The fitness tools have already made their way into the next-gen technologies, and these next-gen technologies are nothing but the smart wearables that keep track of your daily fitness routine. Shopping for a smartwatch could be daunting as there is a neck-to-neck competition in the market. If you are an iPhone user, the Apple watch is where you will be inclined, but there are wear OS devices that work on both iOS and Android platforms.
Over the years, mobile app development has gained accolades worldwide, and we all have witnessed what impact has Samsung made on the Android smartphone industry. They have launched smartphones for every pocket and have stamped their authority in the market. Their only challenge, however, is the Apple iOS industry who has given Samsung a run for their money on almost every parameter.
This sweet-bitter rivalry has taken a new road now in the form of smart wearables as once again the two stalwarts are not leaving any stone unturned. Let us discuss where the two stands currently in the market structure.
Galaxy Watch 3 VS Apple Watch Series 5
To draw comparisons between the two stalwarts, it is important to create battle lines between their latest offerings. For iOS Apple Watch Series 5, whereas, for Android, Galaxy Watch 3.
- Compatibility: The first and foremost thing to state its significance is compatibility. The Galaxy Watch 3 runs Samsung’sown Tizen OS that is compatible with both Android and iOS devices. Meanwhile, this is not the case with the Apple watch that runs only on an iPhone. Therefore, on this constraint, Galaxy watch 3 is the clear winner.
- Looks: Looks play a vital role for the people who are more inclined towards the physical appearance of the watch rather than its features. The Galaxy Watch 3 has a round dial, and it is made of stainless steel with a rotating bezel. All this gives the watch an Analog look. Meanwhile, the Apple Watch is squared shaped that gives user’s a new experience. It also comes in a stainless steel version for which you have to pay an extra 300$.
- Size: Both smartwatches come in two different sizes. Galaxy Watch offers dimensions of 41mm and 45 mm, whereas, the Apple Watch also offers two different sizes of 40 mm and 44 mm.
- Fitness features: Both smartwatches have almost identical fitness features. The basics are the same as fitness tracking heart-rate monitoring, water-resistance up to 50 meters, built-in GPS, and over 30 different workouts in their catalogs.Both watches offer designated tools for runners wherein Galaxy Watch 3 gives you instant and detailed feedback, but in Apple watch to get detailed feedback you will have to rely on third-party apps.
With the Galaxy Watch 3, you can sync a workout video that could be watched later from the Galaxy Health app that is one of the wearable apps. However, the Apple Watch doesn’t do this natively but is dependent on third-party apps for the same.
- Health-related features: Both watches are equipped with the electrocardiogram feature (ECG) that tells whether your heart rhythm is indicative of atrial fibrillation (Fib) or not. This feature is currently available on the Apple watch that makes it the lone wolf in the facet. The Apple Watch has a hearing health notification feature that lets you know when the volume is too high and unbearable for the ears. This feature is not present in the Galaxy Watch 3.
- Battery life: Whether it is a smartphone or a smartwatch, battery performance is noticed by all of us. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 holds a slight upper hand in this facet. The Galaxy Watch can last up to two days, whereas the Apple watch gives a battery backup of 30 to 36 hours.
- Cost: Both smartwatches start at $399 for the smaller Bluetooth only models. The LTE version of the Apple Watch is on the expensive side i.e. $100 more, versus $50 more for the LTE version of the Samsung Galaxy Watch.
Below are the other modes of difference that will give you a clearer view of the features and performance of the two watches.
| Mode or Differentiation | Apple Watch Series 5 | Galaxy Watch 3 |
| Display size, resolution | 1.5 in., 1.7 in. Retina OLED 368×448 pixels | 1.2 in., 1.4 in. Super AMOLED 360×360 pixels |
| Colors | Silver, space gray, gold, white (ceramic only) | Mystic Silver, Mystic Bronze, Mystic Black (45mm only) |
| Interchangeable bands | Yes | Yes |
| GPS | Built-in | Built-in |
| Automatic workout detection | Yes (8 activities) | Yes (7 activities) |
| Compass | Yes | No |
| Altimeter | Yes | Yes |
| Water resistance | Yes, up to 50m | Yes, up to 50m |
| Calls | Yes | Yes |
| Notifications | Text replies | Text replies |
| Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Speaker | Yes | Yes |
| Voice assistant | Siri | Bixby |
| Music | Onboard, playback and streaming (with cellular model) | Onboard, playback and streaming (with cellular model) |
| Mobile Payments | Apple Pay | Samsung Pay (NFC) |
| Sleep tracking | No (starting in WatchOS 7) | Yes |
| Period tracking | Yes | No |
| Special features | ECG app and HR notifications, hearing health alerts | Running coach and SPO2 tracking (pending software update), ECG app and blood pressure (South Korea only for now) |
| Emergency features | Emergency SOS, International emergency calling, fall detection, | Fall detection |
| Compatibility | iOS/iPhone only | Android and iOS |
| Software | WatchOS 6 | Tizen OS 5.5 |
| Processor | S5 chip with 64-bit dual-core processor and Apple’s W3 wireless chip | Exynos 9110 dual-core 1.15GHz |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi and Cellular option | Wi-Fi and Cellular option |
| Storage | 32GB | 8GB internal (1GB ram) |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Power | Magnetic Apple charging cable and USB connector (backward compatible) | Qi Wireless charging dock and travel adapter |
| Battery life | All day (18 hrs) | 2 days-plus (per Samsung) |
| Price (USD) | 40mm: $399, $499 (LTE) 44mm: $429, $529 (LTE) | 41mm: $400, $450 (LTE) 45mm: $430, $480 (LTE) |
Conclusion: Both Android and iOS application development have invested heavily to attain supremacy in the field of smart wearables. We drew comparisons between the best of iOS and Android wearables based on several categories to make your task easier choosing the right one. Let us know in the comments section, which one would you prefer now.
