What is the NEW Google Health Connect – Should I care?
App Link: Google Play
Google and Samsung are taking their partnership one step further with Health Connect. We assumed that there was a deep partnership emerging between the two companies when Samsung Galaxy Watch4 was released with exclusive access to Wear OS 3. Now we know that the two companies are taking the link up much more seriously.
More: Google Fit – Activity Tracking
More Samsung Health app
Google Health Connect is a collaboration between Google and Samsung to simplify an open platform for 3rd party apps to help share fitness & wellness data. It very much mimics what Apple does in this area allowing you to set specific permissions about which elements of your data are shared and how they are shared.
Specifically of interest is the announcement that Samsung is adopting this for their Galaxy wearables. It’s a pretty obvious thing that Samsung needed to do; as we see with Apple, if the watch/phone maker opens up the data it collects to 3rd party apps then the customer can significantly benefit.
Of course, this will probably tie-up with the new Fitbit Watches this year, plus the new Google Pixel watch and Samsung Watch5. All of which is DEFINITELY happening.
There are various accompanying press releases that come with this news. However, I won’t bore you with their supreme blandness. It seems that the larger the corporation is the longer its press releases can be without actually saying anything.
Bottom line: Google and Samsung agree to a common health & fitness data platform which will help you use more apps on your data.
For the full picture of the Google Fitbit and Wear OS ecosystem: Google Fitbit and Wear OS hub.
Last Updated on 8 July 2026 by the5krunner
My favourite kit and nutrition
- Injinji – Runners protect your toes. Avoid discomfort and minor injury. Run more. Run faster. I use them.
- Garmin 90-degree charging adapter — The small adapter that keeps your charging cables tidy. Essential for race day. I use one.
- Garmin charging puck — the fastest and most reliable way to top up your Garmin before a session. I use one.
- Ravemen FR300 — Front light that mounts directly under your Garmin or Wahoo head unit. Keeps your bars clean and your beam pointed where it matters. I use one.
- Body Glide – The blue anti-chafe stick that all swimmers and many runners use. I use it.
- Maurten — The race nutrition trusted by elite athletes. Gels and drink mixes engineered to be easy on the stomach. I use them.
- Garmin Varia RTL515 — A radar rear light that alerts you to vehicles approaching from behind. Pairs with your Edge or Garmin watch. I use this model.
- Favero Assioma Pro RS2 — The power-meter pedals most serious cyclists choose. Accurate, easy to move between bikes. I use this model.
- Garmin Forerunner 970 — A serious choice for a pro-grade triathlon watch. I use this.
- Polar H10 — My daily driver for accurate, waking HRV readings.
- Wahoo ELEMNT Roam 3 — The bike computer that has the feature Garmin lacks: usability. I use mine on most rides.
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tfk is the founder and author of the5krunner, an independent endurance sports technology publication. With 20 years of hands-on testing of GPS watches and wearables, and competing in triathlons at an international age-group level, tfk provides in-depth expert analysis of fitness technology for serious athletes and endurance sport competitors. ID
