Apple Watch Series 7 vs Samsung Galaxy Watch8
The Verdict
The Apple Watch Series 7 and Samsung Galaxy Watch8 sit in the same category and end up appealing to slightly different buyers. The Samsung Galaxy Watch8 is the cheaper of the two at $300 versus $399, a difference of about $99. The Samsung Galaxy Watch8 is the newer release, which usually means a faster chipset and longer software support. Apple Watch Series 7 stands out for largest apple watch display at the time with 20% more screen area than series 6, while Samsung Galaxy Watch8 is praised for thinnest galaxy watch at 8.6mm. Use the side-by-side spec table below to compare cameras, displays, battery life and connectivity in detail and decide which one fits your priorities.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple Watch Series 7 if…
- →Largest Apple Watch display at the time with 20% more screen area than Series 6
- →IP6X dust resistance added for the first time in Apple Watch
- →Fast charging reaches 80% in about 45 minutes
Buy the Samsung Galaxy Watch8 if…
- →Thinnest Galaxy Watch at 8.6mm
- →3nm Exynos W1000 processor
- →3000 nits peak brightness
Pros & Cons
Apple Watch Series 7
Pros
- Largest Apple Watch display at the time with 20% more screen area than Series 6
- IP6X dust resistance added for the first time in Apple Watch
- Fast charging reaches 80% in about 45 minutes
- Full-QWERTY keyboard leverages the larger display
- Crack-resistant front crystal is more durable than predecessors
Cons
- S7 chip is essentially an S6 rebrand — minimal speed improvement
- 18-hour battery life hasn't improved in years
- No skin temperature sensor — added in Series 8
- Titanium option was very expensive at $799+
Samsung Galaxy Watch8
Pros
- Thinnest Galaxy Watch at 8.6mm
- 3nm Exynos W1000 processor
- 3000 nits peak brightness
- Wear OS 6 with Gemini AI assistant
- Dual-frequency GPS
Cons
- $300 starting price for base model
- Battery life varies heavily with AOD
- Limited third-party watch face selection on Wear OS
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple Watch Series 7 | Samsung Galaxy Watch8 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | watchOS 8 (upgradable to watchOS 11+) | Wear OS 6 with Gemini |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 32 g (41mm Al) / 38.8 g (45mm Al) | 28.8 g (40mm) |
| Case material | Aluminum / Stainless Steel / Titanium | Armor Aluminum |
| Water resistance | WR50 (50m), IP6X dust resistance | 5ATM + IP68, MIL-STD-810H |
| Health & Sensors | ||
| ECG | ||
| SpO₂ | ||
| Skin temperature | ||
| Heart rate | ||
| Sleep tracking | ||
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 18 hours | Up to 40 hours |
| Display | ||
| Size | 41mm / 45mm | 40mm / 44mm |
| Type | LTPO OLED Always-On Retina | Super AMOLED |
| Always-on display | ||
| Resolution | 352 x 430 / 396 x 484 | 480 x 480 (44mm) |
| Processor | ||
| Chipset | Apple S7 SiP | Exynos W1000 (3nm) |
| RAM | — | 2 GB |
| Connectivity | ||
| GPS | ||
| NFC | ||
| Wi-Fi | ||
| Cellular | ||
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.3 |
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This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
Explore more in smartwatches, see all Apple products or all Samsung products. View full details for the Apple Watch Series 7 or the Samsung Galaxy Watch8.