← Back to Smartwatches
2026 comparison
Updated Jan 7, 2026
|Sources: Amazon, ManufacturerApple Watch Series 10 vs Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic
Get the Apple Watch Series 10 unless you need longer battery life. It features a stunning 2,000-nit display that crushes the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic's 3,000-nit brightness in practical use. However, the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic offers an impressive 49 hours of battery life, which is nearly 2.5 times longer than Apple's 18 hours. In real-world use, the Apple Watch is the thinnest at just 0.38 inches, making it lighter and more comfortable for all-day wear. But if you prefer a watch that can last beyond a day without a charge, the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic's extended battery life is a game-changer, especially for active users or those who forget to charge nightly.
⚖️ Weight: 1.28 oz vs 2.24 oz🔋 Battery: 18h vs 49h📏 Thickness: 0.38in vs 0.5in
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Apple Watch Series 10
★4.7
(15,669)•Amazon
Compatibility:iPhone Xs or later, including iPhone SE (2nd generation or later), with iOS 18 or later
Operating System:watchOS 11
Case Size:46mm (46mm H x 39mm W x 9.7mm D) or 42mm (42mm H x 36mm W x 9.7mm D)
Case Material:Aluminum (Jet Black, Rose Gold, Silver) or Titanium (Slate, Gold, Natural)
Check Amazon Price→
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic
★4.5
(920)•Amazon
Compatibility:Android 12.0 or higher with 1.5GB+ RAM (Galaxy phone required for full feature set)
Operating System:Wear OS 6 (Powered by Samsung) with One UI 8 Watch
Case Size:46mm (46.4 x 46.0 x 10.6 mm)
Case Material:Stainless steel case; Sapphire Crystal glass (Front and Back)
Check Amazon Price→
Key spec differences
Only the specs that differ are shown here. Winners are highlighted when the data is clear.
Winner= clear advantage
Spec
Apple Watch Series 10
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic
Display2 specs
Display SizeKey
Apple Watch Series 10
1220 sq mm (46mm) / 989 sq mm (42mm) display area
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic
1.34 in (34.0 mm)
Resolution
Apple Watch Series 10
416 x 496 pixels (46mm); 374 x 446 pixels (42mm)
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic
438 x 438 pixels (327 ppi)
Battery1 specs
Battery CapacityKey
Apple Watch Series 10
Up to 18 hours (normal use); Up to 36 hours (Low Power Mode)
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic
445 mAh; Up to 49 hours (typical usage); Fast wireless charging (WPC)
Design2 specs
Weight
Apple Watch Series 10
Aluminum: 36.4g (46mm) / 30g (42mm); Titanium: 41.7g (46mm) / 34.4g (42mm)Winner
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic
63.5 g (without strap)
Water Resistance
Apple Watch Series 10
50 m (ISO 22810:2010); Swimproof
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic
5 ATM + IP68 (Water resistant up to 50 meters)
Software1 specs
Operating System
Apple Watch Series 10
watchOS 11
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic
Wear OS 6 (Powered by Samsung) with One UI 8 Watch
Connectivity1 specs
Connectivity
Apple Watch Series 10
LTE and UMTS (GPS + Cellular models); Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n); Bluetooth 5.3; 2nd-gen Ultra Wideband chip
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic
LTE (Optional); Bluetooth 5.3; Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n (2.4+5GHz); NFC
+Full specs, pros, and cons
Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.
Expand
Full specs, pros, and cons
Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.
Comparison: Apple Watch Series 10 vs Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic
Apple Watch Series 10
★4.7(15,669)Amazon
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic
★4.5(920)Amazon
| Criterion | Apple Watch Series 10 | Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★4.7(15,669)Amazon | ★4.5(920)Amazon |
Compatibility | iPhone Xs or later, including iPhone SE (2nd generation or later), with iOS 18 or later | Android 12.0 or higher with 1.5GB+ RAM (Galaxy phone required for full feature set) |
Operating System | watchOS 11 | Wear OS 6 (Powered by Samsung) with One UI 8 Watch |
Case Size | 46mm (46mm H x 39mm W x 9.7mm D) or 42mm (42mm H x 36mm W x 9.7mm D) | 46mm (46.4 x 46.0 x 10.6 mm) |
Case Material | Aluminum (Jet Black, Rose Gold, Silver) or Titanium (Slate, Gold, Natural) | Stainless steel case; Sapphire Crystal glass (Front and Back) |
Display Type | Always-On Retina LTPO3 OLED; Wide-angle; Up to 2000 nits brightness; Minimum 1 nit | Super AMOLED Color Always-On Display |
Display Size | 1220 sq mm (46mm) / 989 sq mm (42mm) display area | 1.34 in (34.0 mm) |
Resolution | 416 x 496 pixels (46mm); 374 x 446 pixels (42mm) | 438 x 438 pixels (327 ppi) |
Always On Display | Yes | Yes (Up to 3,000 nits peak brightness) |
Water Resistance | 50 m (ISO 22810:2010); Swimproof | 5 ATM + IP68 (Water resistant up to 50 meters) |
Durability | IP6X dust resistant; Crack-resistant front crystal | MIL-STD-810H military standard; Stainless steel frame |
GPS | L1 GPS, GNSS, Galileo, and BeiDou | Dual-band GPS (L1+L5); GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou |
Connectivity | LTE and UMTS (GPS + Cellular models); Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n); Bluetooth 5.3; 2nd-gen Ultra Wideband chip | LTE (Optional); Bluetooth 5.3; Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n (2.4+5GHz); NFC |
NFC Payments | Apple Pay | Samsung Wallet; Google Pay |
Sensors | Electrical heart sensor (ECG); 3rd-gen optical heart sensor; Temperature sensor; Compass; Always-on altimeter; High-g accelerometer; High dynamic range gyroscope; Ambient light sensor; Depth gauge (to 6m); Water temperature sensor | Samsung BioActive Sensor (Optical Bio-signal + Electrical Heart Signal + BIA); Temperature sensor; Accelerometer; Barometer; Gyro sensor; Geomagnetic sensor; Light sensor; 3D Hall sensor |
Health Features | Sleep Apnea notifications; Blood Oxygen app; ECG app; Cycle Tracking with retrospective ovulation estimates; High/low heart rate notifications; Irregular rhythm notifications; Medications; Mindfulness; Vitals app | Vascular Load monitoring; Antioxidant Index (AGEs); Sleep Apnea detection; ECG; Blood Pressure (market dependent); Body Composition (BIA); Cycle Tracking with skin temp |
Workout Modes | Strength, HIIT, Pilates, Yoga, Swimming (Pool & Open Water), Running, Cycling, Hiking, Multisport, Tai Chi, Kickboxing, Dance, Cooldown, and more via Workout app | Advanced Running Coach; Multisport tile; Race partner; Heart Rate Zones; Auto-detection for workouts |
Storage | 64GB | 64GB |
Speaker Mic | Speaker (media playback supported); Microphone with Voice Isolation | Speaker (supports media/calls/Gemini); Microphone |
Calls | Yes (GPS + Cellular models standalone); GPS models via paired iPhone | Yes (via Bluetooth or standalone on LTE models) |
Battery | Up to 18 hours (normal use); Up to 36 hours (Low Power Mode) | 445 mAh; Up to 49 hours (typical usage); Fast wireless charging (WPC) |
Charging | Fast charge (0–80% in approx. 30 min); Magnetic Fast Charger to USB-C Cable (1m) included | Fast Wireless Charging |
Weight | Aluminum: 36.4g (46mm) / 30g (42mm); Titanium: 41.7g (46mm) / 34.4g (42mm) | 63.5 g (without strap) |
Band Sizes | Fits 140–245mm wrists (46mm); Fits 130–200mm wrists (42mm) | 20mm standard (One Click system supported) |
Extras | S10 SiP with 4-core Neural Engine; Double tap gesture; On-device Siri; Crash Detection; Fall Detection | Physical rotating bezel; Integrated Google Gemini AI; Gesture controls (Double pinch); Customizable Quick Button |
| Pros |
|
|
| Cons |
|
|
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. | Check Price on Amazon→ | Check Price on Amazon→ |
Apple Watch Series 10
Rating:★4.7(15,669)Amazon
Compatibility:iPhone Xs or later, including iPhone SE (2nd generation or later), with iOS 18 or later
Operating System:watchOS 11
Case Size:46mm (46mm H x 39mm W x 9.7mm D) or 42mm (42mm H x 36mm W x 9.7mm D)
Case Material:Aluminum (Jet Black, Rose Gold, Silver) or Titanium (Slate, Gold, Natural)
Display Type:Always-On Retina LTPO3 OLED; Wide-angle; Up to 2000 nits brightness; Minimum 1 nit
Display Size:1220 sq mm (46mm) / 989 sq mm (42mm) display area
Resolution:416 x 496 pixels (46mm); 374 x 446 pixels (42mm)
Always On Display:Yes
Water Resistance:50 m (ISO 22810:2010); Swimproof
Durability:IP6X dust resistant; Crack-resistant front crystal
GPS:L1 GPS, GNSS, Galileo, and BeiDou
Connectivity:LTE and UMTS (GPS + Cellular models); Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n); Bluetooth 5.3; 2nd-gen Ultra Wideband chip
NFC Payments:Apple Pay
Sensors:Electrical heart sensor (ECG); 3rd-gen optical heart sensor; Temperature sensor; Compass; Always-on altimeter; High-g accelerometer; High dynamic range gyroscope; Ambient light sensor; Depth gauge (to 6m); Water temperature sensor
Health Features:Sleep Apnea notifications; Blood Oxygen app; ECG app; Cycle Tracking with retrospective ovulation estimates; High/low heart rate notifications; Irregular rhythm notifications; Medications; Mindfulness; Vitals app
Workout Modes:Strength, HIIT, Pilates, Yoga, Swimming (Pool & Open Water), Running, Cycling, Hiking, Multisport, Tai Chi, Kickboxing, Dance, Cooldown, and more via Workout app
Storage:64GB
Speaker Mic:Speaker (media playback supported); Microphone with Voice Isolation
Calls:Yes (GPS + Cellular models standalone); GPS models via paired iPhone
Battery:Up to 18 hours (normal use); Up to 36 hours (Low Power Mode)
Charging:Fast charge (0–80% in approx. 30 min); Magnetic Fast Charger to USB-C Cable (1m) included
Weight:Aluminum: 36.4g (46mm) / 30g (42mm); Titanium: 41.7g (46mm) / 34.4g (42mm)
Band Sizes:Fits 140–245mm wrists (46mm); Fits 130–200mm wrists (42mm)
Extras:S10 SiP with 4-core Neural Engine; Double tap gesture; On-device Siri; Crash Detection; Fall Detection
✓ Pros:
- • Largest, most advanced display in a standard Apple Watch
- • Thinnest design ever (9.7mm) with lighter weight options
- • Faster charging (80% in 30 mins) aids sleep tracking
- • New health features including Sleep Apnea notifications
- • Includes depth gauge and water temperature sensor
✗ Cons:
- • Battery life remains 18 hours (requires daily charging)
- • Titanium finish commands a significant price premium
- • Requires iPhone Xs or newer (Android incompatible)
- • Some features (Blood Oxygen) strictly dependent on region
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Check Price on Amazon→
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic
Rating:★4.5(920)Amazon
Compatibility:Android 12.0 or higher with 1.5GB+ RAM (Galaxy phone required for full feature set)
Operating System:Wear OS 6 (Powered by Samsung) with One UI 8 Watch
Case Size:46mm (46.4 x 46.0 x 10.6 mm)
Case Material:Stainless steel case; Sapphire Crystal glass (Front and Back)
Display Type:Super AMOLED Color Always-On Display
Display Size:1.34 in (34.0 mm)
Resolution:438 x 438 pixels (327 ppi)
Always On Display:Yes (Up to 3,000 nits peak brightness)
Water Resistance:5 ATM + IP68 (Water resistant up to 50 meters)
Durability:MIL-STD-810H military standard; Stainless steel frame
GPS:Dual-band GPS (L1+L5); GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou
Connectivity:LTE (Optional); Bluetooth 5.3; Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n (2.4+5GHz); NFC
NFC Payments:Samsung Wallet; Google Pay
Sensors:Samsung BioActive Sensor (Optical Bio-signal + Electrical Heart Signal + BIA); Temperature sensor; Accelerometer; Barometer; Gyro sensor; Geomagnetic sensor; Light sensor; 3D Hall sensor
Health Features:Vascular Load monitoring; Antioxidant Index (AGEs); Sleep Apnea detection; ECG; Blood Pressure (market dependent); Body Composition (BIA); Cycle Tracking with skin temp
Workout Modes:Advanced Running Coach; Multisport tile; Race partner; Heart Rate Zones; Auto-detection for workouts
Storage:64GB
Speaker Mic:Speaker (supports media/calls/Gemini); Microphone
Calls:Yes (via Bluetooth or standalone on LTE models)
Battery:445 mAh; Up to 49 hours (typical usage); Fast wireless charging (WPC)
Charging:Fast Wireless Charging
Weight:63.5 g (without strap)
Band Sizes:20mm standard (One Click system supported)
Extras:Physical rotating bezel; Integrated Google Gemini AI; Gesture controls (Double pinch); Customizable Quick Button
✓ Pros:
- • Iconic physical rotating bezel for intuitive navigation
- • Display brightness doubled to 3,000 nits (matches Ultra model)
- • Storage capacity increased to 64GB (up from 16/32GB in previous Classics)
- • Premium stainless steel build looks more like a traditional timepiece
✗ Cons:
- • Small 1.34" screen relative to the large 46mm case size (bezel takes up space)
- • Significantly heavier (63.5g) than the aluminum standard models
- • Battery (445 mAh) is smaller than the Galaxy Watch Ultra (590 mAh)
- • Some health features (AGEs, BP) are Samsung Galaxy phone exclusive
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Check Price on Amazon→
Which one is better?
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is the better buy for most people - its 49-hour battery life crushes the Apple Watch Series 10's 18 hours. That said, grab the Apple Watch if you want a sleek design and a stunning 2,000-nit display - it's worth the premium.
Who should buy each?
Choose the Apple Watch Series 10 if: you want the thinnest watch at 0.38 inches, prioritize a vibrant 2,000-nit display, or need advanced health features.
Choose the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic if: you need a robust 49-hour battery, prefer the iconic rotating bezel for navigation, or want a watch that feels more traditional with its stainless steel build.
Conclusion
There is no wrong answer here. Focus on the features you will use daily and pick the model that aligns with them.
Frequently Asked Questions
+Which has better value?
Apple Watch Series 10 excels if you value largest, most advanced display in a standard apple watch. Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is better if you prioritize iconic physical rotating bezel for intuitive navigation. Pick based on your budget and daily use.
+Is this an independent review?
Yes. We use affiliate links for monetization, but recommendations are research-driven and unbiased.
+Do newer models exist?
Check release timelines from the manufacturers and compare pricing before you buy. We refresh this page when major updates land.
Affiliate disclosure
PageBen uses Amazon affiliate links. If you purchase through our links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This supports independent content for US shoppers.