In an exciting showdown of flagship smartwatches, I embarked on a 5,000-step walk, sporting the Apple Watch Series 10 on my left wrist and the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic on my right. To ensure accuracy, I manually counted my steps while also utilizing Strava on my smartphone for comprehensive distance, elevation, and pace data. The question remains: which smartwatch delivered the most precise fitness tracking data? Read on to find out.
The Apple Watch Series 10 debuted in fall 2024, showcasing a refined design that is both thinner and lighter than its predecessors. This smartwatch features an upgraded touchscreen and faster charging capabilities. On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic was unveiled in early July 2025 as part of the Galaxy Watch 8 lineup, representing Samsung's premium option. The Galaxy Watch 8 series also includes standard models without the Classic’s rotating bezel, catering to budget-conscious consumers.
Both watches feature a significant redesign from previous models. The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic has shifted from the traditional circular face to a cushion case design inspired by the Galaxy Watch Ultra launched in summer 2024. Like the Apple Watch Series 10, the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is packed with innovative smart features, safety tools, and wellness applications. Notably, the Galaxy Watch offers unique wellness tools that the Series 10 lacks, such as Vascular Load monitoring, Antioxidant Index testing, and a daily Energy Score based on sleep quality and physical activity.
When it comes to tracking outdoor workouts such as walking, running, hiking, and biking, both the Apple Watch Series 10 and Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic provide similar post-exercise metrics. Each device is equipped with built-in GPS for accurate location tracking, onboard altimeters for precise elevation measurements, and optical pulse sensors for continuous heart rate monitoring. The Apple Watch Series 10 has previously demonstrated its reliability as a fitness tracker, making it our top smartwatch pick for 2025.
To assess the accuracy of the fitness tracking capabilities, I wore one smartwatch on each wrist and initiated their fitness tracking modes, alongside Strava on my iPhone. To keep track of my steps, I utilized a traditional tally counter, marking each 100 steps taken. This method made the counting process manageable and efficient, especially with the aid of noise-cancelling headphones.
Upon completing the walk, the results revealed significant discrepancies. The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic registered 223 additional steps, bringing my total to 5,223, while the Apple Watch Series 10 only added 83 extra steps, resulting in a total of 5,083 steps. Strava's count was even higher, recording a total of 5,272 steps, which was 272 steps over my actual count. However, the distance and elevation data from all three tracking methods were remarkably consistent.
In my hilly hometown of Seattle, accurate elevation tracking is crucial, and I was pleased to see that both smartwatches, along with Strava, provided similar elevation totals. Additionally, the average paces recorded by both devices were comparable, with Strava indicating a slightly faster pace than both the Apple and Samsung watches. It is worth noting that Strava tracks two average pace metrics: average moving pace and average elapsed or total pace.
Samsung's latest model boasts improved heart rate accuracy due to its new Dynamic Lug System, designed to enhance sensor contact with the wrist. However, the results from this test did not definitively prove the effectiveness of this feature, as both smartwatches displayed similar average heart rates, with the Apple Watch recording a higher maximum heart rate. The discrepancies in heart rate readings were also observed in previous tests against other devices, but the Apple Watch consistently noted more calories burned than the Galaxy Watch, a metric I generally consider unreliable due to its variability across devices.
After thorough testing, the winner of this smartwatch showdown is the Apple Watch Series 10. While both devices provided step counts within a reasonable margin of error, the Apple Watch's results were significantly closer to my actual total compared to the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic. Overall, both the latest Apple and Samsung models performed admirably, offering metrics that largely aligned with each other and Strava's data. Which smartwatches would you like to see compared next? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
