During a 5,500-step comparison, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 emerged victorious against the Galaxy Watch 7.
In the realm of smartwatches, two titans have emerged as top contenders for fitness enthusiasts - the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 and its predecessor, the Galaxy Watch 7. While the Galaxy Watch 8 boasts some exclusive wellness features, a closer look at their fitness tracking capabilities reveals a more nuanced story.
The fitness tracking accuracy of these two watches is remarkably similar, with minor differences in metrics such as step count and distance. During testing, both watches delivered precise and consistent data for heart rate, steps, distance, and elevation, falling well within reasonable margins of error.
For instance, during a 50-minute walk test, the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, worn on the left wrist, overcounted steps by 31, while the Galaxy Watch 7 (40mm), worn on the right wrist, undercounted by 25 steps out of a total of 5,524 steps. The distance tracking was close to the GPS app Strava’s count, with less than 0.1 miles difference.
When it comes to heart rate tracking, the average and max readings between the two models were almost identical. The Galaxy Watch 8 reported an average heart rate of 130 beats per minute (bpm) and a maximum of 160 bpm, while the Galaxy Watch 7 recorded an average of 131 bpm and a maximum of 161 bpm.
Calorie burn was slightly higher on the Galaxy Watch 8, but the difference is negligible, making both watches comparable in this regard.
One area where the Galaxy Watch 8 outperforms the Galaxy Watch 7 is battery life. The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic lasts approximately 42 hours per charge, compared to the Galaxy Watch 7's duration during the same walk test.
Design-wise, the Galaxy Watch 8 sports a 'cushion case' similar to the Galaxy Watch Ultra, while the Galaxy Watch 7 maintains a simple, circular case.
In terms of software, the Galaxy Watch 8 introduces a new personalized Running Coach feature, while the Galaxy Watch 7 is expected to receive this via a firmware update. Both watches share advanced health sensors and FDA-approved sleep apnea detection, providing very similar sleep and wellness insights.
In summary, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 does not significantly improve fitness tracking accuracy over the Galaxy Watch 7. For fitness monitoring, either model is a suitable choice, with the newer Watch 8 offering incremental software features and modest battery life improvements rather than major sensor accuracy upgrades.
Whether you're embarking on a walk, run, hike, or pickleball match, both the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 and Galaxy Watch 8 are excellent choices for tracking your fitness journey.
Gadgets of choice for fitness enthusiasts, Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 and its predecessor, Galaxy Watch 7, are equipped with similar fitness tracking capabilities, making them both suitable for various activities such as walks, runs, hikes, and pickleball matches. Furthermore, these wearables, along with their advanced health sensors, offer insights into sleep and wellness, as seen in technology like FDA-approved sleep apnea detection.
