Buying guide for best Samsung watches
Samsung is a heavy hitter in electronics so it’s no surprise that they produce some of the best smartwatches. A smartwatch is an excellent tool for keeping track of time and gaining insight into your overall health. They’re perfect for anyone with an active lifestyle who wants to monitor their heart rate, calories burned, steps, blood oxygen and sleep patterns.
A Samsung smartwatch can also serve as an extension of your smartphone. For example, you can access the GPS if the smartwatch supports LTE connectivity and listen to saved music from Spotify and connect your watch to wireless headphones. Other phone-related smartwatch functions include receiving notifications from apps and sending text messages.
The BestReviews Testing Lab tested the Galaxy Watch5, the latest Samsung smartwatch, and we can’t recommend it highly enough. We love it for its crisp, responsive touch screen, its fashionable design and the accuracy of tracked health metrics. It’s easy to set up, the battery life is terrific and the case is durable.
Our list: The best Samsung watches
If you want the latest Samsung smartwatch, you’ll want to snag the Galaxy Watch5. The BestReviews testing team thoroughly analyzed and tested its features and functions, and we’re pleased to say it’s one of the best smartwatches on the market that’s both fashionable and suitable for those with an active lifestyle.
We love this smartwatch for its easy setup and other fantastic features, including the highly responsive touch screen and advanced sleep tracker. We were pleasantly surprised to discover that it was more accurate when counting steps than other high-end smartwatches.
The battery can last up to 50 hours on a full charge, which is better than some other smartwatches, and the GPS provides a precise map of outdoor running or jogging sessions. Also, you can send text messages from this watch with pre-set responses and emojis or by typing a new message on the keyboard.
The Galaxy Watch4 is an older model, but it’s only one generation behind the latest Samsung smartwatches, making it an excellent bargain pick. It boasts many of the same premium features as most high-end smartwatches, including continuous sleep tracking and blood-oxygen tracking. You’ll also be able to get readings of body fat, skeletal muscle, body water, basal metabolic rate and more.
It automatically recognizes specific exercises after three minutes, and you can connect to live coaching sessions to maximize your workouts. The VO2 max tracker helps you assess your lung and heart endurance, and you can access voice assistants such as Bixby and Google Assistant to manage music, get live weather updates and more. Plus, it supports LTE connectivity, meaning you can leave your phone behind and still listen to your favorite tunes or use the GPS on the go.
Those who want a fashionable smartwatch with premium features and functions will not be disappointed with the Galaxy Watch4 Classic. This was the first smartwatch to incorporate body composition analysis that provides readings on body fat, skeletal muscle, body water and more. The 46-millimeter case size is slightly bulky for a smartwatch, but its highly durable build is perfect for those passionate about extreme sports or outdoor adventures.
The battery life is one of the most impressive features of this smartwatch, as you’ll get up to 70 hours on standby time. The Super AMOLED screen is crisp and highly responsive, and the processor is fast and keeps the watch running smoothly even when multiple apps are open.
We understand if you prefer one of the latest Samsung smartwatches, but you can still get the Galaxy Watch3, and it’s an excellent smartwatch for the price. We recommend it to anyone with an active lifestyle who wants to keep track of various health metrics but doesn’t mind sacrificing some features you might get with a newer model.
This watch is available in three colors: pink, black and gray, and you can text, stream music and receive notifications. The military-grade durability and water-resistant build make it suitable for activities such as swimming and winter sports. ECG records can be shared as a PDF with your healthcare provider, and the automatic sleep tracker provides insights into your sleep patterns. Plus, Bixby can read your texts for you, and you can set up Samsung Pay with your credit and debit cards.
The Galaxy Watch5 Pro is similar to the entry-level Galaxy Watch5, but some significant differences might sway your preference. If you’re okay with the price of $500, you’ll get a state-of-the-art smartwatch with plenty of advanced features and functions and improved battery life.
The Galaxy Watch5 Pro has a bulkier design than the Galaxy Watch5, but since it’s made of titanium, it has a lightweight feel and offers superior durability. You’ll get all of the same features with this smartwatch as you would with the Galaxy Watch5, but there are some premium features you’ll only get with this model. That includes navigating to a specific point on the GPS map and a backtrack feature that lets you find your way back to your starting point should you get lost.
This smartwatch boasts a straightforward design that makes it perfect for those who want something sleek and stylish for various occasions. Like most smartwatches, you can track multiple health metrics, including steps, distance, calories burned and more, and you’ll also receive an alert if the watch detects a low or high rate that’s out of your normal range.
The sleep tracker is a helpful feature for those who want to monitor their sleep patterns and gain insight into how to get better quality sleep. This watch automatically tracks activities such as cycling and swimming, and you can manually track several pre-set exercises. You can stream content and music from Youtube and Spotify and sync your smartwatch with iOS and Android devices.
How we tested
After researching what each Samsung smartwatch offers, we tested the Samsung Galaxy Watch5 to see how it did in the following areas.
Ease of use
- Setup: We connected the smartwatch to a smartphone via Bluetooth and analyzed how easy the band is to put on and adjust.
- Display: We tested the responsiveness and sensitivity of the screen by navigating menus and using the primary swiping function.
- Interface: The swipe setting was used to access settings and apps.
Functions
- Health tracking: We tested sleep tracking and monitored heart rate during light exercises to determine the accuracy of readings compared to other smartwatches.
- GPS: We tested the accuracy of the GPS and analyzed the map it provided following an outdoor run.
Advanced features
- Texting: We sent text messages using the pop-up keyboard, pre-set messages and emojis.
- Body composition analysis: We ran diagnostics to determine several aspects of body composition, including body fat, body water, body mass index and metabolic rate.
What to know before buying a Samsung smartwatch
Fitness
Samsung smartwatches feature robust fitness tracking to keep up with health data like heart rate, daily steps and burned calories. However, some smartwatches work much better for highly active users. These watches focus less on a flashy face or stylish wristband and instead highlight features such as deep-dive water resistance or built-in applications that track biking and running routes.
Daily use
Samsung smartwatches for daily wear mix all the cool features you get from a smartwatch with a classic or elegant design, sometimes making it impossible to tell if you’re wearing a smartwatch. Many of these watches have a customizable wristband that ranges from sporty to leather. You can enjoy all of the standard smartwatch features except for some sport-specific features like deep-dive water resistance.
Size
There are two ways size is measured in a smartwatch. For styles with a round face, generally for everyday use, the face is measured in millimeters. Samsung smartwatches range from 42 to 49 millimeters, while the standard strap size is 22 millimeters wide.
Android vs. iOS
All Samsung smartwatches are compatible with current Android smartphones. However, if you own an iPhone and want to enjoy the stylish design of a Samsung smartwatch, you can — but with a catch. Samsung smartwatches will pair with Apple’s iPhone, but the functionality will be limited. Many useful features and applications require Android’s specific software to work. Outside of taking calls and sending texts, if you pair an iPhone with a Samsung smartwatch, you’ll likely be left with a pretty basic, albeit fashionable, smartwatch.
Samsung smartwatch features
Customization
Samsung smartwatches offer the ability to customize the applications, what you see on the face and the look. Many products allow you to replace the wristband to give you more options regarding how the watch feels and looks on your wrist.
Built-in speakers and mic
Built-in speakers and a microphone are very popular features on most Samsung smartwatches. You’ll be able to store and play music from your smartwatch, but if your device doesn’t have speakers, you’ll need to sync a Bluetooth headset to it. Most Bluetooth headsets are compatible with Samsung smartwatches.
FAQ
Q. How much does a Samsung smartwatch cost?
A. Entry-level smartwatches cost $150-$250 and offer basic functions such as health tracking and water resistance. However, if you want a high-end smartwatch with highly customizable faces and wristbands, waterproof bodies and advanced tracking software, you can expect to spend up to $500.
Q. Do Samsung smartwatches have their own GPS module, or does it use a phone’s?
A. Samsung smartwatches use their own GPS module and pair with your phone, which makes it useful for personal tracking and keeping tabs on your phone’s location.
Q. What’s the difference between Bluetooth and LTE versions?
A. Bluetooth-only Samsung smartwatches require your phone to deliver information to you. LTE versions need you to sign up for a separate wireless data plan so the smartwatch can send and receive information independently of your phone. Your phone could be miles away or off, and you’ll still receive data this way.
Q. Can I download videos, photos or music directly to my smartwatch?
A. You’ll need to download media to your phone first, and then you can transfer it to your smartwatch.
