Smartwatches have grown in popularity in recent years, with Apple taking the market by storm since it first came onto the scene with its selection in 2015. However, Samsung has been in the game for a little longer, and now, it looks like the two companies might take their smartphone rivalry into another industry.
Both the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 and the Apple Watch 7 have caught the eyes of many looking to upgrade their wristwear. And while both are excellent choices, the two differ in several areas.
So what are the primary differences between these two watches? Let’s take a closer look.
Operating System
Apple has always developed its watches using the watchOS operating system, and the Apple Watch 7 is no different in this respect. The software takes a lot of similarities from iOS and is compatible with your iPhone.
If you don’t use an iPhone, you’ll find it a lot tougher to use an Apple Watch. You need to have one to set up your device—and even after that, you’ll miss out on several features if you use an Android phone instead.
In contrast, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 uses Wear OS—which Samsung developed with Google. This is a little different from its smartphones, which use Android software.
Notably, you can use several Galaxy Watch 4 features if you have an iPhone. You’ll find a dedicated app on the App Store, though you can’t use the watch with your iPad. The watch is also compatible with several Android devices.
Exclusive Features
When looking to buy a smartwatch, it’s essential to consider what makes it stand out. The Apple Watch 7 and Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 both have a wide selection of exciting features.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 is a practical choice if you want to go granular with your health data. For example, you can use the device to monitor your blood pressure, while your watch can also monitor snoring and more.
If you’ve got a Samsung phone, you’ll have access to even more exclusive features than other users.
Having said the above, the Apple Watch 7 is no pushover. In recent years, Apple has made its iPhone more accessible to people with difficulties touching and seeing. Now, its watches are going in the same direction. With the Apple Watch 7, you can use Assistive Touch to navigate your device.
The Apple Watch 7 also lets you access an app called Mindfulness, previously known as Breathe. This app aims to help you with meditation and to remain present throughout the day.
Battery Life
Of course, it’s not worth comparing the Apple Watch 7 and Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 without considering the battery life.
The Apple Watch 7 should last roughly 18 hours on average before you need to recharge it. That’s impressive, but it doesn’t quite match up to the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4. At roughly 40 hours, you should get a lot more work out of the Samsung version between charges.
It’s important to remember that companies’ claims are a useful barometer to use, but not complete facts. If you use your watch more, you’ll drain your battery faster—regardless of the model you have.
Storage
Having a reasonable amount of memory on your device can help you get a lot more out of it, and both Samsung and Apple differ in this respect.
If you choose to buy a Galaxy Watch 4, you’ll get 16GB of storage. This isn’t too bad and should be enough for most users. However, it doesn’t quite match up with the Apple Watch 7—which has 32GB.
Price
Another critical thing to consider when choosing to buy your watch is how much it will cost. Apple is often seen as the leader for expensive gadgets, and it keeps that reputation in this battle.
How much you pay for an Apple Watch will depend on the model you buy. At the lower end, you can pick up a device from Apple for $399 RRP. However, for some watches, this increases to $799—and the priciest versions cost $1,249!
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 is much less straining on the wallet. The retail price for the Watch 4 is $249.99 if you buy a 40mm watch and $279.99 if you get the 44mm instead.
The Galaxy Watch 4 Classic is a little more expensive—though these are also slightly bigger than the standard ones. For the 42mm version, you can expect to pay $349.99 at retail price. If you want the 46mm edition instead, it’ll cost you $379.99.
You can save money by comparing prices at various outlets (both online and in-person). Alternatively, consider creating a pot where you add money until you can afford to buy the watch you want.
App Support
You can use a wide selection of native apps on both the Apple Watch 4 and Samsung Galaxy Watch 4. But in some instances, you might want to download additional ones that will help you reach your goals.
With the Galaxy Watch 4, you can download several third-party apps. Included are Spotify, Strava, and YouTube.
If you’re looking for extra apps, though, the Apple Watch 7 might be a better choice for you. Some of the apps you can download include Uber, Runkeeper, and Facebook Messenger.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 vs. Apple Watch 7: Which Is the Best Choice for You?
Neither the Apple Watch 7 nor Galaxy Watch 4 is a bad choice, and the best one for you will depend on your goals. If you’re looking to measure your health on a more granular level, the Watch 4 offers many valuable tools. Having said that, the Apple Watch 7 doesn’t slack in this respect—nor will you be disappointed if you want to improve your general fitness goals.
If you’ve got an iPhone, you’ll probably feel more comfortable with the watchOS operating system—even though you can use Samsung’s device with your smartphone. And if you have a Samsung phone (or Android device in general), you’ll get much more use out of the Watch 4 than the Apple Watch 7.