Samsung Galaxy Watch vs Apple Watch Series 3: the weigh-in

Samsung’s smartwatches keep getting better and better, and with its sleek styling, boosted battery life and optional 4G connectivity, the new Galaxy Watch might be the best yet. But does it have a chance of dethroning the current Apple Watch? Here’s what we think based on the Galaxy Watch’s specs.

Design: Hard to compare

While you can customise the appearance of both watches with different bands, the cases couldn’t look more different. Where the Apple Watch looks like an iPhone that’s been shrunk for your wrist, Samsung has followed a much more traditional circular template, albeit one with a big, bright touchscreen where the face should be. It comes with the same rotating bezel we’ve seen before and with 42mm and 46mm varieties, it’s bigger and heavier than the Apple Watch.

Screen: Small but sharp

Both the Galaxy Watch and Apple Watch Series 3 use OLED screens, albeit with different shapes and sizes. The 46mm Galaxy Watch has a 1.3in display at 360×360, while the 42mm model drops down to 1.2in at the same 360×360 resolution. Meanwhile, the 42mm Apple Watch has a 1.65in screen at 390×312 and the 38mm model comes in at 340×272. Regardless of specs, both should offer deep blacks and bold contrast. We haven’t had them side-by-side yet, but it’s hard to believe that the Galaxy Watch will disappoint compared to the Apple Watch.

Health and fitness: Can Samsung match up?

The Apple Watch has learned a lot since it first appeared on the scene, now offering fully waterproof activity tracking via GPS and a built-in heart-rate monitor. The Galaxy Watch will offer improved tracking over past Gear models, including automatic workout tracking capabilities, and “swim-ready” water resistance, but given the big design differences, it’s unlikely it’ll be as fitness-focused as Apple’s offering. If it can hit a lot of the basics, though, the average wearer should be suitably served.

OS and apps: Apple’s lead

Even with watchOS 5 on the way, Apple’s wearable operating system is already pretty handy. There’s a decent number of useful apps and walkie-talkie capabilities, better fitness tracking, a smarter Siri and improved notifications will only improve things. Will there be as many on the Galaxy Watch? Samsung’s Tizen-based watches haven’t had the most robust ecosystem of third-party apps, although Spotify, Uber, and Nest are a start. Even if it doesn’t get many more, it’s got the basics covered with fitness tracking, mobile payments and such like. It has a more diverse selection of faces than the Apple Watch, too.

Battery: Big promises

While personal experience tells us the Apple Watch needs nightly charging, Samsung is making some lofty claims of the Galaxy Watch’s battery life. Samsung says that that the larger 46mm model can go for several days with its bulky 470mAh battery pack and new mobile processor, while the 42mm model’s 270mAh can manage a day or two at most. The latter is in line with what the Gear S3 could do, but we’d be astonished if the former was true. Still, we can’t wait to put it to the test.

Connectivity: Take it over leave it

Both watches offer standard and 4G-capable models. The former needs a smartphone to function, while the latter has a SIM onboard and can go it alone, meaning you can make calls and send and receive messages, stream music – via Apple Music on the Apple Watch or Spotify on the Galaxy Watch – and otherwise take care of business without your phone around. The Galaxy Watch can also pair with both Android phones and iPhones, while the Apple Watch is, of course, limited to iPhones.

Price: How do you like them, Apple?

Price-wise, the Samsung Galaxy Watch will have an advantage with the base Bluetooth models. The 42mm model sells for £269, while the 46mm model goes for £299. Meanwhile, the 38mm Apple Watch starts at £329 and the 42mm model begins at £359. The 4G Galaxy Watch models have only been announced for U.S. release so far, and land at US$379 and US$399, respectively, Meanwhile, the 4G-equipped Apple Watch Series 3 models start at £399/US$399.

Initial verdict: Too early to tell

With its beefier battery, strong build and a decent amount of developer support there’s no reason why the Galaxy Watch couldn’t challenge Apple’s grip on the smartwatch throne. With a new version of the Apple Watch rumoured to be on the horizon the goalposts could soon shift, but we’re looking forward to strapping both on and giving them a proper going over. In the meantime, the Galaxy Watch will be available from the 14 September in the UK and 24 August in the States.