Samsung Galaxy phones, wearables, laptops, appliances, and even smart refrigerators—there are so many Samsung devices out there. And although we hear a lot about the Apple ecosystem, Samsung’s is by far the largest. But with so many products, what do you actually gain by being in the Samsung ecosystem? And more importantly, what do you miss out on by buying outside of the ecosystem?
If you have a Samsung phone, should you buy a Samsung laptop or Samsung earbuds? Ultimately, is it worth buying into the Samsung ecosystem? This is a question that I’ve been thinking about a lot lately, and I wanted to dive deeper into the entire Samsung ecosystem to answer this question. Now I’ve been using Samsung products for years.
My Samsung Ecosystem Products.
To answer this question, we need to start at the core of the ecosystem. My core looks like this: I have a lot of Samsung products, but the ones that I consider my everyday Samsung ecosystem include the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, arguably the best Android phone of 2024. So for this ecosystem, I’m putting this in the absolute center.
Then we have the Samsung Galaxy Buds. There’s a lot of choices, and I’ve made comparisons, but again, for me personally, the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are going to be my choice that I’ll include in this article.
For watches, this is a tricky one. I really do like the Galaxy Watch FE and the other Galaxy watches as well, but I’m going with the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra for its longer battery life and added features. I think it’s a really good demonstration of what you can do with the Samsung ecosystem.
For tablets, of course, I have the brand new Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra. For laptops, there are so many different options, but I’m going with the Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Ultra. Most Samsung laptops have most of the features enabled that I’ll be talking about in this article.
And of course, how could we forget the Samsung Galaxy Ring as a health tracker?
Now, I have other devices in my Samsung ecosystem as well—refrigerator, stove, microwave, tags, and more. I’ll mention those throughout the article, but these devices are the core. Although the hardware on all of these is really impressive, the way they work together is ultimately the whole point of this article.
I want to start off by talking about device-specific features. What do you get with the Galaxy Watch when you’re in the ecosystem versus when you pair with a Pixel phone, for example, or any other phone out there? I’ll go through all the devices and figure out which devices are worth it to buy in the ecosystem and which might be okay to buy outside the ecosystem.
Smart Ring: Is It Worth It?
The Galaxy Ring is a great option if you want to track your sleep or monitor your health without needing to wear a watch that you have to charge every day. Maybe you want to charge your watch while you sleep and still track your sleep—in that case, a ring is an ideal choice.
Within the Samsung ecosystem, if you get the Galaxy Ring, you have features like double-pinch to pause alarms, control incoming calls, and take photos. However, beyond these features, most functions of the Galaxy Ring are similar to any other smart ring paired with a Samsung device.
So, is it worth getting the Samsung Galaxy Ring if you’re already in the Samsung ecosystem? Although it’s a great ring, it doesn’t restrict you to the ecosystem.
Smart Watch: Is It Worth It?
Galaxy Watches. While Galaxy watches can pair with Pixel phones, OnePlus phones, and other Android devices, they cannot pair with iPhones. This is true for most Samsung devices in the ecosystem. But what features are exclusive to Samsung phones?
- ECG: This powerful feature is only accessible on a Samsung phone.
- Sleep Apnea Detection and Irregular Heartbeat Notifications: These newer features are exclusive within the Samsung ecosystem.
- AI Features: Certain features, like Energy Score, are often limited only to Samsung watches paired with Samsung phones.
- Double-Pinch Gestures, Suggested Replies, and Synchronization: This includes settings sync between phone and watch for modes like Do Not Disturb and Sleep Mode.
So, is it worth getting a Galaxy Watch if you have a Galaxy phone? Absolutely yes. For most users with Samsung phones, Galaxy watches are a no-brainer. While the Pixel Watch and others may offer similar functions, the deep integration between the Samsung watch and phone is something Samsung has invested significant time into.
Earbuds: Is It Worth It?
The Galaxy Buds 3 and 3 Pro bring new functions like Live Translate, which works best when paired with a Samsung phone. Other features include Samsung’s High-Resolution Codec (SSC), or Samsung Scalable Codec, which delivers higher-resolution audio. When paired with a non-Samsung device, the audio resolution is lower. However, you don’t have to use these earbuds with a Samsung phone since they support other high-resolution codecs like LDAC or aptX, available on earbuds from Sony, Sennheiser, Nothing, and others.
Another benefit of Galaxy Buds in the ecosystem is seamless switching. If you have a Samsung phone, laptop, and tablet, the earbuds can automatically switch between them, including your Samsung watch. For example, if you’re out for a run with Spotify on your watch, these earbuds connect automatically.
So, are Galaxy Buds worth it if you’re in the Samsung ecosystem? I’d say not necessarily, but they’re still fantastic earbuds and among the best for Android users. You don’t need to feel locked into Galaxy Buds for a Samsung phone; other options like Nothing Ear (1) cost around 40% less and arguably have better sound quality (though not better ANC). These also offer high-resolution audio codecs compatible with Samsung. While seamless switching on Nothing Ear isn’t exactly the same as Galaxy Buds, it can pair with any two devices (e.g., a MacBook and a Samsung phone) and switch between them.
Bottom line: Galaxy Buds are great earbuds to consider for the ecosystem, but don’t feel constrained—they’re a strong choice, but alternatives are equally viable!
Samsung laptop: Is It Worth It?
The Samsung laptop is, in many ways, the most feature-rich device in the Samsung ecosystem. While the phone might be considered the core, the laptop boasts incredible ecosystem features. Some of the highlights include:
- Multi-Control: You can drag the mouse from your laptop to control your Samsung phone and tablet, even dragging files between them. It’s a seamless way to share content, similar to Apple’s Universal Control across its iPads, Macs, and iPhones. For Windows users, this is a major perk that’s hard to find outside the Samsung ecosystem.
- Second Display: Your Samsung tablet can also act as a second display for your laptop, either as a mirrored or extended screen.
- Expert RAW Auto Share: Taking Expert RAW photos on your Samsung phone? With Samsung laptops, transferring and editing these high-quality photos is smooth and convenient.
So, is it worth it to get a Samsung laptop if you have a Samsung phone? Since laptops are significant purchases, it’s essential to consider other factors like processor power and hardware quality. However, if all else is equal—especially when compared to brands like Acer, ASUS, or HP—the Samsung ecosystem features are truly compelling and might make the Samsung laptop a worthy choice even if it’s slightly lower in quality.
Tablets: Is It Worth It?
When considering a laptop, it’s worth taking a closer look if you already own a Samsung phone. Now, when it comes to tablets, Samsung has some of the best Android tablets on the market, with few close competitors.
- Tablet Variety: Samsung offers a range of tablets suitable for different needs, whether it’s as a laptop replacement or a media device. While OnePlus has decent models and Google’s Pixel Tablet falls into a different category, Samsung is a top choice for Android tablets.
- Ecosystem Benefits: Samsung tablets bring synchronized apps and laptop features, like continuity and the S Pen. If you’re using a Samsung laptop, the ecosystem becomes even more cohesive—you can drag your mouse directly from your laptop to your tablet, creating a smooth and connected experience.
So, is it worth it in the Samsung ecosystem? Absolutely, yes—not only because there aren’t many good alternatives but also because Samsung’s ecosystem features tie everything together seamlessly. For Samsung laptop users, a Samsung tablet is almost a no-brainer.
Samsung’s Ecosystem Features
Doesn’t end there; there are a lot of really cool features on the software side that are continuous across the entire ecosystem. This is really where, if you read the article so far and said, “All right, those are cool features, but I don’t know if it’s really worth it to invest in the ecosystem,” these features here are going to be the ones that could persuade you either in or out of the ecosystem.
One is going to be the app continuity. This is essentially if you’re using Samsung Internet on your laptop, phone, or tablet and you close one of them and switch devices; the tabs are going to be there.
You can do things similar to this with Brave and Chrome, but it just works so much better with Samsung devices. If you’re getting messages and you open a link on your phone that was texted to you, you’ll see it on all of them, and you can do the same thing with other accounts as well. Like messages, you can access and send messages from your laptop or your tablet on your phone.
Now, other Android devices can use Google messages, and you can access those from these devices as well, but Samsung just does it a little bit better—a little bit more integrated.
We also have Samsung Pass, so if you don’t use LastPass, 1Password, or Google passwords, Samsung Pass is its own thing that manages your passwords across all your Samsung devices, and it does it honestly quite well.
It’s very convenient; it’s protected with biometric security, so you sign in with your fingerprint. I’ve always been a big fan of that. I think it works very well. It really is kind of nice that it’s deeply integrated into your ecosystem.
We also have Samsung Pay, which, depending on which device you’re using—for example, the older Samsung Gear-style watches—actually has something called MST Pay, which you don’t see on any other devices at all. That was the ability to pay even on non-contactless payment surfaces.
if you just have a place that you swipe, you would hold your watch up to it. It would send a magnetic signal out to trick the device into thinking a credit card was swiped, and then you’d be able to pay even on non-Tap and Pay devices. A lot of the newer devices don’t have that, maybe for security reasons, but it was cool that it did exist.
Otherwise, Samsung Pay—again, great that you have it across the ecosystem. You can pay on your watch, you could pay on your phone, or you could have tickets; you could have, I don’t know, your rewards card—different things like that.
But one of the biggest ones right here—this is going to be a huge one—and that is going to be synchronized modes and routines. Essentially, Do Not Disturb mode, sleep mode, work mode—whatever.
appliances If you put your watch into Do Not Disturb mode or sleep mode, then your tablet, phone, and other devices are going to have similar settings applied as long as you have that enabled in your ecosystem. And also, we can’t forget about SmartThings routine—not just for appliances, but also for any devices out here.
You can really have some very advanced routines set up with different triggers and different timings, and that is going to be something that I know Samsung has a really strong user base, and the fan base of Samsung typically does a lot of tinkering with things like routines and those automations you could set up on your phone or really on a lot of other devices as well. And that’s something that you don’t really see in any other ecosystems out there for Android users.
I mentioned Samsung Health; of course, the watch is unlocking ECG on there by being an ecosystem. But otherwise, you’ve got calorie tracking, and having that on your laptop, tablet, phone, and watch just makes it easier to record your food throughout the day and make sure that you’re sticking to your calorie limit or reaching your calorie goals, however you have that set. And then, of course, we cannot forget the locating features.
This is one that every ecosystem has something similar to this, but Samsung’s is kind of their most walled garden, which I find very surprising. Like, Samsung tags do not work with non-Samsung devices.
If you have a Pixel phone and you try to set up a Samsung tag, it’s going to tell you you have to use a Samsung phone, which I find very interesting. However, using the tags is really quite convenient. You’ve got ultra-wideband locating features, so on the flagship phones, the S24 all the way back to, I think, the S21, you’re able to go around and navigate and find the tag with very precise locating features, and that’s something that’s very convenient.
spaceBut you can also locate many other devices, whether that is your Galaxy Buds, your watch, or other things. You can see where they are on a map, you can ring them, you can find them. Like the Galaxy Buds, for example, you can make the little stems or blade lights flash if you drop them in a dark space, for example.
And the SmartThings app is really the core of the ecosystem, and you can do other things like be alerted if your fridge door is open, be alerted when your laundry is done, control your television, and find out if anything moved in front of your cameras if they’re set up on your Samsung SmartThings app. There’s a lot of automation and things you could do here.
But again, is it actually worth it to invest in the Samsung ecosystem? Here, you can get the Samsung SmartThings app on most other Android phones out there, but it’s definitely more integrated into the Samsung ecosystem, with the locating features, like I said, for example, with the Galaxy Buds. So the software is very interesting.
But taking one more step back on this ecosystem, the final big picture right here—there are other really cool benefits to being in the Samsung ecosystem. For example, you’ve got the Samsung Music frame. Even though there is no smart speaker necessarily for Samsung—there’s kind of like Bixby things—there’s no obvious Apple HomePod or Google Nest.
But the Samsung Music frame kind of is a really cool alternative that when you go into the SmartThings app, especially on a tablet, is where you can see it really well. Or on a phone, you can see you have a lot of really cool settings just baked into the app that make it so easy to integrate with that entire Samsung ecosystem.
You could use this with non-Samsung devices—just as a Samsung TV could be used with non-Samsung phones with the SmartThings app—but it just works better because it’s more integrated into those Samsung devices.
But the ecosystem is far from perfect. There are some missing things, as I mentioned—a better smart speaker. Like the picture frame is awesome, but just like a regular little Amazon Echo-style thing would be kind of nice from Samsung. I think that’s something that’s definitely missing. I think a better voice assistant—like, sure, Bixby has come a long way, but it’s nowhere near the ability of Google Assistant, in my opinion. And the third thing that’s really missing are over-ear headphones.
I don’t know why Samsung doesn’t have over-ear headphones in their lineup. It seems like such an obvious thing to add.
But in conclusion, if you get the phone, the watch, and the earbuds, I think they are really good. They’re really worth considering. But if you want a smart ring, you don’t necessarily have to get the Galaxy Ring. Check out other rings, and that part of the ecosystem I think is still kind of developing, and maybe they’ll add some features in the future.
But at least for right now, I don’t know—maybe the Aura Ring could be a better choice for you. If you get the phone, though, you don’t need to get the laptop, but it’s definitely really nice to get the laptop, the phone, and the tablet. And then when it comes to the laptop, if you get the phone, you don’t have to get a Samsung laptop. But if you’re going to, you get so many added features there.
Samsung’s really trying to add more, so they’re not limiting you to only using Samsung laptops with Samsung phones. You can use any Windows laptop and get a lot of really cool sharing features, but Samsung just gives you so many more with a Samsung phone.
If you get the laptop, like the tablet, I think it’s kind of a no-brainer. They tie together really well there.
But the other things in the ecosystem—the appliances—I wouldn’t be fooled into thinking that you have to be in the Samsung ecosystem to use those devices. They kind of don’t even need to be that smart.
I don’t care if my washing machine is connected perfectly to my phone. It’ll work well enough on a Pixel phone. But answering the question of should you invest in the Samsung ecosystem, I think it depends on which devices you already have and which ones you’re looking to get.
But ultimately, there are a lot of really big value propositions here by investing in the Samsung ecosystem. And for Android users, sure, Google’s kind of developing an ecosystem; sure, OnePlus kind of has an ecosystem, but none of them are anywhere near as in-depth as the Samsung ecosystem.
