This yr, Samsung has taken its wearables to an excellent new stage with the brand new Galaxy Watch Extremely, a smartwatch that’s inevitably drawing comparisons with its greatest rival, the Apple Watch Extremely 2.
From the identify to the design, it’s obvious that that is exactly what Samsung was once going for. Then again, it’s unfair to name the Galaxy Watch Extremely simply a copycat product. There also are many ways by which Samsung has put its distinctive spin at the new excessive wearable, and it’s no doubt a significantly better have compatibility for the wishes of out of doors journey fanatics than 2022’s Galaxy Watch 5 Professional, which was once a tight smartwatch that suffered from a little bit of an id disaster.
However, the Galaxy Watch Extremely has an opinionated design that leaves no room for confusion about what it’s and who it’s for. In that sense, it’s each bit as daring and courageous because the Apple Watch Extremely 2, however can it hang its personal given Apple’s two-year head get started? Let’s to find out.
Samsung Galaxy Watch Extremely vs. Apple Watch Extremely 2: specifications
Samsung Galaxy Watch Extremely
Apple Watch Extremely 2
Show
47mm
1.5 inch 480 x 480 Tremendous AMOLED continually on show
Sapphire Crystal
As much as 3000 nits most brightness
49mm
1.94 inch 502 x 410 Retina LTPO OLED continually on show
Sapphire Crystal
As much as 3000 nits most brightness
Processor
Exynos W1000 (5 Core, 3nm)
Apple S9 SiP with 64-bit dual-core processor
Battery
590mAh
542mAh
Garage
32GB
32GB
Required cellular software
Android 11 or greater with greater than 1.5GB of reminiscence
iPhone working iOS 17 or later
Dimensions and weight
47.4 x 47.4 x 12.1mm, 60.5g
49 x 44 x 14.4mm, 61.4g
Instrument
Put on OS Powered by means of Samsung (WearOS 5)
UI: One U1 6 Watch
watchOS 10
Sensors
Samsung BioActive Sensor (Optical Bio-signal sensor + Electric Middle Sign + Bioelectrical Impedance Research)
Temperature Sensor
Accelerometer
Barometer
Gyro Sensor
Geomagnetic Sensor
Gentle Sensor
Electric center sensor and ECG app
3rd-generation optical center sensor
Low and high center charge notifications
Abnormal rhythm notifications
Sleep levels
Temperature sensing
Intensity gauge ±1m accuracy and app
Water temperature sensor
Compass with Waypoints and Backpedal
At all times-on altimeter
Top-g accelerometer
Top dynamic vary gyroscope
Ambient gentle sensor
Connectivity
LTE
Bluetooth 5.3
Wi-Fi 2.4+5GHz
NFC
GPS (L1+L5)
LTE
Bluetooth 5.3
Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n)
NFC
GPS (L1+L5)
Fabrics and hues
Titanium Silver, Titanium Grey, Titanium White
Titanium
Sturdiness
10ATM, IP68, MIL-STD-180H
10ATM, IP6X, EN13319, MIL-STD-810H
Value
$650
$799
Samsung Galaxy Watch Extremely vs. Apple Watch Extremely 2: design
Andy Boxall / Virtual Tendencies
In the beginning look, the Galaxy Watch Extremely turns out like a large departure from Samsung’s standard spherical design. Its sq. frame straight away brings Apple’s iconic smartwatch designs to thoughts, however Samsung has in fact taken a hybrid method right here.
The Galaxy Watch Extremely could have a sq. frame, however that’s the place the similarities to the Apple Watch Extremely each start and finish. Samsung hasn’t embraced a sq. show to move together with the brand new design. As an alternative, it’s a standard spherical watch face, and those that glance past the area of smartwatches will acknowledge its inspiration from different assets like Bell & Ross and Tag Heuer — to not point out its eerie similarity to the Hermès H08. It’s possibly ironic that Hermès is an established spouse of Apple on luxurious Apple Watch editions, but it surely additionally has not anything to provide within the Apple Watch Extremely house.
The Galaxy Watch Extremely is available in relatively smaller than the Apple Watch Extremely 2, with a 47mm casing as opposed to Apple’s bulkier 49mm casing, however that’s additionally a byproduct of a relatively extra trendy design. The Apple Watch Extremely 2 is a wearable that makes a large and impressive observation, however stylish it’s no longer. The Galaxy Watch Extremely could have a relatively extra polarizing design, however its similarity to different luxurious manufacturers is unmistakable, giving it a definite panache that Apple’s wearable lacks.
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However, in terms of uncooked design specifications, the Apple Watch Extremely 2 does have one vital edge over the Samsung Galaxy Watch Extremely. Whilst each wearables are rated for 10 atmospheres (10ATM) of water power, which equals a intensity of 100 meters, solely the Apple Watch Extremely is licensed for diving, with an EN13319 score to be used as a dive pc and for leisure scuba diving at depths of as much as 40 meters.
That’s vital as a result of regardless of with the ability to maintain as much as 100 meters of water power, Samsung says within the high quality print that the Galaxy Watch Extremely is solely appropriate for “shallow-water actions like swimming in a pool or ocean.” That’s in keeping with its 10ATM score, which is designed just for swimming, snorkeling, or high-speed water sports activities like browsing and water snowboarding. That 10ATM designation approach 100 meters of nonetheless water, and all bets are off while you exert additional power on it.
Whilst it’s much less related in gentle of the 10ATM score, the Galaxy Watch Extremely additionally options an IP68 score that fits Samsung’s higher-end smartphones. It’s absolutely dust-resistant and will face up to immersion in as much as 1.5 meters of water for as much as half-hour. As an alternative of an IP water-resistance score, Apple hangs its hat on its 10ATM and EN13319 scores, giving the Apple Watch Extremely solely an IP6X for a similar stage of coverage towards grime and different small debris. Then again, not like IP68/IPX8, the 10ATM score covers salt water, so ocean swimming received’t be an issue. Each wearables also are examined to MIL-STD-810H for altitude, excessive temperatures, humidity, immersion, freezing and thawing, salt and fog, and surprise and vibration.
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The band attachment gadget may be value bringing up right here, as Samsung has executed one thing relatively extraordinary with the Galaxy Watch Extremely. Quite than slanting downward towards the wrist, the bands attach at an attitude parallel to the case, which makes the Watch sit down a little bit extra awkwardly at the wrist. Extra considerably, the bands connect with a brand new dynamic lug gadget that’s distinctive to the Galaxy Watch Extremely. This will likely restrict you to bands made particularly for the Galaxy Watch Extremely, leaving it out of the colourful ecosystem of bands for each different Galaxy Watch type.
By means of comparability, the Apple Watch Extremely is suitable with each 42/44/45mm Apple Watch band launched for the reason that unique 2015 Apple Watch. Some smaller bands might glance a little bit atypical towards the bulkier Apple Watch Extremely, however they’ll connect simply high quality.
Samsung Galaxy Watch Extremely vs. Apple Watch Extremely 2: show
Andy Boxall / Virtual Tendencies
Samsung’s and Apple’s Extremely wearables are extra lightly matched in show high quality. The Apple Watch Extremely includes a relatively greater display screen, with a diagonal duration of one.94 inches, in comparison to the Galaxy Watch Extremely’s 1.5-inch display screen, however the latter makes up for that with a better answer, striking each more or less on par on the subject of pixel density — 335 pixels in keeping with inch (ppi) for the Apple Watch Extremely 2 as opposed to 320 ppi for the Galaxy Watch Extremely.
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That’s no longer a distinction any person will understand with the bare eye. Tthe Apple Watch has an oblong 410 x 502 show with 205,820 pixels, whilst the Galaxy Watch Extremely’s spherical 480 x 480 show solely has 180,956 pixels because it has no corners to fill.
Each presentations are masses shiny, achieving as much as 3,000 nits of top out of doors brightness. That are meant to get you via even the sunniest out of doors adventures with none problem. Samsung has additionally embraced Apple’s crimson Night time Mode, which is more straightforward at the eyes at nighttime and received’t have an effect on your night time imaginative and prescient on a tenting travel or night hike.
Samsung Galaxy Watch Extremely vs. Apple Watch Extremely 2: efficiency
Samsung Semiconductor
Samsung has given its wearables a pleasing efficiency spice up this yr by means of adopting a brand new five-core Exynos W1000 chip that guarantees to be about 3x sooner and 30% extra power-efficient than final yr’s Exynos W930.
It’s the primary soar we’ve noticed amongst Samsung’s watches shortly and will have to translate to a far smoother and extra responsive person enjoy that will be extra on par with the Apple Watch Extremely.
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Apple’s watches have continually run with buttery smoothness — we’ve steadily referred to them because the “gold same old for smartwatch efficiency” — with out a lag in any respect. Whilst final yr’s Galaxy Watch 6 was once high quality by itself, the adaptation in efficiency was once obvious while you when put next them facet by means of facet. Whilst the present Apple Watch Extremely is powered by means of Apple’s newest S9 chip that continues to be forward of the pack, we think the Exynos W1000 to near that hole considerably.
Samsung Galaxy Watch Extremely vs. Apple Watch Extremely 2: tool and contours
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Samsung’s determination to stay with a round show was once most probably a sensible selection, taking into consideration that the Extremely runs the similar Put on OS and One UI Watch tool as the remainder of the Galaxy Watch circle of relatives. Looking to adapt that for a sq. display screen would had been a can of worms that we’re certain Samsung didn’t wish to open.
The Galaxy Watch Extremely is likely one of the first smartwatches to undertake Put on OS 5 and One UI 6 Watch. The most recent Put on OS guarantees some great potency enhancements, in addition to reinforce for a brand new Watch Face Structure that are supposed to supply extra flexibility for third-party builders, translating to much more customization for Galaxy smartwatches.
The Apple Watch Extremely 2 ships with Apple’s watchOS 10, by which Apple presented a few of its personal vital design adjustments final yr. Then again, it stays acquainted sufficient that anybody who’s ever used an Apple Watch will have to really feel proper at house. As with the iPhone, customizability isn’t Apple’s precedence, so that you’ll be restricted to the integrated watch faces that Apple gives — even if there are masses to make a choice from.
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Possibly probably the most vital tool alternate within the Galaxy Watch Extremely is the addition of Samsung’s Galaxy AI options. Those use deeper AI-powered research of well being and health knowledge to summarize how your well being is impacting your day-to-day existence — referred to as an Power Ranking — and be offering suggestions and training on learn how to make stronger issues.
Regardless of Apple’s fresh foray into Apple Intelligence, it’s no longer going there with the Apple Watch but. Apple’s AI might be restricted to the iPhone, iPad, and Mac, and there’s no phrase on when it’s coming to the corporate’s wearables.
For tool updates, Samsung is now promising 4 primary Put on OS and One UI updates. Apple doesn’t make explicit guarantees right here, but it surely most often helps its wearables with watchOS updates for no less than as lengthy.
Finally, it’s value remembering that the Galaxy Watch Extremely and Apple Watch Extremely each require a paired smartphone of a identical taste. For Samsung’s watch, that may be just about any Android 11 smartphone, even if it really works perfect with fresh Galaxy S collection or Galaxy Z collection fashions. The Apple Watch Extremely 2 stays an Apple-only affair and calls for an iPhone working iOS 17 or later.
Samsung Galaxy Watch Extremely vs. Apple Watch Extremely 2: battery existence and charging
Andy Boxall / Virtual Tendencies
Potency enhancements in Exynos W1000 and Put on OS 5 will have to lend a hand either one of this yr’s Galaxy Watch fashions reach longer runtimes, however the Galaxy Watch Extremely takes that to new heights with a bigger 590mAh battery and two power-saving fashions that would see it final for as much as 100 hours between fees.
That’s if you happen to cross all of the method into the usual power-saving mode, which shuts down the always-on show, wake-up gestures, background processes, and community and GPS services and products. You’ll be able to additionally rise up to 80 hours by means of turning off the always-on show or 60 hours throughout common operation with always-on enabled. We’ll have to place it via its paces to peer how the real-world efficiency aligns with Samsung’s guarantees, however we have been lovely inspired with final yr’s Galaxy Watch 6, so we have now excessive hopes that the Galaxy Watch Extremely will ship right here.
The Apple Watch Extremely 2 has a identical low-power mode that can give as much as 72 hours of battery existence in a pinch, assuming you’ve your paired iPhone close by to maintain the mobile connection. That 72 hours of runtime assumes 60 hours of this is connecting to the web by means of Bluetooth on your iPhone, plus 360 time exams, 360 notifications, 180 mins of app use, and two 60-minute exercises with tune playback.
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Apple’s low-power mode disables the always-on show and background well being measurements for center charge and blood oxygen, which additionally approach you received’t get notifications for abnormal center rhythms or excessive/low center charges. In commonplace mode, you’ll be expecting 36 hours of battery existence, in line with 80 time exams, 180 notifications, 90 mins of app use, and a unmarried 60-minute exercise with tune. This additionally assumes you solely use the LTE connection for 8 of the ones 36 hours.
Each wearables reinforce wi-fi rapid charging by means of the adapters that come within the field. The Apple Watch Extremely 2 can cross from lifeless to an 80% price in about an hour; Samsung doesn’t say anything else concerning the charging occasions for the Galaxy Watch Extremely, however we think it to be identical.
Samsung Galaxy Watch Extremely vs. Apple Watch Extremely 2: health and well being monitoring
Andy Boxall / Virtual Tendencies
Samsung’s smartwatches have continually been at the forefront relating to well being options, and the Galaxy Watch Extremely isn’t any exception. This yr, the Galaxy Watch lineup has outstanding itself by means of providing the primary sleep apnea tracking era to be De Novo authorized by means of the Meals and Drug Management (FDA), beating Apple to the punch on a characteristic that to this point has solely been rumored to be coming to the next-generation Apple Watch Extremely.
Sleep apnea tracking is an extension of Samsung’s sleep monitoring options, that have been a staple of the Galaxy Watch lineup for the previous few years. Then again, this yr, Samsung has added a extra complicated AI set of rules for sleep research that are supposed to supply extra correct effects. This feeds into the Sleep Apnea characteristic, which is able to proactively hit upon possible indicators of reasonable to serious sleep apnea. As with the well being options in any shopper wearable, this isn’t an alternative to a analysis by means of a scientific skilled, however it will possibly point out that you simply will have to get your self looked at.
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Naturally, Samsung additionally continues to fortify its BioActive Sensor yr over yr, which means that the Galaxy Watch Extremely can glean much more correct readings for such things as center charge, muscle and fats mass, frame water, frame fats, and basal metabolic charge (BMR). There isn’t anything else new right here in comparison to prior Galaxy Watch fashions, however the numbers you get will have to be extra actual.
At the health facet, the Galaxy Watch Extremely gives a brand new Race mode that allows you to compete towards your self by means of evaluating your present efficiency towards earlier out of doors working and biking exercises alongside the similar course. The Useful Threshold Energy (FTP) characteristic supplies AI-powered metrics to lend a hand cyclists measure their most biking persistent.
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Whilst the Apple Watch Extremely 2 packs in in a similar way complicated well being options, Apple has bogged down a little bit during the last couple of years. The final {hardware} well being characteristic to come back to its wearable was once a frame temperature sensor within the 2022 Apple Watch Collection 8 and the unique Apple Watch Extremely. Their 2023 successors didn’t upload new {hardware}, even if watchOS 10 introduced biking efficiency metrics and new mountain climbing options to the wearable, together with topographic maps and a Race Path characteristic comparable to Samsung’s.
Apple’s Well being options don’t give you the similar complete bioelectrical impedance research (BIA) profile of your frame, so that you’ll must depend on different {hardware}. Then again, there’s a integrated ECG with complete center well being monitoring, together with excessive, low, and abnormal center rhythm notifications, plus sleep monitoring that comes with respiration charge and blood oxygen measurements (even if the blood oxygen sensor is lately inactive on new U.S. fashions because of an ongoing patent dispute).
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One space the place the Apple Watch Extremely stays extra “extremely” than Samsung’s nascent competitor is in out of doors mountain climbing and diving actions. As we discussed previous, the Galaxy Watch Extremely isn’t appropriate for deepwater swimming in any respect, whilst the Apple Watch Extremely is not just EN13319-certified for leisure scuba diving, but in addition features a integrated intensity gauge and water temperature sensor. A integrated Intensity app supplies elementary readings and is correct to plus or minus one meter. For the ones extra fascinated by diving, Apple has partnered with Huish Outdoor to create the Oceanic+ app, which turns the Apple Watch Extremely into a completely useful dive pc.
The Apple Watch Extremely 2 additionally has some extra established options for hikers, together with detailed topographic maps for over 1,000 nationwide and regional parks within the U.S. that display just about each path and focal point, together with data like duration and footage of trails so you’ll plan your mountain climbing expedition. A Backpedal characteristic allows you to simply to find your as far back as your level of starting place or get again onto your course if you happen to’ve strayed too a ways from the overwhelmed trail, and likewise presentations you the final spots the place you had complete mobile provider or emergency SOS calling so you’ll get again to protection while you’re out within the wild.
Samsung added a identical Observe Again characteristic to the Galaxy Watch Professional 5, and whilst it’s been unique to that type, it’s no longer unexpected to peer it’s made a comeback within the Galaxy Watch Extremely. Then again, it felt a little bit area of interest and poorly fleshed out at the previous type, so we’re booking judgment till we’ve had time to peer what Samsung has executed with it.
Samsung Galaxy Watch Extremely vs. Apple Watch Extremely 2: value and availability
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The Galaxy Watch Extremely is to be had in one type that sells for $650, even if you’ll get it for your number of Titanium Silver, Titanium Grey, or Titanium White, with Marine, Path, or Peakform bands. It went up for preorder on July 10, however you received’t be capable to get your arms on one till July 24. That’s when the primary preorders will have to arrive and when it’s going to cross on sale at primary shops like Amazon and Perfect Purchase. Samsung may be working a promotion to come up with an additional Path Band if you buy without delay from its web site.
The Apple Watch Extremely 2 prices $799 and may also be bought without delay from Apple or at maximum different electronics shops. The one colour possibility is herbal titanium, however you’ll choose between Alpine Loop, Path Loop, or Ocean watch bands, each and every of which is to be had in 3 colours.
Samsung Galaxy Watch Extremely vs. Apple Watch Extremely 2: verdict
Joe Maring / Virtual Tendencies
On the finish of the day, your selection between those two very good smartwatches might be dictated by means of the ecosystem you reside in since you’ll’t use a Galaxy Watch with an iPhone or use an Apple Watch with an Android software. Then again, if you happen to’re an out of doors journey fanatic who’s at the fence about switching to the opposite facet, Apple’s and Samsung’s Extremely wearables is also sufficient to tip the scales. If we have been to match the 2 in a couple of phrases, Samsung’s wearable comes out forward in well being tracking, whilst Apple’s excels at out of doors health exploits.
The Galaxy Watch Extremely is Samsung’s first legit try at a rugged journey smartwatch, and it’s an excellent one. Samsung hasn’t such a lot copied the Apple Watch Extremely because it’s discovered from it. The design similarities are superficial at perfect, and the Galaxy Watch Extremely nonetheless has its personal distinctive taste that units it aside no longer solely from Apple’s wearables, but in addition from the remainder of Samsung’s Galaxy Watch circle of relatives. It’s one thing fully new and distinctive on the planet of Put on OS smartwatches, and we don’t suppose Samsung lovers might be disenchanted with what it gives.
However, the Apple Watch Extremely 2 nonetheless stands proud as the actual excessive smartwatch. The classy by myself indicators its practical design, which is all about software and sturdiness and no longer type. That’s sponsored up by means of its talent to maintain deepwater diving and be taken out onto desert trails with a better stage of self belief. We’re additionally on the second one technology of Apple Watch Extremely and can most probably see the 0.33 seem in the following couple of weeks, so it’s a extra mature product that’s had time to adapt and discover a cast footing.
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