Reaching maturity, next model expected soon
Best for: Android users — especially those in the Samsung ecosystem — who want a premium smartwatch with comprehensive health tracking, Wear OS flexibility, and strong software support. The Ultra suits outdoor-active users who need longer battery life.
Full details →Overdue for a refresh — no successor announced yet. Prices should be at their lowest
Best for: Users who want Garmin's best health analytics and sports tracking on a stylish AMOLED watch that doesn't look like a hiking GPS. Works equally well for Android and iPhone. The best Garmin option for someone who prioritises everyday wellness over extreme outdoor sports.
Full details →| Samsung Galaxy Watch | Garmin Venu | |
|---|---|---|
| Tier | Smartwatch | Smartwatch |
| Platform | Android only | iOS & Android |
| Battery | 1.5 days | 14 days |
| Always-on display | ✅ | ✅ |
| GPS | ✅ | ✅ |
| Cellular | ✅ | ❌ |
| Health sensors | ecg, blood pressure, spo2, skin temp, hrv, body comp | hr, spo2, hrv, stress, body battery, nap detection |
| Released | Jul 25, 2025 | Sep 7, 2023 |
| Cycle length | 366 days | 868 days |
| Cycle advice | neutral | bad |
| Deals advice | neutral | good |
| Next model | Galaxy Watch 9 (Expected summer 2026) | — |
ECG, blood pressure, body composition, SpO2, and advanced sleep coaching — all processed on-device with Galaxy AI.
Answer calls, control SmartThings, and use Galaxy AI features seamlessly across Galaxy phones and tablets.
Access Google Play, Google Maps, Google Wallet, and Samsung's polished One UI Watch 7 interface.
Garmin's signature energy monitoring tracks stress, sleep, and heart rate variability to give you a daily 0–100 energy score — more nuanced than raw step counts.
The Venu 3 automatically detects when you nap during the day and logs it accurately in your sleep data — a unique wellness feature among smartwatches.
Most AMOLED smartwatches last 1–2 days. Garmin's efficient software architecture stretches the Venu 3 to 14 days — a huge practical advantage.