If you have an Android phone, you’ve probably looked at Garmin vs Samsung Watch as a way to track your fitness through your workouts, monitor your sleep, or simply track your steps. As two of the biggest names in the game for a reason.
As a former health editor at woman&home and a fitness writer, I’ve tested many of the best fitness trackers over the last six years, but I’ve never put a Samsung Watch to the test. So, as you can imagine, I was very excited to get my hands on the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7. After wearing that one for two weeks, I found it to be most similar to the Garmin Venu 3, so I compared these two side by side.
While they aren’t the newest devices from either brand (you can look to the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 and Garmin Venu 4 for that), they are still two of the best.
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Garmin vs Samsung WatchGarmin vs Samsung Watch: Overview
The Garmin Venu 3 is one of my favourite fitness trackers – and one I often point for someone looking for a catch-all device with premium features. It’s the perfect alternative to the Apple Watch, featuring contactless payments and on-wrist texting – with advanced activity tracking, sleep, stress, and health monitoring.
Similarly, an update from its predecessor, the Samsung Watch 7 has a speedy processor and advanced sensor for the most accurate data on heart rate, workouts and sleep. It’s also the first Samsung Watch model powered by AI to provide even more wellness insights.
The Samsung Watch 7 can only be used with an Android phone and is best connected to a Samsung Galaxy device, unlike the Garmin Venu 3, which is compatible with Android and Apple devices. I am an iPhone fan through and through, but I swapped to a Samsung smartphone for testing purposes. I found the Samsung Health app very user-friendly and my experience testing the Watch 7 was almost enough to sway me to the other side.
The Garmin Venu 3 fitness tracker is now under £400, thanks to the release of the new Garmin Venu 4. It comes in six colourways (if you opt for the 41mm, also known as the Venu 3S (with ‘s’ standing for ‘small’) and a larger size, should you want a bigger screen.
ProsAdvanced health insightsSend and receive texts and callsComfortable to wear Detailed sleep insights ConsMore expensive than others at RRPSome smartwatch features only available on Android phones
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 is available in four colourways, including neutral shades like black and white. As it’s no longer the latest model, it’s down to under £200.
ProsAvailable in two sizesBeginner friendlyEnd-of-week workout overviewAutomatic activity detectionUnique sleep insightsConsShort battery lifeNot compatible with iPhone
Design of the Garmin vs Samsung Watch
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 and Garmin Venu 3 offer similar on-wrist insights after a workout.
(Image credit: Future)
Both smartwatches are sleek and stylish, with circular watch faces and silicone wristbands. I tested the Garmin Venu 3S, with the ‘S’ indicating the smaller size (41mm), though there is a regular size option (45mm), and the larger Samsung Watch 7 (45mm), though there is also a smaller option (40mm).
The Venu 3 and Watch 7 are easy to use when working out, featuring AMOLED touch screens and manual buttons for dual control.
While the Venu 3 has a more discreet appearance with its matt-black or two-tone cream colourway and smooth silicone strap, I preferred the design of the Watch 7 during my testing weeks. The touchscreen was bright and reactive, and the larger screen made it easy to see my stats on the go.
Of course, you could opt for the larger Venu 3 device – but in the end, it was the weight of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 that won me over. Despite being larger, the Watch 7 is lighter than the Venu 3, making it just fractionally more comfortable to wear throughout the day and night, which is necessary if you want all of that important health data.
Winner: Samsung Watch 7
Activity tracking on Garmin vs Samsung
Garmin is top in class for activity tracking, but Samsung doesn’t do a bad job either. Both devices track the usual metrics: steps, active minutes and calories burned. They auto-detect activity and have pre-downloaded activity profiles and on-screen animated workouts.
Both devices provide plenty of motivation for those keen to improve their fitness and keep active. While the Garmin won me over in the end for this category, I appreciated the beginner-friendly feature on the Samsung Watch that totals weekly exercise sessions and active hours/minutes in the app for an overview of weekly activity. The best Fitbits do this too.
Similar to Apple’s Activity Rings or the rings on the Huawei Watch Fit 4 Pro, Samsung also has a heart-shaped progress tracker, so it’s easy to keep up with daily goals on the watch face.
I tested both devices during gym workouts and, all in all, for those who are already active or looking to upgrade their current smartwatch, the Garmin Venu 3 device is the better option. It has 30+ pre-downloaded activity profiles and Garmin Coach to support runners on the journey to 5k, 10k or half-marathon distances. You’ll also find you can count reps in the strength training profiles and monitor active stress levels during yoga.
For runners, the Garmin is a particularly good choice as you’ll get advanced metrics like stride length, ground contact time, and power. You can fine-tune your training to hit your next PB with these, if that’s of interest. However, for trail runners and hikers amongst us, Samsung’s dual-band GPS capabilities might appeal more as they ensure accuracy even when you go off the beaten track – but it doesn’t have the detailed running insights of the Garmin Venu 3.
Winner: Garmin Venu 3
Sleep tracking on Garmin vs Samsung
As well as viewing insights on your wrist, all the information you’ll need on your workouts, sleep, recovery, and progress is available in the Samsung Health app.
(Image credit: Samsung)
The Garmin Venu 3 and the Samsung Watch 7 offer fascinating insights into sleep to reveal how you recover each night. Both devices track sleep time, sleep stages, heart rate and breathing rate, and use this data to determine an overall sleep score.
However, Samsung took the top spot here. The device really impressed me by taking sleep tracking one step further and revealing how well I was sleeping compared to others in my age group. While we all need different amounts of sleep each night, I think this is helpful if you are not sleeping enough and want to set a goal or want some reassurance that your habits are normal – for better or worse.
As well as providing detailed insights into my sleep, Samsung also determined my sleep animal (similar to sleep chronotype) which summed up my night-time habits and where I could improve. Based on this data, Samsung created a three-week personalised coaching programme to improve my sleep. Even without using the coaching programme, this device has plenty of resources in the Health app to support rest, which I’ve always felt Garmin lacks.
So, while the Venu 3 provides much of the same sleep tracking data as the Watch 7, the Sleep Coaching and guidance on the Samsung really won me over.
Winner: Samsung Watch 7
Health tracking on Garmin vs Samsung
As with most fitness trackers and smartwatches today, the Garmin Venu 3 and Samsung Watch 7 do more than just track activity and sleep. Both provide insights into heart rate variation (HRV), blood oxygen saturation, skin temperature, menstrual cycle and VO2 levels. Both devices have ECG apps and can detect irregular heart rhythms (not to be used as a diagnostic tool – you should always contact your doctor).
The latest version of the Samsung Watch uses clever AI to total up an Energy Score, similar to Garmin’s Body Battery feature. Both smartwatches also have breathing exercises and guided meditations to encourage rest, which I always enjoy using to help me reset during the working day.
Another interesting Samsung feature is the Health Counselling Centre. After answering a few multiple-choice questions on how you are feeling right now, it will offer resources to support you in that moment. Of course, this isn’t a replacement for counselling or therapy. But, if you are having trouble – for example, focusing that day on your work – it may recommend mindfulness exercises to help you refocus.
Winner: Both devices offer similar features.
Battery life on the Garmin vs Samsung
The Garmin and Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 have some similar design features, with both watches available in two sizes and various colourways.
(Image credit: Future)
I barely made it through two days with the Samsung Watch when the screen was switched to ‘always on’. I found myself constantly reaching for the charger and had to miss out on sleep or health insights while the watch was charging away from my wrist. Even when I wasn’t using the GPS function daily, the battery ran out quickly.
This is a huge contrast to the Garmin Venu 3, which lasts for multiple days at a time, even when the GPS mode is enabled and I’m keeping it in use throughout the day.
It’s an experience I wasn’t too surprised by, however. Samsung claims its watch will last for up to 30 hours, while the Garmin promises up to 14 days depending on usage. If battery life is a deal-breaker, I’d suggest investing in the Garmin Venu 3 every time. It also won in our battle of Garmin vs Polar watches.
Winner: Garmin Venu 3S
Price of the Garmin vs Samsung
These days, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 is cheaper than the Garmin Venu 3 – by almost £200, which is certainly worth considering. In my opinion, this is where the Samsung wins out as it’s better value for money, especially given the recent price reductions.
That doesn’t mean the Garmin Venu 3 isn’t an excellent deal, however. It’s a superb watch and you will be able to find it in the Garmin sale cheaper than directly at the retailer, especially during sales seasons like Black Friday and Amazon Prime Days.
Winner: Samsung Watch 7
Garmin vs Samsung: Which one is better?
It was a difficult decision to make but the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 etched into the top spot for two reasons: beginner-friendly fitness tracking and more advanced sleep metrics. It also has brilliant resources to support relaxation and stress-reduction, which are equally as important for long-term health as exercise. For those not looking to spend close to £400 on a watch but still wanting excellent features, it’s also a great option.
But ultimately, it comes to down to what you’re looking for. If you’ve already been working out for a few years, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 might not be advanced enough for you. In that case, the Garmin Venu 3 will likely be the better option. Having been practising yoga for years and being a keen hiker who loves tracking my steps and sleep, the Venu 3 is a personal favourite so it’ll be the one that remains on my wrist.
If the price puts you off the Venu 3 but you like the idea of a Garmin, I’d also recommend the Garmin Vivoactive 6, which is a new release for under £300.