Fashion improve
The Google Pixel Watch 4 brings a well-known design, however with a twist: there’s now a domed OLED show that flows proper into the smartwatch’s ultra-slim bezels. You additionally get a brand-new processor and customized co-processor, in addition to a brand new charging system and longer battery life.
Professionals
- A domed show and slimmer bezels make the display really feel bigger and extra premium
- Materials 3 Expressive and higher effectivity spotlight Put on OS 6 enhancements
- Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 chip and Cortex M55 coprocessor for AI add energy and optimization
- Fitbit and Gemini software program add new health options
Cons
- For the third time in 4 generations, there is a new charger
- Some options locked behind Fitbit Premium subscription
- Design nonetheless feels catered to a particular minimalist viewers
Distinctive and practical
Samsung gave the Galaxy Watch 8 the extra visible redesign this 12 months, including a squircle “cushion” to its ordinary round show. The controversial design alternative comes with clear advantages, together with a bigger battery that coincides with a slimmer chassis. This watch has a full suite of health and well being instruments backed by Samsung Well being.
Professionals
- Squircle chassis redesign makes the watch slimmer and lighter than ever
- Galaxy AI and Samsung Well being options overhauled, with perks like Operating Coach
- New well being monitoring options like Antioxidant Index might show helpful
- Powered by Put on OS 6 and Gemini
Cons
- No important battery life upgrades
- No main modifications to {hardware} from Watch 7
- Pricier than the Pixel Watch 3
The wait is lastly over — each the Google Pixel Watch 4 and Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 are official. Samsung introduced its newest smartwatch lineup in July, and Google adopted that up with a Made by Google occasion on Aug. 20. Consequently, we have now the 2 finest Put on OS smartwatches for 2025 obtainable for buy. Often, which one you decide comes all the way down to which Android smartphone you could have, nevertheless it’s extra sophisticated than that.
There are different components to think about, comparable to which watch you like when it comes to design or how a lot battery life you want. The Google Pixel Watch 4 and Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 every have their very own differentiating options, like Satellite tv for pc SOS onboard for the previous and AI-assisted well being instruments on the latter. Should you’re selecting between these two nice smartwatches, here is all the things you should know.
For extra information and knowledge on Google’s newest smartwatch, try our Final Information.
Google Pixel Watch 4 vs. Samsung Galaxy Watch 8: Design and show
Why you may belief Android Central
Our knowledgeable reviewers spend hours testing and evaluating services and products so you may select one of the best for you. Discover out extra about how we take a look at.
Google and Samsung each lean additional into their very own rising smartwatch design languages of their 2025 releases. The Google Pixel Watch has sported a customized “waterdrop” design since its inception, and that continues with the Pixel Watch 4. In the meantime, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 finds a brand new identification this 12 months, because it contains a squircle aluminum chassis with an overlaid round show. Each smartwatches stand out on the wrist and are readily identifiable.
Though the Galaxy Watch 8’s form makes it look larger than the Pixel Watch 4, that truly is not the case. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 is flatter, so seems will be deceiving. In actuality, the smartwatch is obtainable in 40mm and 44mm sizes, whereas the Pixel Watch 4 is offered in bigger 41mm and 45mm variations. Each smartwatches will be configured with non-obligatory LTE connectivity for a further charge.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 is considerably thinner than the Pixel Watch 4, partially as a result of Samsung’s new squircle “cushion” design, which spreads out the elements on a bigger floor space in your wrist. The previous measures 8.6mm thick, whereas the latter measures 12.3mm thick. In my very own testing of the Galaxy Watch 8, I discovered the thinner type issue to be extra snug throughout exercise and sleep monitoring classes.
In any other case, the Pixel Watch 4, properly, seems like a Pixel Watch. The charging contacts are nonetheless pins fairly than WPC-based wi-fi on the Galaxy Watch 8. Nevertheless, they’re now discovered on the aspect of the Pixel Watch 4 as an alternative of on the again. It is the third charging system in 4 generations, which is not very best. With that in thoughts, there are some cool options that come out of it, like a dock-style connector with nightstand options.
The Google Pixel Watch at all times sported a curved glass panel on the entrance, however the Pixel Watch 4 takes that one step additional. Now, the OLED show itself is domed, making for a extra immersive expertise. Paired with slimmer bezels, the Pixel Watch 4 display feels bigger and has an even bigger lively space than its predecessor.
In the meantime, the Galaxy Watch 8 ships with both a 1.34-inch, 438×438 display or a 1.47-inch, 480×480 display. Each choices are Tremendous AMOLED shows with 3,000 nits of peak brightness, excellent for outside viewing. Samsung makes use of a “digital bezel” for navigation, which means you slide your finger alongside the outside of the round show as an alternative of swiping.
Google Pixel Watch 4 vs. Samsung Galaxy Watch 8: {Hardware} and specs
On the within, each Samsung and Google are utilizing largely the identical assortment of well being and health sensors for 2025 as final 12 months. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 has the corporate’s new BioActive sensor assortment launched with the Galaxy Watch 7. The Google Pixel Watch 4 has just a few upgrades, like help for dual-band GPS, however the core Fitbit-based well being sensors are unchanged.
Whereas Samsung caught with its Exynos W1000 wearable platform for an additional 12 months, Google upgraded to the Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 Gen 2. This possible is not as a lot of an improve as you would possibly anticipate, however the extra curious change is the improve to a brand new co-processor. It is the Cortex M55, and it is designed to deal with particular duties whereas prioritizing effectivity.
This tweak is only one means Google might need improved battery life on the Pixel Watch 4 with out considerably rising {hardware} capability.
|
Class |
Google Pixel Watch 4 |
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 |
|---|---|---|
|
Show |
41mm or 45mm Actua 360 AMOLED LTPO show 3,000 nits, 1-60Hz |
40mm (1.34-inch, 438×438) or 44mm (1.47-inch, 480×480) Tremendous AMOLED show |
|
Processor |
Snapdragon W5 Gen 2, Cortex M55 co-processor |
Samsung Exynos W1000 |
|
Safety |
Corning Gorilla Glass 5, 5ATM, IP68 |
Sapphire Crystal glass, 5ATM, IP68, MIL-STD-810H |
|
Supplies |
Recycled aluminum case |
Armor Aluminum case |
|
Connectivity |
Bluetooth 6, Wi-Fi 2.4/5GHz, NFC, UWB, LTE (non-obligatory), dual-frequency GPS, Galileo, Glonass, (ROW) Beidou, QZSS, Navic, Satellite tv for pc SOS, |
Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi 2.4/5GHz, NFC, LTE (non-obligatory), GPS, Galileo, Glonass |
|
Sensors |
Compass, altimeter, barometer, magnetometer, 3-axis accelerometer, gyroscope, ambient mild, multi-path optical coronary heart price sensor, cEDA, SpO2, ECG, far subject pores and skin temperature sensor |
Samsung BioActive Sensor (Optical Bio-signal Sensor + Electrical Coronary heart Sign + Bioelectrical Impedance Evaluation), Temperature Sensor, Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyro Sensor, Geomagnetic Sensor, Gentle Sensor |
|
Battery |
41mm: 325mAh, 30 hours with AOD, 48 hours with Battery Saver 45mm: 455mAh, 40 hours with AOD, 72 hours with Battery Saver |
325mAh/435mAh |
|
Charging |
41mm: quarter-hour to 50%, 25 minutes to 80%, 45 minutes to 100% 45mm: quarter-hour to 50%, half-hour to 80%, 60 minutes to 100% |
Quick charging |
|
RAM / storage |
2GB/ 32GB |
2GB/ 32GB |
|
OS |
Put on OS 6 |
One UI 8 Watch (Put on OS 6) |
|
Colours |
Matte Black, Polished Silver, Champagne Gold (41mm), Satin Moonstone (45mm) |
Silver, Black |
Battery life is improved throughout the board, with the 41mm Pixel Watch 4 now lasting 30 hours with AOD on and the 45mm variant extending that determine to 40 hours. That is nice, and it pulls the Pixel Watch 4 extra in step with the Galaxy Watch 8. Nevertheless, the larger improve is to charging pace. Each the 41mm and 45mm variations of the Pixel Watch 4 can cost as much as 50% in simply quarter-hour.
In the meantime, the Galaxy Watch 8 can final about so long as the Pixel Watch 4, however cannot cost practically as quick.
Google Pixel Watch 4 vs. Samsung Galaxy Watch 8: Health and well being
Samsung and Google every have their very own health and well being suites. Samsung Well being powers the Galaxy Watch 8, and for now, it is utterly free. Some options would possibly require a Samsung cellphone, although. Google largely makes use of the Fitbit platform for Pixel Watch 4 well being options, and a few of these instruments are locked behind a Fitbit Premium subscription.
This 12 months, Samsung added key options to the Galaxy Watch 8, comparable to Operating Coach. This software checks your working capacity and creates a customized coaching plan that will help you hone your craft. Different well being tips, like Antioxidant Index, assist you get an intensive image of your physique. That one tries to determine whether or not you are consuming sufficient greens primarily based on the colour of your finger.
By comparability, the Google Pixel Watch 4 contains greater than 40 exercise modes, and it additionally introduces new options that straight competes with the Galaxy Watch 8. Google added Fitbit Morning Temporary, a day by day well being abstract that sounds quite a bit like Now Temporary.
Google Pixel Watch 4 vs. Samsung Galaxy Watch 8: Which do you have to purchase?
There’s quite a bit to think about when selecting between the Google Pixel Watch 4 and the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8. It begins with design, since you will not wish to put on one thing day by day in your wrist in the event you do not discover it enticing. I nonetheless suppose the Galaxy Watch 8 clears on this class, although the Pixel Watch 4’s domed OLED show actually helps. I would advocate the Pixel Watch if you’d like a minimalist system that hardly seems like a smartwatch, and the Galaxy Watch if you wish to lean into the “sensible” look.
When it comes to software program, each units are working Put on OS 6, so there is not a lot separation there. With that being stated, there are some exclusives and integrations you may solely get with an identical cellphone. If there is a explicit well being function you are in search of — like Fitbit Morning Temporary or Samsung’s Operating Coach — you’ll want to purchase the fitting watch.
On the finish of the day, it is best to in all probability simply purchase the one which matches your Android cellphone finest, however you may’t go flawed with both alternative.
One of the best for Pixels
The Google Pixel Watch 4 is one of the best Put on OS smartwatch for individuals who already personal a Google Pixel cellphone. The user-interface is constant because of Materials 3 Expressive, and there will likely be wonderful integration between the ecosystem. For different Android customers, the Pixel Watch 4’s minimalist design is likely to be one purpose to choose one up.
One of the best for Galaxys
With unique options and One UI 8 Watch taste, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 is the default possibility for individuals with a Galaxy cellphone. Others who suppose the Pixel Watch’s design is just too dainty would possibly choose the marginally extra rugged and industrial look of the Galaxy Watch 8 as an alternative.
