The larger Google Pixel Watch 3 is a battery life champ with 48 hours of juice per charge. Plus, both models boast a comfortable and relatively sleek design with plenty of wellness and fitness monitoring features.
For
- Two size options
- Two days of battery life (45mm model)
- Useful sleep, wellness and training insights
- Bright AMOLED screen reaches 2,000 nits
- Advanced running form metrics
Against
- One day of battery life (41mm model)
- Lengthy multi-week calibration period for metrics like Target Load
The Galaxy Watch 7 features Samsung's best AI-informed health and fitness tracking tech, advanced sleep analysis and excellent integration into the greater Galaxy ecosystem. It's also one of the thinnest and lightest Android smartwatches.
For
- Two size options
- Accurate and detailed sleep insights
- Useful AI-powered wellness features
- Precise GPS and workout tracking data
- Bright AMOLED screen reaches 2,000 nits
- FDA-authorized sleep apnea detection
Against
- One day of battery life
- Many health-monitoring require a Galaxy phone
The latest Wear OS smartwatches have dropped and already both the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 and Google Pixel Watch 3 have claimed top spots in our best Android smartwatches buying guide.
Having debuted just months apart, these shiny new smartwatches have much in common, beyond running the latest Wear OS 5 software. For example, both are available in a smaller and larger option and with or without LTE connectivity.
You also get a ton of wellness and workout-tracking tech built into either and plenty of third-party apps. The question is, which new Android smartwatch should you invest in? I've reviewed both devices, testing out the newest features and assessing comfort, responsiveness, build quality, health data accuracy, longevity and more.
While the Samsung has advantages in some fields, the Google Pixel Watch beats it in others. To help you better parse their differences, here's how the Google Pixel Watch 3 vs. Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 compare across six key categories.
Pixel Watch 3 vs. Galaxy Watch 7: price and availability
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 starts at $299 for the 40mm model with Bluetooth and jumps to $349 for LTE connectivity. Google's smaller model with Bluetooth is $349, or $50 more than its Galaxy Watch 7 counterpart, while the LTE edition is $449, or $100 more than the Samsung alternative.
The larger Galaxy Watch 7 is $329 for Bluetooth and $379 for LTE. By comparison, the 45mm Pixel Watch 3 is $399 for Bluetooth-only, $70 more than its Samsung equivalent, while the LTE model is $499, or $120 more than the bigger LTE Galaxy Watch 7.
Both devices are available for purchase now.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
Pixel Watch 3 vs. Galaxy Watch 7: specs compared
Pixel Watch 3 vs. Galaxy Watch 7: battery life
When Google first announced the Pixel Watch 3, there was no mention of major battery life improvements, even in the newly debuted larger model. So, similar to the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 in 40 and 44mm, I expected both the 41mm and 45mm Pixel Watch 3 to last around 24 hours in my testing.
I was wrong. The smaller Pixel Watch 3 is a match with the Galaxy Watch 7 models but the 45mm Pixel Watch 3 consistently provides up to 48 hours battery life in between charges. That's very impressive and a match with only the $649 Galaxy Watch Ultra.
The Pixel Watch 3 and Galaxy Watch 7 both fully recharged in under 90 minutes when using an appropriate adapter. The Google Watch, for instance, needs a 30W adapter to reach its promised speeds.
Winner: Google Pixel Watch 3.
Pixel Watch 3 vs. Galaxy Watch 7: design
Google and Samsung played it safe with the designs of their latest flagship smartwatches. Both look nearly identical to their predecessors, though Google made more aesthetic changes than Samsung, notably, shrinking the previously chunky bezel down 16% and adding a second larger-sized model to the mix. Samsung has long since offered a larger and smaller option.
The latest Pixel and Galaxy devices sport circular AMOLED touchscreens that max out at 2,000 nits. This should be more than bright enough for viewing in direct sunlight. While the larger Pixel Watch 3 has a slightly larger case than its Samsung equivalent, 45mm vs. 44mm, the big Galaxy Watch 7 manages an ever-so-slightly larger display.
The Pixel Watch 3 also weighs a tiny bit more than the Galaxy Watch 7 but the difference is not particularly apparent. The former is noticeably 2.6mm thicker, but on the wrist, I found the latest devices from either manufacturer quite comfortable.
The Galaxy Watch offers two physical buttons on the side of the case; the Pixel Watch on the other hand (see what I did there?) provides one physical button and a digital crown that can be rotated as well as pressed.
Both devices are responsive to operate but I prefer Google's digital crown to a second button. Speaking of operation, the Pixel Watch uses a Qualcomm SW5100 processor paired with a Cortex M33 co-processor.
The Galaxy Watch, meanwhile, sports an equally capable Exynos W1000 processor. Whichever watch you choose, you'll be getting 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. Water resistance is 50 meters across the board.
Winner: draw
Pixel Watch 3 vs. Galaxy Watch 7: workout features
The Pixel Watch 3 and Galaxy Watch 7 each shine when it comes to fitness features and insights. Either device will let you create a custom workout routine, help you keep your pace while running and provide a daily score to help you better understand your body's training condition.
Samsung has its Energy Score while Pixel Watch 3 users get access to Fitbit's previously paywalled Readiness Score, both of which are a number ranging from one to one hundred. Samsung's version, however, is available after wearing the watch for a short period while Google's requires seven consecutive nights of wearing before your Readiness Score is, well, ready.
The Pixel Watch also includes a new Target Load metric to help you avoid over-excursion but it takes even more dedication than the Readiness Score to generate: Users must wear the watch for 14 nights straight. On the other hand, a new Cardio Load score on the Pixel Watch 3 measures heart excursion for physical activities and is available in each post-workout report.
The latest Pixel Watch tracks 40 exercise types while the Galaxy Watch 7 tracks over 100. Post-workout metrics are thorough whichever device you choose. However, the Pixel Watch hides some features behind the Fitbit Premium paywall ($80 per year), while Samsung provides all data for free in the Samsung Health app.
Useful insights are presented alongside your key wellness data in either smartwatch's companion health app, but, the Samsung Health app does a better job of contextualizing everything with tips, explainers and charts.
Google, meanwhile, put a lot of attention on improving workout metrics for runners, adding data points like ground contact time, stride length, vertical oscillation and vertical ratio. The brand also says the latest Pixel Watches have the most accurate heart rate tracker to date, especially when it comes to keeping tabs on heart variations while you run.
While it's a close call between these two smartwatches when it comes to fitness features, I'm giving the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 the nod because it tracks more than double the number of exercises as the Pixel Watch 3. You also don't have to wait weeks for some key wellness scores to calibrate.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
Pixel Watch 3 vs. Galaxy Watch 7: health-tracking
Sleep-tracking on the Galaxy Watch 7 is impressive, with loads of insights after just one night of wearing the watch to bed, including details on heart rate, respiratory rate, body movement, body temperature and snore detection. The last two are absent on the Pixel Watch 3. The Galaxy Watch 7 is additionally FDA-authorized to detect signs of sleep apnea; the Pixel Watch 3 is not.
While the Pixel Watch 3 still provides fairly comprehensive sleep data, I'm more impressed with Samsung's daily sleep report. For what it's worth, Google made no major changes to sleep-tracking between the Pixel Watch 2 and 3, while Samsung did.
On the other hand, the Pixel Watch 3 boasts a first-of-its-kind Loss of Pulse Detection feature which can contact emergency services if triggered. However, this feature will not be available in the U.S. for launch but will be enabled in the U.K. and EU.
Ultimately, both of these devices are jam-packed with sensors to keep tabs on heart health, movement, stress levels, menstrual health and more, but because the Galaxy Watch 7 has more detailed sleep insights and sleep apnea detection it gets the W.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
Pixel Watch 3 vs. Galaxy Watch 7: connectivity
It should be noted that to get the most out of either of these smartwatches, you'll likely want to pair them with the latest Samsung or Google Pixel handsets. The Galaxy Watch, in particular, requires a Galaxy smartphone to unlock features like sleep apnea detection.
Only the Pixel Watch 3 sports an ultra-wideband chip, which can be used to lock and unlock an array of devices, not just your Pixel phone but also things like your car or even your house. For launch, Google partnered with BMW/MINI to bring wrist-based automotive unlocking to compatible car models.
While both devices can be used to control smartphone cameras, the Pixel Watch 3 can also control compatible Google TVs. But, perhaps even cooler than that is the ability to check a Nest camera feed from the wrist via the Pixel Watch 3. You can even communicate back and forth with someone on the other side of the camera.
Samsung in theory could bring more functionality over other Samsung devices to the Galaxy Watch 7, but at present, the Pixel Watch 3 is the better-connected smartwatch.
Winner: Google Pixel Watch 3
Pixel Watch 3 vs. Galaxy Watch 7: which is right for you?
With the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 winning three categories compared to the Google Pixel Watch 3 claiming two — one is a draw — Samsung is hereby declared the winner of this flagship Android smartwatch showdown. However, this victory is by only the smallest of margins.
Perhaps the most significant factor setting Google's new smartwatch apart from Samsung's is the higher price tag. No matter which pixel Watch 3 mode you choose, it's going to cost you between $50 and $100 more than its Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 equivalent.
Of course, if you're like me and consider battery life the most important spec of all, then the 45mm Pixel Watch 3 may be worth the higher cost.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
More from Tom's Guide
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 vs. Galaxy Watch 6: Which smartwatch is best for you?
- Pixel Watch 3 unveiled — Google's flagship smartwatch finally comes in two sizes
- The Fitbit Sense 2 and Versa 4 just got a massive free software upgrade — here’s what it unlocks
- I walked over 5,000 steps with the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra vs. Polar Grit X2 Pro — this one won
