I’ve simply completed testing the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Traditional and Galaxy Watch 8, two smartwatches largely differentiated by design and worth. Past that, they provide related experiences.
And I can see that the choice to work nearer with Google is starting to repay. Whether or not that’s the rising affect of Put on OS or the notable addition of Google’s providers, together with a Gemini sensible assistant that may immediately make you neglect about Bixby – should you haven’t carried out that already.
I’ll admit I used to be stunned when Samsung opted to surrender on the clear progress that was being made with its personal Tizen working system in change for Google’s. Its personal ecosystem was harm by the dearth of app help (amongst different issues), which embracing Put on once more has helped to deal with.
Mike Sawh
However that collaboration could have to go even additional. I believe Samsung’s watches are good health trackers, providing nice well being options, however their execution might be so a lot better. Whether or not it’s the presentation of information, being more practical at motivating you to remain energetic all through the day or just making all options out there to all Android customers, there’s a clunkiness to all of it that I don’t like.
Might Samsung simply hand these things over to Google?
Simply earlier than utilizing these Galaxy Watches I truly tried out the Google Pixel Watch 3 and the reply revealed itself. Might Samsung simply hand these things over to Google?
For the Pixel Watch, it’s taken a pair iterations of the flagship smartwatch to indicate the worth of that Fitbit acquisition. However now it feels a lot extra part of each day interactions.
With the arrival of the Google Pixel Watch 4, these Fitbit-powered interactions are set to get higher. Whether or not it’s delving deeper into sleep developments, drawing a stronger correlation between exercise and restoration or the straightforward Fitbit Morning Temporary, which offers a abstract of your key metrics and targets, these options actually channel what made proudly owning a Fitbit smartwatch or health tracker so interesting. They make paying nearer consideration to those metrics and insights a lot less complicated at a look, and simpler to tackle board. Samsung’s newest smartwatches simply don’t provide the identical.
These options actually channel what made proudly owning a Fitbit smartwatch or health tracker so interesting
There’s additionally the brand new Fitbit Well being coach, powered by Gemini. We’ve already seen the promise of Gemini on Samsung’s smartwatches. This might be simply the type of factor the Galaxy Watch line would profit drastically from.
One other gripe to focus on is the well being monitoring compatibility on Samsung’s smartwatches. You continue to have to personal a Samsung smartphone to entry the out there ECG, blood strain and sleep apnea modes. Whereas the Pixel Watch 4 can’t match Samsung for all of these out there well being options, it does have an ECG, and also you don’t should personal a Pixel cellphone to place it to good use.
I’m unsure if it’s doable for Samsung to strengthen its partnership greater than it already has with Google, or if it even wants or desires to do this. On Google’s aspect, does it wish to share these options, which may danger taking away a number of the desirability from its personal flagship smartwatch?
With the most recent model of Put on on the Galaxy Watch feeling extra like Put on on a Pixel Watch, plus the elevated presence of Google apps like Gemini and Maps, bringing these Fitbit-fuelled options into the fray would make a world of distinction. It might remedy a number of the issues with Samsung’s personal barely messy strategy to bringing health, sleep and well being monitoring collectively as one.
See extra information and opinions on the Pixel 10 telephones in our devoted 2025 Google Occasion hub.