Apple Watch vs Samsung Galaxy Watch: The Ultimate Smartwatch Showdown for 2026
Based on expert reviews from DC Rainmaker, Tom's Guide, and real user experiences from forums and Reddit
The short answer: The Apple Watch Series 10 wins for iPhone users with superior accuracy in heart rate, step counting, and GPS tracking. For Android users, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 offers nearly double the battery life and unique health features like body composition tracking. Your phone ecosystem largely decides this battle. Get the Apple Watch Series 10 on Amazon for $399 →
The Fighters
| Apple Watch Series 10 | Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $399 on Amazon | $259 on Amazon |
| Best For | iPhone users, fitness accuracy | Android users, battery life |
| Display | LTPO3 OLED, 2,000 nits | Super AMOLED, 3,000 nits |
| Battery | 18 hours (36 in Low Power) | 30-40 hours |
| Shape | Rectangular | Round |
The Death Match: 6 Rounds, 1 Winner
We're scoring each round from 1-10. Higher score wins the round. Let's fight!
Round 1: Tracking Accuracy
This is where the Apple Watch dominates. DC Rainmaker's testing found the Apple Watch Series 10 "spot-on with the chest strap" during interval runs and "nailed it" in challenging tree coverage where competitors struggled.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7's GPS is a different story. DC Rainmaker described it as "drunk uncle" navigation, with 20-30 meters of error per kilometer. That means a 10km run could show 200-300 meters longer than actual distance.
A research study of 104 adults found Apple Watch step counting had a correlation of r=0.99 compared to Samsung's r=0.82—a significant accuracy gap.
| Apple Watch Series 10 | Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 |
|---|---|
| 9/10 | 6/10 |
Round 1 Winner: Apple Watch — Superior GPS, heart rate, and step counting accuracy backed by independent testing
Score after Round 1: Apple Watch 9 | Samsung Galaxy Watch 6
Round 2: Battery Life
Samsung takes this round decisively. The Galaxy Watch 7 offers 30-40 hours on a single charge, while Apple Watch Series 10 users struggle to make it through a full day.
TechRadar reported that early Galaxy Watch 7 units had battery issues, but Samsung has since patched the problem. Users now report: "They fixed it with the last update. I have no problem going a couple of days on my Watch Sevens now."
Apple's saving grace is fast charging—dead to 80% in about 30 minutes. But you'll be using that feature daily, while Samsung users can go 2-3 days between charges with moderate use.
| Apple Watch Series 10 | Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 |
|---|---|
| 5/10 | 9/10 |
Round 2 Winner: Samsung Galaxy Watch — Nearly double the battery life wins this round easily
Score after Round 2: Apple Watch 14 | Samsung Galaxy Watch 15
Round 3: Health Features
Both watches offer comprehensive health tracking, but they excel in different areas.
Apple Watch strengths include more accurate heart rate monitoring (a few percentage points better in testing by fitness YouTuber Rob Ter Horst), fall detection, crash detection, and ECG that works with any iPhone.
Samsung counters with exclusive features: body composition analysis (measuring body fat, water levels, and muscle mass with claimed 97% accuracy), sleep apnea detection, and blood pressure monitoring. The Energy Score feature uses AI to analyze your sleep, activity, and heart rate data for daily readiness insights.
The catch? Samsung's ECG and blood pressure features only work with Samsung phones. If you're using a Pixel or other Android device, you lose those premium features.
| Apple Watch Series 10 | Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 |
|---|---|
| 8/10 | 8/10 |
Round 3 Winner: Tie — Apple wins on accuracy; Samsung wins on feature variety
Score after Round 3: Apple Watch 22 | Samsung Galaxy Watch 23
Round 4: Build Quality & Design
Apple Watch Series 10 brings aerospace-grade titanium that's almost 20% lighter than the stainless steel Series 9. The wide-angle OLED display is up to 40% brighter when viewed from an angle—a first for Apple products.
Samsung embraces the classic round watch aesthetic that many users prefer. Tom's Guide noted that "swapping from Apple's distinct rectangular slab to Samsung's traditional round face was considered a relief."
However, Samsung has reported issues. Some users need to do a hard reset every time they add a watch face or update software. Apple's build quality remains more consistent.
| Apple Watch Series 10 | Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 |
|---|---|
| 9/10 | 7/10 |
Round 4 Winner: Apple Watch — Premium materials, lighter weight, and better software stability
Score after Round 4: Apple Watch 31 | Samsung Galaxy Watch 30
Round 5: Value for Money
At $259 (discounted from $329), the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 undercuts the $399 Apple Watch Series 10 by $140. That's a significant savings for a watch that offers longer battery life and unique health features.
However, value isn't just about price. Apple's ecosystem integration is seamless—your watch unlocks automatically when you unlock your phone, something users who switched to Samsung miss. Apple also has a stronger third-party app ecosystem.
Samsung's lower price makes it attractive, but the GPS accuracy issues documented by DC Rainmaker (20-30m error per km) could matter if you're tracking runs seriously.
| Apple Watch Series 10 | Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 |
|---|---|
| 7/10 | 8/10 |
Round 5 Winner: Samsung Galaxy Watch — $140 savings with competitive features wins the value round
Score after Round 5: Apple Watch 38 | Samsung Galaxy Watch 38
Round 6: Reliability & User Satisfaction
Both watches have had their share of issues in 2025-2026.
Apple Watch Series 10 problems include speaker volume issues (some users reporting 4 replacements, with rumors of a potential service recall) and heart rate monitoring complaints ("90% of the time during the first 10 minutes of a workout, no heart rate is displayed").
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 issues include One UI 8 Watch bugs affecting battery drain, third-party watch faces, and sensor functionality. Samsung prepared a fix for January 12, 2026. The touchscreen also struggles when wet from rain or heavy sweat.
Both have problems, but Apple's issues seem more isolated while Samsung's affect core functionality like GPS accuracy across the board.
| Apple Watch Series 10 | Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 |
|---|---|
| 7/10 | 6/10 |
Round 6 Winner: Apple Watch — More consistent overall performance despite some speaker issues
Final Score
| Product | Total Score | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Watch Series 10 | 45/60 | WINNER |
| Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 | 44/60 |
The Winner: Apple Watch Series 10
The Apple Watch Series 10 edges out Samsung with superior tracking accuracy, better build quality, and more reliable performance. The GPS accuracy difference alone—r=0.99 vs r=0.82 for steps, and Samsung's "drunk uncle" GPS navigation—makes Apple the clear choice for anyone serious about fitness tracking.
Yes, you'll charge it daily. Yes, it costs $140 more. But when DC Rainmaker calls Apple's GPS "spot-on" and Samsung's performance shows 200-300 meters of error on a 10km run, accuracy matters more than battery life for tracking your workouts.
The ecosystem lock-in is real though: Apple Watch only works with iPhones. If you're on Android, this comparison is academic—Samsung is your best mainstream option.
Ready to buy the winner? Get Apple Watch Series 10 on Amazon →
When the Loser Actually Wins
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 isn't right for everyone, but it's the better choice if:
- You use an Android phone — Apple Watch literally doesn't work with Android
- Battery life is your top priority — 2-3 days vs daily charging is a real lifestyle difference
- You want body composition tracking — Samsung's scale-on-your-wrist feature is unique
- You're on a budget — $259 vs $399 is significant savings
- You prefer round watch aesthetics — Classic watch design vs Apple's rectangle
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 might be right for you: Check price on Amazon →
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Apple Watch with an Android phone?
No. Apple Watch requires an iPhone and will not function with Android devices. This is non-negotiable—if you have Android, look at Samsung Galaxy Watch, Google Pixel Watch, or Garmin options.
Which smartwatch has better heart rate accuracy?
Apple Watch is more accurate by a few percentage points in independent testing. DC Rainmaker found Apple Watch "spot-on with chest strap" readings, while Samsung struggles especially during cycling and intensity changes.
Is Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 GPS really that bad?
For casual users, it's fine. For serious runners tracking distance, yes—DC Rainmaker documented 20-30 meters of error per kilometer, meaning a 10km run could show 200-300 meters off. The Galaxy Watch Ultra performs better if GPS accuracy matters to you.
Which watch is better for sleep tracking?
Samsung offers more detailed sleep analysis including sleep apnea detection (not available on Apple Watch). Apple provides cleaner, simpler insights. If you want comprehensive sleep data, Samsung wins this specific category.
Sources
- DC Rainmaker Apple Watch Series 10 In-Depth Review
- DC Rainmaker Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 Review
- Tom's Guide: Apple Watch vs Galaxy Watch
- TechRadar: Galaxy Watch 7 Battery Problem
- PMC Research Study: Step Count Accuracy
- BGR: Apple Watch Series 10 Problems
- Samsung Community Forums
- Android Authority: Galaxy Watch 7 Problems
- Sammy Fans: One UI 8 Watch Fix
- HowToGeek: Galaxy Watch 8 vs Apple Watch Series 10