Which Galaxy Watch Is Best For Older Samsung Phones?

Generally speaking, some people take care of their phones well and can enjoy them for years, even if the software is very much out of date. Ignoring the fact this could be unsafe, what if you're using an older phone but want to pair it with a Galaxy Watch? Say you've got a Samsung Galaxy Note 9 or a Galaxy S9, which are stuck on Android 11 and Android 10, respectively (hey, users say Samsung phones can last a long time, so if it works, it works). Perhaps you're just in the market for older Android phones that are still worth buying. Which watch should you get? Do Galaxy Watch models work with any Samsung phone?

Well, the compatibility offered by the manufacturer is generous, to say the least. The problem is, for everything to work as intended, your phone needs the latest OS version to run the Galaxy Wearable app. So, if you're running an older version of Android, your best bet is getting a Galaxy Watch 6 or Watch 6 Classic since it will work on all phones running Android 10 and above. In case you've got something more ancient that didn't receive the Android 10 update, a Galaxy Watch 5 or Watch 5 Pro version will run like clockwork (pun intended) on Samsung phones with Android 8.0 or higher. With either of these two watches, you don't need to worry, as they'll pretty much cover most working Samsung phones — even if it's so vintage it has its own radio show.

To get the obvious out of the way, the older Galaxy wearables remain quite capable and relevant. For instance, the Galaxy Watch 6 even received Samsung's One UI 9 Watch beta update. The 2 GB of memory will serve you well for most useful smartwatch activities, and you get all the usual sensors like heart rate, accelerometer, compass, skin temperature, altimeter, gyro, and SpO2. However, it's still a device from 2023, so you'll need to accept some limitations.

Take the more recent Samsung Galaxy Watch 8, or the more stylish Galaxy Watch 8 Classic. Along with the effortless Gemini integration (talk to Google's AI chatbot even without your phone), there are some massive additions that make health tracking a lot more comprehensive. This is apparent in the sensor department, as this watch does everything the legacy versions do, and then some more. The BioActive sensor alone is significant and unlocks a whole range of Samsung Health features like the Antioxidant Index, the nifty Running Coach, Vascular Load that keeps an eye on your heart health, and even a tracker of your circadian rhythm data.

If you opt for the older Galaxy Watch 5, you'll also miss out on some of the things the sixth-generation wearables have, like the altimeter or compass. Thus, if you really want more mileage out of the device and your phone can run Android 11, then the Galaxy Watch 7 is perhaps the best option feature-wise. It has most bells and whistles you'll find on the Galaxy Watch 8, but it's almost $100 cheaper — a winner if you're focused on pure monetary value.