In a recent 7-mile hike in Washington state, the Garmin Instinct 3 proved more accurate than the Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 for outdoor metrics, highlighting its suitability for serious hikers seeking reliable GPS logging and extended battery life.
For hikers choosing between the Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 and the Garmin Instinct 3, the answer from one 7-mile climb in Washington state is fairly clear. Writing for Tom’s Guide, Dan Bracaglia said he wore both watches on the Snow Lake Trail, then compared them against a Strava recording on an iPhone 16. The Garmin came closest to the route’s known distance and elevation gain, while the Samsung was less consistent on the same outing.
The most important differences were in the outdoor metrics. Tom’s Guide found that the Galaxy Watch 9 undercounted distance and substantially overcounted ascent, while the Instinct 3 stayed much closer to the trail’s published figures. Garmin also logged steps, which Samsung did not, and it provided a more useful pace breakdown for a hike that included a stop at the lake. For hikers who care about how far they actually walked and climbed, that matters more than a general fitness summary.
Samsung did not fare badly on every measure. Heart-rate readings on the Galaxy Watch 9 closely matched Garmin’s, and its calorie estimate was in the same range. Android Central’s review of the watch also notes that Samsung has improved performance with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Wear Elite chip and added more health features, but battery life remains a weakness, with the watch only just about lasting a day in modest use. By contrast, Garmin’s Instinct 3 is built around the outdoors, with rugged construction and much longer endurance, although Android Central says it lacks some premium smartwatch extras such as music, ECG and full touchscreen convenience.
That trade-off is why the Garmin won the hike test. It is not the more feature-rich smartwatch, and Samsung is stronger on general-purpose health tracking and smart features. But for walkers and hikers who want dependable GPS-style logging, better battery life and sturdier hardware, the Instinct 3 is the more capable tool.
Disclaimer: This content is intended for informational purposes only. Readers are advised to exercise their own judgement, conduct due diligence, or consult a qualified expert before acting on any information provided.
