What Is The Best Smartwatch For Fitness Fanatics?

Get ready to achieve next level fitness with an awesome Samsung Galaxy smartwatch. These incredible fitness smartwatches not only guide you through your workouts but motivate and challenge you to be your best self. Combining innovative health and wellbeing features, you'll be set to achieve even your most challenging workout goals. In this guide, discover the benefits of a fitness watch and explore some of the best smartwatches Samsung Galaxy has to offer.

What are the benefits of a fitness watch?

Smartwatches are the must-have companion for fitness fanatics and they’ve certainly come a long way since their origins as a glorified pedometer. You’ll now find state-of-the-art activity trackers, heart rate monitors, body composition measuring and sleep analysis* capabilities that allow you to have a complete holistic view of your health**. Fitness is more than just tracking steps; it’s about a stronger, healthier and fitter you, and a Samsung fitness watch is designed to help you get there.

*Compatible Smartphone required.
**Intended for general wellness and fitness purposes. Not intended for use in detection, diagnoses, treatment of any medical condition or disease.

Here are some of the top benefits you’ll enjoy with a Samsung fitness watch*:

1. Accurately track and record more than 90 different activities
2. Check and monitor your daily calories
3. Detailed body composition analysis
4. Heart rate monitoring during workouts
5. Target setting and tracking of weight, body fat percentage and skeletal muscle**
6. Blood pressure, ECG and blood oxygen recording***
7. Holistic sleep analysis*
8. Tracking of fitness progress against your goals
9. Motivational reminders when it’s time to get moving
10. Group challenges to make exercising even more rewarding
11. Integrated GPS
12. Optional 4G connectivity****
13. Seamless connection within the Samsung Galaxy Ecosystem.
14. Antioxidant management insights to support your wellness goals*****
15. Train and recover with Daily Cardio Load******
16. Monitor your fitness level with Fitness Index******
17. Capture subtle changes by monitoring your Vitals******

Please note: All features are subject to change and are only available on certain Galaxy Watch models.

*Compatible Smartphone required
**Do not measure your body composition if you are pregnant, have an implanted pacemaker or other implanted medical devices. ECG and BP feature requires a Galaxy smartphone running Android 12 or above. Not intended for users by people under 22 years old. Users should not interpret or take clinical action based on the device output without consultation of a qualified healthcare professional.
***SpO2 is defined as saturation of percutaneous oxygen. Normal levels in humans are measured at approximately 95-100%. Factors like vigorous exercise, the amount of oxygen in the air, your elevation, and various health conditions can all result in lower readings. ECG and BP feature only to be used by 22 years+. For accurate BP readings, monthly calibration required by GP or BP monitor & arm cuff. Requires a Galaxy smartphone running Android 8.0 or above.
****Available on LTE model only
*****Antioxidant Index is for fitness and wellness only. Not intended for use in detection, diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. Please consult a medical professional for advice if you're concerned about your antioxidant level.
******Intended for general wellness and fitness purposes. Not intended for use in detection, diagnoses, treatment of any medical condition or disease.

*Compatible Smartphone required
**Do not measure your body composition if you are pregnant, have an implanted pacemaker or other implanted medical devices. ECG and BP feature requires a Galaxy smartphone running Android 12 or above. Not intended for users by people under 22 years old. Users should not interpret or take clinical action based on the device output without consultation of a qualified healthcare professional.
***SpO2 is defined as saturation of percutaneous oxygen. Normal levels in humans are measured at approximately 95-100%. Factors like vigorous exercise, the amount of oxygen in the air, your elevation, and various health conditions can all result in lower readings. ECG and BP feature only to be used by 22 years+. For accurate BP readings, monthly calibration required by GP or BP monitor & arm cuff. Requires a Galaxy smartphone running Android 8.0 or above.
****Available on LTE model only
*****Antioxidant Index is for fitness and wellness only. Not intended for use in detection, diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. Please consult a medical professional for advice if you're concerned about your antioxidant level.
******Intended for general wellness and fitness purposes. Not intended for use in detection, diagnoses, treatment of any medical condition or disease.

Are fitness watches worth it?

Yes! The best fitness watches such as the Galaxy Watch9, Galaxy Watch8 Classic and Galaxy Watch Ultra2 are definitely worth the investment since they are an important tool for enabling you to achieve all your fitness aspirations. They have been specially tailored to help you reach new heights with your fitness while keeping you motivated and challenged. What's more, they are crafted to be holistic in their approach to health and wellbeing; whether you're training for a marathon, undertaking a triathlon or getting ready for an epic charity walk, a Galaxy fitness watch can help you get to where you need to be.

*Intended for general wellness and fitness purposes. Not intended for use in detection, diagnoses, treatment of any medical condition or disease.

How does a smartwatch monitor health?

Smartwatches allow you to take back control of your health so you don’t just listen to your body - you know it. Samsung’s latest smartwatches incorporate our innovative BioActive sensors - a 3-in-1 system that uses a single chip to efficiently operate three different health sensors. The BioActive sensor includes an ECG monitor, heart rate sensor and a bioelectrical impedance analysis tool*. This cutting-edge technology not only allows you to track your body composition* but it can also monitor your heart rhythm, blood oxygen** and blood pressure levels***. This allows you to better understand your health through monitoring, so you can not only track your fitness but see your progress over time****.

Please note: Whilst every effort is taken to provide accurate and reliable health data, smartwatches are not suitable for making medical diagnosis and should not be used to monitor or treat any medical condition. You should always consult a medical professional for advice.

*Do not measure your body composition if you are pregnant, have an implanted pacemaker or other implanted medical devices.
**SpO2 is defined as saturation of percutaneous oxygen. Normal levels in humans are measured at approximately 95-100%. Factors like vigorous exercise, the amount of oxygen in the air, your elevation, and various health conditions can all result in lower readings.
***ECG and BP feature only to be used by 22 years+. For accurate BP readings, monthly calibration required by GP or BP monitor & arm cuff. Requires a Galaxy smartphone running Android 8.0 or above.
****Intended for general wellness and fitness purposes. Not intended for use in detection, diagnoses, treatment of any medical condition or disease.

1. Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA)

This sensor is used to track body composition data including body mass, body fat and skeletal muscle density*. Data is collected from thousands of points across your body (all thanks to a low-level current) and adjustments are made based on your height and weight. It takes just a few seconds to get a BIA measurement with the Samsung Galaxy Watch9.

*Do not measure your body composition if you are pregnant, have an implanted pacemaker or other implanted medical devices

2. Electrocardiogram (ECG)

This sensor monitors your heart health to check your heart’s rhythm and electrical activity is right on track*. It can help to assess how well your heart is functioning during your training and physical activity, so you know when to push it and when to pull back.

*ECG and BP feature only to be used by 22 years+. For accurate BP readings, monthly calibration required by GP or BP monitor & arm cuff. Requires a Galaxy smartphone running Android 8.0 or above.

3. Heart rate sensor

The heart rate sensor monitors the number of times your heart beats per minute. If you’re a fitness fanatic, you'll know the importance of getting the heart pumping during physical exercise. Current Samsung smartwatches use low-intensity infrared to accurately monitor your heartbeat so you know when it’s time to push yourself further*.

*ECG and BP feature only to be used by 22 years+. For accurate BP readings, monthly calibration required by GP or BP monitor & arm cuff. Requires a Galaxy smartphone running Android 8.0 or above.

4. Advanced Sleep analysis

A better bedtime routine starts with sleep tracking. From a daily sleep score, to sleep heart rate, to personalized Sleep Coaching and more, the latest Galaxy watches help you understand your nightly sleep patterns and give you personalised tips that help you enhance your sleep over time. The Galaxy Watch9 also features FDA-authorised sleep apnoea risk detection — it keeps an eye on your sleep quality and helps identify potential signs of sleep problems to ensure you get the most restful night's sleep.

*Requires Samsung Health application version 6.24 or later.
**Galaxy Watch9 must be paired with a Samsung Galaxy smartphone with Android 13 or later.
***Sleep tracking features are intended for general wellness and fitness purposes only. Not intended for use in detection, diagnosis, treatment of any medical condition or sleep disorder. The measurements are for your personal reference only. Please consult a medical professional for advice.
****Sleep Coaching requires sleep data of at least 7 days, including 1 workday and 1 day off.
*****Sleep apnoea feature requires Galaxy Watch9 to be paired with a Samsung Galaxy smartphone with Android OS 13.0 or later and the latest version of the Samsung Health app.
******Sleep apnoea feature is currently available in some selected countries only. Sleep apnoea feature requires at least 2 days of sleep data within a span of 10 days (the two days do not necessarily have to be consecutive but must be recorded within those 10 days). 22 years+ only; do not use if pregnant or previously diagnosed with sleep apnea.

*Requires Samsung Health application version 6.24 or later.
**Galaxy Watch9 must be paired with a Samsung Galaxy smartphone with Android 13 or later.
***Sleep tracking features are intended for general wellness and fitness purposes only. Not intended for use in detection, diagnosis, treatment of any medical condition or sleep disorder. The measurements are for your personal reference only. Please consult a medical professional for advice.
****Sleep Coaching requires sleep data of at least 7 days, including 1 workday and 1 day off.
*****Sleep apnoea feature requires Galaxy Watch9 to be paired with a Samsung Galaxy smartphone with Android OS 13.0 or later and the latest version of the Samsung Health app.
******Sleep apnoea feature is currently available in some selected countries only. Sleep apnoea feature requires at least 2 days of sleep data within a span of 10 days (the two days do not necessarily have to be consecutive but must be recorded within those 10 days). 22 years+ only; do not use if pregnant or previously diagnosed with sleep apnea.

5. Elevated Daily Exercise Routines

You can now take your fitness game to the next level thanks to Galaxy AI and Race. Craft your perfect Workout Routine with warm-ups, cool downs and breaks in between. You can even compete against your past records to help keep you motivated and on track. And when you hit a personal best, you'll earn badges that celebrate your progress and inspire you to keep moving forward.

For runners, the built-in Running Coach feature is a game changer. Whether you're training for a 5K or pushing towards a half marathon, Running Coach provides personalised guidance to help you pace yourself, build stamina, and hit your targets. It's like having a dedicated coach on your wrist, every step of the way.

*Race is available for outdoor running and outdoor cycling only. For comparative measurements, it is required to run on the same path as the pre-generated path. User can compare by selecting one of the records up to 14 days ago.
**Comparing records through the Race is only available when starting at the same location as the previous record's start point. It will be converted to the running mode automatically, if the starting points are different.
***Compatible smartphones and available features may vary by country/region, carrier or device.
****Auto detect workouts must be turned on in Settings. Auto detect is not available for all workouts.

*Race is available for outdoor running and outdoor cycling only. For comparative measurements, it is required to run on the same path as the pre-generated path. User can compare by selecting one of the records up to 14 days ago.
**Comparing records through the Race is only available when starting at the same location as the previous record's start point. It will be converted to the running mode automatically, if the starting points are different.
***Compatible smartphones and available features may vary by country/region, carrier or device.
****Auto detect workouts must be turned on in Settings. Auto detect is not available for all workouts.

6. Kickstart your day with Energy
Score

You can now understand your body better and start your day smarter with Galaxy AI-powered Energy Score. Galaxy smartwatches, including the epic Galaxy Watch Ultra2check your sleep, heart rate and daily activities to give you an Energy Score for the day ahead, so you'll know whether you should push it to the max or take a moment to sit back and relax.

*Energy Score is available on Android phones (Android 13 or above) and requires the Samsung Health app (v6.27 or above). Samsung account login required. Service availability may vary by country or region. To check the Energy Score, the health data tracked from your Samsung Galaxy Watch or Samsung Galaxy Ring must be synchronised with the Samsung Health app. Needs at least the previous day's activity data and sleep, and heart rate data during sleep. Not intended for use in detection, diagnosis, treatment of any medical condition. The result is for your personal reference only. Please consult a medical professional for advice.

How to activate the BioActive sensors on your Samsung smartwatch?

Activating the BioActive sensors couldn’t be easier. Simply place your middle and ring finger on the side buttons of your Galaxy smartwatch to start the process. A very low level of electrical current will be sent around your body to collect data about how your body is functioning. The clever chip then analyses the current and this is transformed into the health data that you can see, track and monitor on your smartwatch screen*. For accurate reporting you’ll need to enter some basic data such as your weight and height before undertaking the body analysis.

*Intended for general wellness and fitness purposes only. Not intended for use in detection, diagnosis, treatment of any medical condition or disease. The measurements are for your personal reference only. Please consult a medical professional for advice.

Can you use a fitness watch without a phone?

Yes, Samsung watches can be used independently from a smartphone making it easier to get active. Thanks to the innovative Samsung software you have everything you need right on your wrist, so all you need to do is name your workout and get tracking.

Looking for greater connectivity while you're out and about? Look no further than the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra2 which enables you to stream music, answer calls or receive notifications whether you're running, hiking or mountain climbing.

*Data plan required and sold separately

Which fitness watch is best?

When it comes to the best Samsung fitness watch, look no further than the Galaxy Watch Ultra2. This sensational smartwatch is built to push boundaries thanks to a new era of AI-powered health and fitness features. It can withstand temperatures from -20°C to 55°C and 10 ATM water pressure, making it ready for all your big outdoor adventures. You can now trek further with a long-lasting battery that keeps going all day and beyond, and an upgraded BioActive Sensor that tracks your health closely to provide personalised insights that help you push your limits. It also features dual-frequency GPS and keeps you on course even in challenging conditions. And with quick access to comprehensive information about your health and overall wellbeing in the Samsung Health app, it's never been easier to strive toward your wellness goals.

Explore the full range of  Samsung Galaxy smartwatches here.

Galaxy Watch Ultra2 withstands temperatures ranging from -20°C to 55°C while being worn on the wrist, based on results from internal lab tests conducted by Samsung. Actual performance may vary depending on the environment where it is used. In very high or low temperatures, charging may be blocked, certain functions may be automatically terminated or unavailable, or the watch may shut down automatically for safety. Additionally, battery performance can be adversely affected at low temperatures.
Galaxy Watch Ultra2 has a water resistance rating of 100 meters according to the ISO22810 standard. The test was conducted in 5% salt water and 4ppm chlorine water. Galaxy Watch Ultra2 is also water resistant with an IPX8 rating based on the lab test conditions for submersion in up to 1.5 meters of freshwater for up to 30 minutes, and an IPX9K rating based on the lab test conditions for water resistance against powerful water jets. Galaxy Watch Ultra2 has obtained EN13319, a standard applicable to instruments measuring water depth by environmental pressure as used by divers and dive time in certain conditions. Water resistance is not a permanent condition and can diminish over time. If it's been exposed to seawater, rinse it in freshwater and dry after use. Refer to the user manual for further information, including care/use instructions. Galaxy Watch Ultra2 is dust resistant with an IP6X rating based on lab test conditions by a third party: 2 kg of talc powder (max. diameter of 0.05 mm) per cubic meter was blown into a test chamber housing the device for 2 hours. Dust resistance may vary by actual usage conditions.
Galaxy Watch Ultra2 has obtained MIL-STD-810H Certification: High/Low temperature, Altitude, Humidity, Immersion, Salt Fog, Dust, Vibration, Drop, etc. MIL-STD-810H is a standardised form of testing designed by the US Military to accurately assess device limitations. Real world usage may vary by specific environmental conditions used in the testing. Extreme conditions not guaranteed.
Typical value tested under third-party laboratory condition. Typical value is the estimated average value considering the deviation in battery capacity among the battery samples tested under IEC 61960 standard. Typical capacity is 800 mAh (35% increase compared to previous Galaxy Watch Ultra). Actual battery life may vary depending on network environment, usage patterns and other factors.
When in Power saving mode, some features, such as Wi-Fi connection, Wake-up gesture and others, may become unavailable. There may be restrictions on CPU speed, background network usage and location services.
GPS accuracy may vary depending on network environment and other factors.
Sleep Coaching on Galaxy Watch Ultra2 is available on Android phones (Android 13 or above) and requires the Samsung Health app v6.24 or above. Samsung account login required. Sleep Coaching requires at least 7 days of sleep data, including 1 workday and 1 day off. Intended for general wellness and fitness purposes only. Not intended for use in detection, diagnosis, treatment of any medical condition or disease. Please consult a medical professional for advice.