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What Phones Is Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Compatible With?

The Galaxy Watch 5 works with any Android phone running Android 8.0 or higher. It is not compatible with iPhone—if you use iOS, you'll need to choose an Apple Watch instead.


Minimum Requirements

You need an Android phone and a few essential apps.

  • Operating System: Android 8.0 (Oreo) or newer
  • Required App: Galaxy Wearable from Google Play Store
  • RAM: At least 1.5GB (2GB+ recommended)
  • Bluetooth: 4.2 or higher (5.0+ recommended)

Samsung Galaxy Phones (Best Experience)

Samsung phones provide the full feature set with deep ecosystem integration.

Full Features Include:

  • ECG monitoring (regional availability)
  • Blood pressure monitoring (regional availability)
  • Temperature tracking insights
  • SmartThings smart home integration
  • Galaxy Buds seamless switching
  • Quick Share file transfers
  • Samsung Cloud backup

Compatible Series: Galaxy S21 and newer, Galaxy Note 20, Galaxy Z Fold/Flip 3 and newer, Galaxy A52 and newer


Non-Samsung Android Phones

Google Pixel, OnePlus, Xiaomi, Motorola, and other Android phones work with all core features.

What Works:

  • Bluetooth pairing and notifications
  • Health and fitness tracking including temperature sensor
  • GPS tracking and navigation
  • Samsung Pay (NFC)
  • Google services (Maps, Assistant, Play Store)
  • All third-party apps

Limited Features:

  • ECG and blood pressure may require Samsung phone in some regions
  • Some Samsung ecosystem features like SmartThings may be restricted

iPhone Not Compatible

The Galaxy Watch 5 does not work meaningfully with iPhone.

  • No iOS version of Galaxy Wearable with full features
  • Only basic functions available (steps, notifications view-only)
  • Cannot reply to messages, install apps, or use Samsung Pay
  • If you use iPhone, purchase an Apple Watch instead

LTE Model Carrier Support

LTE models require carrier activation for cellular features.

Supported US Carriers: Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, US Cellular

LTE requires a compatible cellular plan from your carrier (typically $10-15/month additional) and uses the same phone number as your phone.


See Also: How to Pair Galaxy Watch 5|How to Connect Galaxy Watch 5