There is a new Wear OS watch in town, but is the Galaxy Watch 8 (or Watch 8 Classic) exponentially better than the Pixel Watch 3? Here’s everything you need to know.
Table of contents
For reference, we won’t be comparing the Pixel Watch 3 to the Galaxy Watch 8 Ultra. They are at very different price points, and the Ultra model is a rugged wearable designed for a different audience. It also doesn’t have any major internal hardware changes over the Watch 7 Ultra – making it a bit of a pointless upgrade for many people.
Hardware, design, and specifications
The Galaxy Watch 8 and the Pixel Watch 3 couldn’t be further apart visually, but the core recipe might not be all that far apart. Google’s approach with the Pixel Watch 3 feels like a refined evolution, while Samsung’s diverse Galaxy Watch 8 lineup feels designed to be a powerhouse, aiming to cater to just about every potential preference out there.
While the Watch 8 and Watch 8 Classic are not outright “rugged” in the traditional sense, the devices are designed to withstand more damage or abuse than the Pixel Watch 3. The curved glass dome probably isn’t going to be able to take a major beating unless you get a case or cover.
The Watch 8 is boxier than its predecessor, while the Watch 8 Classic retains the rotating bezel to control various on-screen UI elements and software sections. The regular Watch 8 lacks the option, and visually is a slimmer, but these are chunky watches by any metric.
Let’s talk about what’s under the hood, because that’s where things get interesting. Samsung’s entire Galaxy Watch 8 family, from the standard Watch 8 to the Watch 8 Classic and the Watch Ultra (2025), is rocking the new Exynos W1000 chipset. We’re talking about a five-core, 3nm processor, designed to bring serious performance and efficiency. It would be a lie to say I could tell a difference when using both wearables side-by-side, but at least on paper, Samsung’s chip edges things out.
It means a smooth, consistent experience no matter which Galaxy Watch 8 you strap on. On the flip side, the Pixel Watch 3 has the same Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 chip used since the Pixel Watch 2. Now, before you scoff, this chip, even if it’s a couple of years old, is still very much on the cutting edge for performance for Android wearables. Paired with 2GB of RAM, the experience is smooth as silk. So, yes, the Pixel Watch 3 might not have a brand-new engine, but it certainly isn’t lagging behind the competition when it comes to getting things done.
Now, let’s talk screens, because you’re going to be staring at these things all day. The Galaxy Watch 8 models all feature impressive Super AMOLED displays. The 40mm Watch 8 and the Watch 8 Classic both have 1.34-inch screens at 438×438 resolution, while the 44mm Watch 8 and Watch Ultra (2025) go bigger with 1.47-inch displays at 480×480 resolution. All of them boast a pixel density of 327 ppi and an absolutely blinding 3000 nits of peak brightness. That means you’ll have no trouble seeing your notifications even under the harshest sunlight.
Software and updates
In terms of software, both the Galaxy Watch 8 series and the Pixel Watch 3 run on Google’s Wear OS. The Galaxy Watch 8 models launch with One UI 8.0 Watch atop Wear OS 6. The Pixel Watch 3, meanwhile, launched with Wear OS 5 and is yet to get the official Android 16-based release.
Ordinarily, Pixel devices get big updates first, but the Galaxy Watch lineup has been the flag bearer of Wear OS since Samsung stopped making Tizen-powered wearables. The Watch 8 series ships with the latest version, but also Gemini support right out of the box. It’s not the full-fat Gemini as we know it. Instead, it’s a slim version that lets you control on-device apps and services or get instant queries and responses. It’s super fast.
This suggests Google is aiming for a pretty consistent software experience across its recent watches. Google has also historically been strong on software support, and the Pixel Watch 3 is expected to receive at least as much support through 2027.
Battery and charging
We’ve not spent quite enough time thoroughly testing the longevity of both wearables side-by-side, but we have a fair idea of what to expect given how smartwatches tend to perform.
Battery life and charging are always hot topics. The Galaxy Watch 8 lineup offers varied capacities: 325mAh for the 40mm Watch 8, 435mAh for the 44mm, and 445mAh for the Watch 8 Classic.
The Pixel Watch 3, regardless of size, is rated for a 24-hour battery life with the Always-On Display active. Even though the 45mm Watch 3 packs an extra 114mAh, much of that juice goes directly to powering the larger screen. When it comes to charging, the 41mm Pixel Watch 3 is pretty quick, hitting 50% in 24 minutes and a full charge in 60 minutes. The 45mm takes a bit longer, 28 minutes to 50% and 80 minutes to 100%, which, combined with the 24-hour lifespan, means you’ll have to be a bit strategic about when you top it up.
Fitness and tracking
Health and fitness tracking are crucial for any modern smartwatch, and both companies pack in a lot. The Galaxy Watch 8 models come equipped with all the usual suspects: accelerometer, altimeter, gyroscope, light sensor, and geomagnetic sensor.
Other notables include ECG, SpO2, skin temperature readings, and even a few more for respiratory rate. Google has switched to the Fitbit application to handle all of the fitness tracking functionality. It’s a very basic experience. Samsung Health has a ton of functionality that takes advantage of the
Google is also claiming a big win for the Pixel Watch 3 with “the most accurate heart rate for running”. They say they’ve made “significant improvements with generation tuning” to deal with “light artifacts” that previously made it tough to track rapid heart rate changes during intense workouts. However, despite this focus on running, the Pixel Watch 3 only offers standard GPS tracking, unlike the dual-band GPS you get on the Galaxy Watch 7, which can offer better accuracy in challenging environments.
Which is the better buy?
About upgrading: NewGeekGuide often gives specific product recommendations. Sometimes, we may suggest not upgrading, due to various reasons including, but not limited to: increased device cost, negligible performance gains, or environmental impact. Whether to upgrade is always your call, but our aim is to help you make as informed a decision as possible.
Given that the Pixel Watch 3 is set to be usurped by the Pixel Watch 4 in the coming weeks, it’s a bit of an unfair comparison. That said, there are some solid reasons to choose Google’s wearable if you want a Wear OS watch that blends into the background rather than demands to be seen. We’re not expecting a ton of updates on the Pixel Watch 4, so you at least get an idea of what to expect, and the Galaxy Watch 8 gives you a lot more bang for your buck in that regard – at least for the time being.
We’ll try to revisit this comparison when the Pixel Watch 4 does arrive, but the upside is that Google’s wearable has come down in price since launch, making it an easier recommendation. For anyone with a Samsung phone, you’ll be better served with a Galaxy Watch.
Pre-orders for the Galaxy Z Fold 7, Flip 7, and Galaxy Watch 8 are now open through Samsung.com with up to $1,100 in trade-in values, plus an additional $50 in Samsung credit when you order through NewGeekGuide’s links below.
Galaxy Watch 8 Classic at Samsung.com
Galaxy Z Fold 7 at Samsung.com
Galaxy Z Flip 7 at Samsung.com
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