.4 x 10.6 x 46 MM | 43.7 x 8.6 x 46 INCHES |
| Weight | 31.5 G | – | 63.5 G | 34 G |
| ASIN | – | – | – | B0F7QD4HSD |
| Operating System | Wear OS with One UI | Wear OS with One UI | Wear OS 6 | OneUI 8 (Wear OS 6) |
| Release Date | 2026 | 2026 | 2025 | 2025 |
| First Reviewed Date | 04/08/2026 | 22/07/2026 | 29/07/2025 | 09/07/2025 |
| Colours | Graphite, Cream, Silver | Titanium Silver, Titanium Gray | Black, White | Graphite, Silver |
| GPS | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| UK RRP | £349 | £649 | £449 | £319 |
| USA RRP | $379 | TBC | $499 | $349 |
