Why I pair my Galaxy Watch with a Samsung smartphone

Samsung’s smartwatches (and the Galaxy Ring) are appropriate with most Android telephones, however you’ll solely get the total expertise when paired with Samsung Galaxy smartphones. This is applicable to older Galaxy Watch fashions as much as the most recent Galaxy Watch 8 sequence and Galaxy Watch Extremely 2025. However what are these options, and are they value contemplating switching smartphones for?

There are various options, however just a few really make the partnership worthwhile, at the least for me. I don’t personal a Galaxy Ring, however I can touch upon the synergy between my Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy S24 FE. Whereas most advantages are health-related, a number of ecosystem options make proudly owning Samsung merchandise extra engaging and value contemplating.

I take advantage of my Galaxy Watch primarily as a health tracker, so I prioritize options that monitor well being points. Most health monitoring options can be found throughout all Android telephones, together with primary coronary heart charge monitoring, step monitoring, sleep, and SpO2 insights. Nevertheless, if you wish to use your wearable particularly to test your heartbeat or blood stress, you have to pair it with a Samsung smartphone and obtain the unique Samsung Well being Monitor app. This app can also be restricted to particular markets, so test availability if these options are important to you.

Notably, the app permits the Galaxy Watch 4 and newer fashions’ ECG capabilities, or electrocardiogram, which samples your coronary heart’s rhythm and affords steerage if it detects irregularities. Fortunately, my coronary heart’s nonetheless robust, however I often use this characteristic once I really feel unusually drained or burdened.

Well being Monitor additionally unlocks the Galaxy Watch sequence’ blood stress monitoring characteristic, which requires calibration with a standalone monitor earlier than use. This characteristic is nice for fast checkups should you’re away from dwelling with out a devoted monitor.

Different Galaxy Watch options that require a Samsung smartphone embrace stress reminders, sleep apnea monitoring, and Power Rating perception.

Sleep apnea monitoring samples your respiratory and coronary heart charge rhythm at night time, checking for any regarding dips in blood oxygen ranges. It then offers additional steerage. I take advantage of this characteristic a number of instances a 12 months, and it affords nice perception into my general sleep well being.

Power Rating perception provides AI-powered context to your Power Rating — a determine that quantifies your day by day readiness based mostly on earlier exercise and relaxation. Power Rating works with out a Samsung telephone, however you’ll solely get the quantity and never a lot else.

A number of new Galaxy Watch well being monitoring options aren’t unique to Samsung smartphones however can be found in newer variations of One UI Watch. This consists of Vascular Load, Antioxidant Index, Working Coach, and Bedtime Steering.

I agree, the fixed chatter about AI may be annoying, however Galaxy AI on the Galaxy Watch is sort of useful. I’ve highlighted the way it permits some well being options on the wearable, however it’s additionally discovered in additional normal purposes. Samsung’s use of AI isn’t significantly intrusive and improves the expertise of a number of options and apps on the small display screen. Notably, Galaxy AI options require the watch to be paired with a appropriate Samsung smartphone.

So what are these options? One which I discover significantly helpful is Sensible Replies, which offers context-aware response choices to messages despatched by way of a messaging app. Whereas this characteristic is offered by Samsung Messages, it additionally works nicely with WhatsApp and Google Messages.

Imagine it or not, Samsung’s typically criticized voice assistant is definitely fairly good. I ditched Google Gemini for per week to make use of Bixby completely, and I loved it. Its availability throughout each the Galaxy Watch and Samsung smartphones makes pairing the 2 units worthwhile.

I discover that Bixby triggers settings sooner on these units than Gemini, making it a greater utility for controlling your system in your wrist. I take advantage of it to set timers, alter alarms, and begin workout routines. Tapping the Bixby button and speaking to my watch is usually simpler than scrolling throughout its tiny show to faucet a fair smaller button.

I wouldn’t take into account the voice assistant higher than Gemini for on-line duties. Google’s product continues to be higher for something you want fetched from the online. However, personally, I normally use my telephone for these duties. You need to use each in your watch utilizing totally different wake phrases or bodily shortcuts for every.

Modes and Routines are a core a part of my digital life that I couldn’t think about dwelling with out them. That is maybe the one characteristic I’d miss most if I separated my Galaxy Watch and Galaxy telephone. Briefly, Modes and Routines permit me to set off particular settings conditionally, based mostly on location, time of day, or linked community. However that is simply skimming the floor.

In one other article, I elaborated on the varied makes use of of Modes and Routines, together with activating power-saving mode on my watch once I don’t want all its options, flipping by watch faces mechanically, or making full use of my telephone’s Driving mode to make content material on my watch extra legible. There are numerous integrations attainable with this software.

Some modes set off mechanically, too. A Samsung smartphone and Galaxy Watch may even sync different settings with each other, together with alarms (by way of Sleep mode) and Do Not Disturb standing.

I’ll admit, that is one quirky purpose to pair a Samsung smartphone with a Galaxy Watch, however I’ve grown to love it. Utilizing a tripod for smartphone images is a boon, particularly if you wish to seize nighttime pictures with out jittering the system’s {hardware}. In these circumstances, the digital camera management characteristic is handy.

Annoyingly, it doesn’t assist particular digital camera modes that might make it genuinely useful, like Gradual Movement or Hyperlapse. However, I’ve used this characteristic greater than I assumed I’d.

Because the Galaxy Ring lacks a display screen, you can not use it to manage the digital camera of your Galaxy telephone or any Android telephone.

Whereas a few of these options have workarounds or alternate options, most of the above options genuinely improve the Galaxy Watch and Ring expertise. I wouldn’t recommend you rush out and buy a Samsung telephone in the present day should you personal a Galaxy Watch, however it’s one thing to think about going ahead. As Samsung continues creating extra Galaxy AI-heavy options that require its smartphone {hardware}, don’t be shocked to see extra options locked behind its walled backyard.