SAMSUNG GALAXY WATCH 4 — REVIEW

In the 3rd quarter, Samsung presented the 4th generation Galaxy Watch, which included regular models and Classic models. This time, the Korean company not only introduced fresh hardware, but also took care of expanding the functionality by replacing the Tizen OS with Wear — a time-tested product from Google.

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Key features of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4

Common and classic models have the following general characteristics:

The differences are as follows:

In terms of size, the Samsung Galaxy watch of the Watch 4 line is indistinguishable from the Watch 3. Buyers have the opportunity to choose a model depending on the width of the hand. Both versions – regular and classic – are officially positioned as unisex, but the more massive case with a bezel (rotating ring on the dial) is probably still more relevant for a man’s hand. So it is not surprising that the classic has the maximum diameter of the dial and lacks the fun colors of pink and olive.

The stuffing in Watch 4 varieties is almost the same. The manufacturer added power to the components: introduced a new processor, the memory became 1.5-2 times more. The icing on the cake is the new Wear operating system. Its implementation is the result of cooperation between the Korean giant and Google. Classic watches are sold with eSim support. With the help of both models, you can pay for purchases, the Samsung Pay technology is implemented. Versions of the 4th generation differ in price by about 1.5 times, which is somewhat surprising.

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The appearance and equipment of the Galaxy Watch 4

The manufacturer packs both varieties of Watch 4 in the same long boxes of a very decent appearance. They look nice, it is not a shame to give as a gift. On the box, in addition to the name, the size of the case and the presence of LTE, if the communication standard is supported by the model, are indicated. Complete set is concise: smart watch, wireless charger, documentation.

The appearance of the watches is noticeably different:

• The design of the regular version is more sporty and youthful. The lack of a bezel can be considered a minus in terms of functionality, but such a watch looks more modern.
• The brutal look of the classic model hints at premiumness. The bezel performs 2 main functions: helps control the watch, protects the screen glass from scratches. The smart watch looks chic not only with sports, but also with a business suit. The display is slightly recessed into the case, and if the clock is placed face down, the screen will not touch the table. There is no doubt about the strength of the case, both models are protected reliably, according to the army standard.

For control, there are two buttons in the design of Watch 4, in this line they have become rectangular, slightly increased in size. Various commands can be assigned to the top button. On the back is an optical sensor made of glass and plastic. The watch is equipped with a replaceable silicone strap with a thickness of 20 mm.

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Samsung smart watch display

The difference of 4 mm between the diameters of the cases was the reason for installing two different displays on the watch. The younger model of the classic smart watch has a 1.2″ screen with a resolution of 396×396, the older model has a 1.4″ panel with a resolution of 450×450. Appropriate pixel density is provided for each model.

As for regular Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 smartwatches, they have the same displays. Thanks to the high contrast and bright saturated colors, using the screen is a real pleasure. It is also worth noting the wide viewing angles and energy efficiency of the displays, they save battery charging. To protect against scratches, the manufacturer used Gorilla Glass.

The exceptional technical characteristics of the screen are complemented by advanced settings. Manual and automatic brightness control is implemented, you can adjust the sensitivity of the panel, wake up the display and turn it off. More than 20 dials are loaded into the watch’s memory. The Wear operating system makes it possible to diversify their collection by using the Google Play store. There is a flashlight function.

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Galaxy Watch 4 software

To fully reveal the functionality of a smart watch, it must be paired with a phone. The best option is when both devices are Samsung. You will not be able to connect the watch to an iPhone, you can pair the gadget with an Android smartphone from another manufacturer, but there will be limitations in functionality related to the ECG and checking after blood pressure calibration.

First of all, you need to connect the watch to Galaxy Wearable – an application that is designed to connect headsets, fitness bracelets, smart watches and other devices to the Samsung phone. With its help, software is updated, calls are received, dials are set, functionality is configured, etc.

The next relevant program is Samsung Health. The application is installed on Samsung Galaxy smartphones. With its help, you can track physical activity, weight, sleep, calories consumed and spent, and more. There is a special Samsung Health Monitor program for measuring blood pressure and ECG.

The software provides information on heart rate, SpO2, and stress levels. Nowadays, it is especially important to monitor the level of oxygen in the blood. The details of sports loads work in smart watches. Advanced options include bioimpedance analysis, which shows body fat percentage and other data useful for people watching their figure.

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Autonomy Samsung Galaxy

In models with large cases – 44 and 46 mm – batteries with a capacity of 361 mAh are installed, in more compact watches this indicator is 247 mAh. In terms of autonomy, the Galaxy Watch 4 from Samsung did not become a breakthrough. As a result of installing a new iron, expanding the functionality and implementing a new operating system, the working time without recharging has even decreased somewhat. Now we are talking about 40 hours, that is, the frequency of recharging is once every 1-2 days, depending on the functionality involved. If you turn off auto-brightness, GPS, and body metrics monitoring, this result can be improved. On the other hand, 40 hours of autonomy is the figure for the regular model without LTE. A classic watch consumes battery resources even faster.

The charging speed is also not impressive: you can provide 10 hours of battery life in 30 minutes. It will take up to 2 hours to fully restore the battery. Weak autonomy is a price for great functionality, high processor performance and speed. If you do not monitor sleep, there are no problems with recharging the battery: you can connect the device for power at night next to the smartphone. Office workers have nothing to worry about: there is always an opportunity to charge the battery during the working day.

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Features and functionality of a smart watch

In addition to health monitoring, the watch can do a lot:

1. The manufacturer did not forget about the microphone and speakers. You can receive calls, communicate with the interlocutor. The sound quality can be compared to that provided by a smartphone with the speakerphone turned on. There are voice notes.
2. Sending SMS, creating text messages in messengers. The screen of a smart watch is much smaller than that of a smartphone, so voice input is preferred among the input methods. Alternative options: keyboard and handwritten.
3. Payment for purchases using NFC technology.
4. View the weather forecast.
5. Setting an alarm clock, timer.
6. Control your Galaxy Buds.
7. Changing the music volume, flipping tracks.
8. Viewing Google maps. A convenient feature for those who like to ride a bicycle or scooter.
9. The watch is equipped with a compass, altimeter, minibarometer, and GPS.

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Pros and cons of the Watch 4 smartwatch

In the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 review, it would be a sin not to list the pros and cons of the watch. Main advantages: ​​

1. Modern hardware provides seamless setup, quick launch of applications.
2. The new Wear operating system makes it possible to run Google applications on smart watches.
3. The case and strap are made of quality materials.
4. Availability of two design options. There are two case sizes for each model.
5. Analysis of bioelectrical impedance is a new function that allows you to determine the composition of the body. You can find out the fate of fats, muscles, the rate of metabolism.

Cons:

1. For such a compact gadget, I would still like more battery life.
2. Watch 4 will not be able to make friends with an iPhone.

Prices for the Watch 4, in general, look reasonable. Classic models are expensive, but ordinary models are 100% competitive in the niche of premium gadgets. Is it worth switching from the third generation of the watch to the fourth? The question is debatable. If you are tired of the old smart watch, want to play with new software, experiment with innovations, then the transition makes sense.

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