We’re predicting a high-stakes showdown between the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 and the Google Pixel Watch this fall. After all, who is the best Wear OS will determine which is the best smartwatch for Android for the year.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 has a lot to offer. It has a new skin temperature reader, a more scratch-resistant screen and 50 hours of battery life. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, meanwhile, has 80 hours of battery life to fuel outdoor sports.
But the Google Pixel Watch is expected to crash the Galaxy Watch 5 party this fall. Since being confirmed at Google I/O, the company’s first smartwatch seemed poised to become the ultimate accessory for Pixel smartphone users.
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Since the Pixel Watch isn’t here yet, we can’t say if one smartwatch is better than the other. But based on what we know so far, we can speculate how the Galaxy Watch 5 vs Pixel Watch might compare in terms of price, looks, battery life and more.
And may the best smartwatch ultimately prevail.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 vs Google Pixel Watch: Price and availability
Google Pixel Watch pricing rumors put the smartwatch between $300 and $400. It looks like the Google smartwatch will come in two sizes, but it’s unclear if it will also include LTE versions.
According to tipster Jon Prossor, the Google Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro release date could be October 13, with pre-orders potentially increasing on October 6. Assuming the Pixel Watch is announced at the same time as the Pixel phones, we could see it as early as the last week of September. Google hasn’t confirmed the price or release date, so it’s just speculation.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 is available from August 26, 2022 and starts at $279 for the 40mm Bluetooth model. The 40mm LTE model starts at $329. The price goes up to $299 and $349 for the 44mm configurations for Bluetooth and LTE, respectively. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, the new “rugged” model, costs $449 for Bluetooth and $499 for LTE. It is available in a single size of 45mm.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 vs. Google Pixel Watch: Design
From the little preview we received, the Google Pixel Watch design appears to sport a rounded face with what looks like a digital crown and a pair of buttons on the right side. Google revealed the device in silver, although we expected to see at least two color options offered. Either way, the Pixel Watch presents itself as a minimalist smartwatch, perhaps to follow the design language of other Pixel devices.
The standard Galaxy Watch 5 is sleek and sporty, also with a round face. It features a reshaped curvature on the bottom, creating more surface area for watch-to-skin contact and therefore more accurate health data collection. Also, the screen is now made of sapphire crystal, which is said to be 60% more scratch resistant than before.
Designed as a more premium companion, but suitable for outdoor sports, the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro comes in a titanium case and a formidable size of 45mm. The case is actually raised around the screen, to further protect the screen from scratches.
The Galaxy Watch 5 is available in four colors: Graphite, Silver, Sapphire (44mm only) and Rose Gold (40mm only). The Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is available in Titanium Black and Titanium Gray
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 vs Google Pixel Watch: Features
For now, we don’t know much about what the Pixel Watch will offer in terms of features. We’re sure it’ll run Wear OS and feature apps like Google Assistant, Google Maps, and even the new Google Wallet with credentials announced with Android 13.
Google has suggested that Pixel Watch will also take advantage of Fitbit fitness tracking in some way. The interior is still a mystery, but the integration of advanced health sensors such as ECG or EDA could make the Pixel Watch one of the best fitness trackers like the Fitbit Sense.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 is also a Wear OS watch, but as Samsung adapts Android OS for its smartphones, Wear OS powered by Samsung presents an exclusive user experience. It has many Google programs, but the main fitness tracking platform is Samsung Health.
The Galaxy Watch 5 has some notable sensors, including a Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) system to measure body composition and the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Skin Temperature Sensor, which is new this year.
There are also GPS-specific features on the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro. It will be interesting to see if the Pixel Watch is touted as a good outdoor hiking or cycling watch and rivals Samsung’s Pro model.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 vs Google Pixel Watch: Battery life
Sources say the battery capacity of the Pixel Watch will be 300mAh. It’s unclear if this capacity will be consistent across multiple models of the Pixel Watch, but if we had to guess, the Pixel Watch’s battery life with regular use will peak at around two days.
The Galaxy Watch 5 has a 15% larger battery than the Galaxy Watch 4, promising up to 50 hours of battery life. It’s about 10 hours longer than before, and also drops about two days. It’s possible that the Pixel Watch and Galaxy Watch 5 will be equal in terms of battery life.
That probably won’t be true for the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, though. Samsung rates the outdoor sports watch for 80 hours of battery life, so it can keep up with adventures that require the use of GPS.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 vs. Google Pixel Watch: Outlook
At present, it is impossible to say which of them will be the best Wear OS smartwatch. But we can’t ignore that Samsung has the edge in terms of experience and share in the wearables market.
While currently Pixel phone users can use any of the best Samsung watches, some features are tailored for those with Samsung phones. Soon, those with Pixel phones will have a smartwatch made for their product ecosystem. Whether the Galaxy Watch 5 or the Pixel Watch will do the job better remains to be seen.