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Apple unveiled its Watch Series 11 throughout this week’s iPhone occasion, alongside two different smartwatch fashions. The Sequence 11 will get Sleep Scores (crowd roars), an extended battery life, and all of Apple’s WatchOS 26 software program, which is predicted to be launched to the general public quickly.
Additionally: I tried the Apple Watch Series 11, Watch Ultra 3, and SE – what the keynote didn’t tell you
However how does it examine to its closest Android rival, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8? I am evaluating two smartwatch icons and their specs. So, who wins? Hold studying to seek out out.
Specs
| Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 | Apple Watch Sequence 11 | |
| Brightness | 3,000 nits | 2,000 nits |
| Weight | 40mm: 30g; 44mm: 40g. | 42mm: 30.3g, 46mm: 37.8 grams |
| Processor | Exynos Core 1000 | S10 chip with 64‑bit dual-core processor |
| Reminiscence | 2GB reminiscence, 32GB storage | 1GB reminiscence, 64GB storage |
| Battery | 30 hours with always-on enabled | 24 hours with always-on enabled |
| Sizes | 40mm, 44mm | 42mm, 46mm |
| Colorways | Graphite, Silver | Rose Gold, Silver, Jet Black, Area Grey |
| Value | Beginning at $350 | Beginning at $399 |
You should purchase the Apple Watch Sequence 11 if…
1. You wish to monitor your blood strain
Are you shopping for a smartwatch for its well being options? Apple introduced at its September iPhone occasion that the Apple Watch Sequence 11 provides hypertension detection and can obtain FDA clearance by the tip of the month. It might probably’t carry out blood strain readings, but it surely does monitor your blood vessels’ response to heartbeats throughout sleep. It screens your blood strain for 30 days utilizing the watch’s optical coronary heart sensor to ship a median score that’s both inside vary or above the edge.
If the 30-day score is above the edge, Apple advises customers to take the information collected to a health care provider for medical evaluation. Neither Samsung nor Google has developed this characteristic into their latest lineup of smartwatches, and it addresses a serious well being situation that’s usually underdiagnosed.
2. You need a decrease profile AI method
Apple infuses AI into a number of elements of its smartwatch — however you would not actually discover for those who weren’t paying consideration. Because of a sophisticated prediction algorithm, you may get extra related Sensible Stack options that take your historic location and watch exercise under consideration. If Apple Watch registers customers recording a pilates exercise each time they go to a studio, the Sensible Stack will extra usually counsel initiating a Pilates exercise on the Exercise app.
Because of AI, the smartwatch’s notification pings grow to be self-aware: The machine registers the noise quantity of your setting to ship pings that are not blaring in quiet areas or too quiet in noisy ones. Sensible Replies get smarter with its on-device language mannequin, which offers “exact” and “related” responses to conversations.
Additionally: Should you upgrade to Apple Watch Series 11? Here’s how it compares to older models
AI powers these options — and lots of extra — however Apple is not eager about calling consideration to it. That is a considerably totally different method from Samsung and its Galaxy Watch 8, which drips with AI. Extra on that later.
This low-key AI method could possibly be successful or Apple’s Achilles heel in the long term. If and when AI’s hype cycle dies down, Apple will proceed making related options powered by superior know-how, as per traditional. It is going to be revered for not taking the hype bait and centering its product round a characteristic that got here and went. But when high-power AI options are the way in which of the long run, Apple could possibly be falling behind within the AI rat race.
3. You are an iPhone consumer, clearly
When you’ve got an iPhone, Android smartwatches just like the Galaxy Watch 8 aren’t appropriate together with your smartphone. So, clearly, you may wish to seize the Apple Watch to maintain every thing throughout the similar ecosystem.
You should purchase the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 if…
1. You need longer battery life
Samsung takes the battery capability cake with its Watch 8, which provides 30 hours of battery life with All the time-On Show enabled and 40 hours with it disabled. Apple’s Sequence 11 will get a battery improve, to make sure. Nevertheless it upgrades to 24 hours with AOD enabled and 36 hours in battery-saving mode.
2. AI exercise assistants
Each Apple and Samsung rolled out AI exercise assistants throughout their summer season product launches. Apple unveiled Exercise Buddy, an in-ear assistant that gives stats, encouragement, and historic information throughout your exercise, and is offered on eight totally different exercise modes, together with Out of doors and Indoor Run, Out of doors and Indoor Stroll, Out of doors Cycle, HIIT, and Purposeful and Conventional Power Coaching. Samsung’s Operating Coach is extra particular to, you guessed it, working, however offers extra actionable suggestions for folks coaching for his or her first or subsequent race.
Additionally: Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max vs. Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: I compared both, and here’s the winner
Customers take a working check, and Samsung grades them out of 10. Then it offers an in depth coaching plan to assist them advance to the following coaching degree. Utilizing restoration and train information, Samsung tailors its exercise suggestions to the consumer. This feels extra personalised than Exercise Buddy, and I hope Apple takes notes from Samsung when creating its subsequent health-oriented smartwatch options.
3. You’ll be able to profit extra from Gemini
The advantage of being an Android watch is that it is powered by Google’s Gemini. Meaning you may name upon the AI assistant to lookup eating places in your space, name and make a reservation for 2, and inquire about dietary restrictions — all with the carry of a wrist. The Galaxy Watch can deal with a number of instructions with shorter compute occasions. Apple’s AI is extra simplistic and rather less superior.
