Galaxy Watch 7 vs Garmin Fenix 7: Key Differences!
By Naila Syifa
Updated July 2024
Garmin Fenix 7 is widely regarded as one of the most comprehensive and durable smartwatches for outdoor enthusiasts, but the Galaxy Watch 7 aims to challenge it with its own set of advanced fitness tracking and smart features.
How does the recently launched Galaxy Watch 7 compare to the long-standing Garmin Fenix 7 in terms of features and capabilities? Let's dive into the key differences between these two premium smartwatches to help you determine which one is the better fit for your active lifestyle.
Key Takeaways
Garmin Fenix 7 has more advanced fitness tracking and outdoor activity features compared to the Galaxy Watch 7, but it is less equipped when it comes to communication and AI features. Galaxy Watch 7 also has unique sleep apnea detection and body composition measurement capabilities that the Garmin Fenix 7 lacks.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
Smart & Robust Smartwatch
✓ Galaxy AI
✓ ECG, BIA, Skin Temperature
✓ On-Wrist Calling, Texting, and Music
✓ Camera Control
Garmin Fenix 7
Premium Fitness and Outdoor Watch
✓ Grade-Adjusted Performance Metrics
✓ Advanced Training, Health, Fitness
✓ Optional TopoActive Maps
✓ Optional Solar Charging
#1 Price
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
Both watches are available in many variants, so their price range can vary depending on the specific model and configuration you choose. Overall, the Galaxy Watch 7 is more affordable with a price range of $299 to $379, while the Garmin Fenix 7 series starts at $649 and goes up to $999 for the top-end models.
The price difference is considerably significant, with the Garmin Fenix 7 being nearly twice as expensive as the Galaxy Watch 7 on average. This can be a significant factor for those on a tighter budget.
#2 Design & Display
Garmin Fenix 7 Series
Garmin Fenix 7 features a sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP) display. It comes in 3 sizes: 42mm, 47mm, and 51mm. The small variant is known as Fenix 7S while the large one is labeled as Fenix 7X.
Most variants of the Fenix 7 feature a Corning Gorilla Glass lens and stainless steel bezel, but some Sapphire Solar editions feature a more premium Power Sapphire lens and titanium bezel, adding to the overall durability and premium feel of the watch. Despite the ruggedness, the Fenix 7 series has a fairly lower display resolution compared to the Galaxy Watch 7.
In appearance, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 looks more sleek and modern compared to the more rugged design of the Fenix 7. The Galaxy Watch 7 comes in two sizes: the 40mm model with 432 x 432 pixels resolution and the 44mm with 480 x 480 pixels resolution. Both variants come with a Super AMOLED display with Sapphire Crystal Glass, which is bright, vibrant, and scratch-resistant.
Both watches are tough and durable, tested to military-grade standards. However, when it comes to water resistance, the Garmin Fenix 7 offers better waterproofing with a 10 ATM rating, compared to the 5 ATM rating of the Galaxy Watch 7.
#3 Health & Fitness Features
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
Some basic health-tracking features on both watches, which are also commonly found on other popular smartwatches, include heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen tracking, skin temperature monitoring, sleep tracking, stress tracking, and activity/workout tracking.
Galaxy Watch 7 sets itself apart with its Sleep Apnea feature, which can detect moderate to severe sleep apnea, providing more comprehensive sleep health insights. Samsung is the first to bring this type of advanced sleep apnea detection to a consumer smartwatch.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 also supports ECG, which helps to monitor heart rhythm and detect signs of atrial fibrillation. In the Fenix 7, the ECG app is only supported in the Pro variants, not the standard models.
Another advantage that the Galaxy Watch 7 has is the Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) sensor, which can measure body composition metrics such as body fat percentage, muscle mass, and body water percentage.
Garmin Fenix 7 Series
While Garmin Fenix 7 lacks those mentioned health features, it excels in comprehensive fitness and outdoor-focused capabilities. Both smartwatches indeed support tracking of a wide range of workouts and activities, from running, biking, tennis, surfing, yoga, swimming, hiking, boxing, and many others.
However, for certain activities, Garmin Fenix 7 has more advanced tracking metrics and features suited for serious athletes and outdoor enthusiasts.
For example, Garmin offers some specific metrics for mountain biking, known as Grit and Flow, which can analyze the difficulty of the terrain and the smoothness of the ride.
For hiking, ClimbPro Ascent Planner provides detailed real-time information about your current and upcoming climb, including gradient, distance, elevation gain, descents, and flats.
For dedicated runners, PacePro Pacing Strategies guides your pace like a coach, with grade-adjusted guidance to help you run your best.
For golfing, Garmin Autoshot automatically measures and records shot distances, and it even comes preloaded with 43,000 golf courses worldwide.
Garmin Fenix 7 also offers other extensive training and analysis features for serious sports enthusiasts, such as Garmin Coach, Race Predictor, and more. The On-Screen Workout Animations and On-Screen Workout Muscle Maps are also supported for certain activities like cardio, pilates, and strength, serving as a visual guide during your workouts.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
Garmin Fenix 7, like most other Garmin smartwatches, also features the well-regarded Body Battery Energy Monitoring, which monitors your body's energy levels to help you plan your day and optimize your training and recovery.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7, thanks to its Galaxy AI, now has a similar feature known as Energy Score, allowing users to understand their energy levels and optimize their daily activities accordingly.
The difference is that while the Energy Score of the Galaxy Watch 7 calculates the score once daily, the Garmin Body Battery Energy Monitoring displays the energy level dynamics throughout the day, hour-by-hour, which is more comprehensive and granular for better optimization of daily activities and training.
#4 Smartwatch Features
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
Garmin Fenix 7 lacks a built-in speaker and microphone, so you can't make and receive calls directly from the watch. It also needs a nearby connected phone to receive notifications. Furthermore, the text response feature is only supported on Android phones and not on iPhones.
In terms of connectivity, Galaxy Watch 7 is more well-equipped. With a built-in speaker and microphone, it supports on-wrist calling, texting, music playback, and voice commands. The LTE variants of the Galaxy Watch 7 also allow phone-free communication, making it more independent from a paired smartphone.
In addition, Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 has a unique Suggested Replies feature. Leveraging Galaxy AI, Suggested Replies allows users to quickly respond to messages with personalized and contextual responses.
Camera control of compatible phones is also supported for the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7, allowing you to remotely control your phone's camera. Meanwhile, the Fenix 7 does not offer these advanced smartwatch features.
#5 Battery & Charging
Garmin Fenix 7 Series
On a single charge, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 claims to last for up to 60 hours in normal use with the always-on display, 48 hours in exercise power-saving mode with GPS on, and 100 hours in power-saving mode.
Battery life of the Fenix 7 series can vary depending on the model, but the standard Fenix 7 claims to last for up to 18 days in smartwatch mode, up to 57 days in battery saver watch mode, and up to 57 hours in GPS mode.
When it comes to charging, the Galaxy Watch 7 has a more sophisticated charging method using a wireless charger, while the Fenix 7 uses the more traditional USB-A charging cable.
However, some solar models of the Garmin Fenix 7 offer solar charging capability, allowing the watch to recharge itself when exposed to sunlight, potentially extending the battery life even further. This is a useful feature for outdoor enthusiasts who spend extended periods of time in natural environments, which the Galaxy Watch 7 lacks.
#6 Compatibility
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
While the Garmin Fenix 7 is compatible with both iOS and Android phones, the Galaxy Watch 7 is only compatible with Android devices, so iPhone users are recommended to go with the Fenix 7 right away if the options are limited to these two smartwatches.
In addition to the platform compatibility limitation, some of the Galaxy Watch 7's features require the use of certain Samsung Galaxy phone models. For example, the Energy Score feature is only accessible on Galaxy devices that offer Galaxy AI, such as the Galaxy S and Z series. This means that not all Android phone users, nor even all Samsung Galaxy users, will be able to fully utilize all the features and functionalities of the Galaxy Watch 7.
The platform and feature restrictions of the Galaxy Watch 7 may be a significant drawback for consumers who are looking for a smartwatch that offers a comprehensive and versatile experience across a wide range of devices. While the Garmin Fenix 7 may be the more flexible option, the Galaxy Watch 7 may still appeal to dedicated Android and Samsung users who are willing to work within its compatibility constraints.
Galaxy Watch 7 vs Garmin Fenix 7
Final Thoughts
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
Garmin Fenix 7 has long been popular for its rugged design, advanced fitness tracking features, and long battery life. It is a top-of-the-line smartwatch for outdoor enthusiasts and athletes.
The recently launched Galaxy Watch 7 offers a more stylish and versatile alternative for those seeking a premium smartwatch experience. It may not be as advanced as the Garmin Fenix 7 in terms of fitness and outdoor-focused capabilities, but it makes up for it with its sleek design, comprehensive health tracking features, and complete set of smartwatch capabilities for Android users.
When choosing between these two options, it's important to consider your specific needs and preferences, whether you're looking for a versatile smartwatch or a dedicated outdoor companion.
If you like to read more on smartwatches, check out our other relevant guides here:
Galaxy Watch 7 vs Garmin Venu 3
Galaxy Watch 7 vs Garmin Vivoactive 5
Galaxy Watch 7 vs Garmin Forerunner 265
Galaxy Watch 7 vs Fitbit Sense 2
Galaxy Watch Ultra vs Garmin Fenix 7
Galaxy Watch Ultra vs Garmin Epix 2
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