latest and greatest

Samsung Galaxy Watch 3

Still one of our favorites

Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 builds on the successes of one of the most popular "Android" watches in history with new features, new colors and a greater focus on healthy lifestyles. It is truly a next-generation smartwatch that has goal to compete with the best from companies like Apple and Garmin.

Starting at $299 on Amazon

pros

Physical rotating bezel New sleep and work features Trip detection Integrated LTE GPS option 2+ days of battery life

Cons

Over $100 more than Watch Active 2 blood pressure monitoring

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 has been our favorite smartwatch for Android users since it first debuted in late 2019, and it's likely to remain high on our list until the Watch Active 3 bursts onto the scene. It's lightweight, sporty and perfect for everyday wear.

Starting at $149 at Walmart

pros

Digital rotating bezel Built-in LTE GPS option Lighter, more streamlined look Much cheaper than Galaxy Watch 3 Two-day battery life

Cons

No trip detection Blood pressure monitoring

Don't be fooled by the naming convention when comparing the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 to the Galaxy Watch Active 2; these are the second iterations of two of Samsung's most popular wearables. Even with 2021's new Galaxy Watch 4 taking great part of the attention, the Galaxy Watch Active 2, released in late 2019, and the Galaxy Watch 3 in mid-2020, these two smartwatches are still excellent devices and share a lot of family. DNA.

Speaking of the Galaxy Watch 4, in late 2021 Samsung shipped several features from that smartwatch to the Active 2 and Watch 3 in a software update. Health features like advanced fall detection and updated group challenges arrived along with new watch faces and more. But you're not here to learn about their similarities, are you? So let's dive into what makes the Watch 3 different from the Watch Active 2 and why you might want to consider one over the other.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 vs. Galaxy Watch Active 2: When Galaxies Collide

Although the Galaxy Watch 3 is only Samsung's second flagship smartwatch, when it launched alongside the Galaxy S20 and Galaxy Note 20 phones, the company considered the device to represent a generational leap so far forward that a leap in numbering was required. As a result, Samsung's latest and greatest wearable has iterated on the first edition and borrowed some of the best features from the highly successful Galaxy Watch Active 2.

So if these two watches are so similar, why would you want to go for the Active 2 over the newer Watch 3? There are a number of reasons, including style, fit, and price, just to name a few.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 Display Super AMOLED 1.2 or 1.4 inches Super AMOLED 1.2 or 1.4 inches Dimensions 41 x 42.5 x 11.3 mm 45 x 46.2 x 11 .1mm 40 x 40 x 10.9mm44 x 44 x 10.9mm Weight 49.2-53.8g 26-30g Connectivity Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi b/g/n, LTE (selected models) Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi b/g/n, LTE (selected models) Water-resistance 5ATM + IP68 / MIL-STD-910G 5ATM + IP68 / MIL-STD-810G Battery life 2+ days (varies by model) 2 days (varies by model) Sensors HRM, electrocardiogram (ECG), accelerometer, gyroscope, barometer, ambient light sensor, blood pressure monitor HRM, electrocardiogram (ECG), accelerometer, gyroscope, barometer, ambient light sensor, monitor Blood Pressure Monitoring Tizen Operating System Tizen Notifications Yes Yes Built-in GPS Yes Yes NFC Payments YesSamsung Pay YesEKG Samsung Pay YesNot Available Worldwide YesNot Available Worldwide Pressure Monitor arterial Yesno available worldwide Yesno available worldwide Optional LTE Yes Yes Colors Stainless Steel: Mystic Bronze, Mystic Black, Mystic SilverTitanium: Mystic Black Aluminum: Black, Gold, Silver, Rose GoldStainless Steel: Black, Gold, Silver Material Stainless steel Aluminum Titanium Stainless steel

That was a lot to cover. Let's dive into what makes each watch great before deciding on a winner in this matchup.

Focus on sport: Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2

Source: Chris Wedel / Android Central

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 is the perfect wearable for the fitness-focused person who wants a legitimate smartwatch companion. It compares quite favorably to the more dedicated sports watches and trackers in this space, while drastically outperforming those others. devices in terms of user interface, power, and smartwatch functionality.

This sports watch comes in two sizes, a smaller 40mm and a larger 44mm, with four subtle yet beautiful colors to choose from, including black, gold, silver, and pink. The case is constructed of brushed aluminum, which it's durable and lightweight, and the overall feel with the included fluoroelastomer bands is quite comfortable. You hardly even know you're wearing it!

The screen is a bright and beautiful SUPER AMOLED panel, and it features one of Samsung's best UI features, a rotating bezel. Sort of. The rotating bezel is virtual, but it gives you a Galaxy Watch-like experience and the Galaxy Watch 3. The only downside is that when your fingers are wet or sweaty, it can be a bit difficult to use this feature (and like a sports watch, your hands can be slippery when trying to use it).

As expected, GPS is built in and LTE versions are available in both sizes. The Watch Active 2 also comes in a golf edition, with accurate course distances from over 40,000 courses worldwide, as well as bands and colors. fun and sporty in both sizes. So if you're an avid golfer, that could influence your swing with this watch.

Next generation smartwatch: Samsung Galaxy Watch 3

Source: Android Central

It took about two years for Samsung to update its popular Galaxy Watch, but that hasn't stopped it from continuing to be one of the most searched for wearables on Android Central to this day. So fans are no doubt thrilled to see it updated in the form of a Galaxy Watch 3.

Wait, you might be saying, what happened to the Galaxy Watch 2? Well, it never existed. Samsung skipped a generation in names because it felt this watch was a performance breakthrough, and we think it might be onto something.

The latest version of the Galaxy Watch lineup came with a number of exciting new features, including a drop (travel) detection version, the ability to control the smartwatch with hand gestures, and new controls and watch faces. are further enhanced in the November 2021 software update. There are also new health, fitness and lifestyle features such as advanced running analytics and improved sleep monitoring. Samsung also offers the ability to connect to over 120 video workouts through the Samsung Health app on your Galaxy smartphone.

Unfortunately, some of the most important health features won't be available to everyone at launch and likely for some time. Like the Watch Active 2, which launched in November 2019, the Watch 3 will only support oxygen reading at blood and EKG in some places like South Korea and the US. This is particularly frustrating as it has the sensors to do both now, and competitors have similar features enabled in other parts of the world.

There is a 41mm version for smaller wrists that retails for $299 and a larger 45mm version that retails for $399. While the price of this watch is a substantial increase over the Active 2, it is still found at the lower end of top-tier smartwatches like the Apple Watch. It comes in stainless steel and titanium finish options, with bold colors like new Mystic Bronze to match the Note 20 Ultra and a stealthy Mystic Black (which is the one I would choose).

Which one should you buy?

Source: Samsung

When it comes to smartwatches, the buying advice is generally to buy the newest device available. Even more so than smartphones, generational upgrades can perform exponentially better than older versions.

That's why when forced to pick a winner, I'd have to recommend that if you're considering both the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 and the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2, go for the newer option. Yes, the newer Watch 3 is more expensive , but if you get the 41mm stainless steel version with Bluetooth, it's cheaper than the larger LTE Active 2. I know they're not exactly apples to apples (or galaxies to galaxies), but they're not as far apart as you might think. And you can expect the Watch 3 to have some deals and sales in the coming months, too.

Despite my official recommendation, I think the Galaxy Watch Active 2 is still a great smartwatch. That's why it's one of our favorite Android smartwatches. It packs a ton of usability features, great performance, and battery life comparable to a significant price savings. So if you choose to go with this portable device, you won't regret it.

latest and greatest

Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 smart watch

generational update

The Galaxy Watch 3 builds on its predecessor with improved internals and sensors and borrows a fitness page from its sibling, the Active 2. However, this watch has more substance and gravitas to it and looks just as good paired with formal wear as it does. with sports clothes. .

Still one of our favorites

Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 Smartwatch

A great watch for every day

This is the Android smartwatch to get if you're physically inclined and don't want something like a Garmin or Fitbit. It handles all the sports features of its competition and is noticeably better as a smartwatch.

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