Oct 18, 2025
3 min read
These are two of the hottest smartwatches on the market.Both the Apple Watch and the Samsung Galaxy Watch are among the best-selling models in the industry every year and consistently receive critical acclaim.Their new versions, the Galaxy Watch8 for Samsung and the Watch Series 11 for Apple, have yet to be properly tested on our pages.With good reason for the latest version of Apple and Samsung watches, we have planned a completely different exercise, unlike the classic test.
The goal: to get two linked watches to compete in the same race, moving away from classic lab testing and competing on one of their favorite fields: running.
Test conditions: 2 hours and 20 km
The choice of the two watches was clearly not arbitrary. The Samsung Galaxy Watch8 and the Apple Watch Series 11 compete on the same "battlefield", that is, connected watches that also want to be coaches and health assistants.This is the belief that Apple has chosen for several years and its latest Series 11, which sells for 449 euros compared to the previous version.access to this position and we continue some tests because in addition to the Watch8, there is also the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic.However, at a price of 379 euros, it is the Watch8 that we think is the most durable compared to the latest Apple Watch.
As for our full-scale test conditions, they are relatively simple:
- Approved route: 20 km from Paris to Vriestein
- a watch on every wrist
- A separate smartphone connected to each watch
- Use strictly limited to running (no music or speed coaches, etc.)
We therefore embarked on a frantic race on one of the most successful courses in the capital. At the end of the 1h32 race, the lessons learned from the two connected watches are rich and sometimes surprising.
Comfort for use while running
This is one aspect where it is very difficult to form an opinion when you try on a watch in a store or see it behind your screen: is it comfortable to wear?Will it fit my wrist?
For Apple Watch, this problem almost applies.The design has been the same for years and although it made a small appearance last year with the Apple Watch 10 series, chances are you're already wearing an AppleWatch on your wrist.
The Galaxy Watch8 case is more unique.On the one hand, it is the "new design" of the Samsung watch.On the other hand, it is very different from the Watch 8 Classic or Watch Ultra.
In our opinion, the 44mm case (34g without bracelet) and 8.6mm thickness are assets that work in Samsung's favour.With its ultra-slim design and slightly flat sides, the Watch8 fits the shape of the wrist better, especially since the silicone strap is also thinner.less than mm thick (9.7 mm).
Although the difference is small, the feeling of the wrist is very different.Galaxy Watch8 is easy to forget, it is easy to forget everything, it is to ask your sports watch.
In terms of running comfort, the advantage goes to the Samsung
Data accuracy: GPS, AD, speed ... Which is more accurate?
In a race like the 20 km of Paris, we will focus on four parts of the data: distance, speed, heart rate.Of course, two watches can collect more information, but for simple reasons, we will keep only the important ones for this kind of exercise.
- Distance and speed:
Two of our SmartWatches are accurate, especially when it comes to GPS.The Galaxy Song8 proved to be able to travel 20.09 kilometers when we crossed the finish line on Mars Mars.
But the Apple Watch Series 11 does better: 20 km around, the exact distance confirmed on the range.Impressive!The first thing we noticed was that after a slight delay in the first kilometers of the distance (about 30-50m), the Apple Watch was able to correct itself in the following kilometers to achieve an accurate measurement.For comparison, our Garmin Fenix aaa American.
Accordingly, even if it is less flattering to our ego, we must refer to the pace shown by the Apple Watch, that is, 4'37''/km, not as fast as the Galaxy Watch8 (4'34''/km).
- Heart rate:
It is important to monitor the intensity of your effort, and heart rate is broken on the Galaxy Watch8.In fact, after the -7th km, we realized that the Samsung Watch showed a great value for our speed: less than 120 bpm.The post-race summary graph shows that only the Samsung Watch stopped for a good part of the race, not returning to normal at the end of the year.Two explanations are needed: of course there was no intervention on our part, and we did not see any defects in the tightening of the bracelet.Finally, while our preparations were made with one or the other of the two watches in our comparison, we never made this watch.The theory of the incident may still be far-fetched.
As for the Apple Watch Series 11, don't worry to report, heart rate tracking is on par with other sensors on the watch.
- height:
This is the measure where both clocks are not the most accurate, even if both clocks are very accurate.Officially D + 90 m, in fact the Fenix 8 measured 92 m on its side.What about our two rivals?
The Galaxy Watch8 is a little better in size at 97m.For its part, the Apple Watch Series Searle 11 Rybisi 100 m, which is not far behind.Since these two are the sportiest watches, this minor inconvenience will be easily forgiven.
However, in the overall criterion of data accuracy and pure performance measurement, it is the Apple Watch in our comparison.
Race usage is not just an OS issue
It's one thing to get your data by turning your wrist, it's another to be able to touch it from your wrist to another person when you're out of breath.In this aspect there is no chance for feelings unique to each person, the feelings of each person.In our case, the feedback is very stubborn.
At the same time, you must not forget that two watches must be used during the competition and that each watch allows you to select the information displayed during the exercise.With this particular thought in mind, don't hesitate to run a number of tests to see which condition suits you best.
Finally, in terms of screen readability, although it is very difficult, we have no problem distinguishing information on the screen, both on the 11 watch and the galaxt.
It is difficult to choose one of these models, but if it is necessary to make a decision, Samsung representatives will thank you for the easy navigation during the exercise.
Autonomy: How much distance can you lose in a 20 km race?
When I woke up on the day of Xetalash, the 100% charged watch immediately went off on my wrists, only after I crossed the meter.We tried to use both as equally as possible in the competition and the results showed.
After 1 hour 32 minutes and 14 seconds of measurement, the Apple Watch 11 series showed a remaining battery percentage of 77%.Almost the same result for the Galaxy Watch8, which had a 78% battery at the end of the race.
In any case, it makes sense to share the points in this round, because the two clocks together show the same result.
Compare orders:
Obviously, the Apple Watch Series 11 and the Galaxy Watch8 are two great watches for those who do sports more or less seriously.In addition to being two well-designed products, the connected watches from Apple and Samsung are impressive both in terms of the accuracy of the measurements and their ability to follow a runner over time.To these features we must also add all the things that were not covered in this article.In a race-based test, the aspect of monitoring health and well-being, by analyzing blood pressure or analyzing sleep levels, is all that needs to be considered.
20 km between them. There is no doubt that Apple and Galaxy will reduce the quality of the GPS chips or the quality of the drivers.
So which one should you choose?There is no bad choice between these two, and there is no bad choice between these two.If your main criteria are the importance of information and the quality of GPS tracking, the apple rare part 11 will surprise these considerations.If you want to wear comfort, the best and easiest way to wear it is Samsung.Otherwise, those are the only two great options.
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