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2026 comparison
Updated Jan 7, 2026
|Sources: Amazon, ManufacturerSamsung Galaxy Watch 7 vs Garmin fēnix 8 (47mm AMOLED)
The Garmin fēnix 8 (47mm AMOLED) is the better buy for most people, thanks to its impressive 16-day battery life, which crushes the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7's 1-day duration under heavy use. If you're looking for a watch that can keep up with your active lifestyle without daily charging, this is a no-brainer. In real-world use, the fēnix 8's rugged build allows it to dive up to 40 meters, making it a legit dive computer, while the Galaxy Watch 7 is limited to 50 meters but offers advanced health tracking features when paired with a Samsung phone. So if you want robust features for outdoor adventures, the fēnix 8 is your go-to choice in 2026.
⚖️ Weight: 1.19 oz vs 2.58 oz🔋 Battery: 16 days vs 1 day🏊 Water Resistance: 10 ATM vs 5 ATM
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Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
★4.5
(6,385)•Amazon
Compatibility:Android 11.0 or higher with 1.5GB+ RAM; Samsung Galaxy phone required for Energy Score, ECG, Sleep Apnea, and IHRN features
Operating System:Wear OS 5 powered by Samsung (One UI 6 Watch)
Case Size:44mm (44.4 x 44.4 x 9.7 mm) or 40mm (40.4 x 40.4 x 9.7 mm)
Case Material:Armor Aluminum 2 case; Sapphire Crystal glass
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Garmin fēnix 8 (47mm AMOLED)
★4.6
(1,856)•Amazon
Compatibility:iPhone, Android (Garmin Connect app required)
Operating System:Garmin OS (Proprietary)
Case Size:47mm x 47mm x 13.8mm
Case Material:Fiber-reinforced polymer with metal rear cover; Bezel: Titanium or Stainless Steel; Lens: Sapphire Crystal or Corning Gorilla Glass
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Key spec differences
Only the specs that differ are shown here. Winners are highlighted when the data is clear.
Winner= clear advantage
Spec
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
Garmin fēnix 8 (47mm AMOLED)
Display2 specs
Display SizeKey
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
1.5 in (44mm) / 1.3 in (40mm)
Garmin fēnix 8 (47mm AMOLED)
1.4 in (35.56 mm) diameter
Resolution
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
480 x 480 pixels (44mm); 432 x 432 pixels (40mm)
Garmin fēnix 8 (47mm AMOLED)
454 x 454 pixels
Battery1 specs
Battery CapacityKey
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
425 mAh (44mm) / 300 mAh (40mm); Up to 40 hours (AOD off); Up to 30 hours (AOD on)
Garmin fēnix 8 (47mm AMOLED)
Smartwatch mode: Up to 16 days (7 days always-on); GPS Only: Up to 47 hours (37 hours always-on); Expedition GPS: Up to 14 days
Design2 specs
Weight
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
33.8 g (44mm) / 28.8 g (40mm) (Body only)Winner
Garmin fēnix 8 (47mm AMOLED)
Stainless Steel: 80g (Case only: 59g); Titanium: 73g (Case only: 52g)
Water Resistance
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
5 ATM + IP68 (water resistant up to 50 meters for 10 min)
Garmin fēnix 8 (47mm AMOLED)
10 ATM (water pressure equivalent to 100 meters); Dive rated (EN13319) to 40 meters
Software1 specs
Operating System
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
Wear OS 5 powered by Samsung (One UI 6 Watch)
Garmin fēnix 8 (47mm AMOLED)
Garmin OS (Proprietary)
Connectivity1 specs
Connectivity
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
LTE (optional); Wi-Fi 2.4+5GHz; Bluetooth 5.3; NFC
Garmin fēnix 8 (47mm AMOLED)
Bluetooth; ANT+; Wi-Fi
+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: Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 vs Garmin fēnix 8 (47mm AMOLED)
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
★4.5(6,385)Amazon
Garmin fēnix 8 (47mm AMOLED)
★4.6(1,856)Amazon
| Criterion | Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 | Garmin fēnix 8 (47mm AMOLED) |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★4.5(6,385)Amazon | ★4.6(1,856)Amazon |
Compatibility | Android 11.0 or higher with 1.5GB+ RAM; Samsung Galaxy phone required for Energy Score, ECG, Sleep Apnea, and IHRN features | iPhone, Android (Garmin Connect app required) |
Operating System | Wear OS 5 powered by Samsung (One UI 6 Watch) | Garmin OS (Proprietary) |
Case Size | 44mm (44.4 x 44.4 x 9.7 mm) or 40mm (40.4 x 40.4 x 9.7 mm) | 47mm x 47mm x 13.8mm |
Case Material | Armor Aluminum 2 case; Sapphire Crystal glass | Fiber-reinforced polymer with metal rear cover; Bezel: Titanium or Stainless Steel; Lens: Sapphire Crystal or Corning Gorilla Glass |
Display Type | Super AMOLED; Always-On Display; Peak brightness 2000 nits | AMOLED; Always-On Mode available; 1000 nits peak brightness |
Display Size | 1.5 in (44mm) / 1.3 in (40mm) | 1.4 in (35.56 mm) diameter |
Resolution | 480 x 480 pixels (44mm); 432 x 432 pixels (40mm) | 454 x 454 pixels |
Always On Display | Yes | Yes (optional) |
Water Resistance | 5 ATM + IP68 (water resistant up to 50 meters for 10 min) | 10 ATM (water pressure equivalent to 100 meters); Dive rated (EN13319) to 40 meters |
Durability | MIL-STD-810H certified; Dust tight (IP68) | MIL-STD-810H thermal/shock/water tested; Leakproof inductive buttons; Metal sensor guard |
GPS | Dual-frequency GPS (L1+L5); Glonass; Beidou; Galileo | Multi-band GNSS with SatIQ technology; GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, BeiDou |
Connectivity | LTE (optional); Wi-Fi 2.4+5GHz; Bluetooth 5.3; NFC | Bluetooth; ANT+; Wi-Fi |
NFC Payments | Samsung Wallet / Google Wallet | Garmin Pay |
Sensors | Samsung BioActive Sensor (Optical Bio-signal + Electrical Heart + Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis); Temperature sensor; Accelerometer; Barometer; Gyro sensor; Geomagnetic sensor; Light sensor | Elevate Gen 5 optical heart rate sensor; Pulse Ox blood oxygen saturation monitor; Barometric altimeter; Compass; Gyroscope; Accelerometer; Thermometer; Ambient light sensor; Depth sensor (up to 40m) |
Health Features | Energy Score; Sleep Apnea detection (FDA authorized); AGEs Index; Body Composition (BIA); ECG; Irregular Heart Rhythm Notification; Cycle Tracking with skin temperature; Sleep coaching | Body Battery energy monitoring; Sleep Score and advanced sleep monitoring; HDR (High Dynamic Range) Heart Rate; HRV Status; Pulse Ox; Nap detection; Jet Lag Adviser; Health Snapshot |
Workout Modes | Advanced Run Coaching; Race (compete against past results); Track Back; Custom Interval Training; Swimming (Pool & Open Water); Cycling; Hiking; Circuit Training; and 100+ others via Samsung Health | Advanced Strength Training (sport-specific); Recreational Scuba Diving (Single Gas); Apnea Diving; HIIT; Trail Run; Ultra Run; Triathlon; Skiing; Surfing; Golf (43,000+ courses); and 100+ others |
Storage | 32GB | 32GB |
Speaker Mic | Speaker; Microphone | Built-in Speaker; Built-in Microphone (Voice Assistant & Voice Notes) |
Calls | Yes (LTE standalone or via paired phone) | Yes (Make and take calls via Bluetooth connection to smartphone) |
Battery | 425 mAh (44mm) / 300 mAh (40mm); Up to 40 hours (AOD off); Up to 30 hours (AOD on) | Smartwatch mode: Up to 16 days (7 days always-on); GPS Only: Up to 47 hours (37 hours always-on); Expedition GPS: Up to 14 days |
Charging | Fast Wireless Charging (WPC Inductive); 0-45% in approx. 30 mins | Garmin proprietary plug charger (clip-on data cable) |
Weight | 33.8 g (44mm) / 28.8 g (40mm) (Body only) | Stainless Steel: 80g (Case only: 59g); Titanium: 73g (Case only: 52g) |
Band Sizes | Fits 20mm standard bands (One Click system) | Fits wrists 125–208mm (Silicone); QuickFit 22mm compatible |
Extras | Exynos W1000 (3nm) Processor; Galaxy AI features (Smart Reply, Voice-to-Text summaries); Double Pinch gesture | Built-in LED Flashlight (Red/White strobes); Dynamic Round-Trip Routing; Garmin Messenger app; Outdoor Maps+ (subscription optional); SkiView Maps |
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Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
Rating:★4.5(6,385)Amazon
Compatibility:Android 11.0 or higher with 1.5GB+ RAM; Samsung Galaxy phone required for Energy Score, ECG, Sleep Apnea, and IHRN features
Operating System:Wear OS 5 powered by Samsung (One UI 6 Watch)
Case Size:44mm (44.4 x 44.4 x 9.7 mm) or 40mm (40.4 x 40.4 x 9.7 mm)
Case Material:Armor Aluminum 2 case; Sapphire Crystal glass
Display Type:Super AMOLED; Always-On Display; Peak brightness 2000 nits
Display Size:1.5 in (44mm) / 1.3 in (40mm)
Resolution:480 x 480 pixels (44mm); 432 x 432 pixels (40mm)
Always On Display:Yes
Water Resistance:5 ATM + IP68 (water resistant up to 50 meters for 10 min)
Durability:MIL-STD-810H certified; Dust tight (IP68)
GPS:Dual-frequency GPS (L1+L5); Glonass; Beidou; Galileo
Connectivity:LTE (optional); Wi-Fi 2.4+5GHz; Bluetooth 5.3; NFC
NFC Payments:Samsung Wallet / Google Wallet
Sensors:Samsung BioActive Sensor (Optical Bio-signal + Electrical Heart + Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis); Temperature sensor; Accelerometer; Barometer; Gyro sensor; Geomagnetic sensor; Light sensor
Health Features:Energy Score; Sleep Apnea detection (FDA authorized); AGEs Index; Body Composition (BIA); ECG; Irregular Heart Rhythm Notification; Cycle Tracking with skin temperature; Sleep coaching
Workout Modes:Advanced Run Coaching; Race (compete against past results); Track Back; Custom Interval Training; Swimming (Pool & Open Water); Cycling; Hiking; Circuit Training; and 100+ others via Samsung Health
Storage:32GB
Speaker Mic:Speaker; Microphone
Calls:Yes (LTE standalone or via paired phone)
Battery:425 mAh (44mm) / 300 mAh (40mm); Up to 40 hours (AOD off); Up to 30 hours (AOD on)
Charging:Fast Wireless Charging (WPC Inductive); 0-45% in approx. 30 mins
Weight:33.8 g (44mm) / 28.8 g (40mm) (Body only)
Band Sizes:Fits 20mm standard bands (One Click system)
Extras:Exynos W1000 (3nm) Processor; Galaxy AI features (Smart Reply, Voice-to-Text summaries); Double Pinch gesture
✓ Pros:
- • Significantly faster performance with new 3nm Exynos W1000 chip
- • Dual-frequency GPS improves tracking accuracy in cities
- • New health metrics: Sleep Apnea, AGEs Index, and Energy Score
- • Double the storage (32GB) compared to Watch 6
- • Lightweight and comfortable Armor Aluminum design
✗ Cons:
- • Battery life remains roughly 1 day with heavy use (requires daily charging)
- • Advanced health features (ECG, Apnea) strictly require Samsung phones
- • Charging speed is decent but slower than some competitors
- • Design is virtually identical to the previous generation
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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Garmin fēnix 8 (47mm AMOLED)
Rating:★4.6(1,856)Amazon
Compatibility:iPhone, Android (Garmin Connect app required)
Operating System:Garmin OS (Proprietary)
Case Size:47mm x 47mm x 13.8mm
Case Material:Fiber-reinforced polymer with metal rear cover; Bezel: Titanium or Stainless Steel; Lens: Sapphire Crystal or Corning Gorilla Glass
Display Type:AMOLED; Always-On Mode available; 1000 nits peak brightness
Display Size:1.4 in (35.56 mm) diameter
Resolution:454 x 454 pixels
Always On Display:Yes (optional)
Water Resistance:10 ATM (water pressure equivalent to 100 meters); Dive rated (EN13319) to 40 meters
Durability:MIL-STD-810H thermal/shock/water tested; Leakproof inductive buttons; Metal sensor guard
GPS:Multi-band GNSS with SatIQ technology; GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, BeiDou
Connectivity:Bluetooth; ANT+; Wi-Fi
NFC Payments:Garmin Pay
Sensors:Elevate Gen 5 optical heart rate sensor; Pulse Ox blood oxygen saturation monitor; Barometric altimeter; Compass; Gyroscope; Accelerometer; Thermometer; Ambient light sensor; Depth sensor (up to 40m)
Health Features:Body Battery energy monitoring; Sleep Score and advanced sleep monitoring; HDR (High Dynamic Range) Heart Rate; HRV Status; Pulse Ox; Nap detection; Jet Lag Adviser; Health Snapshot
Workout Modes:Advanced Strength Training (sport-specific); Recreational Scuba Diving (Single Gas); Apnea Diving; HIIT; Trail Run; Ultra Run; Triathlon; Skiing; Surfing; Golf (43,000+ courses); and 100+ others
Storage:32GB
Speaker Mic:Built-in Speaker; Built-in Microphone (Voice Assistant & Voice Notes)
Calls:Yes (Make and take calls via Bluetooth connection to smartphone)
Battery:Smartwatch mode: Up to 16 days (7 days always-on); GPS Only: Up to 47 hours (37 hours always-on); Expedition GPS: Up to 14 days
Charging:Garmin proprietary plug charger (clip-on data cable)
Weight:Stainless Steel: 80g (Case only: 59g); Titanium: 73g (Case only: 52g)
Band Sizes:Fits wrists 125–208mm (Silicone); QuickFit 22mm compatible
Extras:Built-in LED Flashlight (Red/White strobes); Dynamic Round-Trip Routing; Garmin Messenger app; Outdoor Maps+ (subscription optional); SkiView Maps
✓ Pros:
- • Stunning 1.4" AMOLED display with efficient 16-day battery life
- • Legitimate dive computer features (rated to 40m) with leakproof buttons
- • Built-in LED flashlight and speaker/mic add massive daily utility
- • Comprehensive offline mapping and best-in-class GPS accuracy
- • Advanced strength training plans tailored to specific sports
✗ Cons:
- • High price point compared to previous generations and competitors
- • No LTE/Cellular option for standalone calls (requires phone nearby)
- • Titanium models with Sapphire glass command a significant premium
- • Proprietary charging cable (not wireless/Qi standard)
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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Which one is better?
The Garmin fēnix 8 (47mm AMOLED) is the better buy for most people - its 16-day battery life crushes the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7's 1-day battery. That said, grab the Galaxy Watch 7 if you need advanced health features and own a Samsung phone - it's worth it for specific use cases.
Who should buy each?
Choose the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 if: you prioritize advanced health tracking features, want a premium design, or need a vibrant display for daily notifications. (1.19 oz weight)
Choose the Garmin fēnix 8 (47mm AMOLED) if: you need exceptional battery life, enjoy outdoor activities like diving or hiking, or want a rugged design for daily wear. (2.58 oz weight)
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?
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 excels if you value significantly faster performance with new 3nm exynos w1000 chip. Garmin fēnix 8 (47mm AMOLED) is better if you prioritize stunning 1.4" amoled display with efficient 16-day battery life. 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.
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