Smartwatch buyers in 2025 have a lot of solid options, but two very different approaches stand out: Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 8, which pushes a polished, health-and-apps experience inside a refined wearable shell; and Amazfit T-Rex 3, which doubles down on ruggedness, battery life, and value. Here’s a straight, practical comparison to help you pick the better fit for your wrist and lifestyle.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 vs Amazfit T-Rex 3: Quick Takeaway
If you want a balanced everyday smartwatch with a smooth software experience, strong health tools, and a premium app/ecosystem, the Galaxy Watch 8 is the safer, more polished choice.
If you want maximum battery life, a tough build for outdoor adventures, and better value for sport/field use, the Amazfit T-Rex 3 is the clear winner — especially if you don’t need Samsung’s app ecosystem.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 vs Amazfit T-Rex 3: Design & Build
Galaxy Watch 8: Samsung moved to a “cushion” design for the Watch 8, keeping the watch lightweight and slim while offering both a regular and a Classic (rotating bezel) flavor.
It feels and looks premium — sapphire glass on higher trims and a refined finish make it easy to wear every day and pair with business or casual outfits, as highlighted in this Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic Review.
Amazfit T-Rex 3: The T-Rex 3 wears its ruggedness on its sleeve — chunky bezel, reinforced case, and a very outdoorsy aesthetic.
It’s built for rough use: high waterproof ratings, wide operating temperature range, and a robust bezel that protects the screen.If you want “field watch” durability, the T-Rex 3 is designed for that.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 vs Amazfit T-Rex 3: Display & Readability
Galaxy Watch 8: Samsung continues to use high-quality Super AMOLED panels and has pushed brightness and outdoor visibility, plus accurate colors and great always-on readability.
It’s a strong argument if you use lots of third-party watch faces and interact with notifications.
T-Rex 3: Amazfit equipped the T-Rex 3 with a big 1.5-inch AMOLED and peak brightness around 2,000 nits — excellent for daylight legibility on trails and in harsh sunlight.
That brightness combined with the rugged bezel makes map reading and navigation usable outdoors.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 vs Amazfit T-Rex 3: Battery Life & Charging
Galaxy Watch 8: Samsung’s Watch 8 offers typical smartwatch battery endurance roughly 1–2 days depending on model and usage patterns (40–44-hour estimates are commonly cited, with heavier use bringing that lower).
Expect daily charging if you use many features, similar to what’s seen on the Google Pixel Watch 4.
T-Rex 3: Amazfit advertises weeks of battery life — typical mode claims around up to 27 days for light/normal use and multi-day GPS modes that still beat most premium rivals. Real-world testing confirms the T-Rex 3’s standout endurance, making it ideal for multi-day trips or users who dislike daily charging.
If battery life matters above all, T-Rex 3 wins decisively.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 vs Amazfit T-Rex 3: Health, Sensors & Tracking
Galaxy Watch 8: Samsung continues to invest heavily in health features — advanced sleep tracking, ECG, heart rate, SpO₂, and new coaching features.
The Watch 8 also benefits from a mature sensor suite and Samsung Health’s integration, making data readouts and coaching polished for everyday wellness users.
T-Rex 3: Amazfit includes a strong set of sensors (heart rate, SpO₂, barometer, altimeter) and reliable GPS for sport tracking. Reviews praise Amazfit’s GPS and heart-rate accuracy for the price, and the T-Rex 3 adds specialized outdoor tools like more extensive mapping/navigation and offline map features.
But Amazfit’s health platform is less extensive than Samsung’s ecosystem when it comes to clinical features like ECG.
Galaxy 8 for advanced wellness features and ecosystem; T-Rex 3 for rugged sports tracking and navigation.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 vs Amazfit T-Rex 3: Software & Ecosystem
Galaxy Watch 8: Runs Samsung’s One UI Watch and tightly integrates with Android (best with Samsung phones). Samsung also pushes AI features and increased app availability.
If you want apps, seamless notifications, reply options, and companion app polish, Galaxy wins.
T-Rex 3: Runs Amazfit’s Zepp OS, which has grown a lot: solid basics, lots of sport modes, mapping, and voice features.
But it still can’t match Samsung’s third-party app depth or the same level of system polish. Where Zepp shines is efficient, battery-friendly software tailored for outdoors.
Also read: OnePlus Announces Price Cuts for OnePlus 13, Accessories, and More
GPS, Navigation & Outdoors Features
T-Rex 3: Dual/dual-band GPS, offline maps, route planning, and strong mapping/navigation tools are key selling points. The T-Rex 3’s GPS stability and mapping features are designed for adventurers.
Galaxy Watch 8: Improved GPS and positioning accuracy, but Samsung’s strengths are more urban fitness, on-device apps, and health analytics. It’s capable outdoors but the T-Rex 3 is purpose-built for navigation endurance.
Verdict: T-Rex 3 for adventure navigation; Galaxy fine for runs and daily routes.
Price & Value
Amazfit T-Rex 3: around $279.99 (often discounted). Good value for hardware and battery life.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8: positioned as a mid-to-premium mainstream wearable (priced higher than Amazfit at launch, and often much higher for Classic/Ultra builds).
Verdict: T-Rex 3 gives more hardware-for-dollar for outdoors/sports users; Galaxy charges a premium for software polish and brand ecosystem.
Also read: Snapdragon 8 Elite vs Tensor G5: The Ultimate Showdown of Next-Gen Smartphone Processors
Who Should Buy Which?
Buy the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 if you want a refined everyday smartwatch, excellent health features, a polished app and notification experience, and you value design and brand ecosystem over battery life.
Buy the Amazfit T-Rex 3 if you spend a lot of time outdoors, need multi-day battery life, want a rugged build with maps and navigation, and prefer a lower price for robust hardware.
Our choice
There’s no single “winner” — only the right watch for your priorities. For daily smart features, polished health tracking, and app support, Galaxy Watch 8 is the best choice.
For battery endurance, ruggedness, and outdoor navigation at a friendlier price, Amazfit T-Rex 3 takes the crown. Decide whether you value ecosystem and software polish (Samsung) or battery and rugged utility (Amazfit), and you’ll have your answer.
