In 2024 there are a host of great Samsung smartwatches for Android users who want a wearable fitness tracking companion.
Not only are there great options like the Galaxy Watch 7 and the older Galaxy Watch 6, but new for 2024 is the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra, a rugged and durable adventure watch for the great outdoors.
Samsung has also started pushing out the One UI 6 update to its older models, Samsung's software-wrapped version of Wear OS 5.
All of this means there's a ton of options for the best Samsung watch in 2024, but that can also make the choice difficult and confusing for some. So whether you want a budget pick, a barebones fitness tracker, or a do-it-all all-rounder, here are the best Samsung Watch picks for 2024.
The best Samsung Galaxy Watch on Black Friday
If you're on the hunt for a new Samsung Watch during Black Friday, then you're in for a treat. We're already seeing absolutely massive discounts on the Galaxy Watch Ultra, Galaxy Watch 7, and even the older Galaxy Watch 6.
The best place to shop right now is Amazon, where you can get our top pick for a staggering $449 at Amazon. There are also big sales on pretty much every model, so it really pays to shop around for a bargain.
The Quick list
Best overall
The best overall Samsung Watch in 2024 is the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra, which packs all of Samsung's fitness tracking and health monitoring smarts into a rugged titanium package. The only downside? It's also the most expensive.
Best budget
The Samsung Galaxy Watch FE is the company's budget smartwatch, offering a wide array of basic fitness tracking features, as well as health tools like heart rate monitoring and sleep coaching in a chassis similar to that of the Galaxy Watch 7.
Best for most people
If you want a great all-rounder that does almost everything you'd expect from a watch, the newest Galaxy Watch 7 is the one. It has more features than the FE, but a more conventional design and friendlier price tag than the Ultra.
Best fitness tracker
If you want a great fitness tracker without any of the smartwatch bells and whistles, this Fit3 is a perfect sub $50/£50 pick that delivers 14 days of battery life, an AMOLED display, and over 100 exercise modes.
Best alternative
In a few select cases, the Galaxy Watch 6 is still an enticing pick. For starters, it's currently the only model with a Classic variant featuring the rotating bezel. It's often more heavily discounted than the 7, too, so can also make a great value choice over the FE.
The best Samsung Watch overall
The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is the best Samsung Watch going in 2024, thanks to its brilliant feature set and rugged titanium exterior. We love how durable that chassis feels, and the accompanying Quick button is very handy. There's no denying the design influence of the Apple Watch Ultra, but this is a great Android alternative for users who want a taste of Apple's great adventure companion.
Under the hood, you'll get dual-precision GPS for features like TrackBack, a Dive Mode, and a new upgraded Samsung BioActive Sensor array. The latter powers measurements for heart rate, blood oxygen, HRV, skin temperature, ECG, and even a body composition analysis feature.
The Galaxy Watch Ultra supports Samsung's One UI Watch 6, its own skinned version of Wear OS 5, and works with the companion Samsung health app.
The overall running metrics were fantastic, GPS remains accurate, and there's something for almost everyone when it comes to activity tracking. Battery life is rated for up to 100 hours of use. That won't challenge your favorite Garmin, but it's better than the Apple Watch Ultra and the best of any Samsung on the market.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra review
The best budget Samsung Watch
The Samsung Galaxy Watch FE is a great budget pick for those who want a Samsung smartwatch but don't want to splash out on the mainstream Galaxy Watch 7 option.
Ostensibly it's very similar in overall design and features, with a few key hardware differences. Notably, there's only one size, 40mm, available in Wi-Fi-only or LTE modes. So if you want a larger 44mm option it'll be the Galaxy Watch 7 for you.
The display is smaller than the regular Galaxy Watch, and there's less onboard RAM and storage for your music and media. Battery life ratings between the FE and the 7 are similar, but the latter boasts faster charging. Thanks to a recent rollout, the FE also supports Wear OS 5 in Samsung's One UI 6 Watch operating system.
The Galaxy Watch FE then is broadly the experience of the Galaxy Watch 7, slightly nerfed across the board in terms of hardware. As such, it's around £90/$90 cheaper in any given configuration.
The best Samsung Watch for most people
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 is the best pick for those who want an all-round workhorse that boasts better hardware than the FE but doesn't come with the rugged design (or heftier price tag) of the Ultra.
As you might expect, it comes with Wear OS 5 and a host of health tracking and fitness features. There's a wide range of colors, two sizes (40mm and 44mm), and options for Bluetooth as well as LTE. There's no Classic option like you might expect (we'll get to the Galaxy Watch 6 shortly), but there are various colorways and a choice for pretty much everyone.
Fitness comes powered by Galaxy AI for interesting insights into your health, fitness, and the progress you're making as you train. You'll get a daily personalized Energy Score (also powered by AI), as well as improved Heart Rate Tracking, Wellness Tips, and sleep tracking. The latter even comes with detection for sleep apnea.
There's also 32GB of onboard storage, and battery life is rated for up to 40 hours of use. We really like the new design with the invisible bezel and the snappy performance of the new Exynos chip. Battery life hasn't been improved over the last one, but this is by far the best pick for most people.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 review
The best Samsung fitness tracker
If you want a much smaller and cheaper Samsung fitness tracker, then the sub-$100 Galaxy Fit3 is the perfect pick. It's got a small, rectangular display reminiscent of a Fitbit, lightweight design (less than 20 grams), and a whopping 13 days of battery life.
The 1.6" AMOLED display won't dazzle you, but it provides insight into all your fitness tracking and health metrics, including workouts for over 100 different exercises. It also supports notifications and media controls. When it does run out of juice you'll get 65% battery from just a 30-minute charge.
The 5ATM and IP68 ratings mean you can use it in the rain and dust, just don't take it swimming. There's also built-in sleep tracking, daily activity scores, step counting, and heart rate monitoring.
Emergency features like fall detection, SOS messages, and onboard Medical info keep you safe, and there are over 100 Watchfaces so you can customize the experience.
The Fit3 is designed to be light and unobtrusive, with none of the flashy hardware of the Watch models, and a cheap price tag to match.
The best alternative Samsung Watch
In 2024 Samsung's Galaxy Watch 6 might not be the company's latest and greatest, but if you can get hold of one at a good price it's still well worth considering.
You won't find the 6 on Samsung's website, but the Classic is still for sale. Both models are available via third-party retailers like Amazon, often with generous discounts.
The Galaxy Watch 6 design broadly matches the 7, with two sizes, various colors, and more. It comes with all the usual smartwatch features you'd expect including fitness and sleep tracking, heart rate monitoring, and workouts. The 6 doesn't feature the newer Xynos chip, but battery life is still rated the same, as is the durability for waterproofing. You do get less storage for onboard media, but the Super AMOLED display also matches the new model.
The more enticing reason to pick the Galaxy Watch 6, however, is that classic model. You get that stylish, rotating bezel which is also a way to control the watch, a larger 1.5-inch display, and a more premium band in the box. The chip is also faster than the regular 6, and that silver finish is a real head-turner.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 review
Read our full Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic review
How to choose the best Samsung smartwatch
As you can see, there's an embarrassment of riches in the Samsung lineup that ensures there's really something for everyone. When picking the best Samsung Watch for you, consider your budget and what you need from a smartwatch.
If you need a watch for the great outdoors, climbing, and hiking, then the Ultra is an obvious pick. If you want the cheapest option available, or a simple fitness tracker, consider the FE or the Fit3.
The hardest decision will likely be for those choosing between the Galaxy Watch 7 and 6. If that classic design is important to you, take the older route, otherwise, there are enough upgrades in the 7 to warrant picking the newest model.
If battery life is top of your priority list, definitely consider either the Ultra or the Fit 3. If fitness tracking and health features are the most important aspect, then consider one of the new models for 2024, either the 7 or the Ultra, thanks to the power of AI they offer the most of any Samsung Watch to date.
Do Samsung Watches work with iPhone?
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No, while some older Galaxy Watch models worked with iPhone, the lineup in 2024 are Android smartwatches. However, while they won't work with iPhone, they will work with other Android OEMs such as OnePlus and Huawei. Naturally, of course, the best experience comes from pairing a Samsung Galaxy Watch with a Samsung smartphone.
How we test the best Samsung Watches
Of the picks in this guide, we've extensively tested the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6, 7, and Ultra. All of them have been put through their paces by our experts, using them everyday to see how they fit into your life. We test fitness tracking, battery life and charging, durability, and more. Each products gets a score for pricing, design, features, performance, and an overall rating based on all of those factors.
- Not committed to Samsung? Try our best smartwatch list instead
