Apple debuted the thinner and lighter Apple Watch Series 10 at its Glowtime event on Monday. While it still has its iconic square shape, the edges are more rounded, and our early hands-on impressions reveal that it’s more comfortable to wear. Most of the feature upgrades come courtesy of watchOS 11, but the Series 10 does have a built-in depth gauge and sleep apnea detection. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7, which launched just two months ago, also includes sleep apnea detection, along with AI-powered holistic health insights and a few internal upgrades. The two smartwatches work with completely different phone platforms, but if you’re ready for a new watch and don’t care what phone you use, we’ve gathered the details here to help you figure out which one will fit more comfortably in your life.
Apple Watch Series 10
Bottom Line
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
Bottom Line
Platform
The Apple Watch Series 10 only works with iPhones. Specifically, it works with the iPhone XS or later, including the iPhone SE (second generation or later), with iOS 18.
Technically, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 works with any Android phone running Android 11 or later, but most of its best features—such as its AI insights, snoring detection, and gesture controls—require a Samsung Galaxy phone.
Winner: It depends on your phone
Prices and Options
The Galaxy Watch 7 is available in 40mm and 44mm variants, and aluminum is the only choice for the casing. The 40mm GPS version costs $299. Like Apple, you’ll need to pay an extra $30 for the larger size, but adding LTE only costs a $50 premium.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
Display
Like previous models, the Series 10 has a squarish display, but this generation curves the edges a bit more and upgrades the case size to accommodate a larger watch face. Apple says the Series 10’s OLED panel supports wider viewing angles to make it easier to see. The Galaxy Watch 7 has a rounded case and smaller bezels than the previous generation.
Both watches have bright OLED displays capable of 2,000 nits, so you can see them in bright sunlight. Both are also sharp, with 326 pixels per inch (ppi) on both sizes of the Series 10, 330ppi on the 40mm Watch 7, and 327ppi on the 44mm Watch 7.
Winner: Apple Watch Series 10
Design
Both watches are available in a variety of colors and finishes, with multiple band options. The new polished aluminum finish on the Series 10 is a particular standout.
