I Compared The Two Best Android Smartwatches Right Now - And It Was A Close One

Kerry Wan/ZDNET

Google conscionable unveiled its new Pixel Watch 4, and upon first glance, it's beautiful akin to nan Galaxy Watch 8 Samsung released past month. They're some Android smartwatches pinch AI-powered wellness coaches, they person astir nan aforesaid artillery life, brightness, and storage, and notably, they're nan aforesaid price. 

Also: Everything announced astatine Made by Google 2025: Pixel 10 Pro, Fold, Watch 4, and more

Of course, you'll get different watch bands and different marque styles, pinch Google's watch being somewhat bigger, but nan bones of these devices are almost identical. Nevertheless, arsenic personification who loves to comparison and contrast, I wanted to spot really these 2 smartwatches differ, and which you should bargain if you're looking astatine both. 

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Specifications

You should bargain nan Google Pixel Watch 4 if...

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1. You're a Google Pixel telephone owner

This is an evident one, but if you're a Google Pixel user, you should bargain a Pixel Watch, and if you're a Samsung Galaxy user, you should bargain a Galaxy Watch. Both Android watches are compatible pinch either telephone brand, but it's often a smoother acquisition utilizing smartwatch's autochthonal instrumentality brand. 

Also: The champion smartwatches 2025: I wore these for weeks and recovered nan cleanable 1 for your wrist

2. You're an outdoor enthusiast 

Kerry Wan/ZDNET

The Pixel Watch 4 has a unsocial outer characteristic that separates it from competitors for illustration Samsung. Unlike smartwatches that require a phone's cellular connectivity to initiate outer connection (like nan Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra), nan Pixel Watch 4 offers standalone outer communications -- nan first of its kind. The characteristic is disposable connected nan Google Pixel Watch 4 LTE. 

Also: I tried Pixel Watch 4 - and these are my 7 favourite upgrades successful Google's caller watch

Powered by nan Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 processor, it connects to geostationary satellites successful nan entity without requiring a carrier's further connection. You tin conscionable return your Pixel Watch 4 retired into nan awesome outdoors and cognize that, if an emergency arises, you'll person each nan connectivity devices astir your wrist to beryllium successful touch pinch an emergency responder and nonstop messages. 

3. You want further colorways 

The Galaxy Watch 8 only comes successful graphite and metallic lawsuit colors. Google diversifies its lawsuit colors pinch 5 options crossed nan board. If you opt for nan 41mm smartwatch, you'll take from a Matte Black aluminum lawsuit pinch an Obsidian Active Band, a Polished Silver aluminum lawsuit pinch a Porcelain Active Band, a Champagne Gold aluminum lawsuit pinch a Lemongrass Active Band, aliases a Polished Silver aluminum lawsuit pinch an Iris Active Band. 

If you opt for nan 45mm smartwatch, you'll take from a Matte Black aluminum lawsuit pinch an Obsidian Active Band, a Polished Silver aluminum lawsuit pinch a Porcelain Active Band, and a Satin Moonstone aluminum lawsuit pinch a Moonstone Active Band. 

You should bargain nan Galaxy Watch 8 if...

Nina Raemont/ZDNET

1. You want free wellness features 

While nan Pixel Watch 4 offers improved slumber staging and somesthesia sensing algorithms for further accuracy, astir of Google's caller AI-powered wellness coach features are hidden down Fitbit Premium, which costs $10 a period aliases $80 annually. 

Samsung's wellness features, connected nan different hand, are free. Let's opportunity you're training for your first marathon. Samsung's caller Running Coach characteristic tests your moving expertise pinch a 12-minute test, ranks it retired of 10, and provides a tailored training programme based connected your expertise and recovery. Samsung Health besides suggests bedtimes based connected your slumber needs -- conscionable for illustration Google. 

Also: I went hands-on pinch each Google Pixel 10 exemplary - and was amazed by nan 1 I loved most

Samsung's Galaxy Watch 8 besides has a unsocial Antioxidant Index characteristic not coming connected nan Pixel Watch 4 that measures your carotenoid levels. To activate it, conscionable property your thumb connected nan BioActive sensor, and nan watch lets you cognize if your levels are wrong capable aliases inadequate ranges.

Galaxy Watch 8 (left) and Pixel Watch 3 (right). 

Nina Raemont/ZDNET

2. You want a thinner watch 

The Galaxy Watch 8 is simply a thinner instrumentality that's easy to wear. While I've only worn nan Pixel Watch 4 for a fewer minutes during a instrumentality demo, I noted that it was rather a spot chunkier. Some group mightiness admit this, but if you person smaller wrists, nan Galaxy Watch 8 will apt beryllium a amended fit. 

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