Samsung
- Founded
- 1938
- Based in
- Suwon, South Korea
- In our catalog
- 1 watch from $650 to $700
If you use an Android phone, the Galaxy Watch is the closest thing to an Apple Watch you can buy. It tracks workouts and sleep, handles notifications and payments, and runs Google's Wear OS, so the usual Google apps are there. Since 2024 there's also a tougher Ultra model for people who spend their weekends outdoors.
History
Samsung started as a trading company founded by Lee Byung-chul in Daegu in 1938 and grew into one of the world's largest electronics makers, now headquartered in Suwon. Its first smartwatch, the Galaxy Gear, came out in 2013, a year and a half before the Apple Watch. For several years Samsung's watches ran its own Tizen software. In 2021, with the Galaxy Watch4, it switched to Wear OS, built with Google.
The Galaxy Watch Ultra arrived in 2024 with a titanium case, a shape somewhere between round and square, an extra quick-action button and longer battery life, aimed squarely at the Apple Watch Ultra.
Signature models
- Galaxy Watch Ultra: The rugged model, in titanium with a sapphire crystal and high water resistance, built for running, cycling and hiking.
- Galaxy Watch: The standard model, in two sizes, with a round screen and a slimmer case.
What it's known for
Galaxy Watches can take ECG readings and estimate body composition, and they work best paired with a Samsung phone. They don't work with iPhones.
Like all smartwatches, they age quickly: battery wear and software updates mean most people replace them after a few years.
Price and positioning
Galaxy Watches cost from about $300 to $650. The alternatives are the Google Pixel Watch, Garmin for serious training and battery life, and of course the Apple Watch if you're on iPhone.
Samsung watches in our library
- Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra ($650 to $700)