Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 vs Garmin Venu 4

The Galaxy Watch 9 is the better smartwatch for people who want a phone on their wrist: LTE calling, Samsung Pay, tight Galaxy phone integration and a bright 3000-nit AMOLED screen. The Venu 4 is the better training and endurance watch: multi-band GPS, roughly 12 days in smartwatch mode versus about 30 hours rated on the Samsung, and Garmin's deeper recovery and coaching tools. Build splits too: the Venu 4 uses a stainless steel case, while the Galaxy Watch 9 is lighter at 34 g. Owners rate both highly, but Garmin buyers report the longest satisfaction with battery and data accuracy, and Samsung owners with the display and app ecosystem.

• Choose the Galaxy Watch 9 if you carry a Galaxy phone, want LTE calls and texts without your phone, and prefer a light watch with a very bright screen.
• Choose the Venu 4 if battery life, GPS accuracy and training depth matter more than apps and cellular, and you want a steel case that lasts.