Does it matter if a smartwatch is boring so long as it’s good?
That’s the query I’ve been pondering as I examined the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 over the previous couple of weeks. Putting apart the return of the Classic’s snazzy rotating bezel, the mainline mannequin has a minor efficiency improve, a helpful show increase, and a modestly thinner design. All welcome modifications, however nothing to set the creativeness on hearth.
With few software program modifications, a worse battery, and no new well being sensors, the Galaxy Watch 6 appears like an iterative replace. But for the reason that Galaxy Watch 5 was one of the best Android smartwatch of the previous yr, does it make sense to demand Samsung make thrilling modifications from a template that works? Or ought to we settle for that the Galaxy Watch, just like the Apple Watch, will not change a lot from yr to yr now that Samsung has its successful components?
Perhaps the attention-grabbing query is whether or not or not the return of the Classic will stick. Will folks want the fashionable rotating bezel or miss the epic battery lifetime of the Watch 5 Pro? Because the Galaxy Watch 6’s battery life is one in every of its extra noticeable drawbacks.
Samsung despatched me the Galaxy Watch 6 40mm and 47mm Galaxy Watch 6 Classic, so I may give you my impressions of the smallest and largest choices in its 2023 lineup. Aside from evaluating the capacitive vs. bodily bezel expertise for navigation, I’ll advocate one show dimension over the opposite that can assist you make your individual buy and assist Watch 5 house owners resolve whether or not or not it’s value upgrading.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 evaluate: Price and availability
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 and Watch 6 Classic launched on July 26 and went on sale on August 11, 2023. The customary Galaxy Watch 6 is available in 40mm ($299/£289) and 44mm ($329/£319), whereas the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic ships in 43mm ($399/£369) and 47mm ($429/£399).
All 4 sizes supply a $50 4G LTE improve, with help for Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, and USCellular within the U.S. So your mobile pricing will vary from $349/£339 to $479/£459 relying on which dimension you select.
Samsung is providing a $50 on the spot trade-in credit score or as much as $250 off with an eligible smartwatch trade-in for the Galaxy Watch 6, with one of the best worth for the Apple Watch Series 8 ($250) or Galaxy Watch 5 Pro ($200). Outside of Apple and Samsung, different watch manufacturers like Fossil and Garmin get you simply $50 credit score irrespective of how a lot you paid for them.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 evaluate: Watch 6 vs. Watch 6 Classic
Before we dive into this Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 and Watch 6 Classic evaluate, I need to clarify upfront why we selected to cowl each in a single evaluate as an alternative of breaking them aside: they’re so related that writing two critiques could be needlessly repetitive.
| Category | Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 | Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 1.3-inch (432 x 432), 1.5-inch (480×480) Super AMOLED | 1.3-inch (432 x 432), 1.5-inch (480×480) Super AMOLED |
| Processor | Samsung Exynos W930 (1.4GHz) | Samsung Exynos W930 (1.4GHz) |
| RAM | 2GB | 2GB |
| Storage | 16GB | 16GB |
| Battery | 300mAh / 425mAh | 300mAh / 425mAh |
| Wireless charging | Yes | Yes |
| Sensors | Samsung BioActive Sensor (Optical Heart Rate + Electrical Heart Signal + Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis), Temperature Sensor, Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyro Sensor, Geomagnetic Sensor, Light Sensor | Samsung BioActive Sensor (Optical Heart Rate + Electrical Heart Signal + Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis), Temperature Sensor, Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyro Sensor, Geomagnetic Sensor, Light Sensor, 3D Hall sensor |
| Connectivity | LTE (non-obligatory), Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi 2.4/5GHz, NFC, GPS/ GLONASS/ GALILEO/ Beidou | LTE (non-obligatory), Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi 2.4/5GHz, NFC, GPS/ GLONASS/ GALILEO/ Beidou |
| Durability | 5ATM, IP68, MIL-STD-810H | 5ATM, IP68, MIL-STD-810H |
| Materials | Aluminum, Sapphire Crystal Glass | Stainless Steel, Sapphire Crystal Glass |
| Dimensions | 38.8 x 40.4 x 9.0 mm; 42.8 x 44.4 x 9.0 mm | 42.5 x 42.5 x 10.9 mm; 46.5 x 46.5 x 10.9 mm |
| Weight (w/out strap) | 28.7g; 33.3g | 52g; 59g |
| Colors | Graphite, Gold (40mm); Graphite, Silver (44mm) | Black, Silver (43mm, 47mm) |
As you may see from the specs desk above, the Galaxy Watch 6 and 6 Classic resemble each other in virtually each manner. They share the identical efficiency, reminiscence, show sizes and high quality, protecting options, battery capability, and well being sensors.
The $100 surcharge you pay for the Classic is solely for the rotating bezel — which is tracked by way of the distinctive 3D Hall sensor — the improve from aluminum to stainless-steel, and the extra “basic” look. You even have to simply accept the considerably heavier weight and fewer colours as trade-offs.
Outside of the Design and Display sections, my Watch 6 and Watch 6 Classic critiques would learn almost identically. So I’m saving you a while and merging the 2.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 evaluate: Hardware and design
- The new Exynos chip and further RAM provides a modest however helpful improve
- The Watch 6 Classic’s rotating bezel is satisfying to make use of, for those who can settle for the heavier, thicker design
- Samsung improved the Watch 6’s capacitive bezel in comparison with the final technology
- My favourite watch band is Samsung’s Hybrid Leather T
After utilizing the identical Exynos W920 chip and 1.5GB of RAM for the final two watch generations, Samsung gave the Galaxy Watch 6 a minor improve with the Exynos W930. It has the identical Cortex-A55 dual-core processor, solely clocked to 1.4GHz, up from 1.18GHz. And it runs off of 2GB of RAM as an alternative of 1.5GB.
Looking within the Galaxy Wearable app’s watch settings, I discover that, by default, the Watch 6 makes use of over half of its reminiscence whereas idle, climbing to about 1.4GB of RAM with a couple of dozen core background apps. I have not but made the watch attain its full capability, and I not often see any slowdown aside from when the watch first wakes up.
I introduced out my Galaxy Watch 5 Pro to see how a lot of a efficiency hole the brand new Exynos provides. On the floor, it’s actually not a lot. I known as its pace “blazing” final yr, and it nonetheless opens up apps and glides by way of Tiles with virtually no lag. But there are noticeable moments when, for example, you scroll by way of Tiles with the capacitive bezel, and it takes a second for the watch to catch up, leaping by way of just a few apps directly.
With the Galaxy Watch 6, apps open ever-so-slightly sooner, and while you scroll by way of apps, issues look much less jittery as a result of it correctly exhibits the transition as one app leaves the display screen and one other seems. It’s solely a minor distinction, however on the Watch 6 particularly, it makes utilizing the capacitive bezel a lot simpler; instantly how far you have scrolled, so you do not overshoot a selected app.
Compared to the Galaxy Watch 5, the Watch 6 design is barely skinnier than earlier than. It’s not really 9mm, identical to the Watch 5 wasn’t 9.8mm thick. Samsung measures its watches with out taking the well being sensor under consideration as for those who may simply take that off for those who wished. In fact, the Watch 6, Watch 5, and Watch 6 Classic are about 12mm, 13mm, and 15mm thick, respectively.
The Galaxy Watch 6 40mm nonetheless has that hard-edged cylindrical look. Even although it’s slimmer than ever, it nonetheless appears a bit thick as a result of it does not have comfortable, tapered edges like an Apple Watch. But it feels positively light-weight in comparison with the health watches I’m used to, and Samsung deserves credit score for trending thinner whereas including extra energy below the hood — even when it’s truthfully not essentially the most engaging watch.
Like the Watch 5, the Galaxy Watch 6 has military-grade safety towards shock injury, IP68 water and dirt resistance, and Sapphire Glass show safety. It’s not one thing I need to take a look at with evaluate unit, however as all the time, it’s a aid to know your watch ought to face up to minor knocks and splashes from on a regular basis life.
Then you may have the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic. The textured rotating bezel provides a bit of sophistication to its look, with the added bonus of sitting above the show and defending it from gentle scratches — whereas the totally flat Watch 6 depends totally on its Sapphire Glass materials.
That being stated, the Classic is each heavy and noticeable in your wrist, about on par with the Garmin watches I put on recurrently. It appears rather a lot nicer than a plastic-heavy Garmin watch, due to the stainless-steel case, however it additionally weighs much more.
As tacky as it sounds, the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic appears hella stylish. But maintain the receipt for those who purchase one, in case you resolve you may’t deal with the burden. That particularly applies to the 47mm mannequin, which supplies you a ton of show area.
As a ultimate level, I a lot want the Hybrid Leather T band that comes with the Watch 6 Classic to the usual Sport band on my Watch 6. Every time I placed on the Watch 6 and need to shove the band into the loop, tugging at my arm hair, I get irritated. By distinction, the hybrid leather-based feels nicer on my pores and skin than silicone, and adjusting the match with a T band is way simpler. I like to recommend selecting that possibility for those who can.
Capacitive bezel or bodily bezel?
I by no means thought I’d say this after disliking the capacitive bezel a lot on the Watch 5 Pro. But in some way, Samsung appears to have made the Galaxy Watch 6’s digital bezel way more useable.
I anticipated the other as a result of the newly enlarged show leaves a smaller border edge so that you can slide your finger. But together with the extra responsive Exynos chip — and the snug haptics that calmly buzz your wrist everytime you’ve slid to the following Tile — the bezel’s contact recognition simply appears to work higher than I bear in mind. You can slide your fingertip proper alongside the underside edge and get an on the spot response, largely leaving your view of the show intact.
It is not an ideal resolution. It requires you to pay attention and be very deliberate, making it extra distracting than simply turning a digital crown or bodily bezel. And it’s unreliable throughout exercises when your fingers get sweaty. But it’s not as a lot of a draw back as we described it in our Watch 5 evaluate.
The actual star of the present is, in fact, the rotating bezel, now 15% thinner than the one on the Watch 4 Classic.
As good as Samsung’s capacitive hack is, it cannot compete with the actual factor for accuracy, with a satisfying, barely audible click on each time you flip it to the following Tile or menu. The quantity of resistance ensures you do not by chance flip it too far, both.
Some folks should still want the capacitive bezel as a result of it has a well-known touchscreen-esque management scheme and since you need to use one finger to scroll rapidly as an alternative of two fingers to show the rotating bezel in deliberate motions. Plus, the Classic watches are a lot heavier, making the 47mm mannequin particularly unsuitable for smaller wrists.
But for those who do not thoughts heavier watches, the rotating bezel provides the Watch 6 Classic a modern look and a management scheme you may all the time depend on. For folks upgrading from the Watch 5 (which is so just like the Watch 6), the bezel is without doubt one of the solely causes to improve.
Otherwise, for those who want the Watch 6’s extra sporty look and cheaper price, the capacitive downgrade is not as dangerous as I feared.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 evaluate: Display
- Narrower borders make the Watch 6 shows look higher than ever
- The 1.3-inch mannequin provides you extra display screen actual property than typical small watches supply
- The 1.5-inch mannequin is simply too heavy for some however is a visible deal with
- The doubled brightness rating makes the Watch 6 totally seen in direct daylight
Both the Galaxy Watch 6 and Watch 6 Classic have two AMOLED show dimension choices: 1.3 inches with a 432 x 432 decision or 1.5 inches with a 480 x 480 decision.
Compared to the final technology, the pixels-per-inch ratio is basically the identical. The distinction is that Samsung shrunk the show border by 30%, utilizing the area extra effectively. There’s now solely a couple of millimeter of unused area left on the Watch 6; on the Watch 6 Classic, that area is generally coated up by the rotating bezel, so it appears just like the textual content goes proper up towards the sting.
Another change is that the Watch 6 hits a max of two,000 nits of brightness outside, twice as shiny because the 1,000-nit customary we have seen on most Android smartwatches.
All in all, these watches are shiny however adaptable to your environment, simply readable due to the dense pixel ratio, and with a pleasantly skinny border that places the Pixel Watch to disgrace.
The solely actual query is, must you purchase a 1.3-inch Galaxy Watch 6 (Classic) or pay $30 additional for the 1.5-inch improve?
Because of the slender border, the 1.3-inch Watch 6 is dainty sufficient to work for skinny wrists however is not as a lot of a visible downgrade as most watches this dimension. You can nonetheless learn giant parts of textual content with out straining your eyes; you may even sort on the QWERTY keyboard, although it’s important to be very cautious along with your hunt-and-peck typing.
You do not want a 1.5-inch show, in different phrases. But I will not attempt to dissuade anybody who prefers getting the biggest display screen doable. My 1.5-inch Watch 6 Classic is simpler to learn textual content with out bringing the watch nearer to your face, leaves extra room for QWERTY typing, and arguably appears extra trendy, whereas the 1.3-inch mannequin appears a bit unnaturally small.
In the tip, despite the fact that Samsung despatched me the 1.3-inch GW6 and 1.5-inch GW6 Classic, I believe I’d advocate you take into account the inverse: the 1.5-inch GW6 or 1.3-inch GW6 Classic. If you want additional show area, select the watch that will not crush your wrist; in any other case, in order for you that rotating bezel, the 1.3-inch mannequin will not really feel fairly as heavy. But ultimately, that is solely as much as desire.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 evaluate: Health monitoring
- No new well being sensors, however passive coronary heart price monitoring added
- Your outcomes actually depend upon how tightly you put on the watch
- BIA readings are persistently inaccurate
Samsung did not add any new well being sensors to the Galaxy Watch 6, however possibly that is for one of the best. It took eight months to activate the Galaxy Watch 5’s unique temperature sensor — which I discovered does not work very properly on the 6 — and its BIA sensor’s blood stress monitoring nonetheless hasn’t gotten FDA approval within the U.S. Unless Samsung lastly provides that rumored glucose monitor from just a few years again, it’s onerous to assume what different sensors Samsung may add or how medically correct they might be.
Instead, Samsung targeted on utilizing its coronary heart price information extra successfully. It added FDA-approved passive coronary heart price rhythm notifications — along with the lively ECG readings it’s provided for a few years — and particular person coronary heart price zones for exercises based mostly in your max coronary heart price.
Like final yr, Samsung made the irritating selection to order its ECG information for its Samsung Health Monitor app, unique to Samsung telephones. The app itself is beneficial and easy, categorizing your readings into sinus rhythm, AFib, or inconclusive/poor recording so you may see and obtain your coronary heart well being historical past to indicate your physician. I simply want Samsung had stored this instrument in Samsung Health for all Play Store customers.
It’s not a superb look to inform folks they’re going to solely learn how wholesome their coronary heart is by shopping for a Galaxy telephone — although at the least Samsung’s walled-garden tendencies aren’t almost as dangerous as Apple’s. Most different Galaxy Watch 6 options and software program are Android-agnostic.
Generally talking, I’ve discovered the Galaxy Watch 6 and 6 Classic’s coronary heart price information to be extremely correct, at the least when it comes to beats per minute, in comparison with watches with extremely correct HR sensors like my Garmin Forerunner 965. It does lag within the context of fast-paced runs, as I’ll focus on within the subsequent part, however that is an issue with most optical HRMs, and it will nonetheless get to the suitable end result ultimately.
Occasionally, both Galaxy Watch would give me sub-60 coronary heart price information after I thought it was correctly comfortable on my wrist, forcing me to regulate. But it does not occur too usually.
Stress readings based mostly on coronary heart price variance (HRV) additionally appear pretty correct to my real-life stress. But my issues arose from the different Galaxy Watch 6 well being sensors, particularly at night time.
First, after two nights of sleep checks with the Galaxy Watch 6, I noticed that my physique temperature had dipped to 90º and largely stayed under 95º, which Google tells me means I had gentle hypothermia on heat summer season nights. I believe the brand new ceiling fan we put in is throwing issues off, and Samsung is having hassle separating exterior and pores and skin temperatures.
Samsung’s sensors aren’t tremendous correct and will result in some anxiousness.
Next, it warned me that my blood oxygen had dipped to 89–90% just a few instances in a single day, a warning signal for sleep apnea. Last yr, my Galaxy Watch 5 Pro sleep take a look at was worse, telling me I had hit 84% (suggesting I wanted hospitalization); however that watch was infamous for its loose-fitting watch band, whereas the Galaxy Watch 6 has a seemingly comfortable match.
I’m not in danger for sleep apnea at my age. But my Galaxy Watch’s SpO2 studying despatched me right into a tailspin of medical anxiousness till I may discover different information to assuage me. So I examined blood oxygen ranges with a few different watches the following night time and obtained a mean of 95–96%, by no means dipping under 93%.
Basically, regardless of Samsung’s “new and improved” sleep teaching, I can not belief what its AI coach will say as a result of I can not be sure the watch will keep seated correctly on my wrist to present correct outcomes. It’s a disgrace as a result of the Galaxy Watch 6’s spot SpO2 readings appear completely correct throughout the day.
The Watch 6’s physique composition instrument wildly exaggerated my physique fats share in comparison with what my Withings and Renpho sensible scales estimate — a distinction of 4–5%, relying on the studying.
Samsung claims its watches have medically-accurate physique composition information, whereas some sensible scales are inclined to barely underestimate physique fats percentages. But the Galaxy Watch 6 physique fats and muscle percentages can fluctuate by 1% taken only one minute aside. Worse, after I took one other morning studying per week later after having misplaced somewhat weight, Samsung claimed my fats share had climbed one other 2%. Apparently, Samsung thinks all of my operating burned off pure muscle.
When Samsung launched the BIA sensor with the Galaxy Watch 4, our reviewer talked about his fears that individuals who wrestle with weight points may overuse the physique composition characteristic. Two years later, that feels particularly prescient: the Galaxy Watch 6 made me really feel worse about my physique within the midst of my weight reduction objectives and did not even have the accuracy to validate my enchancment. You’d assume Samsung would have fine-tuned its algorithm by now.
Ultimately, the Galaxy Watch 6 has the guts price accuracy and monitoring that issues; every part else — temperature, blood oxygen, and physique composition — provides Samsung one thing to brag about on spec sheets however most likely works higher in lab situations than in real-life environments. I remorse even attempting a few of them; they are not making me more healthy, solely extra anxious due to information I can not even belief.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 evaluate: Fitness
- Personalized coronary heart price zones for operating give helpful (however restricted) insights
- GPS monitoring and new Track Run mode are unreliable
- The lighter Galaxy Watch 6 is way more snug for operating, however the Classic’s bezel makes itself helpful
After I reviewed the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro and located it did not have sufficient unique health methods to fulfill me, I hoped the Watch 6 sequence would rectify that. Turns out, it’s a little bit of a blended bag.
On the plus facet, it provides personalised coronary heart price zones to the operating widget for customized exercises, letting the Galaxy Watch 6 buzz your wrist everytime you hit or stray out of your goal zone. You may also goal a particular distance or tempo or arrange intervals of customized lengths previous to a run; you simply cannot save these exercises or program them in your telephone first, which might be barely simpler than swiping on a small watch display screen.
As I famous in my preliminary Galaxy Watch 6 health take a look at, these coronary heart price zones are calculated based mostly in your max registered coronary heart price in 10% segments. Other manufacturers allow you to use lactate threshold or coronary heart price reserve information as an alternative or edit your zone percentages to raised match what depth degree you need for fat-burning or anaerobic actions. But at the least Samsung is making an effort, and I count on extra Samsung Health health updates are coming.
You additionally get pleasure from third-party Wear OS apps like Strava, Komoot, and Map My Run — all apps {that a} typical operating watch from Garmin, Fitbit, or Polar would by no means help. Whichever operating app you favor, the Galaxy Watch 6 allows you to use it straight as an alternative of getting to export with an middleman like Health Sync.
Now for the downsides.
The Galaxy Watch 5 Pro has an unique Routes Tile that permits you to obtain offline maps from Samsung’s GPX File Database and comply with these programs for operating, strolling, biking, or mountain climbing. The solely downside is, Samsung did not make this characteristic obtainable on the Galaxy Watch 6 sequence. I’m genuinely uncertain why, however my hunch is that Samsung needs to maintain Routes unique as a gross sales tactic. For athletes who need the latest-gen Galaxy Watch 6, it’s a disgrace to overlook out.
Samsung did add one new exercise to the Galaxy Watch 6: Track Run. It allows you to choose a lane and begin operating loops, utilizing GPS monitoring to create and keep in mind that monitor for future exercises. It’s one other long-overdue characteristic, however one which (up to now) does not work in addition to it ought to.
The Galaxy Watch sequence has by no means been particularly correct for GPS monitoring. It does not help a number of GNS techniques or dual-frequency GPS to deal with sign obstructions. But even in uncovered areas the place the GPS sign must be sturdy, the Watch 6 (and Watch 5 Pro earlier than it) simply cannot comply with a run correctly.
I ran two one-mile exercises in Lane 1 of a neighborhood monitor utilizing the Track Run exercise, sporting the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic on one wrist and my Garmin Forerunner 965 with multi-band monitoring on the opposite. In each circumstances, Samsung tracked me operating throughout lanes like a maniac, regardless of there being no close by tree cowl or buildings which may trigger GPS disruption. Garmin, in the meantime, tracked me in Lane 1 throughout eight laps with no issues.
The Galaxy Watch 6’s monitoring points additionally apply to straightforward GPS runs. My operating maps persistently present me properly off of sidewalks into site visitors or close by homes, and after I make sharp turns or zig-zags, it merely throws a straight line between the place I began and completed moderately than really monitoring my actual motion.
GPS monitoring apart, my common coronary heart price rating throughout each watches was both similar or one bpm off throughout 4 completely different runs. Looking on the coronary heart price graphs in Garmin Connect vs. Samsung Health, they’re pretty related in how they want a little bit of time to register elevated effort and lift coronary heart price information accordingly — and Samsung may be barely slower.
The larger downside is that the GPS inaccuracies make the watch underestimate your complete distance, so hitting 10K with the Galaxy Watch 6 took a minute longer than when my Garmin stated I hit it. If you solely care about exercise minutes and shutting rings, this is not a problem; however for runners who care about hitting a constant tempo, Samsung could push you more durable than you notice or choose your runs as worse than they actually have been.
Diving down into the main points, Samsung provides you superior operating metrics in Samsung Health — measuring asymmetry, contact/flight time, regularity, vertical, and stiffness — that may present some helpful insights. Unfortunately, some exercise information appears a bit wonky. It appears to persistently underestimate elevation information, for example. That’s one other space the place Samsung Health will not perceive why your coronary heart price obtained so excessive and provides you a decrease VO2 Max rating in consequence.
I’d nonetheless advocate shopping for the Galaxy Watch 6 or Watch 6 Classic for informal runners. Samsung Health has some nice couch-to-5K instruments and a Running Coach possibility that works properly sufficient for jogging and sluggish runs. I simply want Samsung would do extra to focus on severe runners with fast-paced packages just like Garmin Coach, however that is simply not Samsung’s focus proper now.
The query is, must you purchase the Galaxy Watch 6 for its lighter weight throughout runs, or the Classic for its rotating bezel?
I do like how the Classic’s rotating bezel allows you to skim by way of information with out worrying about sweaty fingertips. But its stainless-steel weight and the best way its design presses down towards your wrist bone might be distracting throughout runs. And sure key instruments, just like the pause/ restart exercise menu, cannot even be accessed by way of the bezel, which feels a bit like a missed alternative.
The Galaxy Watch 6 40mm, then again, feels satisfyingly gentle throughout runs in comparison with most cumbersome operating watch designs. Dealing with the capacitive bezel is not nice, however the saved 25g of weight would possibly make it definitely worth the trade-off.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 evaluate: Battery life and charging
- The 40-hour battery life estimate is beneficiant
- GPS-tracked actions take up about 25% per hour
- Sleep monitoring with SpO2/ temperature makes use of about 20–30% of the battery
- 300mAh/425mAh battery fashions take about 65/75 minutes to cost, with 50% in half-hour
Samsung estimates that the Galaxy Watch 6 lasts 40 hours, or 30 hours with the Always-On Display. In fact, after you cost the Galaxy Watch 6 to 100%, it’ll rapidly say within the Wearable app that you’ve 30 hours or much less, solely based mostly on background exercise from Samsung Health/Health Monitor and One UI Watch Home.
Since I largely examined the Galaxy Watch 6 and Watch 6 Classic individually, I’d usually depart one watch sitting on my desk, the place it would drain right down to nothing someplace within the 40-hour vary. Once you really begin utilizing your watch with particular options like steady coronary heart price detection, it dips under that even with out AOD lively.
You can sometimes make the Galaxy Watch 6 final a full day however not a lot past that with lively use. You’ll most likely need to persistently cost your watch proper earlier than or after mattress. And for those who’re somebody who recurrently makes use of GPS monitoring, you might want a number of expenses; only a single hour-long exercise — plus the automated stroll exercise that kicked in as I walked house — burned by way of about 25–30% of my Watch 6 Classic battery.
In different phrases, for those who evaluate the Watch 6 Classic vs. Watch 5 Pro, it’s clear the final technology’s 590mAh battery is sorely missed right here, even when the Classic wins in different areas.
Thankfully, charging the Galaxy Watch 6 sequence is satisfyingly quick. For the smaller 40mm mannequin with 300mAh capability, you may simply go from 0 to 50% in half-hour or 75% in 45 minutes. It solely begins to decelerate from this tempo as it will get near 100%, most likely as a battery-saving measure.
My 47mm Galaxy Watch 6 Classic with 425mAh capability takes about 10 to fifteen minutes longer to hit 100%, however you will nonetheless get a wholesome quantity of battery life in a half-hour. So for those who take it off when you bathe and prepare for mattress, you will have greater than sufficient juice for sleep monitoring by the point you are completed.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 evaluate: Competition
The two major opponents to the Galaxy Watch 6 will launch later this yr. Samsung beat Apple and Google to the punch, however the Apple Watch Series 9 and Pixel Watch 2 will present an actual problem in 2023.
The Galaxy Watch 6 vs. Apple Watch Series 8 information I wrote goes into the primary variations towards Apple’s 2022 mannequin. Apple provides extra storage, a sq. show that leaves extra room for widgets, and a powerful watchOS ecosystem of first- and third-party apps. Gripping the Apple Watch’s crown is not as snug as twisting the Classic’s rotating bezel, however it does assist make it considerably lighter.
Leaks counsel the Apple Watch Series 9 might be “principally unchanged,” as Apple has fallen into the identical iterative sample for watch releases as Samsung. But it will have a long-overdue efficiency improve for the primary time for the reason that Series 6. Most possible, except for Apple’s typical subpar battery efficiency, the Series 9 will greater than sustain with Samsung’s Exynos W930 chip for {hardware}.
Then you may have the Google Pixel Watch 2. Even although Google’s unique Pixel Watch wasn’t a mega-bestseller just like the Galaxy Watch 5, it has its followers amongst Android customers for its trendy edge-to-edge show, Fitbit integration, helpful haptic crown, and quick efficiency.
Google was caught with a last-gen Exynos processor with the Pixel Watch as a result of it taking literal years to develop and launch it. But the Pixel Watch 2 allegedly sports activities an ultra-fast Snapdragon W5 Gen 1, which may give the brand new mannequin an edge over the Galaxy Watch 6. It’ll additionally allegedly help Material You theming, giving it that Google taste that lovers of Pixels and inventory Android will respect.
Otherwise, exterior of those main smartwatch releases, you might need to look extra intently at health smartwatches as an alternative. Something just like the Garmin Forerunner 265 offers you a big downgrade in efficiency and apps in comparison with the Galaxy Watch 6, but in addition an enormous improve in battery, health metrics, and training.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 evaluate: Should you purchase one?
You can purchase the Galaxy Watch 6 if…
- You’re leaping from the Galaxy Watch 4 or a unique watch model
- You personal a Samsung telephone and need one of the best watch integration
- You want a light-weight design, a sporty look, and a less expensive value
You can purchase the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic if…
- You’ve been ready for the rotating bezel’s return
- You just like the Classic’s analog feel and appear
- You do not thoughts a heavier watch
You should not purchase the Galaxy Watch 6 or 6 Classic if…
- You’re already pleased along with your Watch 5 or Watch 5 Pro
- You’re pissed off by the necessity to cost a watch day by day
- You need the absolute best GPS accuracy or health instruments
I haven’t got a definitive advice for whether or not you can purchase the Galaxy Watch 6 or Watch 6 Classic. You could need to skip each for those who’re pleased along with your Watch 5, although you will get a brand new mannequin for half-off by buying and selling within the previous one.
I’m torn between preferring the old-school really feel of the Classic or the light-weight simplicity of its trendy sibling. I do not sometimes care a lot a couple of watch’s appears in comparison with what’s inside, however I’ll admit that the Classic makes me really feel fairly cool sporting it round in a manner the Watch 6 (or my Garmin Forerunner) does not.
Then once more, I do not discover the Watch 6 as a lot whereas sporting it, besides after I get buzzed with notifications, as a result of it’s extra snug.
In the tip, I’m going to maintain ready and hoping that Samsung places a bit extra effort into its health instruments with the Galaxy Watch 7, as that is my private curiosity. But for those that care about Wear OS and easy coronary heart well being monitoring, the Galaxy Watch 6 has only a few rivals.
The Galaxy Watch 6 tweaks the Watch 5 template in virtually all the suitable methods. Boosts to the show, efficiency, passive coronary heart price monitoring, and design make this a worthy successor, as long as you do not thoughts the comparatively quick battery life. Plus, the return of the Watch 6 Classic and its rotating bezel is a welcome shift again to the place the Galaxy Watches first started.