Rating with opinion and characteristics

We tested Samsung’s latest smartwatch, now with WearOS built-in. Here’s what you should know about the Galaxy Watch 4.

Finally, the moment many of us have been waiting for came: Samsung ditched Tizen and took the plunge carry operating system as the base operating system for the latest generation of the series’ smartwatch family Galaxy Watch 4.

We felt that integrating the Galaxy Watch 4 with Android running a Google-signed operating system would add value to previous versions of the Galaxy Watch family. And some of them are just those who thought so The Galaxy Watch 4 is the closest thing to the Google Pixel Watch yet You were wrong and will probably be a little disappointed.

That’s not to say the Watch 4 is a bad product, in fact it is in my opinion. Samsung’s best smartwatch yet, and the best part can be used together with an Android smartphone. But as much as Google was involved in developing its software, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 still is: Samsung smart watches.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 4, review and score

The price of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 and where to buy it

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 is available in different designs and sizes. In this case we were able to test the “normal” edition with a simpler and less classic look. After that it is like this cheapest model of the familywhose price is that Part from 269 euros.

The clock 40mm4 available in Bluetooth and LTE versions, at a price of 269 ​​or 319 euros.

For its part, the model that went through my wrist, with 44 millimeterspart of 299 euros only in its Bluetooth version and increases the price to 349 euros in the version with LTE connectivity.

As for the colors available, Samsung offers the new watch in finishes pink, black, silver and green. In addition, the company has a custom program called look at the studioThis allows you to choose the style of the watch through different combinations of strap and case.

Each of the models can be purchased through authorized dealers such as Amazonor via the official Samsung online store.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 4

Specification sheet Samsung Galaxy Watch 4

Where is the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4?

The Galaxy Watch 4 is the latest generation of Samsung’s smartwatch family. It is about a High-end smartwatchwhich competes directly with models like the new Apple Watch Series 7 or the Huawei Watch 3.

It’s also the first Samsung watch to run WearOS, the operating system for Google watches. With him also makes its debut WearOS version 3 freeDeveloped after a collaboration between Samsung and Google, aiming to build the ultimate smartwatch platform.

Unlike the “Classic” model, the Galaxy Watch 4 offers a cheapest model and with a less traditional style that is not used that way bonus in exchange for less weight and a simpler look.

It would be the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4’s closest competitor Apple watch series 7 in its aluminum version, despite the price of the Apple model It’s expensive, in addition to being only compatible with iPhone devices. With regard to the Huawei watch 3Although HarmonyOS is a very good choice for Huawei device owners, the limitations of HarmonyOS when working with non-Huawei smartphones may bother more than one.

design and presentation

The design of the Galaxy Watch 4 is based on what was learned when building the two models in the series Galaxy watch active. cooperate with someone simple and minimalist lookUnlike the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic, it lacks a rotating bezel, but it does have one touch bezel This allows you to control the clock interface by touching the edge of the screen.

a chassis, built from aluminumIt has a glossy finish on the top and bottom and a matte side where the two side buttons and the speaker. Incidentally, the latter results in a sound more than right when making phone calls and listening to music, especially considering the thinness of the watch.

One of the major changes from previous generations is the Remove screen curvatureso the watch is now included on one look more directly and not so accurate. In my opinion the change is for the better as it gives the watch a look more stylish and modern.

By default, the watch includes a silicone strap can be exchanged for any other with a standard closure, as long as it has a width of 20 millimeters. The strap that comes standard it is comfortable and it’s the right size, albeit not the silicone one, for the hand, just as we can find alongside watches like the Apple Watch.

How could it be otherwise, the Watch is protected against water, and is able to withstand immersion up to 50 meters. It also has military MIL-STD 810G certification and its screen is covered with glass. Gorilla Glass DX.

The screen is exactly one of this watch’s strengths. Samsung has once again proven its experience in the development of OLED panels and integrates e.g Outstanding display on the Galaxy Watch 4bright, sharp, colorful, and with viewing angles that allow you to see what’s on the screen from almost any angle.

It is easy Watch the screen outside, even when sunlight falls directly on the panel. In addition, it is important to emphasize this the automatic brightness control is effective in all casessomething not all smartwatches can boast of.

Method is of course included always displayed, which lets you keep the dashboard always on to quickly see the time, notifications, or other relevant information. Yes, enabling this mode will have some impact on watch battery life.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 screen reaches a maximum brightness that is more than sufficient to see the screen outside / Photo: Christian Collado

software and performance

With a Latest generation Exynos W920 processor, Housed in a 5-nanometer form factor and backed by 1.5GB of RAM – the most ever seen in a WearOS smartwatch – that’s no surprise The performance of the new Samsung watch is excellent.

Having tested and used a few watches with the Google operating system, I can assure you that even those with the Snapdragon Wear 4100 chip are not capable of it provide watch-level experience. In most cases, watches suffer when subjected to more stress than usual – for example, downloading different apps in the background or playing music during other actions. A problem I did not encounter in this test of the Samsung watch.

Much of the credit goes to Samsung for outfitting its watch with one Hardware never seen before in a smartwatch supported by Android. But there’s no doubt that the jump from Tizen to WearOS is one of the main reasons why this Galaxy Watch 4 performs in an exceptional way.

“Galaxy Watch 4 is a Samsung smartwatch aimed at Galaxy smartphone users with the goal of engaging the public with the South Korean company’s proprietary ecosystem.”

The Google software has evolved to: a good level of maturity in this version 3, with a more sophisticated interface that inherits some features from the Google Material You lines, with a more consistent operation when performing common actions, such as opening and closing applications or reading and replying to notifications.

The interface controls are simple and very similar to most smartwatches: gliding upwards from the sphere that we have access to app drawerleft to notifications, down to the quick settings menu and left to the custom maps, a classic WearOS feature introduced in previous editions. With that in mind, Samsung has included some of its own cards, although it’s possible use third-party applications, both from Google and other developers.

There is one change from previous generations of the watch purpose of the buttons which integrates the Galaxy Watch 4 into one of its sides. By touching the button above, I go backand with a quick double click we can return to the previously opened application and long press opens the system shutdown menu.

He in turn The bottom button is now used to return to the hometown, or long press to open Samsung Pay. And at least so far This shortcut cannot be changed to open Google Pay instead of Samsung’s mobile payment service.

And that’s no matter how much carry operating system one of the key features of this watch, the Galaxy Watch 4 It’s a Samsung smartwatchaimed at users of Galaxy smartphones with the aim of attracting the public to the South Korean company’s ecosystem.

Google probably had to compromise on several aspects when it came to convincing Samsung to switch to its watch platform for use in the Galaxy Watch 4 series. One of them was probably the fact that be able to customize the software with a series developed by Samsungjust like the company has been doing with its bag for years.

And that’s it The interface of the Galaxy Watch 4 has hardly changed compared to the Galaxy Watch 3 with Tizen. All elements have an aesthetic with the scent of One UI, the same Samsung applications are Calendar, Clock, Time or Contacts to name a few and there are: Bixby is still the default virtual assistant –There’s no way to replace it with Google Assistant, at least so far–.

“The only clear advantage we found when running WearOS instead of Tizen on this watch was the variety of apps and watch faces.”

Actually at the time of Connect the watch to our smartphoneIt is not even necessary to resort to the WearOS application: the connection is made through it Galaxy wearablesand if you don’t have a Samsung Galaxy smartphone, get rid of it You need to install some additional apps on your mobile phone to fully use your watchOf a plugins specific to the Galaxy Watch 4, for Samsung Health.

For all that, probably the Experiences with the watch can disappoint more than one. Especially for those who trusted that this smartwatch would offer an experience much closer to what Google thinks an Android smartwatch should be.

In fact, the only clear advantage we find is that this smartwatch uses WearOS instead of Tizen Variety of existing applications and fieldsand in the highest quality of these in relation to the one that existed on the Samsung App Store.

For the first time since the Galaxy Watch series, users can like apps Google Maps, Google Pay or a working version of Spotifyamong many others.

I was able to do the first part of the test of this watch with a Samsung smartphone – Galaxy Z Flip3 to be precise – and the second with an Android smartphone from another company – bearing in mind that the Galaxy Watch 4 is compatible with iPhone– . And of course, The experience was much more satisfying, consistent and smooth when the smartwatch has been paired with a Samsung phone.

In the second part of the test, the restrictions imposed by Samsung border to a certain extent and make me want to see What WearOS can really add to the Android-based smartwatch ecosystemand whether Google is capable of building the watch platform that many of us have been waiting for for years.

Samsung’s new customization layer on WearOS includes an app drawer with a style similar to the Apple Watch / Image: Christian Collado

autonomy

Samsung suggests that the watch can access the two days of independence with “normal use”. The clock is the most common in practice durability with life for a day and a halfespecially when features like Always on Screen remain active.

It’s autonomous Standard, maybe a little above averagebut a far cry from what other simpler smartwatches like these Amazfit or Huawei models prior to the Huawei Watch 3 offering represent.

As for the burden Samsung keeps the wireless charging system, charger included in the box next to the watch. Load times range from an hour and an hour and a quarter 100% can be reached because the battery is completely discharged.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 charges wirelessly using Qi technology / Image: Christian Collado

health and sports functions

Software aside, the article by monitoring of health and physical activity still undoubtedly the aspect in which This watch has evolved compared to the previous generation.

“The clock can determine what percentage of our body is fat, what percentage is muscle mass, and what percent water.”

In addition to the classic functions – automatic sleep monitoring, heart rate monitoring, GPS route recording, calorie counter or sports monitor with up to 95 different activities – these are integrated new function is intended to help the user to find information what is your physical form.

One of the most notable is the Calculate body composition, a more useful and appropriate measure for knowing a person’s state of fitness than the classic muscle mass index. Thanks to this function, the clock can determine What percentage of our body is made up of fat, how much muscle mass and what percentage of water?As well as calculating basal metabolic rate – the amount of calories the body needs to carry out its vital functions.

To calculate these measurements, the watch uses a series of electromagnetic impedance sensorslocated on the side buttons and can releases an electrical signal throughout the body to measure impedance and provide a rough estimate of the user’s body composition.

The activity and health data management of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 is done via Samsung Health / Image: Christian Collado

Always remember that these measurements should not be taken as valid data for diagnosis, the truth is The information generated is closer to reality than I expected, and are details that may be useful for those who want to keep more or less complete control than usual. This is required before proceeding with the analysis Complete our personal profile on Samsung Healthincluding details such as age, gender, weight and height.

To do this, we need to add more functions, such as the control the menstrual cycle or the electrocardiogram, as well as the measurement of stress or blood oxygen –SpO2–. In general it is one of the the most complete wearable in terms of health and activity tracking.

Although more complete doesn’t always mean better. Sometimes the Data collected by the Galaxy Watch 4 very different from those found by others outfit focuses on health, particularly in relation to Calories burned, distances or steps taken. Comparing the Galaxy Watch 4 with Xiaomi Mi Band 5 and Huawei Watch 3, Samsung’s model has always tended to understate data in relation to the other two outfit.

On the other hand, the Samsung Health policy and the application’s use of sensitive data for example the user’s physical condition or their sleeping habits, which are not fully clear in the Samsung Health documentation visible to the user.

The possibility is always there Ignore Samsung Health completely and the rest of Samsung’s health and activity services and use an alternative like GoogleFit. However, Samsung still does not allow this Sync data from your platform to Google’sand it only provides the ability to link other third-party services such as Strava.

This device has been thoroughly tested Independently thanks to a move of the brand. The article contains purchase links for which Andro4all may receive a commission. take part to the market channel Andro4all to find out about the best deals before anyone else.