Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 vs Samsung Galaxy Watch8
The Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 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. Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 stands out for physical rotating bezel provides tactile, satisfying navigation, 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 Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 if…
- →Physical rotating bezel provides tactile, satisfying navigation
- →Premium stainless steel build with classic watch aesthetics
- →ECG and SpO2 monitoring were cutting-edge at launch
Buy the Samsung Galaxy Watch8 if…
- →Thinnest Galaxy Watch at 8.6mm
- →3nm Exynos W1000 processor
- →3000 nits peak brightness
Pros & Cons
Samsung Galaxy Watch 3
Pros
- Physical rotating bezel provides tactile, satisfying navigation
- Premium stainless steel build with classic watch aesthetics
- ECG and SpO2 monitoring were cutting-edge at launch
- Fall detection with automatic SOS alerts
- Thinner and lighter than Galaxy Watch (2018)
Cons
- Tizen OS is now discontinued — no new app development
- Battery life of 1.5 days typical requires frequent charging
- Older Exynos 9110 is noticeably slower than W920
- Heavy at 48-54 g — uncomfortable for sleep tracking
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 | Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 | Samsung Galaxy Watch8 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Tizen OS 5.5 | Wear OS 6 with Gemini |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 48.2 g (41mm) / 53.8 g (45mm) | 28.8 g (40mm) |
| Case material | Stainless Steel / Titanium | Armor Aluminum |
| Water resistance | 5ATM + IP68, MIL-STD-810G | 5ATM + IP68, MIL-STD-810H |
| Health & Sensors | ||
| ECG | ||
| SpO₂ | ||
| Skin temperature | ||
| Heart rate | ||
| Sleep tracking | ||
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 2 days (typical ~1.5 days) | Up to 40 hours |
| Display | ||
| Size | 41mm / 45mm | 40mm / 44mm |
| Type | Super AMOLED | Super AMOLED |
| Always-on display | ||
| Resolution | 360 x 360 | 480 x 480 (44mm) |
| Processor | ||
| Chipset | Exynos 9110 | 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.
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