Review of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5, A high-end Smartwatch with multiple features
Review of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5: A high-end smartwatch with lots of features
For a few years now, I have been a supporter of both Samsung’s TizenOS and Google’s WearOS. I was happy to switch to the earlier Galaxy Watch 4. But I quickly understood that the smartwatch had a finite amount of battery life.
Several months later, Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Watch 5, which has the same appearance as the Watch 4. But is the Galaxy Watch 5 an improvement worth taking into account? And for those eager to get their hands on a WearOS device, is this watch good enough? Here is my evaluation of the 44mm LTE version of the Galaxy Watch 5.
Specifications for the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5
- Exynos W920 chipset
- One UI 4.5 based on Android Wear 3.5
- 1.4-inch SAMOLED screen, 1.5GB of RAM
- 16GB of internal storage
- Bluetooth 5.2
- A 410mAh battery
What has changed with the new Samsung Galaxy Watch?
Sapphire Crystal is used for the Galaxy Watch 5’s display. There are two sizes of it: 40mm and 44mm. The battery is the only variation between the 40mm and 44mm versions, which share identical internals. A 276mAh battery powers the smaller model, while a 410mAh battery powers the 44mm model.
Additionally, an updated BioActive Sensor is included. The addition of the skin temperature sensor, which cannot be utilized right now, is another development. It is regrettable that some features, like blood pressure and ECG, are still unavailable in India.
Shamefully, Samsung has not stated why it would not initially deliver this to India. The feature is already operational on premium Apple watch rivals in the nation.
How is the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5?
One of the best smartwatch displays is seen on the Galaxy Watch 5. Even in direct sunshine, the 1.4-inch SAMOLED screen is clear and has good visibility. Setting the brightness to less than half should be more than sufficient if you primarily use the watch inside.
When it rained heavily, I utilized the Galaxy Watch 5, and I was able to use it even when wearing gloves or with large drops of water on the screen. It was simple to swipe and navigate on the wet screen.
The Galaxy Watch 5 has a speaker on the left side and two physical buttons on the right side. The longer press of the upper one activates the voice assistant while serving as the home button (set to Samsung Bixby by default). Although the lower button serves as a back button, long pressing it has no effect.
The user interface is simple to use and requires little training for those unfamiliar with Samsung’s version of WearOS. Similar to Android, it comes pre-installed with Google Play Store, from which users may download a variety of applications like YouTube Music, Spotify, and Google Keep.
The list of installed apps on your phone that can also be downloaded on the watch appears when you open the Play Store on the Galaxy Watch 5. The majority of the program has been polished and functions well. Even when disconnected from the phone, the watch has enough of storage space for watch faces.
The capability to install programs that are not offered by the Play Store is an additional helpful feature. While you must complete a few procedures to allow sideloading on the watch. But I thought it was worthwhile.
I utilized Google Maps on my Watch, and I was satisfied with how accurate the on-screen navigation was. For instance, it was useful that the watch vibrated to alert me a few meters before I needed to turn. The watch can display a map view in addition to instructions, although this feature is useless while driving.
Another area where the Galaxy Watch 5 excels is calling. Although the speaker may not be audible in public settings, the speech is audible and clear when you are in your room or another peaceful location. The watch cancels out the majority of background noise while worn at home or the office, and microphone quality is comparable to other flagship products.
Additionally, I downloaded some music and put it on my watch. When you open the Music app on your watch, you have two choices for listening to the songs: either use the watch speaker or pair your wireless headphones or earphones with the watch. It worked when I linked my neckband and TWS to the watch.
When it comes to fitness tracking, the Galaxy Watch 5 performs admirably. This readout resembled the Watch 4’s data on my regular bike route. Although I lack any medical-grade equipment to compare it to, the heart rate measurement is unquestionably better than it was with the Galaxy Watch 4.
The auto workout identification feature, which initiates exercises like cycling, running, and walking after a few minutes of inactivity, is generally reliable. The watch’s ability to automatically pause the workout anytime I stopped pedalling or stopped to sip some water is another intriguing feature.
Data like as heart rate zones, trip time, calories burned, average speed, and more are displayed on the exercise screen. The Galaxy Watch 5 accurately counts steps as well. The body composition aspect can be useful to those who track their fitness. It displays information about skeletal muscle, body fat, body water weight, BMR, and BMI.
The Galaxy Watch 5 accurately recorded when I went to sleep and when I woke up. Sleep tracking is also generally accurate. The Galaxy Watch 5 can now be charged at speeds of up to 10W and takes 90 minutes to reach 100%. The prior model allowed for 5W charging.
Why is the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 bad?
The Watch 5 did a decent job of tracking my nighttime sleep, but it has trouble with naps throughout the day. My Honor Band 6 could tell if I dozed off for as little as 15-20 minutes, whereas the Galaxy Watch 5 only begins to track daytime naps if they last for more than an hour.
The findings of the blood-oxygen level tests are far from what I would expect from a medical-grade SpO2 monitor, in my opinion.
Last but not least, despite Samsung increasing the battery on the Galaxy Watch 5 (44mm version) by 50mAh, the battery backup in real-world situations is essentially unchanged, and I still had to charge this at the end of the day.
But bear in mind that I used a lot of features, like GPS to track my workout or simply commute, the Always-On Display, and continuous heart-rate monitoring. All of them have a detrimental effect on battery life.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 is it worth the price?
Yes, the Galaxy Watch 5 is an incremental improvement over the Watch 4, so if you already own the Watch 4, this might not seem like much of an improvement. Of course, the Galaxy Watch 5 is an excellent option if you want the most recent WearOS watch, and the base model starts at Rs 27,999, which is not expensive for a high-end watch.
LTE connectivity is an option if you feel it is necessary, but it will cost you Rs 35,999. The Galaxy Watch 5 offers a fantastic balance of fitness and smart capabilities, and it continues to be one of the most reliable “Android” alternatives to the Apple Watch.
The advantage of WearOS is that budget devices frequently struggle to deliver well on the second aspect. However, the change is neither surprising nor makes sense for owners of a Galaxy Watch 4. The updates for smartwatches will initially be gradual.
edited and proofread by nikita sharma
