Apple Watch 7 vs. Samsung Galaxy Watch 4: The Ultimate Guide

Trying to decide whether you should get a Galaxy Watch 4 or the Apple Watch Series 7 is a lot simpler decision than you might think. Both watches are designed for a very specific user that, frankly, comes down to one question: What kind of smartphone do you use?

Apple Watch 7 vs. Samsung Galaxy Watch 4

The Apple Watch 7 and Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 are two of the best smartwatches you can buy right now — period. Although each caters to different users, innovations in wearable computing are usually determined by the new features both companies can bring to customers’ wrists.

But did Apple or Samsung produce the better device? This Apple Watch 7 vs Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 face-off covers how the two smartwatches stack up.

Apple Watch 7 vs. Samsung Galaxy Watch 4: Price and availability

The Apple Watch 7 starts at $399 for the 41mm GPS-only model, which is how much the 40-millimeter Apple Watch 6 with GPS cost. It was announced alongside the iPhone 13 series and is available now.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 is available, too. It starts at $249.99 for the 40mm Bluetooth model and $299.99 for the 40mm LTE model. The Galaxy Watch 4 Classic model with elevated materials starts at $349.99 for the 42mm Bluetooth model and $399.99 for the 42mm LTE model. It was announced alongside the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3, two of the best phones you can buy now.

Apple Watch 7 vs. Samsung Galaxy Watch 4: Design

The Apple Watch’s design didn’t get the sweeping flat-edged redesigned rumored in past months — the Series 7 is actually curvier compared to previous Apple Watch models. It’s not as obvious unless you’re looking at the Apple Watch 7 vs. Apple Watch 6 side-by-side, though.

But the Apple Watch 7 display is probably the biggest upgrade, making it the best Apple Watch yet. Apple hasn’t changed the Apple Watch’s display borders in several years. But now, the Apple Watch 7’s display is up to 20% bigger than the Apple Watch 6’s. With a tiny 1.7mm bezel, the Apple Watch looks a lot larger, even though the chassis size hasn’t changed. It sure looks like it maximizes screen real estate better than the Galaxy Watch 4.

The Galaxy Watch 4 actually has two design options. First, the sporty-looking Galaxy Watch 4 as the company’s flagship and a follow-up to the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2. Second, the ‘Classic’ version that carries on the luxurious characteristics of last year’s Samsung Galaxy Watch 3. The Classic model looks more like a traditional watch, offering a good balance of fashion and function, complete with a physical rotating bezel you can use to navigate menus.

Performance: Processors, software and battery specs compared

The Galaxy Watch 4 is powered by the latest Exynos W920 chipset. The watch also features a new Google Wear OS co-designed by Samsung and Google. It’s the first smartwatch to run the new software, officially called Wear OS 3. In his review of the Galaxy Watch 4, CNET’s Scott Stein says, although the move to Wear OS was a big deal and a step toward integrating the smartwatch with Android phones, “it feels like the Samsung ecosystem Band-Aid hasn’t been ripped off completely.”

Although Apple’s new smartwatch typically gets a new processor each year, the company didn’t mention the Apple Watch 7’s processor during its September event. Earlier rumors say the Apple Watch 7 houses a smaller, double-sided S7 chip, but we don’t know if this is true yet. The new smartwatch also features Apple’s WatchOS 8 software, announced at WWDC this past June.

In terms of battery, the Series 7 Apple Watch is said to have up to 18 hours of battery life, while the Galaxy Watch 4 can hold a charge for 1 to 2 days. Compared to other rival smartwatches and fitness trackers like Fitbit, the Apple Watch’s poor battery life is one of the more persistent complaints. Stein says the Apple Watch has been “dead last” in battery life among its competitive set.

There are a few details about the Apple Watch 7 we still have questions about, but we hope to find out more when the watch is released next week. In the meantime, here’s CNET’s Galaxy Watch 4 review, all the best new features in WatchOS 8, how to decide between the Apple Watch Series 6, Series 3 and SE, settings to change on any new Apple Watch, best Apple Watch apps and the best Android smartwatches in 2021.

Apple Watch Series 7 vs Samsung Galaxy Watch 4: PRO and CONS

Apple Watch Series 7

PRO

Square display
Wider panel
LTPO technology
32 GB of internal storage

CONS

Price

Samsung Galaxy Watch 4

PRO

Elegant design
More compact
Blood pressure monitor
Rotating bezel

CONS

Smaller display

Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 vs. Apple Watch 7: Which Is the Best Choice for You?

Neither the Apple Watch 7 nor Galaxy Watch 4 is a bad choice, and the best one for you will depend on your goals. If you’re looking to measure your health on a more granular level, the Watch 4 offers many valuable tools. Having said that, the Apple Watch 7 doesn’t slack in this respect—nor will you be disappointed if you want to improve your general fitness goals.

If you’ve got an iPhone, you’ll probably feel more comfortable with the watchOS operating system—even though you can use Samsung’s device with your smartphone. And if you have a Samsung phone (or Android device in general), you’ll get much more use out of the Watch 4 than the Apple Watch 7.

Bottom line

The gist of the debate between buying an Apple Watch Series 7 or Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 starts and ends with what type of phone you use. If you own an iPhone, the Apple Watch is the best smartwatch you can get, without a doubt. If you use Android, you have many more options, but the Galaxy Watch 4 is the first to run a next-generation operating system that offers the best of Google’s ecosystem of apps, and Samsung’s wearable knowledge and performance. The combination of the two make up the best Android-based smartwatch we’ve seen to date.

However, when you start to look at which model of Apple Watch to get, or whether the Galaxy Watch 4 is better than an older WearOS watch, things aren’t as clear-cut. You have plenty of options from Fitbit to Garmin, but we think that the Galaxy Watch 4 or Watch 4 Classic currently offer the best experience for Android.

Which watch is best Samsung or Apple?

If you own an iPhone, the Apple Watch is the best smartwatch you can get, without a doubt. If you use Android, you have many more options, but the Galaxy Watch 4 is the first to run a next-generation operating system that offers the best of Google’s ecosystem of apps, and Samsung’s wearable knowledge and performance.

What is the difference between Apple and Samsung watch?

In terms of size, the Galaxy Watch 4 is smaller than the dimensions of the Apple Watch 7. The Galaxy Watch comes in 40mm and 44mm options, while the Apple Watch 7 comes in 41mm and 45mm sizes. The Galaxy Watch 4 Classic, however, is larger than the new Apple Watch.

Which smartwatch is better than Apple?

A powerful health watch (but an average smartwatch), the Fitbit Sense is one of the only smartwatches that beats the Apple Watch Series 7 as a medical device.

Can I use a Samsung watch with an iPhone?

Galaxy Watch pairs with smartphones running Android 5.0 or higher & RAM 1.5GB above, iOS 9.0 and later, and smartphones iPhone 5 and newer. … *Galaxy Watch is not compatible with tablet PCs. *Compatible smartphones and available features may vary by region, carrier and device.