Samsung Galaxy Watch 4

 Review of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4

Samsung has re-embraced Wear OS.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 is a follow-up to one of our favorite smartwatches of all time, and it's the first time the firm has embraced Wear OS software in a long time. It's not your normal Wear OS watch, though; it's dubbed One UI Watch 3 and was created by Samsung with the assistance of Google.

On paper, the total improvement is restricted in terms of software and hardware, but as this Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 review points out, it's ideal for anybody seeking for a high-end smartwatch that can monitor workouts and provide a slew of other smart capabilities that many other wrist companions lack.

The Galaxy Watch 4's compatibility, on the other hand, is curiously poorer than previous Samsung watches. This will not operate with an iPhone, and while it is compatible with many recent Android phones, some capabilities, such as blood pressure and ECG measures, will require a Samsung smartphone.

It's especially upsetting because Samsung's prior smartwatches were among the most compatible. Even if you don't have a Samsung Android phone, we think the Watch 4 is worth picking up, although there are some limits.

Given those limitations, the watch's design has a lot to recommend it. A simulated spinning bezel – a feature carried over from the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 – works in tandem with two buttons on the right side to provide quick navigating through the smartwatch's menus. Some may miss the Galaxy Watch 3's actual spinning bezel, but this is an excellent substitute.

Although the fitness elements aren't much different from what we've seen before, there is a new body composition tool that provides you a general estimate of your body fat percentage. We discovered that the Galaxy Watch 4's GPS, heart rate tracking, and other fitness capabilities are well-thought-out.

The Galaxy Watch 4's battery life isn't a major worry, but it isn't the longest-lasting smartwatch we've ever seen. With regular to severe use, it may last up to two days, and three days if you're not working out or utilizing functions like GPS.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 is joined by a Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic, which is the smartwatch to look at if you prefer a real rotating bezel, which is the main difference between the two devices.

For everyone who has a Galaxy smartphone, the Galaxy Watch 4 is the greatest smartwatch. It's still a good pick if you have another Android phone.

 

Design and display of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4

Models in 40mm and 44mm

Versions in black, gold, green, or silver

It's a virtual rotating bezel, not a real one.

 

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 is a small wristwatch that fits easily around your wrist. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic is a good choice if you want something a little chunkier or with a rotating bezel.

The Galaxy Watch 4 provides a smaller design, with two buttons on the right-hand edge and little else to detract from its clean appearance. There are two variants available, one with a 40mm watch face and the other with a 44mm body.

Aluminum is used in both variants. The 40mm model is 40.4 x 39.3 x 9.8mm and weighs 25.9g, while the 44mm variant measures 44.4 x 43.3 x 9.8mm and weighs 30.3g.

I've checked both versions and found them to be a good fit without being too heavy on the wrist.

I utilized the 44mm model for a longer amount of time than the smaller variant and found it to be a good fit (note that this writer is an adult man). It's pleasant to use during the day, but it might not be the ideal choice for sleep tracking at night.

Both Galaxy Watch 4 versions have bright displays that we found simple to read. The resolution is likewise excellent, with the 40mm model having 396 x 396 pixels and the 44mm variant having 450 x 450 pixels. Both variants have a pixel density of 330 pixels per inch.

When compared to rival smartwatches, the Galaxy Watch 4's 'virtual' rotating bezel is a standout feature. There's no real rotating bezel here - if you want one, get the Watch 4 Classic – but you can spin between menus and access different features by running your finger over the black bezel of the screen.

Each model is also water and dust resistant to IP68 standards, allowing them to be submerged in water up to five meters deep. However, a note regarding the supplied watch band: it's composed of a novel material that may not be suitable for severe exercises, since it caused a rash on our wrist.

If you routinely wear your watch to the gym, you might want to consider investing in a band made of a different material.

Models have different color options as well. The Watch 4 comes in black, gold, and silver in the 40mm model, and black, green, and silver in the 44mm variant. If you prefer a stronger color on your wrist, you may wish to purchase a different strap.

Performance and software of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4

Samsung's Exynos W920 CPU and 1.5GB of RAM power the Watch 4. During our testing, we discovered that this is sufficient power to operate a range of programs without stuttering. This is one of the most responsive smartwatches we've ever encountered.

This speed isn't as evident as on a smartphone or laptop, but it is significant when compared to other smartwatches, and it allows you to utilize a range of applications when the GPS functions are active, for example.

Both variants of the Galaxy Watch 4 have 16GB of storage. We discovered that the OS and preloaded programs took up roughly 8GB of this, leaving you with the same amount of space for your own software.

The Galaxy Watch 4 impresses in terms of software. Samsung is re-embracing Google's Wear OS, but with its own twist, rather than utilizing its own Tizen wearables software.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 is a fitness device.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 includes a number of health and fitness functions, including GPS for running track, an optical heart rate sensor, and ECG support.

 

The new 3-in-1 BioActive Sensor, which allows the watch to track heart rate, blood oxygen levels, and body composition, is the key fitness update. The only new feature in the list is the final one, but it's the first time the sensors have been combined.

 

Samsung claims that its body composition measuring tools allow users to examine important fitness indicators like skeletal muscle mass and body fat percentage. These scans are simple to do, but you must remain motionless for them to operate.

A body fat percentage score, skeletal muscle, fat mass, body water, and BMI are among the statistics you'll receive. It'll also offer you a rough sense of your healthy weight, height, and sex range.

It's difficult to say how precise these various measures are, but we felt that having a general sense of them was helpful, and you'll be able to follow them over time to see if you can improve the outcomes.

Our results matched those obtained with other devices, indicating that the heart rate monitor was accurate. The heart rate monitor works best in Samsung's apps, although similar functions can also be used with third-party Wear OS apps like Strava and Nike Running Club.

One thing to keep in mind is that some fitness functions have restricted compatibility. When you link the Galaxy Watch 4 to a Samsung smartphone, the ECG and blood pressure monitoring functions become available.

This is an annoying feature, and it means that if you don't possess a Samsung phone, this watch might not be the ideal option for you. Alternative gadgets from Garmin, for example, provide comparable functions but may be used with any phone.

 

Battery life of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4

The 361mAh battery in the 44mm Galaxy Watch 4, which we reviewed, provided excellent battery life during our testing period; we found that the smartwatch would last at least two days on a single charge even with intensive use, and if you're not regularly using fitness features, you can expect the watch to last three days.

 The 40mm version has a smaller 247mAh cell, which we haven't had the opportunity to test yet. We've noticed a minor variation in battery life between the smaller and larger Samsung smartwatches in the past, but don't expect the 40mm model to be significantly different.

A charging pad is included in the box, which is surprising given that Samsung has been removing charging pads from its smartphones in recent years. You'll just receive the cord here, so you'll need to find a charging block or put it into a USB-compliant device.

 

Is the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 worth your money?

If you want to buy it, you should...

You have a Samsung smartphone.

Because some of the finest Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 features are only available on Samsung phones, you'll be able to get the most out of this wristwatch if you already possess one.

If you seek amazing smartwatch software, you've come to the right place.

Samsung's Tizen design has evolved significantly in recent years, and combining it with Wear OS capabilities gives you access to the complete variety of wearable apps available on the Google Play Store.

If you don't want to buy it, don't.

You have an iPhone or an Android phone that isn't a Samsung.

Samsung has discontinued iPhone support on the Galaxy Watch 4, which is a bummer for folks who own an iPhone but don't want an Apple Watch. Furthermore, as previously stated, some of the health-monitoring capabilities are incompatible with Android phones from other manufacturers.

You already own a Samsung Galaxy Watch.

You probably won't need the Galaxy Watch 4 if you have a recent iteration of the Galaxy Watch. There's not much new here, especially when compared to the Galaxy Watch Active 2, so it might not be for you.