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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