Google Pixel Watch 2 vs Samsung Galaxy Watch 6: the differences
With Fossil seemingly stepping back from the wearOS market, Android phone users still have excellent smartwatch options to consider. The Google Pixel Watch 2 and the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 emerge as compelling choices for adorning your wrist. Launched in October 2023 and July 2023 respectively, both watches cater to a tech-savvy audience, yet each with a distinct focus.
Essential reading: Top fitness trackers and health gadgets
This comparison piece aims to dissect their key features, functionalities, and value propositions. Read on to find out how they stack up.
Key takeaways
The Pixel Watch 2, priced at $350, is a standout for those ingrained in the Google ecosystem. It offers seamless integration with the company’s services, a sleek design, and comprehensive Fitbit health tracking. This is all enhanced by the versatility of Wear OS 4.0. Conversely, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6, starting at $300, appeals to Samsung loyalists. It features a unique user experience with One UI Watch over Wear OS, robust build, and extended battery life, making it ideal for those with a more active lifestyle. Both watches excel in health and fitness tracking, differing mainly in ecosystem integration and design.
View on Samsung; View on Amazon (Google Pixel Watch 2, Samsung Galaxy Watch 6). Read our full hands-on review of Google Pixel Watch 2.
Jump to
Hardware
Technical specs
Features
Bottom line
Google Pixel Watch 2 vs Samsung Galaxy Watch 6: Hardware
Look & feel
The Google Pixel Watch 2 and Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 share the common ground of being round smartwatches. But they exhibit distinct characteristics in their build, size options, physical buttons, screen, water resistance, and color options.
Starting with the build and size, the Google Pixel Watch 2 presents a sleek design with a domed top glass that curves elegantly to meet its 100% recycled aluminum case. It’s available in a singular size of 41 x 41 x 12.3mm, offering a compact and uniform choice for users. In contrast, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 offers more variety in size. Its options include a 44mm (42.8 x 44.4 x 9.0 mm) and 40mm (38.8 x 40.4 x 9.0 mm), catering to different wrist sizes and preferences. The Galaxy Watch 6’s Armor Aluminum case with a Sport Band and Sapphire Crystal display adds to its robust yet stylish appeal.
The approach to physical buttons also differs between the two. The Pixel Watch 2 opts for minimalism with a digital crown, as well as a small button situated into the side of the watch. This helps it maintain a clean and uncluttered look. On the other hand, the Galaxy Watch 6 features two physical buttons, offering more tactile control options for the user.
Display, colour options, water resistance
When it comes to the screen, the duo boasts AMOLED displays, known for their vibrant colours and deep blacks. The Pixel Watch 2’s 1.2-inch display provides crisp and clear visuals. The Galaxy Watch 6, meanwhile, offers a Super AMOLED display with resolutions varying based on size. The 44mm model has a 1.5 inch screen, while the 40mm model comes in at 1.3 inches.
Water resistance is a key feature for wearable tech, especially for users who are into swimming or other water-related activities. Both the Pixel Watch 2 and the Galaxy Watch 6 boast a water resistance rating of 5 ATM. This indicates their capability to withstand pressures equivalent to a depth of 50 meters. So no worries on this count.
Color options allow users to personalize their devices to match their style. The Pixel Watch 2 offers choices like Polished Silver Aluminum Case with Bay Active Band, Matte Black Aluminum Case with Obsidian Active Band, and more, providing a range of elegant and sophisticated options. The Galaxy Watch 6, in its turn, comes in colors like Graphite, Gold (for the 40mm model), and Silver (for the 44mm model), offering a palette that caters to different tastes.
The Galaxy watch also has an easy-to-swap band design, which is worth a mention. The Pixel Watch 2 isn’t quite as easy to swap out.
Sensor technology
Both watches are equipped with a comprehensive array of sensors. The Google Pixel Watch 2 features a multipurpose array including a compass, altimeter, red and infrared sensors for SpO2, multipurpose ECG sensors, a multi-path optical heart rate sensor, a 3-axis accelerometer, gyroscope, ambient light sensor, cEDA, skin temperature sensor, barometer, and magnetometer. This extensive list positions the Pixel Watch 2 as a highly capable device for health and fitness tracking. It’s pretty much the full gamut of Fitbit sensors.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6, while sharing several common sensors such as the optical heart rate tracker, accelerometer, barometer, temperature sensor and gyroscope, comes with a unique Samsung BioActive Sensor. This sensor combines an Optical Heart Rate sensor, an Electrical Heart Signal sensor, and a Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis sensor.
In terms of GPS connectivity, the watches offer robust location tracking features. The Google Pixel Watch 2 supports GPS, Glonass, QZSS, and Beidou, ensuring accurate location tracking across various global positioning systems. Similarly, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 is equipped with GPS, Galileo, Glonass, and Beidou.
NFC capabilities are present in both models, enabling contactless payments and adding a layer of convenience for users. This feature is particularly useful for making transactions during workouts or when carrying a wallet or phone is not feasible.
Finally, both the Google Pixel Watch 2 and Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 offer music storage capabilities. This allows users to store and play their favorite tracks directly from the watch.
Battery life
Battery life is a sticking point for wearOS devices. So it’s no surprise that the Google Pixel Watch 2 offers a battery life of only around 24 hours. This is within the typical range for smartwatches that run on WearOS. However, the daily charging might be a drawback for users who engage in extensive fitness tracking or prefer not to be tethered to a charger frequently.
On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6, with its energy-efficient processor and larger battery sizes, promises up to 40 hours of battery life without the Always On Display (AOD) function. With AOD enabled, this falls to 30 hours. This extended battery life is a slight upgrade from its predecessor. The introduction of 10W fast charging further complements this feature. An 8-minute fast charge can provide an additional eight hours of battery life, enough for a full night of sleep tracking.
Google Pixel Watch 2 vs Samsung Galaxy Watch 6: Technical specs
Here’s a detailed tech specs comparison table for the Google Pixel Watch 2, Samsung Galaxy Watch 6. We’ve also included Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic which mostly differs in design as compared to the vanilla edition.
Specification | Google Pixel Watch 2 | Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 | Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic |
---|---|---|---|
Release Date | Oct-23 | Jul-23 | Jul-23 |
Case Material | Domed top glass, 100% recycled aluminium case | Armor Aluminum case, Sapphire Crystal display | Stainless Steel case, Hybrid Eco-Leather Band |
Physical Buttons | Digital Crown + button | 2 | 2 + rotating bezel |
Shape | Round | Round | Round |
Size | 41 x 41 x 12.3mm | 44mm: 42.8 x 44.4 x 9.0 mm; 40mm: 38.8 x 40.4 x 9.0 mm | 47mm: 46.5 x 46.5 x 10.9 mm; 43mm: 42.5 x 42.5 x 10.9 mm |
Display Type | AMOLED | Super AMOLED | Super AMOLED |
Resolution | 450 x 450 pixels | 44mm: 480 x 480 pixels; 40mm: 432 x 432 pixels | 47mm: 480 x 480 pixels; 43mm: 432 x 432 pixels |
Screen Size | 1.2 inches | 44mm: 1.5 inch; 40mm: 1.3 inch | 47mm: 1.5 inch; 43mm: 1.3 inch |
Weight (w/o strap) | 31.9 grams | 44mm: 33.3 grams; 40mm: 28.7 grams | 47mm: 59 grams; 43mm: 52 grams |
Sensors | Compass, Altimeter, SpO2, ECG, Heart Rate, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Ambient Light, cEDA, Skin Temp, Barometer, Magnetometer | BioActive Sensor, Temp, Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyro, Geomagnetic, Light | BioActive Sensor, Temp, Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyro, Geomagnetic, Light, 3D Hall |
Water-Resistance | 5 ATM | 5 ATM + IP68 | 5 ATM + IP68 |
Positioning | GPS, Glonass, QZSS, Beidou | GPS, Galileo, Glonass, Beidou | GPS, Galileo, Glonass, Beidou |
Built-in Speaker | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Microphone | Yes | Yes | Yes |
NFC | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Music Storage | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Connection | Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n 2.4GHz | LTE, Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n 2.4+5GHz | LTE, Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n 2.4+5GHz |
Cellular Connectivity | Optional | Yes | Yes |
Battery Type | 306 mAh Li-po | 44mm: 425 mAh; 40mm: 300 mAh | 43mm: 300mAh, 47mm: 425mAh |
Battery Life | 24 hours | Up to 40 hours (AOD off), 30 hours (AOD on) | Up to 40 hours (AOD off), 30 hours (AOD on) |
Operating System | Wear OS 4.0 | WearOS 4, One UI 5 Watch | WearOS 4, One UI 5 Watch |
Colors | Silver, Black, Gold, Porcelain | Graphite, Gold, Silver | Black, Silver |
Typical RRP | $350 | $300 and up | $450 and up |
Google Pixel Watch 2 vs Samsung Galaxy Watch 6: Features
The Google Pixel Watch 2, with its integration of Fitbit’s technology, is a health and fitness tracking powerhouse. It excels in providing detailed insights into your daily activities, sleep patterns, and overall wellness. The watch’s ability to track various workouts, from running to swimming, is enhanced by its accurate heart rate monitoring, ECG and blood oxygen level measurements. For those who enjoy the comprehensive ecosystem of Fitbit, the Pixel Watch 2 is a perfect match. Its focus on holistic health tracking makes it ideal for users who are not only fitness-focused but also keen on monitoring their overall health and wellness.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 also stands out with its advanced health monitoring capabilities. It has some unique features such as body composition measurement. You could say, the device offers a more medical-oriented approach to health tracking. This makes the Galaxy Watch 6 particularly appealing to users who are keen on having a deeper understanding of their health.
You even have the convenience of performing a quick blood pressure check. For accurate readings, you’ll need to calibrate the watch occasionally using a traditional blood pressure cuff. However, this will only work on Samsung phones, so that’s something to keep in mind.
Additionally, the Samsung timepiece’s robust build and longer battery life make it suitable for more intense and prolonged fitness activities. This ensures that it keeps up with the demands of high-energy sports without frequent charging interruptions.
Smartwatch-type features
The Google Pixel Watch 2, powered by Wear OS 4.0, provides users with a rich ecosystem of apps and services. Its integration with Google’s suite of apps, like Google Assistant and Google Maps, offers a seamless and intuitive user experience. The watch’s interface is designed for easy navigation and customization, allowing users to access a wide array of third-party apps that cater to various needs, from productivity to entertainment.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6, on the other hand, operates on Wear OS with Samsung’s One UI Watch interface layered on top. This combination delivers a unique user experience, tailored to Samsung’s ecosystem. The watch offers specialized features like a comprehensive health suite and integration with Samsung devices and services. Its focus on customization and user-friendly interface makes it a strong contender for those who are already part of the Samsung ecosystem.
In addition to music storage, both watches also support contactless payments, adding a layer of convenience to the user experience. The Pixel Watch 2 integrates Google Pay, while the Galaxy Watch 6 utilizes Samsung Pay, both allowing for quick and secure transactions directly from the wrist.
Google Pixel Watch 2 vs Samsung Galaxy Watch 6: Price
Regarding pricing, the Google Pixel Watch 2 and Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 are positioned at similar points in the market. The first is priced at $350. This positions it as a mid-range option for users looking for a blend of smartwatch and fitness tracker. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6, starting at $300 and up, is slightly less expensive.
A point of distinction is the optional Fitbit Premium Subscription. This provides Pixel Watch users with an enhanced fitness and health tracking experience. It conjures up in-depth analytics, personalized insights, and exclusive workouts tailored to individual goals and needs. While the basic health and fitness tracking functionalities are robust on their own, the Fitbit Premium service elevates the Pixel Watch 2’s capabilities.
Google Pixel Watch 2 vs Samsung Galaxy Watch 6: Final thoughts
The Google Pixel Watch 2 and Samsung Galaxy Watch 6, both launched in 2023, stand as strong competitors in the smartwatch market, particularly in the realm of health and fitness tracking. While neither will work with iOS devices, the duo is excellent if you have an Android phone.
The Pixel Watch 2 is an ideal match for users who are deeply embedded in the Google ecosystem. It offers seamless integration with Google services and apps, making it a convenient extension of the user’s digital life. Its sleek design and Fitbit health tracking capabilities are complemented by the versatility of Wear OS 4.0, which opens up a wide range of apps and customizations.
In contrast, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 is a perfect fit for users who are loyal to Samsung’s ecosystem. Its integration with the One UI Watch interface over Wear OS provides a unique user experience, tailored to seamlessly connect with other Samsung devices and services. While it matches the Pixel Watch 2 in terms of health and fitness tracking, its robust design and longer battery life make it more suitable for users who need a watch that can keep up with a more demanding lifestyle.
View on Samsung; View on Amazon (Google Pixel Watch 2, Samsung Galaxy Watch 6). Read our full hands-on review of Google Pixel Watch 2.
You may also be interested in:
Google Pixel Watch 2 vs Fitbit Charge 6
Garmin Venu 3 vs Google Pixel Watch 2
Google Pixel Watch 2 vs Fitbit Sense 2 vs Versa 4
Mobvoi TicWatch 5 Pro vs Google Pixel Watch 2
Google Pixel Watch 2 vs Huawei Watch 4
Like this article? Subscribe to our monthly newsletter and never miss out!