Why I pair my Galaxy Watch with a Samsung smartphone

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

There are lots of 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 exploit 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 fundamental coronary heart price monitoring, step monitoring, sleep, and SpO2 insights. Nevertheless, if you wish to use your wearable particularly to verify your heartbeat or blood stress, you want 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 verify availability if these options are important to you.

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

Well being Monitor additionally unlocks the Galaxy Watch collection’ blood stress monitoring characteristic, which requires calibration with a standalone monitor earlier than use. This characteristic is nice for fast checkups if you happen to’re away from dwelling with no 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 price rhythm at night time, checking for any regarding dips in blood oxygen ranges. It then supplies additional steerage. I exploit this characteristic just a few instances a 12 months, and it presents nice perception into my general sleep well being.

Power Rating perception provides AI-powered context to your Power Rating — a determine that quantifies your each day readiness based mostly on earlier exercise and relaxation. Power Rating works with no Samsung cellphone, 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 contains Vascular Load, Antioxidant Index, Operating Coach, and Bedtime Steerage.

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 allows some well being options on the wearable, nevertheless it’s additionally discovered in additional basic 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. Notably, Galaxy AI options require the watch to be paired with a suitable Samsung smartphone.

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

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

I discover that Bixby triggers settings quicker on these gadgets than Gemini, making it a greater utility for controlling your system in your wrist. I exploit it to set timers, modify 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 think about the voice assistant higher than Gemini for on-line duties. Google’s product continues to be higher for something you want fetched from the net. However, personally, I often use my cellphone for these duties. You need to use each in your watch utilizing completely 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 cellphone. In brief, Modes and Routines permit me to set off particular settings conditionally, based mostly on location, time of day, or related community. However that is simply skimming the floor.

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

Some modes set off robotically, too. A Samsung smartphone and Galaxy Watch may also sync different settings with each other, together with alarms (through Sleep mode) and Do Not Disturb standing.

I’ll admit, that is one quirky cause 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 photographs with out jittering the system’s {hardware}. In these instances, the digicam management characteristic is handy.

Annoyingly, it doesn’t help particular digicam modes that will make it genuinely useful, like Sluggish Movement or Hyperlapse. However, I’ve used this characteristic greater than I assumed I’d.

Because the Galaxy Ring lacks a display, you can not use it to manage the digicam of your Galaxy cellphone or any Android cellphone.

Whereas a few of these options have workarounds or 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 cellphone immediately if you happen to personal a Galaxy Watch, nevertheless it’s one thing to contemplate going ahead. As Samsung continues creating extra Galaxy AI-heavy options that require its smartphone {hardware}, don’t be stunned to see extra options locked behind its walled backyard.