This is not the moment you are looking for. The electric shock is not what's going to save the dying patient. It is not the much-needed coat paint after years of neglect. It is, however, the best thing. The coming together of two flawed but capable parties trying to solve an intractable issue. Wear OS 3 is clearly the long-awaited culmination Google's lengthy attempt to rescue its wearables platform from the bowl. It has been in decline since 2016 when it started to fail. We also refer to Samsung's wearable line. It hasn't changed much from the original Galaxy Watch's debut in 2018. VPN Deals: Monthly plans starting at $16 & More. In May, Google and Samsung announced their partnership. The former gave some control over its OS to Samsung, while the latter promised to replace Tizen on all future smartwatches. It wasn't clear if it would bring positive results for all of the industry or just Samsung. While the evidence is still out about the Wear OS 3 halo effect for Google's partners, Samsung smartwatches benefit from some Google touches. However, they are not as significant as you might think. They offer the best Android smartwatch experience available today.
Bottom line: The Aluminum Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 is the cheaper of the two Galaxy Watch models. It has all the features you need from a fitness watch, but it lacks the rotating bezel and stainless steel weight of the Watch 4 Classic. The Watch 4 is the only choice if you prefer the beautiful green color. The price is very affordable
High performance and long battery life
Complete health monitoring features
Wear OS 3 gives you access to Google services
The included band is comfortable The Bad Capacitive gesture navigation can be finicky
Samsung and Google Services: Occasional tension Starting at $250
Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic in stainless steel The good Excellent performance
Complete health monitoring features
Wear OS 3 gives you access to Google services
Comfortable The Bad Occasional Tension Between Samsung and Google Services Starting at $350 at Samsung
Samsung Galaxy Watch 4: Prices and availability
Source: Daniel Bader / Android Central
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic and 4 Classic were announced on August 11, and are now available at prices starting at $250 each from Samsung.com, as well as several other retailers including Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, and Walmart. Both watches are $30 cheaper at Amazon and Best Buy since launch. The Watch 4 Classic and the Watch 4 Classic come in different sizes, 40mm and 44mm respectively, while the Watch 4 Classic comes in 46mm and 46mm. However, the Watch 4 Classic has an extra 2mm because of the rotating bezel. This, along with the stainless steel construction, is the main design difference over the Watch 4.
Do yourself a favor by purchasing the larger aluminum Watch 4 in green.
The Watch 4 is made of lighter aluminum and comes in four colors: Pink Gold (40mm only), Silver (Black), and Green (44mm). The Watch 4 Classic only comes in the darker Silver or Black versions. There are many great colors available for the Galaxy Watch 4, including the brand new Maison Kitsun edition at $400 and the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic Thome Browne Edition at $800. The smaller sizes are $250 and $350 respectively. However, you can upgrade to larger models for $30 $280 or $380. LTE capability adds $50. The 46mm Watch 4 Classic LTE with LTE is the most expensive model. It costs $430. Samsung Galaxy Watch 4: Design and hardware
Source: Daniel Bader / Android Central
It's not surprising that the Watch 4 looks a lot like the Watch 2 Active, and the Watch 4 Classic looks a lot like the Watch 3. Although the names may seem confusing, there is a consistency that I like. The larger watches come with 20mm sport bands made from fluoroelastomer, which is a synthetic rubber that's comfortable and doesn’t irritate skin. The Classic has a ridged sports band with a traditional clasp while the Watch 4 has a straighter band ending in the loop clasp Apple created for the Apple Watch. The good news is that the lugs can be used with any quick-release strap. I replaced the Sport Band on the Classic with a beautiful blue leather band I had from an old Victorinox.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 vs. Watch 4 Classic Specifications Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic Size 44.4 x 43.3 x 9.8mm
40.4 x 39.3 x 9.8mm 45.5 x 45.5 x 11.0mm
41.5 x 41.5 x 11.2mm Weight 30.3g (44mm)
25.9g (40mm), 52g (44mm),
Display Super AMOLED Display 1.4-inch (330ppi), 46.5g (40mm).
Super AMOLED (330ppi), Super AMOLED (1.4-inch)
Super AMOLED 1.2 inch (330ppi). Material Aluminum case Stainless Steel case. Operating System Wear OS powered by Samsung Processor Exynos 5nm Exynos 7920 (5nm), Exynos W920 (5nm). Memory 1.5GB RAM
16GB Storage 1.5GB RAM
16GB Storage Battery 361mAh
247mAh 361mAh
247mAh Sensors Accelerometer
Barometer
Gyro
Geomagnetic
Light
BioActive Sensor (heart rate).
ECG
BIA Accelerometer
Barometer
Gyro
Geomagnetic
Light
BioActive Sensor (heart rate).
ECG
BIA Connectivity LTE
Bluetooth 5.0
Wi-Fi
NFC
GPS LTE
Bluetooth 5.0
Wi-Fi
NFC
GPS Durability 5ATM
IP68
MIL-STD-810G 5ATM
IP68
MIL-STD-810G Colors Green
Black
Silver
Pink Gold Black
Size of the Silver Band 20mm
20mm 20mm
20mm .
While the protruding lugs are beautiful when paired with a classic band, the gap between the watch and your wrist is quite significant. This is due to the fact that the lugs curve inwards and down. While the digital crown is a great tool, there's nothing quite like the rotating bezel of Samsung to navigate Wear OS. The Classic model is more expensive, but worth it if you can. The Watch 4's aluminum watch is heavier than the one made of stainless steel, but the tradeoff for the rotating bezel is well worth it. A rotating crown is something I love, but it's just as satisfying to be able to scroll through notifications, tiles and menus without touching the screen. Watch 4 employs a hack, similar to the Watch 2 Active. It uses the OLED display's edge to enable gesture navigation, but it can also block content. As usual, the OLED displays on each watch are excellent. Samsung doesn't play around with this aspect. It was surprising to me that the OLED panels are brighter which makes it easier to see direct sunlight. Both sizes are also sharper than their predecessors. The larger Watch 4 and 4 Classic have the same 1.4 inch panels. This means that they are more legible at smaller sizes and there is less aliasing around images.
Source: Daniel Bader / Android Central
Each watch's side has two buttons that do triple duty depending on the situation. The top button is always used to go home, while the bottom button can be used to return to the previous screen. This is because most apps aren’t very deep. The top button will activate Bixby, the power menu or Samsung Pay. Holding down the bottom button brings up Samsung Pay. The haptics of the Galaxy Watch 4 series has been improved by Samsung, but they are still not as good than the Apple Watch. The buttons also have electrodes that can be paired with the BioActive sensor to send mild electrical signals through the body to produce ECG and BIA readings. This is why, at least compared to last year's Galaxy Watch 3, they are more practical than the traditional chronometer design. The haptic motor in the Watch 4 is also a highlight. Samsung's earlier smartwatches had a reputation for making sloppy and buzzy vibrations. However, Samsung has a better-quality linear motor in the Watch 4 which, although not as frequently used as the Apple Watch, makes it much more bearable to hear the watch buzzing on your wrist multiple times per day. Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Software and Performance
Source: Daniel Bader / Android Central
There are two main things I believe people want to know about Wear OS 3. Separately, the Galaxy Watch 4 will benefit from Samsung's transition to Wear OS. And, is Wear OS overall significantly better than it was before? First, I can confidently answer yes. Samsung tried to replicate as much of its Tizen-based UI flow that it could, so existing users don't feel isolated while still enjoying access to the Play Store as well as other Wear OS goodies. Notifications are still located at the top of the navigation. Older notifications can be found further away from the main watch face. As on Tizen, the quick settings menu is still at the top. App "tiles", which are app icons, take up the space to the right of your home screen. Wear OS 3 and Tizen have a main difference in functionality. There is a launcher at bottom of the workflow. This app cloud is very similar to that of the Apple Watch and can be frustrating to use.
Source: Daniel Bader / Android Central
I urge you to not overthink Wear OS on your Galaxy Watch. As I stated initially, it isn't the huge reinvention that many people expected or wanted. It is Samsung's existing wearable experience, with access to Google apps and a limited number of Wear OS apps available on the Play Store. Wear OS also provides better notifications than Tizen because it is closely linked to Android's core notification framework. But the real upgrades are being capable of opening Google Maps for turn by turn navigation and using Google Keep to track groceries as you shop in the chips aisle.
Wear OS on the Galaxy Watch is not something to be over-exaggerated. It feels very similar to Tizen, but has access Google apps and services.
Also, you get (or at least will receive) updated versions of Spotify and Strava as well as Calm. These apps are not available on Samsung's current platform. Samsung believes that Wear OS companion apps are easier to create than an Android app. Google hopes (and prays) that many more developers will be willing and able to make those apps, as millions of Samsung smartphone owners will be using Wear OS watches. We will soon see how this all plays out.
Source: Daniel Bader / Android Central
The new feature Tiles, which Google added to Wear OS recently for Galaxy Watch 4, is also available to Galaxy Watch 4 owners. You can think of Tiles like widgets that are located to the right side of your watch face. They provide quick access to information and app actions, such as checking the weather or starting a timer or starting a workout. Although the Tile API is still in beta and not available to all developers yet, Google stated at its recent developer conference that it is working with many companies to integrate Tiles into Wear OS apps. It is a great addition to the platform, and it is also being backported into Wear OS 2. Wear OS also offers custom watch faces, which is a welcome feature. The Watch 4's watch faces are beautiful and varied. However, there are apps such as Facer that allow you to pay for premium options by artists and designers. Or Pujie Black where you can create your own.
Source: Daniel Bader / Android Central
While this is a Samsung-first experience, the company appears to be open to long-term customization. It has already confirmed that Google Assistant will soon replace Bixby as its default voice assistant. You can install a custom launcher from the settings, just like you can on your smartphone. The settings will allow you to choose a new default provider for your health services. This could be used to switch from Samsung Health to Google Fit, Strava, or MyFitnessPal, once they are updated to support Wear OS 3. All of this stuff works great on the watch. The W920 SoC from Samsung is a dual-core processor paired with 1.5GB RAM and 16GB storage. I was impressed by the performance, unlike any Wear OS smartwatches I have used. Even the latest ones running Qualcomm's Snapdragon Wear 4100 with 1GB RAM, I wasn't able to dwell on it. The watch does what you ask it to. You don't have to stare at the circular loading prompt as Qualcomm's decade-old silicon spins. Samsung Galaxy Watch 4: Battery
Samsung's Galaxy Watch 4 and 4 Classic were announced by the company. It boasted that the battery would last for 40 hours, which seemed to indicate that the Galaxy Watch 4 had solved the problem of Wear OS watches having to be charged every day. The good news is that both the Watch 4 and 4 Classic last longer than any Mobvoi or Fossil smartwatches I have used in the past year, at least for the larger sizes. It's not very long, and it certainly isn't enough to make the Watch 4 a 2-day device. The Watch was used as usual, with the always on-display disabled, raise-and-touch-to-wake enabled and tracking a workout. It also checked notifications regularly. The watch survived for a full day and a quarter. Although the battery life didn't suffer from the activation of the always-on display, it was enough to make me worry about the next step: sleep tracking.
Although it isn't as multi-day as you might like, you can still wear it throughout the day and track your sleep. You can also charge it at night.
Three days ago, I used my watch as normal during the day with AOD disabled. Next, I used the watch to track my workouts and then went to bed wearing it for sleep tracking. Each time I woke up, my sleep quality was in the low to mid-double-digits. It was at around half-charge when I got up to go to work. After returning from my commute, I had charged it to 100%. It's not for everyone, but if you need your smartwatch to last several days, you might find it difficult to do so here. Although I didn't use the GPS, other reviewers have reported that it can cause battery damage. If the Watch 4 was charged quicker, it wouldn't pose any problem. It takes almost two hours to charge the battery from full to dead. This means that if you wear your Watch 4 overnight while you get ready to go to work or school, it will only bring up 25%. You'll either need to purchase another charger for your office, or you can put it back on the one you have at home to charge. Bottom line: Samsung needs to make improvements in this area. Samsung Galaxy Watch 4: Health features
Source: Daniel Bader / Android Central
The Galaxy Watch 4's primary purpose is to track health. Samsung Health works well with Wear OS. All Watch 4 Series variants have the same health features. The Watch 4 Classic and Watch 4 Classic both have the 3-in-1 BioActive sensor, which pulls out heart rate, blood pressure and Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) for quick and easy monitoring. This feature is brand new but not unfamiliar to those with connected scales. The Watch 4 Classic and Watch 4 were used interchangeably during my week of testing the series. I paired the Watch 4 Classic to a Galaxy Z Fold 3 while the Watch 4 was paired to the Pixel 5. This allowed me to determine whether having a Samsung smartphone is an advantage. Apart from the Galaxy Store-exclusive Samsung Health Monitor App, which takes ECG readings and can be used to sync to the Samsung Health app on Android, all other health features including BIA can be done on the Watch. There is no iOS app.
The Watch 4 makes it easy to exercise, especially if the watch detects your movements. You will need to manually select other exercises like weight training. There are many strength training options, but no overall circuit training option. The Watch 4's sensors are much more accurate if you're a casual HIIT trainer who only needs to keep track of runs or calculate calories burned during a session. Three nights ago, I used my Galaxy Watch 4 on the left wrist, and an Apple Watch Series 6, Skagen Falster 3 or Fitbit Sense, on the right. This allowed me to compare metrics during a Supernatural VR workout that I love and look forward too every day. Side note: Supernatural uses a smartwatch application to feed live heart beat data into its experience. It only makes it available for the Apple Watch Series 6 and Skagen Falster 3, so I'm thrilled to be able to keep the Watch 4 on my wrist. All four of them were worn on one night for laughs and fun. The sensors in Fossil watches have never impressed me and I have had problems with Fitbits in past. However, the numbers that I received from the Watch 4 seemed to be within a few beats of the Apple Watch in every peak and valley. Although I was not able to test the accuracy of the GPS, I will update this review when things cool down and I am able to do some outdoor running.
Source: Daniel Bader / Android Central
Samsung Health includes a social component, which is significantly lacking in comparison to other competitors. It's still in development and is awaiting a wider user base. However, you can only issue a few challenges to your friends. They're both step-based. You cannot compete for holistic goals like minutes walked or calories burned. Samsung does not give feedback or award badges for winning a challenge. This is to encourage further competition and gamification. Although it may seem small, these UX additions are what make Fitbit and Apple's fitness ecosystems so unique. I am less concerned about BIA (which uses a weak electric pulse to measure skeletal muscles and fat percentage in a body) than why Samsung thought it was useful to include it on a smartwatch. Many BIA sensors can be paired with scales. These devices first calculate your body weight, then use that figure as a baseline to determine fat and muscle percentage. Basal metabolic rate, and overall BMI are also calculated. As a calibration tool, the Watch 4 requires you to manually enter your weight each time you use the Body Composition feature. It is necessary to weigh yourself before you add the BIA sensor. A smart scale is a better choice for those who enjoy quantitative living. It has larger electrodes which are more likely to give accurate results. Wyze's smart scale is available for sale at a price of $30. Withings's best option is priced below $100.
Source: Daniel Bader / Android Central
However, I am also concerned about people who might misuse or abuse this data. Samsung is openly honest about the fact that it cannot and should not be used to diagnose. However, a reading takes only 15 seconds so there's a real concern that people who track weight loss might rely on it for trend information that can be easily manipulated with a few glasses of water. I have struggled with weight loss and used BMI and fat percentage to measure my success. Samsung should educate its users more about Body Composition than simply adding a disclaimer in its press release. The Watch 4 series monitors sleep very well. It was comfortable enough to wear to bed for a few nights. I then compared the data from my Nest Hub (2nd Generation), which has been passively monitoring my sleep for months. The "time asleep" and the "time in bed before sleeping" numbers were very close. Samsung tracks all stages of sleep, including Deep, Light, and REM. This data can also be tracked over time. The Galaxy Watch 4's fitness app is overall good, although some elements don't work as well on other platforms. There is still much to be done. Samsung is in a good position, even though I think it's a platform where new versions of Strava and MyFitnessPal have access to the same data sets that the Watch 4 generates. Some of the data is richer and more precise than the previous versions. Samsung Galaxy Watch 4: FAQ
Source: Daniel Bader / Android Central
Which Galaxy Watch should you choose? The Galaxy Watch 4 Classic is my preference over the Watch 4 Classic when it comes to the Galaxy Watch 4. Although there aren't many differences between the 4 and the Classic, the rotating bezel makes navigation through Wear OS 3 much more enjoyable. This little speed boost is important when you use your watch every day. Can the Watch 4 be customized with watch bands? The Watch 4 Classic and Watch 4 watch bands support 20mm. Although the lugs are slightly awkwardly shaped, it is easy to attach third-party straps. However, I have not had any problems with reliability or comfort after they were installed. Make sure that the band you purchase supports quick release. You can charge the Watch 4 with any Qi charger. Samsung claims that the Watch 4 can charge on any Qi charger. The only chargers that work with the Watch 4 are those sold by Samsung. There is the original box with the magnetic puck and the Samsung line of wireless chargers, which have a designated spot for your watch. Although some third-party charging stands for Galaxy watches can work, they are prone to overheating and could cause damage or even complete failure. The bottom line is that you shouldn't expect a Qi wireless charger to work with your watch. It probably won't work if it doesn't bear Samsung's logo on it. However, we will let you know if we find replacement chargers that are worth the price. Do you have any other questions? Based on your comments, additional answers to this FAQ will be added. Samsung Galaxy Watch 4: Competition
Source: Apoorva Bhardwaj/ Android Central
The Watch 4 is, in a strange twist of fate at the moment, largely unrivalled. It would be foolish to recommend an older, less-reliable Wear OS watch from Fossil, one of its subsidiaries, or Mobvoi's TicWatch Pro 3 which will eventually receive the Wear OS 3 upgrade. These watches use much less powerful hardware and the software experience is not as good. They will no longer be supported, aside from Tiles backporting. There are also the Fitbit Versa 3 and Fitbit Sense, which are both capable smartwatches, but they're still more geared towards health tracking than responding to Slack messages. Fitbit's app ecosystem is a joke. If you are considering one of their more expensive products, remember that you will be investing in its community and robust suite of holistic and workout tracking. Although the Apple Watch Series 6 is a direct competitor to the Galaxy Watch 4, it's a proxy war that makes them incompatible with each other's operating systems. It's hard to talk about the Apple Watch as a separate product because it is so closely linked to the iPhone. The Galaxy Watch 4 can be used with any Android phone but it is best when used with a Samsung smartphone. The good news is that these watches are not a problem for Android users.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 4: Should You Buy It?
Source: Daniel Bader / Android Central
This is the best product to buy if you have a Samsung phone
Android is the best platform for smartwatches
If you are an active person and need to track your sleep or workouts, this smartwatch is not for you.
Multi-day battery life is what you want
You want to challenge friends to activity challenges. If you are looking for an Android smartwatch, the Galaxy Watch 4 and Watch 4 Classic are my top choices. They aren't perfect. The clunky Wear OS 3 elements on Samsung's smartwatches show a tension between the company's desire to lock in its ecosystem and its investment with Google in a platform for Android-first wearables. Even if your Samsung smartphone is not in your pocket, you will still find a lot of things to love. You can use Google Pay instead, or ignore Samsung Pay altogether. Keep your Bixby interactions down, and embrace Samsung Health, which is currently better than Google Fit. Samsung's hardware design is not very risky. The Watch 4 is a bit boring and the Watch 4 is a little more expensive. However, both watches are well-built and have intuitive controls and perform like a dream. This is the most powerful Wear OS ever. The Classic is $100 more expensive than the Classic. But, regardless, this smartwatch is the best Android one-hander available.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 This is the cheaper model of the Galaxy Watch 4 models. It has all the features you need in a fitness watch, but it lacks the rotating bezel and stainless steel weight of the Watch 4 Classic. The Watch 4 is the only choice if you prefer the beautiful green color. Samsung: Starting at $250
Amazon: Starting at $220
Best Buy: Starting at $220
Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic: The Galaxy Watch 4 Classic, the flagship Samsung wearable, is made of stainless steel and features a rotating bezel. It also has all the great performance, tracking and longevity of the Galaxy Watch 4. Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic - $350
Amazon: Starting at $320
Samsung: Starting at $320
Review Changelog, Oct 2021. This article was first published in August 2021. The following modifications were made to the article in October 2021. Section updated with price and availability.
Information about the Thome Browne Edition is included
The new Maison Kitsun edition was also mentioned.
Changelog added
