Last Updated on September 6, 2020 by Jude Simeone
Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 is one most anticipated smartwatch of 2020 just like Apple Watch 6. The new Galaxy Watch 3 which succeeds Galaxy Watch is slimmer, more compact, and comes with more health tracking features which include trip detection that’s already present in Apple Watch 5. In the meantime until Apple Watch 6 drops, this post compares head to head the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 vs Apple Watch Series 5 to help you decide which is a better smartwatch.
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Apple Watch Series 5 vs Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 Full Specifications Compared
Apple Watch Series 5 (44mm) (GPS) | Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 (45mm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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EDITOR'S RATING |
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WHERE TO BUY | Check @ Amazon | ![]() |
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ABOUT DEVICE |
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Device name | Apple Watch Series 5 (44mm) (GPS) (disconitnued) | Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 (45mm) Bluetooth | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Device type | Sport/Fitness smartwatch | Classic/Fitness smartwatch | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Predessesor | Apple Watch Series 4 | Samsung Galaxy Watch | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Successor | Apple Watch Series 6 | -- | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Released date | September, 2019 | August, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ideal for | Unisex | Men | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
DISPLAY |
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Display type | LTPO OLED | Super AMOLED Full color |
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Display size | 1.78 inches (44mm) | 1.4 inches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Display resolution | 448 x 368 pixels (44mm) | 360 x 360 pixels | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pixel density | -- | 346 ppi | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Input type | Touchscreen 1 button plus Digital Crown with haptic feedback | Touchscreen, 2 physical buttons physical rotating bezel |
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Always-on | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
BODY |
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Shape | Rectangular/curved | Circular | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dimension | 44 x 38 x 10.7 mm (44mm) 40 x 38 x 10.7 mm (40mm) | 46.2 x 45 x 11.1 mm | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 36.1 g (non-LTE) | 53.8 grams (excluding straps) |
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Casing material | Aluminum | Stainless steel frame/glass reinforced with polycarbonate back | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Strap/band material | Elastomer | Leather | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bezel Material | Ceramics | Ceramics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Strap size | 125 - 210mm | 22mm | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Screen protection | Sapphire crystal glass | Corning Gorilla glass DX | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Water resistant/Protection | Yes, IP68, 5ATM | Yes, IP68, 5ATM MIL-STD-810G |
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Swim-proof | Yes, recommended | Yes, recommended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Color(s) | Black Silver Gold | Mystic black Mystic silver |
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MEMORY |
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RAM | 0.768GB | 1GB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Internal storage | 32GB | 8GB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Memory card slot | No | No | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
CONNECTIVITY |
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Bluetooth | Bluetooth v5.0 | Bluetooth v5.0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bluetooth calling | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
NFC | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
GPS | A-GPS/GLONASS/GALILEO/QZSS | GLONASS/A-GPS/Beidou/Galileo | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
CELLULAR TECHNOLOGY |
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Technology | No | No | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
SIM | No | No | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Band | __ | No | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
NOTIFICATIONS |
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Email alert | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
SMS alert | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Calls alert | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Event reminder | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weather | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Third-party apps | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
FITNESS TRACKING |
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Sleep apnea | No | No | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sleep tracking | Yes (Third-party app) | 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 | Yes | 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 | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preloaded sport modes | Yes | Yes, 41 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Safety tracking | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
MEDIA |
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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 |
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Accelerometer | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Barometer/Altimeter | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Heart rate monitor (HRM) | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Compass | Yes | No | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gyroscope | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ambient light | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pulse Ox. | No | __ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
ECG | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Thermometer | Yes, (App) | No | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other sensors | __ | -- | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
PLATFORM |
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Operating system (OS) | WatchOS 6.0 | Tizen OS 5.5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chipset | Apple S5, 64bit | Exynos 9110 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
CPU | Dual core | Dual core 1.15GHz | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
GPU | PowerVR | -- | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
BATTERY | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Type of battery | Non-removable Li-ion battery | Non-removable Li-ion battery | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Battery capacity | -- | 340mAh | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Battery life | Standby:2 days+ Mixed usage: 18 hrs+ | Mixed Usage:2 days | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Charging type | Magnetic charging | Charging dock Wireless charging |
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Charging time | About 1-2 hours | About 1-2 hours | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Battery saver mode | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Solar power | No | No | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rapid charging | _ | _ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
CLOCK FEATURES |
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Time/Date | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stopwatch | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Alarm | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
OTHER FUNCTIONS |
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Control camera | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Music control | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Find phone | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Text response | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
MISC |
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Payment system | Apple Pay | Samsung pay | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Compatibility | iPhone 5s+ iOS 12+ | Android 5.0+ & RAM 1.5GB+ iPhone 5+ and iOS 9.0+ |
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Companion app | Apple watch APP | Samsung Gear app | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Customizable watch face | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interchangeable band | Yes | Yes, 22mm | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Voice command | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
BOX CONTENTS |
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Apple Watch Series 5 (44mm) (GPS) | Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 (45mm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Straps | Straps | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Magnetic charging cable + USB adapter | 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 |
READ ALSO
What’s the Difference?
- Premium Designs
- Storage/Media
- Fitness Tracking
- Battery Life
I can say that each of these two has got a very remarkable design that’s attractive, elegant and stylish. Each of these two is also sturdily built with some of the most durable materials in the industry.
Galaxy Watch 3 retains the round shape just like most smartwatches from Samsung, while Watch 5 is rectangular in shape. As a result, Watch 5 looks geeky compared to a classic Galaxy Watch 3 that looks like a traditional watch.
Despite having larger display, Watch 5 is more compact and at 10.9mm is also slimmer than Galaxy Watch 3. It also weighs a little less, although these two are lightweight.
Watch 5 has a larger 1.78 inches display compared to 1.4 inches of Galaxy Watch 3. Both smartwatches offer touchscreen support and physical buttons for easy navigation, but while Galaxy Watch 3 has a physical rotating bezel, Watch 5 has a digital rotating crown, both technologies make navigating these watches very easy.
Both smartwatches offer tonnes of watch faces to choose from as well as the ability to download apps on the watch.
Both smartwatches are also rated 5ATM which makes any of these two safe to wear to the pool.
Watch 5 packs more storage capacity than Galaxy Watch 3. While it has 32GB on all models, you get 8GB from Galaxy Watch 3.
Each of these two has a microphone and loudspeaker and can make calls via Bluetooth calling or independently with the LTE models. While Bixby is the Voice Assistant on Galaxy Watch 3, its Siri for Watch 5. You decide which is more intelligent. Personally, I think Siri is more intelligent.
Both Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 3 are marketed as fitness-focused devices that can help you reach more fitness goals. Both smartwatches will track all the basics like most smartwatches such as heart rate monitoring, calories, floors climbed, stress, menstrual cycle tracking with inbuilt GPS that enables outdoor activity tracking. These two also offer preset workout modes to choose from.
Trip detection feature that can call emergency contacts when the watch detects a fall has been present on Watch 5, and is now available on Galaxy Watch 3. So also is ECG tracking that can detect irregular heart rhythms and can help you prevent atrial fibrillation.
However, Galaxy Watch 3 features blood pressure monitoring and blood oxygen tracking which Watch 5 relies on third-party apps to achieve. Moreover, blood oxygen tracking isn’t yet available on Watch 5. Galaxy Watch 3 also features in-depth sleep tracking unlike Watch 5 that relies on third-party apps to track your sleep.
The bottom line, I think Galaxy Watch 3 is a more comprehensive fitness tracker than Watch 5. Hopefully, the expected Watch 6 will fill in the gap.
Despite sacrificing battery life as a result of lower battery capacity due to its slimmer and more compact design, Galaxy Watch 3 still has a longer battery life than Watch 5. With Galaxy Watch 3 you can get up to 2 days long battery life compared to Watch 5 that can barely last a day, about 15hrs.
Which is Better?
No doubt, these are some of the most sophisticated smartwatches on the market. Each of these two has got a lightweight, compact, and stylish design and as well some of the best fitness smartwatches.
I give it to Galaxy Watch 3. I think it’s a better smartwatch than Watch 5. It has a longer battery life with loads of fitness tracking features to offer. On the other hand, Apple Watch 5 remains the best choice for iPhone users.