Samsung and Google have become closer partners than ever before and worked together on the Galaxy Watch 4 series. Previously, Samsung only sold Galaxy watches with built-in TizenOS. Google, on the other hand, is trying to help manufacturers keep up with the Apple Watch with its Wear OS. Now the two efforts are combined. So, does the Galaxy Watch 4 series bring out the best from Google and Samsung? Or should we continue to wait for the Apple Watch equivalent in the Android world? This is my Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic review.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 price in India
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 series is divided into two models, the Galaxy Watch 4 and the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic. Each comes in two sizes, with all models only available in Bluetooth and LTE variants. The Galaxy Watch 4 40mm costs Rs 23,999 and Rs 28,999 for the Bluetooth-only and LTE-only variants respectively. Galaxy Watch 4 44mm costs Rs 26,999 and Rs. 31,999 each for the same variant.
You can get the 42mm Bluetooth-only Galaxy Watch 4 Classic for Rs 31,999, while the LTE variant of the same size will set you back Rs. 36,999. Lastly, the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic 46mm costs Rs 34,999 and Rs. 36,999 each for the Bluetooth and LTE variants.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 design and specifications
The Galaxy Watch 4 and Watch 4 Classic have very different design approaches. The former will appeal to active people looking for a compact fitness tracker, while the Watch 4 Classic looks more like a traditional watch. I brought the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic with me for this test.
The Galaxy Watch 4 Classic looks premium and has a stainless steel body that also gives it a nice heft. It has a rotating bezel that reminds me of its predecessor, the Galaxy Watch 3 (review). This spinner has satisfactory click feedback and I don’t have to question what I’m typing. That’s not all, you can also use it to navigate the watch and its various functions, which is handy.
On the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic, you get a 1.4-inch AMOLED display that’s slightly lower than the rotating bezel. You don’t have to worry about the screen getting scratched because it is equipped with Gorilla Glass DX for protection. There are two buttons on the right side; The top one is red and serves as the home button, while the other is the back button. Bixby can be accessed on the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic by long pressing the home button.
The case has lugs that extend outward to hold the watch’s fluoroelastomer strap. The accompanying band felt great and did not irritate my skin during the testing period. The Galaxy Watch 4 Classic uses a 20mm strap and you can switch to the standard of your choice. The included strap has a quick release pin and is easy to remove.
There’s a Samsung BioActive sensor on the bottom of the Watch 4 Classic. It can measure heart rate and SpO2. It also works with the electrodes on the side buttons to calculate body composition. Internationally, the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic can track blood pressure and take ECG readings, but this feature is not yet available in India.
Samsung told Gadgets 360 that it is working closely with relevant stakeholders to bring these features to India. The Galaxy Watch 4 Classic has the microphone on the top while the speaker is on the left. At 361 mAh, it has the largest battery in the series and charges wirelessly with the included charger.
Strapless, the Watch 4 Classic weighs about 52 g. I find this very noticeable when wearing the watch to bed. I think the Galaxy Watch 4 could be more comfortable for tracking sleep and its smaller size could make it more comfortable when exercising.
Samsung has released new hardware for the Watch 4 Classic. It is powered by the patented Exynos W920 dual-core processor clocked at 1.18 GHz. There is also 1.5 GB of RAM and 16 GB of storage, of which around 7 GB is available to users. Galaxy Watch 4 Classic supports Bluetooth 5, dual-band Wi-Fi, NFC, and four satellite navigation systems. Samsung also managed to get an IP68 rating for this watch and it is claimed to be water resistant up to 5ATM.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic software
This is where the partnership between Samsung and Google comes into play. Samsung has incorporated its own TizenOS into Wear OS and you can use it on this new wearable along with One UI customization. My Galaxy Watch 4 Classic has the August security patch. Unlike other Wear OS smartwatches that are paired with your smartphone via the Wear OS app, the Galaxy Watch 4 requires the Galaxy Wearable app. This is the first hint of Samsung’s control over Wear OS on this smartwatch. Galaxy Watch 4 can only be paired with Android smartphones running Android 6.0 or higher. Unlike previous Galaxy Watch models, there’s no iOS support, at least not yet.
I found the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic very customizable. You have multiple watch faces to choose from and download more. That’s not all, you can also customize the face of this watch by selecting the face and hand colors of your choice. For some faces, you can also add custom complications to show more information. This is the best premium smartwatch.
The user interface of the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic is slightly different from the regular Wear OS smartwatch. You have to swipe down from the top of the screen to access the quick switches and swipe up to see the installed apps. Swiping right from the lock screen will bring up your notifications, while swiping left will reveal “tiles”, which are the widgets for most of the features on the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic. You get standard Google apps like Contacts, Calendar, and Messages, among other things, and they look tweaked to suit OneUI. Google Maps is available on the watch and there’s also a Play Store where you can download Android apps that support Wear OS.
Long press the home button and Bixby will appear; another sign that Samsung reigns here. Bixby is the only assistant on the watch, and you’ll need to be signed into your Samsung account before it even listens to you. Bixby isn’t my favorite digital assistant and I miss the Google Assistant on the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic. At this point, I can only hope that the Google Assistant finds its way onto this watch in a future software update.
Verdict:
The Galaxy Watch 4 model is the first product launched as a result of a partnership between Samsung and Google. The Galaxy Watch 4 Classic is one of the best Android devices I’ve ever used, but there are downsides to consider before taking the plunge. First, the UI feels more Samsung than Google, and you’ll have a better experience pairing it with a Samsung smartphone. Using Bixby feels weird and Google Assistant would have been better. Finally, slow charging and faster charging will definitely help.
If you’re in the market for a premium, feature-rich Android smartwatch, the Galaxy Watch 4 series is your best bet. These models are expensive compared to some competitors, but their capabilities are almost unmatched. For active people, I prefer the Galaxy Watch 4 over the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic.
