The Biggest Differences Between the Pixel Watch 2 and Galaxy Watch 6

Google’s Pixel Watch 2 and Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 6 are two of the best smartwatches on the market right now. But when it comes down to it, you’ll likely only choose one to buy, and that decision begs the questions: What exactly are the differences between these two watches? Are there features that set you apart from the rest?

Design and size

The Galaxy Watch 6 is the latest addition to Samsung’s long-running line of smartwatches. In all this time, the company has almost perfected the look of sports watches and has come a long way in offering great features and performance in such a small device. The Pixel Watch 2, on the other hand, is just Google’s second foray into the world of smartwatches, and while the company is doing a great job, Samsung is still ahead of it in a few key areas.

One of the most notable areas where Samsung is ahead of Google’s offerings is design and size. The Galaxy Watch 6 comes in two different sizes, including a smaller variant (40mm) and a larger variant (44mm). Both displays are crisp and clean, offering plenty of real estate and pixels per inch for what you need, but if you prefer a larger device, it would be nice to be able to opt for the 44mm Galaxy Watch 6.

In the Google world, the Pixel Watch 2 features the signature stone design that Google introduced with the first Pixel Watch. Nothing has changed in the overall design from the first generation, except that the Watch 2 is made of aluminum rather than stainless steel. It’s still quite durable, but lighter. However, the Pixel Watch 2 only comes in one size, and while I love the design of this particular smartwatch, in my Pixel Watch 2 review I talked about how small it feels. People who prefer larger watches will feel right at home and comfortable with the Galaxy Watch 6. If you like the smaller design, you can choose which style you prefer: the brighter Pixel Watch 2 or the flatter display of the Galaxy Watch 6.

Software and Performance

Both smartwatches are top-notch in terms of performance and software and come with Wear OS 4 right out of the box. The main difference between the two is that Google uses an unmodified version of Wear OS 4 on the Pixel Watch 2, while Samsung layered the One UI 5 Watch design on top of the operating system. This means more nonsense from Samsung that might appeal to people in the Samsung ecosystem.

However, if you don’t have a Samsung phone, the Pixel Watch 2 offers the purest experience of Wear OS 4 you can get on a smartwatch right now, which is a common reason to choose a Google device over another leading Android. However, Google has packed a lot of Fitbit goodies into the Pixel Watch 2, so it integrates well with the fitness tracking capabilities of the Fitbit app. One of the oldest fitness apps on the app store, Fitbit has a long and storied history, with plenty of customers willing to stay in the ecosystem. So, if you like what Fitbit is doing with its fitness trackers, the Pixel Watch 2 is probably the best option.

Overall, however, both devices will offer the same software and access to apps. You just have to decide whether you want to rely on Samsung’s apps or the Pixel’s Fitbit integration to keep you on top of everything.

Prices

As for cost, it’s pretty close, with the Galaxy Watch 6 starting at $300 for the smaller variant, and the Pixel Watch 2 starting at $350. On the other hand, the larger 44mm Galaxy Watch 6 costs just $330, so you’ll still save quite a bit even with the larger model. However, the cost difference is small , so unless you’re on a budget, this probably won’t be a determining element in your decision.

You’ll also find many other factors that influence the price of the Watch 6, including which connection model you choose. Both watches are also available on different carriers, so if you want 4G LTE connectivity, you can likely get that from your carrier as well.

The bottom line is this: this watch is reliable. The Pixel Watch 2 is the best option for those looking for stock Android and every Google feature possible, while the Galaxy Watch offers a Samsung equivalent with size flexibility.