If you scour lists of the best Android smartwatches, you'll inevitably find a Samsung Galaxy Watch model or two. Ideal for pairing with Samsung Galaxy phones, they work with any Android phone. Options run the gamut, from Ultra models for adventurers to FE models for budget-conscious customers, the Goldilocks base Watch, and the more stylish Classic variants.
With the latest models, you get Gemini on your wrist, cellular connectivity if desired, and the most current version of WearOS and Samsung One UI. With up to four years of software updates, they offer great value for dollar.
Having reviewed generations of Samsung smartwatches, we have a good idea of what makes them great and how they have evolved. It's often best to go with newer models, but you might be surprised to notice that some of our recommendations are older ones. In fact, despite the fact that it's been replaced by a newer model, our top pick is the last-gen Samsung Galaxy Watch 8. Let's dive into the details to help you find the best Samsung smartwatch tot meet your needs.
At a glance
Best overall
Forget the Galaxy Watch 9, last year's skinny, squarish Galaxy Watch 8 offers a new look and unique Health data like Vascular Load and Antioxidant Index. But it's otherwise the same core experience and performance as past Galaxy Watches.
Most rugged
The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is the most rugged smartwatch Samsung has made to date boasting an IP68, IP69, and IP69K rating against both water and dust, and a 10ATM for submersion and depth. So you can virtually wear it anywhere.
Best design
The Classic is a classier version of the Watch 8 with a squircle stainless steel casing and a useful rotating bezel for easier controls. It's attractive, but also quite heavy for smaller wrists.
Best older-gen
Though the Watch 8 is getting all the attention, the Watch 7 is still a great deal with its lower price. It offers speedy performance, a gorgeous display, and solid battery life, with surprisingly few downgrades.
Best budget
The Samsung Galaxy Watch FE is essentially the Watch 4 with a mildly refreshed design, Sapphire Crystal protection over the display, and a complete suite of fitness tracking features.
Best new
While the Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 doesn't perform well when it comes to battery life, you get snappier performance with the Snapdragon Wear Elite processor upgrade and an incredibly comfortable redesigned band.
Best overall
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 looks markedly different from the Galaxy Watch 7. Its Ultra-style squarish case may not appeal to long-time fans. But the redesign allowed Samsung to make it thinner and lighter, with the band fitted better against your skin for more accurate health data capture. Our reviewer called its look "stunning" and a "breath of fresh air" compared to the traditional, thicker circular design.
At the core, the Galaxy Watch 8 and 7 aren't especially different. The Exynos W1000 processor, memory, storage, MIL-STD-810-rated protection with sapphire glass, charging speed, dual-band GPS, and Gemini commands are pretty much the same.
With the Watch 8 and other 2025 Galaxy watches, Samsung focused a lot on Samsung Health, adding new tools like an Antioxidant Index for nutritional guidance, Vascular Load for heart health, Bedtime Guidance with circadian rhythm data, and a new Running Coach for workout recommendations.
On top of that, the Watch 8 launched with One UI 8 Watch built on Wear OS 6, with Multi-info tiles that show more information in a convenient, scrollable menu, plus a Now Bar that contextually displays relevant information like an active timer or reminders. And you have the promise of four version updates up to Wear OS 10, plus security updates through 2029.
You get the same 40-hour battery life as ever. But since the display offers an impressive 3,000 nits of brightness, it's nice that this doesn't result in a reduction in battery life.
Galaxy Watch 7 owners probably won't see enough reason to upgrade, since that watch gets Wear OS 6, too, as an upgrade. But anyone rocking older models will definitely appreciate a wealth of upgrades. For anyone switching to the Samsung ecosystem, the Galaxy Watch 8 is absolutely where you should start before you decide to pay more for a Classic or Ultra. And while the Galaxy Watch 9 has launched, when looking at the Galaxy Watch 9 vs. Galaxy Watch 8, we simply can't get over the short battery life of the former. So, it doesn't quite knock the Galaxy Watch 8 off its top slot yet.
Most rugged
While Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra (2025) is almost unchanged from the Galaxy Watch Ultra (2024) I reviewed that year, except with twice the storage and an additional Blue finish option, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is a bigger step up. It's the most rugged Samsung Galaxy Watch to date with an IP69K rating alongside the 10ATM and military standards certification for durability.
You get a brighter and higher-res display along with a thinner design and the snappier Snapdragon Wear Elite processor. While it's largely a similar experience to the Galaxy Watch Ultra (2025) in terms of the sensors and One UI upgrades, this is the better model to choose right now if you're a serious adventurer looking for a rugged smartwatch you can wear virtually anywhere. With the addition of a Trail Run feature and a Diving app coming later this year, this is the athlete's smartwatch.
From the titanium case to the complimentary LTE, and extra battery life (though it's still world's behind other models), I do still miss the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, which gave us a similar 2–3 days of battery life and a durable titanium frame for a more affordable price. But the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is the next best thing, with consistently reliable battery life that helps you avoid daily charging or survive long workouts with dual-band GPS tracking.
If you already own the Galaxy Watch Ultra (2024) or Galaxy Watch Ultra (2025), you might want to hang onto either for a little longer since they're both still great smartwatches as well. If you find either for a killer deal, go for it, too. Otherwise, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 offers enough enticing upgrades to suggest it's the best rugged model to buy right now.
Best design
The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic overhauls the design of the Watch 6 Classic, offering the usual rotating bezel on top of the same square-shaped Cushion case as the other 2025 models. Whether you appreciate its unique look or miss the old circular style will come down to taste. But you at least know you're getting the same rotating bezel controls, for more exact navigation of menus than the Watch 8's digital bezel can offer.
I noted in my review that the bezel is more ridged, making it easier to see and turn, while the new 60-second scale border feels more "classic" than before. On the other hand, the fact that it only comes in one 1.34-inch display size feels like a "downgrade" when the older Classics had a 1.5-inch option that weighed about the same.
Assuming you're upgrading from the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic, the previous version to the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, the faster Exynos W1000 processor, BioActive sensor with HR accuracy upgrades, new Samsung Health features, brighter display, dual-band GPS, and extra storage will be pleasant new features. It's a significant upgrade, and trading in your old Classic will offset this model's higher price.
Generally speaking, the Watch 8 Classic is competing with the Watch Ultra and Watch Ultra 2, offering a different premium look and better controls, but not the battery boost you'd want in a watch this pricey. And both will be too heavy for folks with smaller wrists.
Best older gen
Though the gap between the Watch 7 and Watch 8 isn't as wide, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 offers significant changes over the Galaxy Watch 6, especially for hardware like the Exynos W1000 processor. And since Samsung is trying to clear out Watch 7 stock, you can get one for hundreds less than a Watch 8 if you accept a few minor downgrades.
Sure, the Watch 7 "only" hits 2,000 nits instead of 3,000, but I found it perfectly readable outdoors in sunny California weather. The battery capacity is slightly smaller than the Watch 8's by about 10–20mAh, but it doesn't seem to have a huge impact on real-life usage. Now that Watch 7 has gotten Wear OS 6, you'll barely be able to tell the two experiences apart.
Of course, the watches themselves look very different. I've never found the base Galaxy Watches especially "stylish" with their machine-cut edges, and the Watch 7 bulges slightly more on your wrist without the Cushion Design. But you're still getting a light smartwatch in two sizes that's more comfortable than most Android watches, and it'll work with any old quick-release straps you have.
Best budget
The Galaxy Watch FE (Fan Edition) launched in 2024 but blends features from the older Galaxy Watch 4 and 5 models. Compared to newer Samsung watches, the FE has a duller display, an older processor with less RAM, older health sensors, and only comes in one 1.2-inch AMOLED display size.
It's worth including on this list because it costs significantly less than the Galaxy Watch 8, and you're getting solid perks like Sapphire Crystal glass and speedy Wear OS software. Older Samsung watches are still reliable, and the Watch FE is arguably the best cheap Android watch for strict budgets.
That being said, I'd much rather recommend you buy a Galaxy Watch 7 or Watch 6, assuming that you find one that's new instead of refurbished. If you weigh the Galaxy Watch 6 vs. FE, the older Watch 6 gives you a newer Exynos processor with more RAM, a larger and brighter display, and much more battery capacity — and the Watch 7 has even more upgrades.
Truly, I'm only recommending the Galaxy Watch FE if you see a tempting deal bringing it below its current $199 price; otherwise, you can wait for a deal event to bring the Galaxy Watch 7 down to that same level, and get a serious upgrade. Or, if you really want to spend as little as possible, look at the Samsung Galaxy Fit 3 fitness tracker, with a 1.6-inch display, basic health tracking, and nearly two weeks of battery life for just $60 — but no Wear OS.
Best new
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 is the latest option in the line with no Classic variant. It has some major upgrades over the Galaxy Watch 8, including the Snapdragon Wear Elite processor that affords snappier performance and faster on-device processing for things like AI actions. It's incredibly comfortable to wear thanks to the aluminum chassis that our Galaxy Watch 9 reviewer describes as "feather-light," noting that it sits flush on your wrist.
The screen is lovely and bright and it has all the same fitness and health features as the Galaxy Watch 8, plus new ones like Blood Pressure Trends. There's also a new Vitals Dashboard that provides an at-a-glance look at key health metrics each day, though you'll get this with the Galaxy Watch 8 via software update.
Now that we have the good stuff out of the way, however, we have to bring up the one big downside with this smartwatch: battery life. It should last up to 30 hours, but it doesn't. In fact, our reviewer found that it often didn't even last the full day, requiring a recharge before bedtime in order to get sufficient tracking overnight.
That's a huge downside, but for anyone who is fine recharging daily, like if you work at a desk and don't mind popping it on the charger for a few hours midday to keep it going, you might not mind. But keep in mind that charging is super-slow, too. As in, it will take over an hour to get back to full. So, while this watch is a fantastic Galaxy phone companion, it's only for those who have the sedentary time to recharge daily if you don't want to miss out on crucial tracking.
There are other cool features, however, like gesture controls that work really well, an easy-to-navigate UI and app, and great performance. But this comes at the expense of battery life.
How to choose
Which of the best Samsung watches are still worth buying?
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As much as some Android Central writers loved the the Galaxy Watch 3 and Galaxy Watch Active 2 back in the day, we're not recommending Tizen OS watches anymore. Nor would we recommend buying one of the older Wear OS models like the Galaxy Watch 4, simply because it's running out of updates and won't be available new anymore.
When it comes to models like the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro or Watch 6 Classic, it's harder to say for sure; I'd want to make sure that you're truly getting a "new" model, or one that's been refurbished by a reputable seller. Both models still have new Wear OS updates incoming, and aren't that far behind the Galaxy Watch 8 generation.
But given how often Samsung offers good trade-in deals for its new watches, I'd still lean toward buying 2025 or 2024 models to get the most software value and dependably new hardware.
How to choose the best Samsung watch for you
It's a fairly simple decision on paper: I'd recommend the Galaxy Watch 8 (or Watch 7) to the most people, simply because you're getting the core experience in a design that'll be comfortable for the widest range of people and wrist sizes, with the option to buy a larger or smaller display based on your preferences.
Samsung doesn't do as many "exclusives" on its pricier watches as Apple does with its Ultra series, so you shouldn't feel the need to upgrade unless you know for certain that you prefer the rotating bezel or can't stand frequent charging. This holds especially true since Samsung has made the Classic more expensive than before.
Still, the Galaxy Watch Ultra (2025), Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, and Galaxy Watch 8 Classic are excellent watches if you're willing to pay for more rugged, stylish materials and better battery life.
