Pixel Watch 5 vs Galaxy Watch 8: Which Should You Buy?

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Google’s new Pixel Watch 5 just hit the market, so we lined up its specs against the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 to see how they stack up.

Both run on WearOS, which raises an obvious question: does the choice really just come down to which phone you already own? Or are there other factors worth weighing before you decide?

Pixel Watch 5 vs Galaxy Watch 8 Price and Availability

The Pixel Watch 5 is currently open for pre-order, with an official launch set for August 20th. It starts at $399, and that price climbs depending on whether you go for the larger size or add 4G support.

The Galaxy Watch 8 is a year old now, and Samsung has already moved on to the Galaxy Watch 9, but it’s still sold on Samsung’s official site. Not only does it undercut the Pixel Watch 5 on starting price at $349.99, but it also tends to see periodic discounts, making it an even easier buy if you catch it at the right time.

Google Pixel Watch 5 runs on Snapdragon W5 Gen 2

Interesting quirk here: while Pixel phones run Google’s own Tensor chips, the Pixel Watch 5 actually runs on a Qualcomm chip instead, i mean it runs on the Snapdragon W5 Gen 2.

Google says this chip gives the Pixel Watch 5 50% more RAM and a 12% CPU boost, which should translate to the watch feeling up to 20% faster than the Pixel Watch 4. It also enables Gemini Intelligence and hands-free gesture controls for interacting with the watch.

The newer Galaxy Watch 9 actually shares that same chip with the Pixel Watch 5, but the Watch 8 runs on Samsung’s own 3nm processor instead. During our testing, the Galaxy Watch 8 ran smoothly with no stuttering or slowdowns. It might not carry the same name recognition as Qualcomm’s chip, but it’s a dependable processor that handles day-to-day tasks without issue.

It worth noting that even with its own chip, the Galaxy Watch 8 still runs Google Gemini, which we have found to be one of the more genuinely useful smartwatch assistants available right now.

Google Pixel Watch 5 GPS Accuracy

Google is calling the Pixel Watch 5’s GPS its most accurate route tracking yet, going as far as claiming it outperforms the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and the Garmin Fenix 8 Pro. We haven’t verified that ourselves yet, so treat it as a claim for now rather than confirmed fact.

What’s actually driving this improvement? Google says it combined Google Maps, which includes 3D models of buildings around the world, with AI to cut down on errors caused by GPS signals bouncing off tall structures.

Anyone who’s tried navigating somewhere like the City of London or Canary Wharf knows exactly how frustrating that signal bounce can be for pinning down your actual location.

We will need proper hands-on testing before we can say how well this GPS system actually performs in practice.

Google Health vs Samsung Health app

As you would expect, health data from the Pixel Watch 5 flows into the Google Health app, while the Galaxy Watch 8 sends its data to Samsung Health instead. Google Health recently went through a significant redesign, and while we haven’t tested it specifically alongside the Pixel Watch 5 yet, we found it genuinely impressive when paired with the Fitbit Air.

You don’t need the $9.99 monthly Premium subscription to use the watch, but it’s worth considering. It unlocks features like Google Health Coach, which lets you build and customize your own workouts, gives you personalized advice based on your health data, and improves sleep stage detection accuracy.

Google Health also introduces new Health Guardian features, including breathing emergency detection, an industry first for wearables.

Using its onboard sensors, the Pixel Watch 5 continuously watches for severe, sustained drops in blood oxygen, the kind that can result from drug toxicity accidents, severe pneumonia, or choking. If it detects this and you’re unresponsive, the watch contacts emergency services on its own.

Samsung Health takes a different approach. The app went through its own recent redesign, now organizing your data in a cleaner interface.

The Vitals section tracks and compares five biometrics, heart rate, respiratory rate, HRV, skin temperature, and blood oxygen, while Heart Health Score gives you a daily rating based on sleep, stress, and activity levels.

Samsung also introduced an antioxidant index with the Galaxy Watch 8, which claims to tell you whether you are getting enough antioxidants and eating enough fruits and vegetables.

Neither Pixel Watch 5 Nor Galaxy Watch 8 Can Be Paired with an iPhone

It worth stating plainly that neither the Pixel Watch 5 nor the Galaxy Watch 8 works with an iPhone. On top of that, getting the full experience out of the Galaxy Watch 8 really requires pairing it with a Samsung Galaxy phone specifically.

It’s a bit surprising the Pixel Watch 5 skips iPhone support, especially since some of the best Fitbit models manage to support it. Disappointing, though maybe not entirely unexpected given how these ecosystems tend to work.

Google Pixel Watch 5 vs Galaxy Watch 8 Early Verdict

With a Qualcomm chip powering it, Google’s promise of its most accurate GPS to date, and Gemini Intelligence built in, the Pixel Watch 5 shapes up as a good pick for Android users. That said, the Galaxy Watch 8 still holds its own as the better choice if you want something more affordable that doesn’t push you toward a subscription to get the most out of it.

Final Thoughts

Choosing between the Pixel Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 8 comes down to what you actually value in a smartwatch, not just which one has the newer specs on paper.

The Pixel Watch 5 brings a real hardware upgrade with the Snapdragon W5 Gen 2, Google’s boldest GPS accuracy claims yet, and Gemini Intelligence baked in throughout.

Add the new Health Guardian features, including breathing emergency detection, and it’s clear Google built this watch to compete seriously, not just iterate quietly. The tradeoff is price, and getting the most out of it may mean paying for Google Health Premium on top of the watch itself.

The Galaxy Watch 8 counters with a lower starting price, frequent discounts, and a processor that, while not as flashy as Qualcomm’s chip, held up reliably in our testing. Samsung Health offers its own strong feature set too, from the Vitals dashboard to Heart Health Score, without requiring a subscription to access the core experience.

If you want Google’s newest tech and don’t mind paying for it, the Pixel Watch 5 is the stronger long-term pick. If you’d rather save money and already lean into the Samsung ecosystem, the Galaxy Watch 8 still delivers most of what you need without asking for more of your wallet.