Do I need both a smartwatch and a fitness tracker?

No, you won’t need both a smartwatch and a fitness tracker as smartwatches combine all the intelligence of a fitness tracker with smart features and phone connectivity. Your smartwatch will be able to measure and report on metrics just as a fitness tracker can, often with more advanced tracking like blood oxygen and skin temperature.

Do smartwatches work without a phone?

Smartwatches can work without a phone without more advanced features. Fitness tracking, offline music playback, and alarm capabilities are all functional without connection to your phone.

Can a smartwatch track sleep as well as a fitness tracker?

Yes, smartwatches are able to track sleep just as well as fitness trackers, and actually often offer more sensitive and detailed metrics. Find out more about how smartwatches track sleep .

Fitness Tracker vs Smartwatch: What's the Difference?

Looking for your next wearable? Here are a few things to consider when comparing smartwatches and fitness trackers.

Summary: Fitness Tracker vs Smartwatch

● Fitness Tracker Capabilities: A fitness tracker is a wearable device that has the ability to monitor your physical activity and track physical metrics like heart rate, steps, and blood oxygen.

● Smartwatch Features: A smartwatch has all the features of a fitness tracker, plus the ability of being an extension of your smartphone.

● Which is Best for You: The best device for you will depend entirely on how much information you need on your wrist – for example, do you want to be able to answer text messages hands-free, or simply know your heart rate when you exercise?

What is a Fitness Tracker?

Fitness trackers are portable, wearable devices that monitor your daily physical activity and sleep quality through metrics like steps, heart rate, blood oxygen and more. They are available in a range of styles, from simple wrist bands (also typically called fitness bands) with no screens to a slim watch-like wearable. They are designed to be simple to use.

What is a smartwatch?

A smartwatch does a lot more than just tell you what the time is. Smartwatches like Galaxy Smartwatches are portable devices with screens that can not only act as a fitness tracker, but also support mobile apps and other functions to impact your everyday.

Find out more about what a smartwatch does in our guide.

Trackers vs Smartwatches: Which Is Right for You?

Ultimately, whether you choose a fitness tracker or a smartwatch will depend on your personal lifestyle. If you want dedicated, uncomplicated health metrics in a subtle package, then a fitness band might be more your style. However, if you want to extend smartphone capabilities to your wrist with convenient pay and communication features, then a smartwatch is better for your requirements.

Who Should Choose a Fitness Tracker?

If you are an active person seeking simple metrics about your daily exercise and nightly recovery, a fitness tracker or a fitness band is ideal. These can often feature a lighter and less obtrusive design with longer battery life. However, your fitness band will likely not be able to answer calls, control apps, send messages.

Who Should Choose a Smartwatch?

Active people who are always on the go but want to keep track of your communication will benefit greatly from a smartwatch over a fitness band. Certain smartwatch models, such as the Galaxy Watch9, are perfect for exercising without your smartphone on your person – you can safely leave your phone at home! That’s one less thing to carry so you can focus on your exercise.
● For Active Commuters: Commuters interested in monitoring their training goals can use a smartwatch to track steps and activity while also getting a head start before and after they leave the office.
● For Gym-Goers: Lock in to your workout while knowing you’re on top of everything else with your Galaxy smartwatch. You can also pay for your pre-workout coffee with your smartwatch for that 5am gym session!

● For Runners: Focus on your pace and receive real-time metrics indicators without your phone weighing you down with an intelligent smartwatch like the Galaxy Watch9. Find the best smartwatch for running in our guide.
● For Active Parents: If you’re at work or on the go, you can have peace of mind with a smartwatch knowing you never miss a notification, so you can be on-call for whatever comes next.
● For Health-Conscious Individuals: If you’re keen to monitor and track your everyday health & wellness, a simple smartwatch is the ideal solution for you. Galaxy Watch9 has the ability to track so many health data points, it’s like having a round-the-clock health coach on your wrist. It has a cushioned design, meaning that you’ll enjoy ultra comfort all day and all night. It’s a featherweight smartwatch packing heavyweight power under the hood.

● For Adventurers: For those of you that are outdoor enthusiasts, rugged smartwatches like the Galaxy Watch Ultra2 can help you stay on top of your vitals even during your extreme sports. Enjoy turn-by-turn navigation, from busy cities to remote wooded areas, with pinpoint Dual GPS accuracy keeping you on track. And should you ever find yourself in need of help, press the home button five times to send SOS messages, share your live location and attract attention with the Emergency Siren¹ (up to 86dB).

Are Smartwatches Worth It?

Smartwatches can be a great addition to an active lifestyle if you value detailed metrics and want to keep on top of your notifications without taking your phone out of your pocket. Our latest smartwatches are equipped with detailed measurement trackers, so that you can get the absolute most from your training. Browse the latest Galaxy Smartwatch range here.

Pair your Galaxy Watch with the latest Galaxy smartphones, like Galaxy Z Fold8, to enjoy seamless connectivity across both devices. Download the Samsung Health app on your Galaxy smartphone to get detailed insights into your data recorded from your Galaxy watch, including Advanced Sleep Tracking², heart health, and menstrual cycle prediction.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra2

Samsung Galaxy Watch9

Samsung Galaxy Fold8

Samsung Galaxy Fold8 Ultra

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need both a smartwatch and a fitness tracker?

No, you won’t need both a smartwatch and a fitness tracker as smartwatches combine all the intelligence of a fitness tracker with smart features and phone connectivity. Your smartwatch will be able to measure and report on metrics just as a fitness tracker can, often with more advanced tracking like blood oxygen and skin temperature.
Do smartwatches work without a phone?

Smartwatches can work without a phone without more advanced features. Fitness tracking, offline music playback, and alarm capabilities are all functional without connection to your phone.
Can a smartwatch track sleep as well as a fitness tracker?

Yes, smartwatches are able to track sleep just as well as fitness trackers, and actually often offer more sensitive and detailed metrics. Find out more about how smartwatches track sleep.

1. The loudness and range of the sound may vary depending on the environment.

2. Requires smartphone operating on Android 11 or above with Google Mobile Services and the latest version of the Samsung Health app. Samsung account login and Galaxy smartphone is required for certain AI features.