Samsung’s newest smartwatch, the Galaxy Watch 3 is slimmer and slightly more compact than it’s predecessor, the Galaxy Watch that was released in 2018. Galaxy Watch 3 also comes with more storage capacity and fitness tracking features which we’ll be discussing in this comparison between Samsung Galaxy Watch vs Galaxy Watch 3 to find out all the differences and if you need to upgrade.
Prefer video, watch the comparison below
Samsung Galaxy Watch vs Galaxy Watch 3 Full Specifications Compared
| Samsung Galaxy Watch | Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 (45mm) | |
|---|---|---|
 |  | |
ABOUT DEVICE | ||
| Device name | Samsung Galaxy Watch | Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 (45mm) Bluetooth |
| Device type | Classic/Fitness/Standalone smartwatch | Classic/Fitness smartwatch |
| Predessesor | Samsung Gear S3 | Samsung Galaxy Watch |
| Successor | -- | Galaxy Watch 4 Classic |
| Released date | August, 2018 | August, 2020 |
| Ideal for | Men (46mm) Women (42mm) | Men |
DISPLAY | ||
| Display type | Super AMOLED Full color | Super AMOLED Full color |
| Display size | 1.3 inch (46mm) 1.2 inch (42mm) | 1.4 inches |
| Display resolution | 360 x 360 pixels | 360 x 360 pixels |
| Pixel density | 278 ppi | 346 ppi |
| Input type | Touchscreen, 2 physical buttons physical rotating bezel | Touchscreen, 2 physical buttons physical rotating bezel |
| Always-on | Yes | Yes |
| Customizable watch face | Yes | Yes |
BODY | ||
| Shape | Circular | Circular |
| Dimension | 41.9 x 45.7 x 12.7 mm (42mm) 46 x 49 x 13 mm (46mm) | 46.2 x 45 x 11.1 mm |
| Weight | 63 grams (46mm) 49 grams (42mm) | 53.8 grams (excluding straps) |
| Casing material | Stainless steel/glass reinforced with polycarbonate | Stainless steel frame/glass reinforced with polycarbonate back |
| Strap/band material | Silicone (leather straps also available) | Leather |
| Bezel Material | Ceramics | Ceramics |
| Strap size | 22 mm (46mm) 20 mm (42mm) | 22mm |
| Interchangeable band | Yes, 22mm/20mm | Yes, 22mm |
| Screen protection | Corning Gorilla glass DX+ | Corning Gorilla glass DX |
| Water resistant/Protection | Yes, IP68, 5ATM MIL-STD-810G | Yes, IP68, 5ATM MIL-STD-810G |
| Swim-proof | Yes, recommended | Yes, recommended |
| Color(s) | Black, silver, rose-gold | Mystic black Mystic silver |
MEMORY | ||
| RAM | 1.5GB (LTE), 0.75GB (Non-LTE) | 1GB |
| Internal storage | 4GB | 8GB |
| Memory card slot | No | No |
CONNECTIVITY | ||
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth v4.2 | Bluetooth v5.0 |
| Bluetooth calling | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Payment system | Samsung pay | Samsung pay |
| GPS | GLONASS/GPS | GLONASS/A-GPS/Beidou/Galileo |
CELLULAR TECHNOLOGY | ||
| Technology | GSM/HSPA/LTE | No |
| SIM | Yes, e-SIM | No |
| Band | GSM 850/900/1800 WCDMA B1/2/5 | No |
NOTIFICATIONS | ||
| Email alert | Yes | Yes |
| SMS alert | Yes | Yes |
| Calls alert | Yes | Yes |
| Event reminder | Yes | Yes |
| Weather | Yes | Yes |
| Third-party apps | Yes | Yes |
| Text response | Yes | Yes |
FITNESS TRACKING | ||
| Sleep apnea | No | No |
| Sleep tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Steps | Yes | Yes |
| Floors climbed | Yes | Yes |
| Heart rate monitoring | Yes | Yes |
| Calories | Yes | Yes |
| Distance | Yes | Yes |
| Stress | Yes | Yes |
| VO2 Max. | Yes | Yes |
| Blood oxygen | No | Yes |
| Blood pressure | No | Yes |
| Menstrual cycle tracking | No | Yes |
| Swim tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Under-water heart rate tracking | No | Yes |
| Preloaded maps | Yes | Yes |
| On-screen workout modes | No | __ |
| Triathlon mode | Yes | Yes |
| ECG Tracking | No | Yes |
| Preloaded sport modes | Yes | Yes, 90 |
| Safety tracking | No | Yes |
MEDIA | ||
| Audio | mp3/mp4 | mp3/mp4 |
| Music streaming | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth music | Yes | Yes |
| Radio | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Camera | No | No |
SENSORS | ||
PLATFORM | ||
| Operating system (OS) | Tizen OS 4.0 | Tizen OS 5.5 |
| Chipset | Exynos 9110 | Exynos 9110 |
| CPU | Dual core 1.15GHz | Dual core 1.15GHz |
| GPU | -- | -- |
BATTERY | ||
| Type of battery | Non-removable Li-ion battery | Non-removable Li-ion battery |
| Battery capacity | 472mAh (46mm) 270mAh (42mm) | 340mAh |
| Battery life | Standby :5 days+, Mixed usage: 3 days+ | Mixed Usage:2 days |
| Charging type | Charging dock | Charging dock Wireless charging |
| Charging time | About 1-2 hours | About 1-2 hours |
| Battery saver mode | Yes | Yes |
| Solar power | No | No |
| Rapid charging | _ | _ |
CLOCK FEATURES | ||
| Time/Date | Yes | Yes |
| Stopwatch | Yes | Yes |
| Alarm | Yes | Yes |
OTHER FUNCTIONS | ||
| Control camera | Yes | Yes |
| Music control | Yes | Yes |
| Find phone | Yes | Yes |
MISC | ||
| Compatibility | Android 5.0+ & RAM 1.5GB+ iPhone 5+ and iOS 9.0+ | Android 5.0+ & RAM 1.5GB+ iPhone 5+ and iOS 9.0+ |
| Companion app | Samsung Gear app | Samsung Wearable app |
| Voice command | Yes | Yes |
BOX CONTENTS | ||
| Samsung Galaxy Watch | Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 (45mm) | |
| Straps | Straps | |
| Charger | Charger | |
| Quick start guide | Quick start guide | |
| NOTE: We can't guarantee that all the information on this table are 100% correct. Read full disclaimer. Please, report an error. | ||
| Official Site | Official Site | |
What’s the Difference?
- Improved Design For Galaxy Watch 3
- More Fitness Tracking Features on Galaxy Watch 3
- Increased Storage Capacity
- Newer Tizen 0S 5.5 Platform
- Galaxy Watch 3 Has a Shorter Battery Life
The Galaxy Watch 3 looks almost like its predecessor, except that it’s now slimmer, more compact, and weighs a little less. The physical rotating bezel present on Galaxy Watch is also present on Galaxy Watch 3 but is now smoother and slimmer.
Galaxy Watch 3 comes in two sizes just like its predecessor. It’s however now more compact at 41/45mm compared to 42/46mm, yet has a slightly larger 1.2/1.4 inches display compared to 1.2/1.3 inches of Galaxy Watch. It’s the same AMOLED technology that powers the display of both smartwatches. Corning Gorilla Glass DX has also been used to protect the respective screens.
Galaxy Watch 3 comes with more fitness tracking features that make it a more comprehensive health tracker than it’s predecessor. Blood oxygen tracking, VO2 Max., ECG, blood pressure, and incidental fall detection are the new health-tracking present on Galaxy Watch 3 but not on Galaxy Watch.
Moreover, about 120 home work-out videos have been introduced to Galaxy Watch 3. You can cast these videos to your smart TV and see your tracked metrics in real-time.
Each of these two will track your steps, sleep in four stages, heart rate, calories, stress, and more. And there is an inbuilt GPS on both devices that enables you to track outdoor activities. There are also many preloaded work-out modes to choose from. Galaxy Watch 3 has been cleared by the FDA for ECG tracking, while it can also monitor blood pressure.
Galaxy Watch 3 has twice the storage capacity of its predecessor. While it has 8GB storage capacity, Galaxy Watch has just 4GB. This of course allows you to store more of your favorite tracks and apps on the watch.
Both smartwatches are powered by Samsung’s Exynos 9100 chip that’s built on a 10nm fabrication process. However, Galaxy Watch 3 runs on Tizen 5.5 out of the box which has added more interesting features that can improve users’ experience. Moreover, with a higher 1GB RAM on Galaxy Watch 3, it has a slightly better performance when compared to Galaxy Watch.
The price to pay for the slimmer, lighter, more compact and larger display of the Galaxy Watch 3 is that it has a shorter battery life than its predecessor. The Galaxy Watch 3 comes with a smaller 340mah battery capacity compared to 470mah of Galaxy Watch. As a result, it has about a 2-day long battery life compared to up to 4 days of Galaxy Watch. This is still very commendable, especially when compared to Apple Watch 5 or Fossil Gen 5 both of which can barely boast up to a day battery life.
Which is Better?
No doubt, these two are some of the best on the market, but Galaxy Watch 3 is a more sophisticated smartwatch than Galaxy Watch.
Although it cost a lot more, if the higher storage, improved performance, more fitness tracking features, and comfort matters more to you and you’re willing to compromise on battery life, then Galaxy Watch 3 is a better bargain.
However, Galaxy Watch is still a comprehensive fitness tracker with a sophisticated design and longer battery life. It’s a great choice if you’re tight on budget.
Should You Upgrade?
I already own the Galaxy Watch as well as Active 2 which I’ve been using for a while now, but I’ll be getting the Galaxy Watch 3 just to experience what’s new on it. If you feel the same way, it’s worthwhile upgrading, otherwise, the Galaxy Watch is still one of my favorite Samsung smartwatches. Update: I got the Galaxy Watch 3, and it’s no doubt a fantastic smartwatch.
Prices
[content-egg module=AE__amazoncom]
Hi! I’m Jude, the chief editor at Smartwatchseries.com
I’m a graduate of biochemistry, a 3D artist and a passionate fitness enthusiast. On here, I and other smartwatch fans work hard to help you find the right smartwatch for you with our guides, reviews, and comparisons.
Our aim is to become better at providing useful content, please let us know via the contact us form if there is any way we can improve.