MARLVEL

Samsung Galaxy Watch (Gear S) vs its rivals

Side-by-side comparison against Samsung Galaxy Watch (Gear S)'s closest competitors — identity, store metrics, ratings & sentiment, and strategic intel.

Samsung Galaxy Watch (Gear S)
This App
Zepp
Nemesis
HUAWEI Health
Contender
Fitbit: Health & Fitness
Contender
Garmin Connect™
Contender
Fossil Smartwatches
Peer
Connect IQ™ Store
Peer
Withings
Peer
Mi Fitness (Xiaomi Wear Lite)
New Kid
Core Identity
DeveloperSamsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Zepp Inc.Huawei Software Technologies Co., Ltd.GoogleGarminFossil, Inc.GarminWithingsBeijing Xiaomi Co., Ltd
CategoryUtilitiesHealth & FitnessHealth & FitnessHealth & FitnessHealth & FitnessLifestyleUtilitiesHealth & FitnessHealth & Fitness
PlatformiOSiOS, AndroidiOS, AndroidiOS, AndroidAndroid, iOSAndroid, iOSAndroid, iOSiOS, AndroidiOS
Store Metrics
Rating4.0 / 54.6 / 54.5 / 54.5 / 54.4 / 54.7 / 54.6 / 54.6 / 54.6 / 5
Ratings Count15,69274,18613,174656,25156,51051,0788,092349,43135,050
PriceFreeFreeFreeFreeFreeFreeFreeFreeFree
Release DateJan 7, 2017Sep 27, 2016Mar 22, 2018Oct 18, 2011Jan 10, 2013Oct 25, 2015Apr 10, 2019Jul 26, 2012Jul 8, 2020
Last UpdatedFeb 18, 2022Apr 30, 2026Apr 20, 2026Apr 24, 2026Mar 31, 2026Oct 2, 2025Apr 22, 2026Apr 8, 2026Apr 15, 2026
Sentiment & Reviews
Sentimentnegativemixed-terriblepositive-mixedterrible-
Score25/10055/100-20/10072/100-55/10015/100-
Praises
  • Basic notification and weather functionality provides utility for legacy device owners
  • Comprehensive fitness tracking features provide deep insights into sleep and heart rate metrics
-
  • Core activity tracking features provide essential health insights for long-term users
  • Comprehensive Data Insights
  • Value and Free Features
-
  • Customizable watch face creation tools provide high creative satisfaction for long-term device owners
  • Long-term hardware reliability and consistent data tracking for legacy users
-
Complaints
  • Persistent connection failures prevent pairing with modern wearable devices post-update
  • Post-update technical regressions cause frequent app crashes and device pairing failures
-
  • Post-update instability causes frequent app crashes and blank screen errors
  • Connectivity and Syncing Issues
  • UI/UX Regression
-
  • Persistent Bluetooth synchronization failures prevent data transfer between the wearable and the mobile device
  • Post-update connectivity failures prevent devices from syncing health data to the app
-
Requests
  • Expanded hardware support for current generation smartwatches and audio accessories
  • Integration with third-party health platforms to centralize user wellness data
-
  • Restoration of compact and efficient design patterns for daily metric navigation
--
  • Bookmark or favorites functionality is needed to organize preferred watch faces for later installation
  • Battery level notifications for connected devices to prevent unexpected hardware downtime
-
Strategic Intel
Strengths
  • Hardware-tethered utility locks users into the Samsung wearable ecosystem
  • eSIM QR activation enables carrier partnerships
  • Hardware-locked ecosystem increases switching costs
  • Subscription-free core data drives organic acquisition
  • Granular performance metrics satisfy professional athletes
-
  • Hardware-software integration increases switching costs
  • Editors' Choice badge sustains organic install velocity
  • Subscription-free access to deep historical health data
  • Proprietary recovery metrics (Body Battery)
  • Hardware-software ecosystem lock-in
-
  • Hardware-specific data fields create high switching costs
  • Personalization tools drive long-term creative satisfaction
  • Ecosystem integration reinforces daily device usage
  • Clinical-grade hardware accuracy creates high switching costs
  • Multi-user device management increases household-wide dependency
  • Third-party app integration reduces user migration friction
-
Weaknesses
  • High pairing failure rate on modern hardware
  • Samsung account authentication errors block personalization
  • Lack of support for recent watch models
  • High crash frequency post-update
  • Inaccurate sleep-tracking algorithms
  • Aggressive monetization prompts in navigation
-
  • Premium tier price exceeds category median
  • High-frequency synchronization failure complaints post-update
  • Bluetooth connectivity stability with legacy flagships (Fenix 6X)
  • UI regression reducing data density on the home screen
  • Removal of offline GPX import functionality
-
  • Bluetooth synchronization failures prevent data transfer
  • Server connectivity errors block store transactions
  • Infinite loading states during installation cycles
  • Post-update connectivity failures erode daily active habit
  • Blocking profile-update loop prevents access to historical data
  • Aggressive subscription gating prioritizes marketing over data visualization
-
Pricingfreefreemiumfreesubscriptionfreefreefreefreemiumfree
MomentumZombieIntenseIntenseIntenseMaintenanceIntenseMaintenanceActive-
Update Cadence1 versions5 versions, 5 majors/6mo, ~6d avg5 versions5 versions, ~6d avg4 versions, ~11d avg5 versions5 versions, ~14d avg4 versions, 2 majors/6mo, ~12d avg-

Compare Samsung Galaxy Watch (Gear S) head-to-head

Disclosure: Independent intel to help mobile builders succeed.

AI-powered analysis with editorial review, built from publicly available sources. Marlvel.ai is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Samsung Galaxy Watch (Gear S), its developer, the app publisher, Apple, or Google Play. All trademarks, logos, and screenshots referenced remain the property of their respective owners.

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