I’ve just finished testing the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic and Galaxy Watch 8, two smartwatches largely differentiated by design and price. Beyond that, they offer similar experiences.
And I can see that the decision to work closer with Google is beginning to pay off. Whether that’s the growing influence of Wear OS or the notable addition of Google’s services, including a Gemini smart assistant that will instantly make you forget about Bixby – if you haven’t done that already.
I’ll admit I was surprised when Samsung opted to give up on the clear progress that was being made with its own Tizen operating system in exchange for Google’s. Its own ecosystem was hurt by the lack of app support (among other things), which embracing Wear again has helped to address.
Mike Sawh
But that collaboration may need to go even further. I think Samsung’s watches are good fitness trackers, offering great health features, but their execution could be so much better. Whether it’s the presentation of data, being more effective at motivating you to stay active throughout the day or simply making all features available to all Android users, there’s a clunkiness to it all that I don’t like.
Could Samsung just hand this stuff over to Google?
Just before using those Galaxy Watches I actually tried out the Google Pixel Watch 3 and the answer revealed itself. Could Samsung just hand this stuff over to Google?
For the Pixel Watch, it’s taken a couple iterations of the flagship smartwatch to show the value of that Fitbit acquisition. But now it feels so much more a part of daily interactions.
With the arrival of the Google Pixel Watch 4, those Fitbit-powered interactions are set to get better. Whether it’s delving deeper into sleep trends, drawing a stronger correlation between activity and recovery or the simple Fitbit Morning Brief, which provides a summary of your key metrics and goals, these features really channel what made owning a Fitbit smartwatch or fitness tracker so appealing. They make paying closer attention to these metrics and insights so much simpler at a glance, and easier to take on board. Samsung’s latest smartwatches just don’t offer the same.
These features really channel what made owning a Fitbit smartwatch or fitness tracker so appealing
There’s also the new Fitbit Health coach, powered by Gemini. We’ve already seen the promise of Gemini on Samsung’s smartwatches. This could be just the kind of thing the Galaxy Watch line would benefit greatly from.
Another gripe to highlight is the health tracking compatibility on Samsung’s smartwatches. You still need to own a Samsung smartphone to access the available ECG, blood pressure and sleep apnea modes. While the Pixel Watch 4 can’t match Samsung for all of those available health features, it does have an ECG, and you don’t have to own a Pixel phone to put it to good use.
I’m not sure if it’s possible for Samsung to strengthen its partnership more than it already has with Google, or if it even needs or wants to do that. On Google’s side, does it want to share those features, which could risk taking away some of the desirability from its own flagship smartwatch?
With the latest version of Wear on the Galaxy Watch feeling more like Wear on a Pixel Watch, plus the increased presence of Google apps like Gemini and Maps, bringing those Fitbit-fuelled features into the fray would make a world of difference. It would solve some of the problems with Samsung’s own slightly messy approach to bringing fitness, sleep and health tracking together as one.
See more news and opinions on the Pixel 10 phones in our dedicated 2025 Google Event hub.
