Apple’s newest smartwatch is the Apple Watch Series 8. How does it compare to the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5, which came out last month? Every year, Apple comes out with a new smartwatch for its users all over the world. This brings in new customers and lets existing customers upgrade to the latest technology. With the Apple Watch Series 8, the company also released the Apple Watch SE 2 and the Apple Watch Ultra, which is its biggest and most rugged smartwatch to date.
The Apple Watch is very popular with people who use iOS, but the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 is one of the best smartwatches for people who use Android. At the Galaxy Unpacked event in August 2022, the South Korean tech giant Samsung showed off the Galaxy Watch 5 and the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro. The wearable has a longer battery life than its predecessor and can track several health-related metrics well.
Design-wise, the Apple Watch Series 8 and the Galaxy Watch 5 aren’t that different from each other. The Apple Watch Series 8 has a rectangular screen inside an aluminium or stainless steel frame with round edges. The Galaxy Watch 5, on the other hand, has a round screen inside an aluminium case that is flat on all sides.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 vs Apple Watch SE 2 Comparison Table
| Apple Watch SE 2 | Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Display Size | 40mm | 44mm |
| Size | Regular | Large |
| Bluetooth | Yes | – |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes |
| GPS | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | – | Yes |
| Operating System | WatchOS 9 | WearOS 3.5 |
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 vs Apple Watch SE 2 Design
If you’ve seen an Apple Watch, the Apple Watch SE 2 (2022) looks just like any other Apple Watch. Apple can sell the smartwatch for just $249 because it looks the same as the Apple Watch Series 4. This is similar to what it did with the iPhone SE 2022. This is a mature design that looks great, and the large bezels around the screen are only noticeable when compared to an Apple Watch Series 7 you can buy Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 product directly from Samsung’s website.
Samsung hasn’t made a lot of changes here, and the Galaxy Watch 5 looks mostly the same as its predecessor. Still, there is no rotating bezel this time, which will be a deal-breaker for some users because the bezel was pretty unique and felt great to use. Still, the Galaxy Watch 5 is lighter because it doesn’t have a bezel, which is always a good thing.
The one thing that makes the Galaxy Watch 5 stand out is its screen. It has a smaller 1.4-inch panel than the Watch SE 2 (2022), which has a 1.78-inch panel, but it is bright and has thin bezels that make it look just a bit more striking. The biggest problem I have with the Watch SE 2 (2022) is that it doesn’t have an always-on screen.
This is one of the most important features of a smartwatch, and not having it seems like a huge oversight. Adding this feature would have hurt sales of the Series 7 and Series 8, so Apple decided to leave it out. You can get the smartwatches in different colours and finishes. The Watch SE 2 (2022) doesn’t look as modern as the Galaxy Watch 5, but the design is still good you can buy Apple Watch SE 2 product directly from Apple’s store.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 vs Apple Watch SE 2 Software
Because Apple focuses on software, it is the leader in the smartwatch market, and watchOS 9 is still the standard for smartwatches. Wear OS 3 has a lot to offer, and the interface is much more polished than in previous versions. However, it doesn’t have as many integrations and doesn’t feel as easy to use.
Both smartwatches do a great job of tracking your activity, and there are a lot of workout modes to choose from. If you want guided workouts, Apple’s Fitness Plus is the clear winner. For $9.99 a month, you can get a huge selection of fitness courses, as well as yoga and meditation.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 vs Apple Watch SE 2 Performance
The Exynos W920 chipset, 1.5GB of RAM, and 16GB of storage power the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5. The Apple Watch SE, on the other hand, is powered by an Apple S5 chipset and has 1GB of RAM and 32GB of storage.
The chipset in the Apple Watch SE isn’t as good as the one in the Galaxy Watch 5. Both wearables make it easy to open apps and do daily tasks quickly. But the Galaxy Watch is faster and uses less power. Both smartwatches have a lot of health and fitness features, but the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 has more “flagship” features, so let’s start there.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 vs Apple Watch SE 2 Battery and Charging Life
The Galaxy Watch 5 also beat the Apple Watch SE in every way when it came to battery life. With fast charging, you can get 8 hours of battery life out of the Galaxy Watch 5’s 410 mAh battery in just 8 minutes. And the Galaxy Watch 5 can last longer than the Apple Watch SE when fully charged. Also, the Galaxy Watch 5 has wireless charging technology while the Apple Watch SE does not.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pros and Cons
Pros
- Competitive price
- Slim, lightweight design
- Not quite as locked in to Samsung’s ecosystem
- Stronger, scratch-resistant screen
Apple Watch SE 2 Pros and Cons
Pros
- Comfortable to wear 24 hours a day
- Comprehensive, yet simple-to-use fitness tracking
- Excellent smartwatch software and suppor
Cons
- No always-on screen
- No ECG built in
- Battery life lower than Fitbits
Which one should you consider?
At just $249, the Watch SE 2 (2022) is a good deal. You get a lot of hardware for your money, and while it doesn’t have as many features as the Series 7 or Series 8, it does a great job with the basics. Also, Samsung did a lot of things right with the Galaxy Watch 5. It’s a lot like its predecessor, but Wear OS 3 has a beautiful design, a tonne of features, and feels good to use every day.
You also get a longer battery life and more ways to track your health, but you have to pay $349 more. In the end, it comes down to what phone you have. If you have an Android phone, the Galaxy Watch 5 is the best smartwatch. If you have an iPhone, the Watch SE 2 (2022) is a great place to start if you want a smartwatch.
FAQs
Is the Series 5 better than the SE Apple Watch?
The Series 5 has an ECG sensor, but the Series SE doesn’t have any. It also doesn’t have the Series 5’s always-on Retina screen. Also, the Watch SE’s case is only made of aluminium, so it doesn’t have the same variety of case materials as the Series 5.
Is Apple Watch SE better than Samsung Galaxy Watch 4?
It has sensors that the Apple Watches don’t have. When it comes to price, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 is much cheaper than the Apple Watch SE and has more features. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 has a feature called “body composition” that the Apple Watch SE doesn’t have. However, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 is cheaper.
