Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Review, Price, Design, Battery life
The first Wear OS smartwatch worth your money
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4’s sharp design, smart software, and standout health sensor make for a promising upgrade that somehow costs less than last year’s version.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4's sharp design, smart software, and standout health sensor make for a promising upgrade that costs less than last year's version. Plus the classic model still offers everyone's favorite rotating bezel.
Pros
- Excellent performance
- Slimmer design and new watch faces
- New Google OS includes Play apps
- Interesting new software
- Lightweight design
Cons
- Samsung Health is still the default health app
- Limited compatibility
- No exciting fitness upgrades
Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Review
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 is a sequel to one of our favorite smartwatches of all time, and it's the first time we've seen the company adopt Wear OS software. Although this isn't your typical Wear OS watch; It's called One UI Watch 3, and it's made by Samsung with the help of Google.
On paper, the overall upgrade is limited in software and hardware, but the Watch 4 is suitable for anyone looking for a top-end smartwatch that can track workouts, as well as offer a host of other smart features. Many alternative wrist companions can't.
That said, Galaxy Watch 4 compatibility is inexplicably poor compared to Samsung's previous watches. If you have an iPhone, it won't work with it, and while it's compatible with all modern Android phones, you'll need a Samsung smartphone to access some features, such as blood pressure or ECG measurements.
This is disappointing as Samsung's previous smartwatches are the best in terms of compatibility. We'd still say that the Watch 4 is worth picking up even if you have a non-Samsung Android phone, but you should note that there are limits.
Given those caveats, there's a lot to like about the watch's design. There's a virtual rotating bezel - a returning feature from the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 - that allows for easy navigation around the smartwatch's menus with a combination of the two buttons on the right. Some may miss the Galaxy Watch 3's physical rotating bezel, but it's a good option.
The fitness features here aren't much different from what we've seen before, but there's a new body composition tool that gives you a rough idea of your body fat percentage. We have found that the Galaxy Watch 4 is thought to have GPS, heart rate monitoring, and other fitness features.
Battery life isn't a big concern on the Galaxy Watch 4, but it's not the longest-lasting smartwatch ever. It will last for about two days with normal to intense use and about three days if you are not working or using features like GPS.
Introduced alongside the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3, the Galaxy Watch 4 joins the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic – if you want a physical rotating bezel you should look at the smartwatch that stands between the two. The difference is. Device.
As for the Galaxy Watch 4, this smartwatch is a great option for anyone who has a Galaxy smartphone. If you have a different Android phone, it's still a worthy choice for your next smartwatch, but there are caveats around the features mentioned above.
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| Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Specification | |
|---|---|
| Price | $249.99 |
| Brend | Samsung |
| Processor | Exynos W920 |
| Software | Wear OS + One UI Wach |
| Sensors | Samsung BioActive Sensor (PPG+ECG+BIA) |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, LTE (optional), NFC |
| Memory | 1.5GB RAM + 16GB |
| Durability | 5ATM + IP68 / MIL-STD-810G |
| Smartphone compatibility | Android 6.0 or higher |
| Battery life | 40 hours |
Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 price release date
| Image | Product | Feature | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Top Pick  | Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 | Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 40mm Smartwatch with ECG Monitor Tracker for Health Fitness Running Sleep Cycles GPS Fall Detection Bluetooth US Version, Pink Gold | Check On Amazon |
 | Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 | Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 40mm Smart Watch Bluetooth - Black (US Version) with SAMSUNG Wireless Charger Fast Charge Pad Duo (2021), Black | Check On Amazon |
 | Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 | Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic 46mm Smartwatch with ECG Monitor Tracker for Health Fitness Running Sleep Cycles GPS Fall Detection LTE US Version, Black | Check On Amazon |
 | Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 | Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic 42mm Smartwatch with ECG Monitor Tracker for Health Fitness Running Sleep Cycles GPS Fall Detection Bluetooth US Version, Silver | Check On Amazon |
Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 is now available in the US and UK where it went on sale on August 26, 2021. In Australia, it will be available on 10 September.
There are two sizes of Galaxy Watch 4. The smaller 40mm version costs $249.99 / £249 / AU$399 for the Bluetooth version, while the LTE version costs $299.99 / £289 / AU$499.
If you prefer a bigger watch, the 44mm model costs $279.99 / £269 (about AU$500) for its Bluetooth version and $329.99 / £309 (about AU$580) for the 4G version. It's significantly cheaper than the Galaxy Watch 3, but that's because the device is largely a replacement for the Galaxy Watch Active 2.
If you want a bigger smartwatch with a physical rotating bezel, you'll want to pick up the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic. It's a different product line this year, though there are a lot of specs in common between that device and this device.
The Galaxy Watch 4 Classic 42mm is priced at $349 / £349 / AU$549 for the Bluetooth model and $399 / £389 / AU$649 for the LTE model. The 46mm model comes in a Bluetooth version for $379 / £369 / AU$599, or an LTE version for $429 / £409 / AU$699.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Design and display
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 is a slimline smartwatch with a design that fits snugly on your wrist. If you're looking for a touch chunkier, or you want a rotating bezel, you should opt for the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic.
For those looking for a slimmer design, the Galaxy Watch 4 has two buttons on the right edge and there is little else to detract from its sleek looks. It comes in two models, one with a 40mm watch face and the other with a 44mm body.
Both models are made of aluminum. The 40mm model measures 40.4 x 39.3 x 9.8mm with a weight of 25.9 grams, while the 44mm measures 44.4 x 43.3 x 9.8mm and weighs 30.3 grams.
We've worn both models, and we found both to be a comfortable fit without weighing down our wrists.
We've used the 44mm model longer than the smaller model, and we found it to be a suitable size (note that this author is an adult). It is comfortable to wear all day, though it may not be best suited for nightwear for tracking sleep.
The screens on both models of the Galaxy Watch 4 look bright, and we found them easy to read. The resolution is impressive too, with the 40mm watch has a 396 x 396 resolution and the 44mm model up to 450 x 450. It's 330 pixels per inch for both models.
A unique feature of the Galaxy Watch 4 is its 'virtual' rotating bezel feature as compared to other smartwatches. There's no physical rotating bezel here — go for the Watch 4 Classic if that's a feature you crave — but you can run your finger around the screen's black bezel to move through menus and access various features. Huh.
Each model is also IP68 water- and dust-resistant, which means you can take them in water up to five meters deep. A word about the supplied watch band though – it's made from a new material that might not handle intense workouts well, as we found it left a few scratches on our wrists.
If you regularly wear your watch to the gym, you may want to invest in a band made of different materials.
Color options also vary between models. The 40mm Watch 4 comes in black, gold, and silver, while the 44mm model comes in black, green, and silver. These are all relatively muted colors, so you may want to buy another strap if you want a more bold shade on your wrist.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Performance and software
The Watch 4 has Samsung's own Exynos W920 chipset and 1.5GB of RAM. Throughout our testing time, we've found it to be powerful enough to run a wide variety of apps smoothly without any slowdowns. This is one of the fastest smartwatches we have used.
The speed isn't as noticeable as it might be on a smartphone or laptop, but it's noticeable compared to other smartwatches, and it allows you to use a variety of apps while the GPS features are running, for example.
Both models of the Galaxy Watch 4 have 16GB of storage. We found that about 8GB of this was taken up with the OS and preloaded apps, leaving you with all that again for your apps and music.
Its software is where the Galaxy Watch 4 shines. Samsung isn't using its Tizen wearable software here and is instead re-adopting Google's Wear OS, albeit with its spin.
You would be forgiven for being confused here. Tizen has been the focus of Samsung's software efforts in recent years, and the software running on the Galaxy Watch 4 looks very similar to it.
Instead, it's Wear OS 3 but with Samsung's skin, called One UI Watch 3, on top. This includes a variety of Samsung apps that you'd use if you previously had a Galaxy Watch, but it's primarily Wear OS.
This means you have access to the Google Play Store, and while Wear OS isn't the best-supported platform apps-wise, you have more/much more/whatever options than Tizen. Meanwhile, the design still seems distinctly Samsung.
The Galaxy Watch 4's software looks good and works smoothly, plus you'll find that all the apps available on the Google Play Store are ready and waiting. It's a better solution than Tizen, but it retains all the benefits that make Tizen software great.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Fitness
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 comes with a whole host of health and fitness features, including GPS for tracking runs, an optical heart rate sensor, and ECG support.
Big fitness changes come in the form of a new 3-in-1 bioactive sensor that enables the watch to monitor heart rate, blood oxygen levels, and body composition. The last one on that list is the only new feature, but this is the first time a sensor has been added.
Samsung says that its body composition measurement tools enable you to view key fitness metrics such as skeletal muscle mass and body fat percentage. These scans are easy to run, although you have to be steady for them to work.
The statistics you'll find include body fat percentage score, skeletal muscle, fat mass, body water, and BMI. It will also give you a rough idea of the healthy range for your gender, weight, and height.
It's hard to tell how accurate these various metrics are, but we've found it useful to at least have a rough idea of them, and you'll be able to track them down in no time to see if you can improve the results.
The heart rate monitor proved accurate, with our results matching up with measurements made using other equipment. The heart rate monitor worked best within Samsung's apps, but you can also apply these features to third-party Wear OS tools like Strava and Nike Running Club.
We also found the GPS features to work well when compared to other devices when we took the watch with accurate positioning.
One important thing to note is the limited compatibility of some fitness facilities. The ECG and blood pressure monitoring tools are only available when you connect the Galaxy Watch 4 to a Samsung smartphone.
This is a frustrating element, and it means that this watch may not be the best option for you if you don't have a Samsung phone. Alternative devices from brands like Garmin offer similar features, but on any phone.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Battery life
The 44mm Galaxy Watch 4, which is the same model we reviewed, is powered by a 361mAh battery, and the battery life proved strong during our testing time - we found that the smartwatch held up from a single charge, even with intense use. This will last for at least two days, and you can expect the clock to last a full three days if you're not using the fitness facilities regularly.
The 40mm version comes with a smaller 247mAh cell, and we haven't been able to test how well it performs yet. Our experience with previous Samsung smartwatches has seen a slight difference in battery life between the smaller and larger models, but you shouldn't expect the 40mm version to differ dramatically.
A charging pad is included in the box, which is a bit of a surprise as Samsung has removed these from its smartphones in recent years. That said, you'll just find the table here, so you'll need to find the charging block or plug it directly into a USB-compatible device.
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