Imagine standing at the crossroads of innovation, where two cutting-edge Android smartwatches promise to elevate your everyday routine – but only one can claim the throne on your wrist. The battle between the Google Pixel Watch 4 and the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 is heating up, pitting sleek aesthetics against powerhouse health tools. Which will emerge victorious? Let's unpack this showdown step by step, and trust me, you'll want to stick around for the twists that might just change your mind about what makes a smartwatch indispensable.
Google Pixel Watch 4
4.0
Bottom Line
The Pixel Watch 4 stands out with its elegant curved display, impressive battery endurance, and personalized wellness guidance to keep you on track.
VS
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8
4.0
Bottom Line
While the Galaxy Watch 8's distinctive squircle shape might take some getting used to, it delivers top-tier health monitoring, complete with intelligent AI-driven exercise and rest coaching.
Table of Contents
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8, our top pick for the best Android smartwatch, shines with its innovative AI wellness support and exclusive perks like antioxidant analysis and vascular health checks, plus familiar favorites such as snore monitoring and body composition tracking. On the flip side, the Google Pixel Watch 4 boasts a more refined look and superior battery performance compared to Samsung's current leader in the Android watch space, potentially making it a better match for your style. So, which deserves a place on your arm? Let's explore the details and decide.
Full Specs
Full Specs Google Pixel Watch 4 Samsung Galaxy Watch 8
Phone OS Compatibility
Phone OS Compatibility Android Android
Watch OS
Watch OS Wear OS Wear OS
Processor
Processor Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 processor with a Cortex-M55 co-processor Samsung Exynos W1000
Display Size
Display Size 1.27 inches/1.46 inches 1.34 inches/1.47 inches
Display Type
Display Type AMOLED Super AMOLED
Fitness Features
Fitness Features Accelerometer, Heart Rate Monitor, GPS, Blood Oxygen Monitor, Temperature Sensor, Pedometer, Gyroscope, Barometer, ECG, Light Sensor Accelerometer, Heart Rate Monitor, GPS, Blood Oxygen Monitor, Pedometer, Barometer, Temperature Sensor, Gyroscope, ECG, Light Sensor
Battery Life
Battery Life 56 hours (tested) 26 hours (tested)
Separate App Store
Separate App Store
Phone Call Capacity
Phone Call Capacity
Price
Both the Galaxy Watch 8 and the Pixel Watch 4 are available in two sizes: 40mm and 44mm for Samsung, and 41mm and 45mm for Google. The compact versions of each start at $349. The bigger Samsung model rings in at $379.99, while the larger Google one costs $399. Opting for LTE connectivity adds $50 to any Samsung variant or $100 to the Google models.
In the past, Samsung watches were generally cheaper than Google's lineup. But Samsung raised prices for this generation, and Google kept theirs steady, resulting in matching entry points now. However, Google still asks more for its premium sizes. But here's where it gets controversial – is paying extra for Google's design worth it, or does Samsung's value-packed features make it the smarter buy? Many users debate this, especially when considering long-term ownership.
Winner: Galaxy Watch 8
Design
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 features a more angular bezel than its previous model (which Samsung dubs a 'cushion design') and incorporates a flexible lug system from the Galaxy Watch Ultra, allowing it to adapt comfortably to your wrist movements. At first sight, it resembles a squircle, which can be polarizing. During my hands-on time, though, I warmed up to it and found it quite wearable.
The squircle design of the Galaxy Watch 8 is an acquired taste (Credit: Andrew Gebhart)
In contrast, the Pixel Watch 4 immediately catches the eye with its flowing curved screen. The Pixel series is renowned for its teardrop-shaped glass, and the Watch 4 marks the debut of a curved display beneath it. This Actua 360 screen isn't just visually appealing; it provides 10% more usable space and 15% thinner bezels than the Pixel Watch 3, making interactions feel more immersive for beginners who might struggle with cramped screens.
The Galaxy Watch 8's panel is a Super AMOLED, versus the AMOLED on the Pixel Watch 4. Both reach a peak brightness of 3,000 nits, ensuring they're readable outdoors and crisp in any light.
Winner: Pixel Watch 4
Durability
For toughness, the Galaxy Watch 8 earns MIL-STD-810H certification, equipping it to handle extreme temperatures, sandstorms, vibrations, and shocks – a level of assurance absent in the Pixel Watch 4. That said, both devices share a 5ATM waterproof rating, allowing them to withstand depths up to 164 feet in fresh or saltwater for up to 10 minutes, plus IP68 ratings for dust and water protection.
I've long worried about the longevity of curved glass on Google's watches, and the Pixel Watch 4's curved screen only heightens those concerns. Yet, it eases them somewhat by being the first in the series that's fully repairable – you can swap out the display or battery if needed. Samsung doesn't offer the same repairability promise, but its military-grade specs make it inherently sturdier from the start. And this is the part most people miss: for adventurers prioritizing ruggedness over sleekness, the Galaxy might feel like the safer choice, even if repair options are limited.
Winner: Galaxy Watch 8
Battery
The smaller versions of both the Galaxy Watch 8 and Pixel Watch 4 share a 325mAh battery. The Pixel Watch 4's 45mm model has a slight advantage with 455mAh over the Galaxy's 44mm at 425mAh.
Samsung predicts 30 hours of life for both Galaxy Watch 8 sizes with always-on display on, or 40 hours off. Google estimates 30 hours for the smaller Pixel Watch 4 and 40 hours for the larger with always-on active. Again, the smaller ones align, but Google edges out with the bigger model.
In real-world tests, the Galaxy Watch 8 hit 39 hours with always-on off and 26 hours on. The Pixel Watch 4 surpassed expectations, delivering 56 hours with always-on enabled – more than double the Galaxy's performance.
The Pixel Watch 4 shows info while charging (Credit: Eric Zeman)
Plus, the Pixel Watch 4 includes a nifty charger that positions the watch sideways, letting you view the time, charge status, and alarms during powering up. The Galaxy Watch 8 relies on a standard magnetic puck. Charging is faster on the Pixel too: it went from 5% to full in 43 minutes, while the Galaxy took 64 minutes, both using their bundled chargers with an 18W adapter (sold separately).
Get Our Best Stories!
All the Latest Tech, Tested by Our Experts
Thanks for signing up!
Your subscription has been confirmed. Keep an eye on your inbox!
Winner: Pixel Watch 4
Processor
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 sticks with the five-core Exynos W1000 chip from before. The Pixel Watch 4 employs a dual-processor system: a Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 paired with a Cortex-M55 co-processor, both advancements over the Qualcomm SW5100 and Cortex-M33 in the Watch 3.
Notably, Qualcomm's new chip in the Pixel Watch 4 is the inaugural wearable processor supporting emergency satellite messaging. If you're hiking without phone service, you can still send distress signals.
Both watches pack 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage.
Winner: Pixel Watch 4
Recommended by Our Editors
Lifestyle Features
Both the Galaxy Watch 8 and Pixel Watch 4 operate on Wear OS 6 and integrate Google's conversational AI, Gemini, for tasks like answering queries, texting, and app interactions (think Calendar, Clock, Health, and Reminders), enabling voice-free control. On the Galaxy Watch 8, activate Gemini via a custom button; the Pixel Watch 4 adds wrist-raising as an option.
The Galaxy Watch 8 overlays Samsung's One UI 8 on Wear OS 6 for unique gestures, such as twisting to snooze alarms or pinching to snap photos. Both access the Play Store's expanding app library and handle essentials like calls and tap-to-pay.
Winner: Tie
Fitness Features
Building on prior versions, the Pixel Watch 3 offered more AI health insights than the Galaxy Watch 7, including a Daily Readiness Score (gauging your body's workout readiness), Cardio Load (tracking fitness progress), and Target Load (setting exercise goals). The Galaxy Watch 7 provided an Energy Score and personalized Wellness Tips via AI. The new models keep these and introduce enhancements.
The Pixel Watch 4 can track more activities than its predecessor (Credit: Eric Zeman)
The Pixel Watch 4 introduces an AI coach (in preview this fall) for tailored fitness and sleep tips. It detects more workouts, like basketball and pickleball, with better auto-recognition, an upgraded skin temp sensor for precise nightly data, and dual-frequency GPS for accurate tracking anywhere. It even relays cycling stats live to the Fitbit app for dashboard use.
The Pixel integrates with the Fitbit app, where most tools are free, including AI assessments, but premium costs $9.99/month for run plans and workout content. Samsung charges nothing for its features.
The Galaxy AI running coach in action (Credit: Andrew Gebhart)
The Galaxy Watch 8 amps up with Galaxy AI as a running or sleep advisor. It uniquely tests antioxidant levels and arterial health via nighttime scans. Carrying over from earlier models, it measures body composition like a scale and detects snoring with a nearby Samsung phone.
Both include sensors for activity, workouts, sleep, stress, ECGs, sleep stages, and blood oxygen. They're robust wellness devices, but Samsung's extensive extras set it apart.
Winner: Galaxy Watch 8
And The Winner Is...
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8
4.0
Excellent
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 holds our Editors' Choice title for Android smartwatches due to its unmatched array of lifestyle and fitness options. Both tap into Google's Gemini, but the Galaxy adds its own AI for free coaching on runs and rest. The Pixel offers deeper insights with Fitbit's scores, yet charges for advanced run guidance. Still, the Pixel's alluring design and twice the battery life make it a strong contender against Samsung's latest, especially for Pixel enthusiasts.
Get It Now
What do you think? Is the Galaxy Watch 8's health dominance worth sacrificing battery life, or does the Pixel Watch 4's style and endurance win you over? Do you agree that Samsung's free features give it an edge, or is Google's premium model a better investment? Share your opinions in the comments – we'd love to hear if you've tried either and what tipped the scales for you!
