Featured in this comparison chart are two fine smartwatches; the relatively newer Active 2 from Samsung and the Watch 3 released in 2017. Each of these two has a decent and stylish design as well as loaded with lots of features. We compare the specifications and features of the Apple Watch Series 3 vs Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 to find out the differences and of course, which is a better choice for you.
Apple Watch Series 3 vs Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2: Specifications Compared
| Product Info |
 Apple Watch Series 3 (42mm) Specifications, Features and Price |
 Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 (44mm) Bluetooth Full Specifications and Features |
|---|---|---|
| Price | - | $179.97 |
| ABOUT DEVICE | ABOUT DEVICE | ABOUT DEVICE |
| Device name | Apple Watch Series 3 (42mm) | Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 (44mm) |
| Device type | Standalone/Fitness smartwatch | Fitness/Classic smartwatch |
| Gender | Unisex | Unisex |
| Release date | September, 2017 | September, 2019 |
| Predecessor | Apple Watch Series 2 | Samsung Galaxy Watch Active |
| Successor | Apple Watch Series 4 | Galaxy Watch 4 |
| Versions | Apple Watch Nike+ | Bluetooth only, LTE |
| BODY | BODY | BODY |
| Dimension | 42.5 x 36.4 x 11.4 mm | 44 x 44 x 10.9 mm |
| Weight | 52.8 grams | 30 grams (aluminum), 42 grams (stainless steel) |
| Shape | Rectangular | Circular |
| Case material | Aluminum | Aluminum, Stainless steel |
| Strap material | Elastomer | Fluoroelastomer (Aluminum), Leather (stainless steel) |
| Bezel material | Bezeless | Aluminum, Bezeless |
| Strap size | 140 – 180mm (small), 180 -220mm (big) | 20 mm |
| Interchangeable strap | 24mm, Yes | Yes |
| Screen protection | Ion-X glass (aluminum) | Corning Gorilla glass DX+ |
| Water resistance | Yes, 5ATM | Yes, 5ATM |
| Durability test | — | MIL-STD-810G |
| Swim-proof | Yes, recommended | Yes, recommended |
| Color | Black, White | Aqua-black, Black, Cloud-silver, Gold, Pink-gold, Silver |
| DISPLAY | DISPLAY | DISPLAY |
| Display size | 1.65 inch | 1.4 inches |
| Display type | 1000nit, OLED | Super AMOLED, Full color |
| Display resolution | 312 x 390 pixels | 360 x 360 pixel |
| Pixel density | — | — |
| Always on | No | Yes |
| Custom watch face | Yes | Yes |
| Input type | 1 Physical button, Digital crown, Touchscreen | 2 Physical buttons, Digital rotating bezel, Touchscreen |
| CONNECTIVITY | CONNECTIVITY | CONNECTIVITY |
| Bluetooth | Yes, Bluetooth v4.2 LE | Bluetooth v5.0 |
| Bluetooth calling | Yes | Yes |
| GPS | GLONASS, GPS | Yes, GPS/GLONASS/BEIDOU |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Yes, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n | Yes, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac |
| MEMORY | MEMORY | MEMORY |
| RAM | 0.768GB | 0.75GB |
| ROM | 16GB (GPS + Cellular), 8GB (GPS) | 4GB |
| Memory card slot | No | No |
| CELLULAR CONNECTIVITY | CELLULAR CONNECTIVITY | CELLULAR CONNECTIVITY |
| Technology | None | None |
| SIM type | None | None |
| Band | — | — |
| NOTIFICATIONS | NOTIFICATIONS | NOTIFICATIONS |
| SMS alert | Yes | Yes |
| Calls alert | Yes | Yes |
| Email alert | Yes | Yes |
| Event reminder | Yes | Yes |
| Third-party apps alert | Yes | Yes |
| Reply to Notifications | - | - |
| MEDIA | MEDIA | MEDIA |
| Audio | mp3/mp4 | mp3/mp4 |
| Bluetooth music | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Camera | No | No |
| Radio | No | No |
| SENSORS | SENSORS | SENSORS |
| Accelerometer | Yes | Yes |
| Altimeter | Yes | Yes |
| Ambient light | Yes | Yes |
| Barometer | Yes | Yes |
| Compass | No | — |
| ECG | No | Yes |
| Gyroscope | Yes | Yes |
| HRM | Yes | Yes |
| Pulse oximeter (SpO2) | No | No |
| Temperature | No | No |
| Other sensors | — | — |
| ACTIVITY TRACKING | ACTIVITY TRACKING | ACTIVITY TRACKING |
| Blood oxygen | No | No |
| Blood Pressure | No | Yes |
| Calories | Yes | Yes |
| Distance | Yes | Yes |
| ECG tracking | No | Yes |
| Heart rate monitoring | Yes | Yes |
| Sleep tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Steps | Yes | Yes |
| Floors climbed | Yes | Yes |
| Stress | Yes | Yes |
| Fall detection | No | Yes |
| Menstrual cycle | Yes | Yes |
| VO2 Max | Yes | Yes |
| Swim-tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Underwater heart rate tracking | No | No |
| On-screen workout | No | No |
| Sport modes | Yes | 39 |
| BATTERY | BATTERY | BATTERY |
| Battery type | Non-removable Li-ion battery | Non-removable Li-ion battery |
| Battery capacity | 279mAh | 340mAh |
| Battery life | Regular: up to 18hrs | Regular: 2 days, Standby :5 days+ |
| Charging type | Charging dock | WPC based wireless charging |
| Charging time | 1-2 hours | 1-2 hours |
| Solar charging | No | No |
| PLATFORM | PLATFORM | PLATFORM |
| Chipset | Apple S3 | Exynos 9110 |
| CPU | Dual core | Dual core 1.15GHz |
| GPU | — | — |
| Operating system | WatchOS 4 | Tizen 5.5 |
| MISC | MISC | MISC |
| Companion app | Apple Watch App | Samsung Gear app |
| Compatibility | iOS 12.0+ | Android 5.0+ & RAM 1.5GB+, iPhone 5+ and iOS 9.0+ |
| Payment system | Apple Pay | Samsung Pay |
| Voice command | Yes, Siri | Yes, Bixby |
| Find my phone | Yes | Yes |
| Box content | Apple Watch Series 3, Charger, Manual, Straps | Charger, Manual, Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 (44mm), Straps |
The Differences
Both the Apple Watch 3 and Galaxy Watch Active 2 has an outstanding design that is compact and very lightweight. While the Watch 3 is available in 38mm and 42mm sizes, the Active 2 is available in 40mm and 44mm sizes. Each of these sizes is also available in the Cellular and GPS/Bluetooth models. The Cellular model of both watches is a standalone smartwatch that comes equipped with an eSIM that enables cellular connectivity and thus enables it to make and receive calls without a phone. The GPS/Bluetooth models can still make and receive calls but will require your phone. Note that Apple has discontinued the Cellular model of the Watch 3, although you might still find it in certain stores.
Both sizes of the Watch 3 are slightly more compact than the Active 2. Although the Active 2 at 10.9mm thick is slimmer than the Watch 3 which is 11.4mm thick.
Both watches have an aluminum case paired with rubber straps (The LTE model of the Active 2 has a stainless steel frame). But the screen types are different. An ion-X material is used for the Watch 3, while Corning Gorilla Glass protects the display of the Active 2.
In terms of fitness tracking, both the Active 2 and Watch 3 are well equipped to track your daily activities like steps, heart rate, calories, sleep and stress. Both watches also have inbuilt GPS that allows you to track your routes and locations when you go for outdoor workouts.
However, the Active 2 has more health tracking features than the Watch 3. It features ECG and blood pressure measurements which are not available on the Watch 3. It also features incidental fall detection not also available on the Watch 3.
The Watch 3 has a higher storage capacity than Active 2. It comes with an 8GB storage which is bigger than 4GB of Active 2. This will allow you to take more of your favorite tracks onboard the Watch 3.
Both watches come with a microphone and speaker that enables call functionality. There is also an NFC in both watches that enables non-contactless payment, Apple Pay for the Watch 3 and Samsung Pay for Active 2.
While the Watch 3 has about 18hrs battery life, the Active 2 gives me about 2 days of battery life which will let you go longer from a single charge.
Which is Better?
- Although the Watch 3 has a slightly bigger display that allows you to see more at a glance, the Active 2 is slimmer and sleeker which no doubt makes it a more stylish smartwatch.
- The Watch 3 comes with a higher storage capacity compared to the Active 2 which allows you to take more of your favorite tracks along with you.
- The Active 2 has a far longer battery life than the Watch 3.
Bottom line, the Watch 3 which is only compatible with iOS devices is a better smartwatch for iPhone owners, while the Active 2 remains one of the best smartwatches for Android users. It’s also available in the cellular model which is a standalone smartwatch with a stainless steel case.
