Last updated: April 27th, 2026 at 16:59 UTC+02:00
SamMobile has affiliate and sponsored partnerships, we may earn a commission.
It’s easy to overlook how capable they have become.
Reading time: 3 minutes
Abhijeet Mishra / SamMobile
I've been wearing a smartwatch on my wrist, with occasional pauses, for the past few years. Only recently did I realize that, over time, I've become numb to what a smartwatch actually represents.
It was time for a quick reevaluation. I realized that, once you step back and take in the full picture, modern smartwatches are pretty amazing, even if we've gotten so used to them that they've almost become background objects.
Nevertheless, at their core, they may even be more impressive than smartphones, especially when you look at the sheer variety of data these wearables can collect.
Granted, I never expected a smartwatch alone to make me healthier or more active just by sitting on my wrist. It can provide insight that nudges you toward change, but in the end, it's still on us to act.
Even so, from a pure data-gathering perspective, smartwatches are remarkable, so much so that we've probably taken them for granted.
Think about how much personal health data a smartwatch can gather from your wrist, and more importantly, the sheer variety of that data:
Sleep and recovery
Cardiovascular and circulation
Stress and recovery
Metabolism and body composition
Lifestyle and wellness
And the lists aren't fully complete. They leave out basics like location tracking and data you can track manually, such as food and water intake.
Most respectable smartwatch brands offer similar features, but as Samsung fans, Galaxy Watches are our preferred wearables. Plus, Galaxy Watches do have an edge in certain areas. For example, the Antioxidant Index is a Galaxy Watch 8 feature that you won't find on Apple Watches — as of April 2026.
Still, whichever premium smartwatch and wearable brand you prefer, these tiny devices are close to miraculous. At the very least, I think they deserve more credit than they usually get.
If you're not a smartwatch user but are considering one, your options are plenty. For Samsung users, the latest Galaxy Watches are a strong pick thanks to deeper integration with the Galaxy ecosystem and a rich feature set.
Samsung's current lineup includes the Galaxy Watch 8, Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, and Galaxy Watch Ultra. All three offer the same core tracking capabilities, but differ in design, with the Ultra built for tougher, more extreme outdoor use.
Most importantly, they all share the same BioActive sensor, a smart decision that avoids feature fragmentation within the same generation of Galaxy Watches.
Mihai is a blogger and column writer at SamMobile. His first Samsung phone was an A800 which took a lot of beating, and a part of him still misses the novelty of the clamshell design. In his free time, he enjoys watching shows, documentaries, and stand-up comedy; listening to music, taking walks, and occasionally playing old(er) video games.
