Samsung’s Smartwatch Upgrade Aims to Outpace Apple by Targeting Aging and Health Needs

Samsung’s New Strategy: Wearable Health Tech for Aging in Place

Samsung is not just competing in the smartwatch market—it’s targeting a bigger mission: helping people stay healthy as they age. With healthcare costs projected to rise in 2025 and older adults increasingly preferring to age at home, the company is using its Galaxy Watch lineup to offer more than just step tracking.

According to Hon Pak, head of Samsung’s digital health team, these trends represent a major opportunity:

“All of those pressures are leading to care shifting to the home—where we happen to be.”

Galaxy Watch Gets a Preventive Health Upgrade

Samsung’s upcoming smartwatch update brings a set of proactive wellness features aimed at helping users make better health decisions before problems arise. Key features include:

• Antioxidant-level tracking: A sensor that estimates beta carotene levels (an antioxidant from foods like carrots and spinach) by shining LED lights on the skin.

• Sleep recommendations: Personalized bedtime insights to improve sleep quality.

• AI-powered running coach: Smart training plans to help users reach running goals.

These features will first roll out to Galaxy Watch 5 and newer models, with some tools exclusive to the latest devices.

The Health Tech Race: Samsung vs. Apple

Samsung is the global leader in smartphones by volume, but in smartwatches, Apple dominates with around 20% of the market, compared to Samsung’s 6%, according to IDC.

Apple has successfully positioned the Apple Watch as a must-have device. But Samsung wants to stand out by focusing on preventive wellness, not just health tracking. That includes:

• Helping users stay healthy before issues arise

• Providing deeper health insights at home

• Tapping into its existing ecosystem of smart appliances and entertainment tech

Beyond Watches: The Future of Health Tech Is in Your Home

Samsung isn’t stopping at wristwear. Hon Pak hinted at upcoming innovations like:

• 🧠 An AI-powered health chatbot

• 🥽 Smart glasses that use AI to:

  • Detect allergens on your plate

  • Analyze eating speed

  • Help with meal logging and nutrition tracking

These tools aim to collect far more health data than the typical doctor visit can.

“As a physician, we probably collect less than 1% of patient data,” says Pak.

Some tools already use AI models (like ChatGPT or Gemini) to analyze meals via smartphone photos—Samsung wants to take that further with wearables and AR.

iPhone Incompatibility: A Strategic Limitation

Currently, Samsung smartwatches don’t support iPhones, cutting off a significant portion of the market. While that’s been a strategic move to retain users in the Samsung ecosystem, Pak suggests that may change:

“There are active discussions, but no decision has been made in terms of timing.”

Global Wellness with Local Roots

Samsung's wellness push is global in scope. The financial disclosure of Trump’s ventures (as seen in another article) also reflected the international nature of technology and licensing deals—a reminder that companies like Samsung compete not just in devices but in digital ecosystems worldwide.

Conclusion: A Smartwatch for Smarter Aging

Samsung’s focus on healthy aging, preventive care, and AI-driven insights could be a game changer in the wearables market. While Apple remains the leader for now, Samsung is betting big on turning your home—and your wrist—into the next frontier of personalized healthcare.

Whether you're looking to track your sleep, monitor your nutrition, or simply stay one step ahead of chronic conditions, the new Galaxy Watch aims to help you live better, longer.