Which new Wear OS smartwatch is worth your time?
Google’s recent Pixel hardware event gave us a slew of new devices; including the new Pixel Watch 3. This shift in the calendar has meant that Google’s new wearable arrives only a month after one of its biggest competitors – the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 – made its debut.
These two wearables make for a more direct comparison than perhaps any other smartwatches currently on the market, not least because they’re the two latest and best examples of a modern Wear OS-powered smartwatch available right now. But even with the overlapping experiences powered by their underlying operating systems, Google and Samsung have taken their latest timepieces in different directions with regards to feel, functionality and fitness.
As to which is the better smartwatch for you, it could be as simple as which smartphone you already use, or a matter of budget. If this decision isn’t as clear-cut for you, read on for a more in-depth comparison of the Pixel Watch 3 vs the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7.Pixel Watch 3 vs Galaxy Watch 7: Price & Availability
With its earlier release launch date, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 is already available; going on sale in most key markets by the end of July. At the time of writing, the new Pixel Watch 3 remains in its pre-order phase, with a shape date of September 10, about a month and a half behind the newest Galaxy Watch.
As for price, Samsung hasn’t changed its formula year-on-year, with two sizes of Watch 7 each available in WiFi and LTE flavors, and all priced the same as their respective predecessors.
The Pixel Watch 3, meanwhile, marks a shift in Google’s wearable strategy by starting at around the same price as the Pixel Watch 2, but sporting a price hike of $50 / £50 / AU$100 hike for the new LTE model. There’s also a new larger 45mm version to consider, something previous generations of Pixel Watch lacked.
Side by side, it’s clear that Samsung can’t be beat on price, with the base WiFi-only 40mm Watch 7 coming in $50 / £60 / AU$30 cheaper than the most modest 41mm Pixel Watch 3. The disparity is even greater when you switch up to the larger-sized watches here too, with the LTE 45mm Pixel Watch 3 coming in at $120 / £130 / AU$140 higher, against its Galaxy Watch equivalent.
Winner: Galaxy Watch 7Pixel Watch 3 vs Galaxy Watch 7: Design
These two smartwatches are hewn from similar materials but sport two distinctly different aesthetic styles. Like its predecessors, the Pixel Watch 3 resembles a rounded pebble of recycled aluminum for the casing back and curved Gorilla Glass 5 on the front. To add to Google’s minimalist approach, there aren’t any discernible lugs either, with proprietary straps that connect directly to the casing itself. It’s also worth noting that straps for the larger 45mm model – a new variant added this year – are not compatible with older generations or the smaller 41mm casing size.
In contrast, the Galaxy Watch 7 sports flat aluminum sides with lugs that protrude above and below its flat circular face, which itself is protected by sapphire crystal. Unlike the Pixel Watch’s straps, although Samsung’s watch also comes with quick-release bands of its own, both casing sizes are compatible with conventional 20mm pin straps; widely available across first and third-party retailers, meaning a far larger breadth of band styles and prices are available to Watch 7 wearers.
