Google took its second swing at making a great Wear OS smartwatch in recent years with the launch of the Pixel Watch 2. But the Pixel Watch 2 enters a category that has long been dominated by Samsung with its Galaxy Watches. The Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 5 Pro are not the newest of the lot, but they continue to be on sale. Samsung’s excellent support allows them to be hot competitors on either side of Pixel Watch 2’s price point. Which one should you prefer? We pit these smartwatches against each other in this Pixel Watch 2 vs Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro comparison.
Google Pixel Watch 2 vs Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro: At a glance
- The Pixel Watch 2 is available in only one size (41mm), while the Galaxy Watch 5 is available in two sizes (40mm and 44mm), while the Watch 5 Pro is available in an even larger size (45mm).
- The Pixel Watch 2 uses proprietary bands, while the Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro use standard 20mm straps.
- The Pixel Watch 2 uses a newer processor and has more storage and RAM than the Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro.
- The Pixel Watch 2 runs on Wear OS 4.0, while the Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro run on Wear OS 4.0 with Samsung’s One UI 5 Watch skin on top that supports Samsung Pay and Bixby.
- The Pixel Watch 2 offers thorough Fitbit integration, including the ecosystem’s reliable sleep, stress, and activity tracking. The Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro rely on Samsung Health integration alongside Google Fit.
- The Pixel Watch 2 uses pogo pins for charging, while the Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro use a wireless charging-based connection pad.
- The Galaxy Watch 5 44mm and Watch 5 Pro have significantly larger batteries than the Pixel Watch 2, though the Galaxy Watch 5 40mm has the smallest battery.
Google Pixel Watch 2 vs Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro: Specs
Google Pixel Watch 2 | Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 | Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro | |
---|---|---|---|
Display |
Google Pixel Watch 2
41mm: 1.2-inch
AMOLED 450 x 450 resolution Custom 3D Corning Gorilla Glass 5 Always-on display |
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5
44mm: 1.4-inch
Super AMOLED 450 x 450 resolution Sapphire Crystal Always-on display 40mm: 1.2-inch |
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro
45mm: 1.4-inch |
Materials and finishes |
Google Pixel Watch 2
100% recycled aluminum
Active band: Fluoroelastomer with soft-touch coating |
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5
Armor Aluminum case with Sport Band |
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro
Titanium case with Sport Band |
Dimensions and weight |
Google Pixel Watch 2
41 x 41 x 12.3mm |
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5
44mm: 44.4 x 43.3 x 9.8mm
33.5g (without band) 40mm: 40.4 x 39.3 x 9.8mm |
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro
45.4 x 45.4 x 10.5mm |
Strap compatibility |
Google Pixel Watch 2
Proprietary Pixel Watch straps, compatible with first-gen Pixel Watch |
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5
Standard 20mm straps, compatible with both, 44mm and 40mm |
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro
Standard 20mm straps |
Chip |
Google Pixel Watch 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 (SW5100) with Cortex M33 co-processor |
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5
Samsung Exynos W920 |
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro
Samsung Exynos W920 |
Storage and memory |
Google Pixel Watch 2
32GB eMMC flash |
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5
16GB |
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro
16GB |
Power |
Google Pixel Watch 2
306mAh
USB-C Fast charging cable with pogo pins |
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5
44mm: 410mAh
40mm: 284mAh WPC-based wireless charging |
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro
590mAh
WPC-based wireless charging |
Software |
Google Pixel Watch 2
Wear OS 4.0 |
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5
Wear OS, upgradable to Wear OS 4.0 |
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro
Wear OS, upgradable to Wear OS 4.0 |
Sensors |
Google Pixel Watch 2
Compass |
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5
Accelerometer |
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro
Accelerometer |
Durability |
Google Pixel Watch 2
5ATM + IP68 |
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5
5ATM + IP68 |
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro
5ATM + IP68 |
Connectivity |
Google Pixel Watch 2
4G LTE and UMTS |
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5
LTE |
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro
LTE |
Compatibility |
Google Pixel Watch 2
Android 9.0 or newer |
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5
Android 10 or higher with more than 1.5GB of RAM |
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro
Android 10 or higher with more than 1.5GB of RAM |
Colors |
Google Pixel Watch 2
Matte Black Aluminum case / Obsidian Active band |
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5
44mm: Graphite, Silver, Sapphire |
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro
Black, Gray |
Google Pixel Watch 2 vs Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro: Features
Kris Carlon / Android Authority
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro were launched in August 2022, so they aren’t the latest smartwatches from Samsung. If you want the latest watch, check out this Pixel Watch 2 vs Galaxy Watch 6 comparison.
Still, Samsung continues to sell the 40mm variant of the Galaxy Watch 5 as well as the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro. They initially launched with Wear OS 3.5 with One UI 4.5 Watch skin on top but have recently received the update to Wear OS 4 with One UI 5 Watch skin on top. This lets them compete head-to-head against the Pixel Watch 2, which also runs Wear OS 4.
The Pixel Watch 2 has a Google-centric approach to the smartwatch experience, while the Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro flex their Samsung ecosystem integration with the One UI Watch skin.
Rita El Khoury / Android Authority
On the Pixel Watch 2, you get robust integration with the Fitbit ecosystem. Google is promising that the Watch 2 will be able to leverage AI to provide personalized insights. You also get a 6-month Fitbit Premium trial. Other exclusive features include Safety Check, which alerts emergency contacts about your location if you haven’t checked in at the end of a timer.
The Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro work best with Samsung phones, as they can tap into several exclusive features such as ECG and blood pressure measurement. You will also get access to Samsung Pay to make payments directly from your watch, and there’s Bixby, Samsung’s voice assistant if you want an alternative to Google Assistant.
The end user experience on the Pixel Watch 2 and Galaxy Watch 5 series is pretty good.
The Pixel Watch 2 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 (SW5100) chipset with a Cortex-M33 co-processor. The Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro are powered by the Exynos W930 SoC. As a user, both of these will provide you with a responsive experience, though the higher RAM and storage on the Pixel Watch 2 will give it an edge over the Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro over the long term.
Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority
Where the Galaxy Watch 5 series shines is on battery life. You can get close to two days of battery life on the 44mm Galaxy Watch 5 and over two days on the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro. The 40mm Galaxy Watch 5 has a smaller battery that lasts a day.
The Galaxy Watch 5 series enjoys a big lead in battery life over the Pixel Watch 2.
Google also promises a similar one-day battery life on the Pixel Watch 2. We’re conducting in-depth tests to assess this claim.
Ryan Haines / Android Authority
Beyond these differences, all three watches have a litany of health-tracking features. You can monitor your sleep, workouts and activities, heart rate, stress, and more. You can also use many of the usual smartwatch features such as on-wrist phone calls, texts, notifications, voice assistants, customizable watch faces, always-on display, and more.
Google Pixel Watch 2 vs Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro: Design
The Pixel Watch 2, the Galaxy Watch 5, and Galaxy Watch 5 Pro have different designs, and as an end user, you may like one more than the other.
Ryan Haines / Android Authority
Google Pixel Watch 2
The Pixel Watch 2 comes in a single 41mm size with a curved display that looks absolutely gorgeous. The caveat is that protecting it will be a pain (screen protectors are the easiest to apply on flat displays), and at least on the first-gen Pixel Watch, repairing it was not possible. There is Gorilla Glass 5 on top for protection, but it will crack on strong impacts.
Andy Walker / Android Authority
On the other hand, the Galaxy Watch 5 comes in 40mm and 44mm sizes (though Samsung no longer officially sells the 44mm size). These variants have a flat edge-to-edge display.
Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority
The Galaxy Watch 5 Pro comes in a single 45mm size with a protective bezel all around. Coupled with the MIL-STD-810H rating, the Galaxy Watch 5 series is easier to protect and also comparatively easy to repair. Sapphire Crystal protects the display, but it can also crack with a strong enough impact.
The Pixel Watch 2’s singular size may not suit all wrist sizes. On the other hand, Samsung accommodates a broader range of wrist sizes, as you can go up to a 45mm casing.
The Pixel Watch 2 has a very round, pebble-ish look. Google uses proprietary straps for a seamless look, but that means you can’t use standard straps. The silver lining is that the straps and watch case are both backward-compatible with the first-gen Pixel Watch. So, thankfully, you can use your older straps on the new Pixel Watch 2 and vice-versa.
Rita El Khoury / Android Authority
Google did release new straps this year, and plenty of third-party straps are available, so you have options, albeit ones that won’t work on your non-Pixel timepieces.