Samsung Galaxy Watch4 Review: The Best Android Watch By Far
September 12, 2021Samsung and Google have joined forces to create a proper Apple Watch competitor, but is it?
Sensors: Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyro Sensor, Geomagnetic Sensor, Light Sensor, Optical Heart Rate Sensor, Electrical heart sensor, Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis Sensor
OS/Software: Wear OS Powered
Memory: 1.5GB RAM + 16GB Internal Memory
Chipset: Exynos W920 Dual Core 1.18GHz
Display:1.4″ (34.6mm) Circular Super AMOLED (450×450),Full Color Always On Display, Corning® Gorilla® Glass DX+
Body: 44mm
Battery : 361mAh
Weight: 30g
Rating: 9/10
Price: RM 999
Samsung doesn’t know when to call it quits. It’s this stubbornness that has paved the way for some truly remarkable devices. This is also true of its latest offering – the Galaxy Watch4 and Watch4 Classic. Though they look like polar opposites in terms of appearance, the underlying hardware is identical.
As such, both watches have the Exynos W920 Dual Core, 5nm processor, 1.5GB RAM and 16GB of internal storage. They also have the 3-in-1 sensor that Samsung likes to boast about. It’s basically a compact package that houses the tech that measures Optical Heart Rate, Electrical Heart and Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis.
In addition to this, the watches also have the accelerometer, barometer, gyro, geomagnetic and light sensor. It’s undoubtedly a compact, yet sophisticated package that can rival more focused fitness trackers. The Watch4 is available in either 40mm or 44mm diameter sizes, while the Watch4 Classic comes in 42mm and 46mm ones.
Choosing between the Watch4 and Watch4 Classic comes down to one’s preference. The former conforms to the sleeker minimalist look made popular by the Galaxy Watch Active2. The latter retains the chunky silhouette and rotating bezel of the Watch3 series. The Watch4’s frame is made from armour aluminum while the Classic sticks with the traditional stainless steel.
Credit: Samsung
What’s It Like?
Our review unit is the 44mm Watch4 in black. This watch is also available in green and white, which are appealing in their own way, but the black option will probably be the best fit for most people. It comes with a matching black strap (20mm) that curves around the watch. This prevents you from folding both sides for storage as you would a normal watch.
Like the Samsung watches that preceded them, the Watch4’s straps have quick release spring bars. This allows you to change straps in seconds as opposed to minutes with conventional ones. The strap’s clasp is made from hard plastic, which is the best choice because you won’t have to worry about rust or tarnishing the surface.
The screen is a 1.4-inch AMOLED unit, which is the same for all watch sizes. It’s a sharp and vibrant screen that displays crisp lettering and images. It isn’t perfect but good enough for a smartwatch. Instead of a rotating bezel, it has a touch sensitive surface around its border. It picks up even the gentlest of grazes provided that you’re deliberate with your movements.
It does the job, but it’s no substitute for a rotating bezel. A simple mechanical one such as that on the Watch4 Classic allows more control and feel over what you’re doing. You still have the option of scrolling up and down with your finger, but using the bezel is a faster way of navigating to where you want to be.
The haptic feedback has just the right feel to it. Instead of a jarring jerk, it’s more like a firm nudge on your wrist. This is true for phone calls and alarms as it is for notifications. The effect is enough to draw your attention, but not disturbingly so.
Watch4 is a culmination of the lessons learnt over the past few years. Samsung is one of a handful of companies with prior experience of WearOS and its own in-house operating system, TizenOS. The latter is less burdensome on hardware and as such offers a better user experience.
In the past few years it became increasingly apparent that Google wasn’t up to the task of mounting a challenge against Apple. It’s OS was laden with problems including sluggish performance and being riddled with gremlins. Motorola’s Moto360 is a perfect example of this. It looked great, had decent hardware but was marred by an OS that was out of its depth.
However, as good as TizenOS may be, it’s no match for the vast number of apps and features available to a watch with WearOS. This is why Samsung partnered with Google to help iron out the creases that made WearOS an insufferable operating system. The new OS has access to the Play Store and its plethora of apps but retains the smooth performance of TizenOS.
Related Article: What’s New With WearOS Powered By Samsung?
What You Need To Know
It uses Samsung’s One UI interface, which should feel familiar to Galaxy smartphone users. The settings, quick access panel and shortcuts are a spitting image of that on the M31, A52, S21+ and the like. It’s this air of familiarity that allows you to confidently navigate the UI without getting stumped.
From the home screen, you swipe up to access the app drawer. Each app is represented by a circular tile, all huddled together to maximise their presence on the screen. It’s similar in arrangement to what’s on the Apple Watch, but you’re only allowed to scroll up and down.
Swiping right from the home screen allows you to access the individual tiles, each corresponding to a certain function. There are 15 of them in total, you can add them all or keep only what you want. Holding and dragging one of them, enables you to arrange them in the order that you prefer.
Each tile is valuable in it’s own way. They remind you to stay hydrated, stay active, keep calm and for women, keep tabs on their period cycle. The watch tries to be an all-inclusive health coach for the masses. That said, its ECG and blood pressure function isn’t available in Malaysia yet. But you still have access to the heart beat, stress and body composition features.
Heart Rate
Though it lacks the ability to detect AFib or other issues, the Watch4 can still provide continuous monitoring of your heart rate. This can be displayed on the watch face as well as during workout sessions.
Stress Levels
The watch measures several metrics and lets you know how stressed you are. It places a white circle on a section of the stress bar to let you know what level you are at.
Body Composition
It’s probably the most talked about feature of the new Galaxy Watch4. Basically, It takes into account skeletal muscle mass, basal metabolic rate, body water and body fat percentage. In just 15 seconds, the watch can capture 2,400 data points. This makes it an appealing prospect to anyone who wants to get into shape or maintain a healthy lifestyle.
There’s an indicator for each of them, which lets you know what level you are at. It’s a ballpark figure of your fitness levels and how far away you are from being considered ‘fit’. This motivates you to change certain habits and exercise regimens to ensure I enjoy a healthier lifestyle.
Smartphone Apps
There are two apps that you need, the Galaxy Wearable and Samsung Health. The former is used to customize watch faces and other settings, while the latter syncs your health data and offers a clearer picture of how you’re doing. Though it might not be as extensive as that of a Garmin fitness tracker, it’s not far off the mark.
Smartwatch Features
Like its predecessors, you can answer calls, read and reply to text messages on the Watch4. The built-in speaker is pleasantly loud especially when taking a call. Audio quality is decent for the person on the other end as well. However, unless the watch is placed directly in front of you, to the caller on the other end, your voice will sound distant.
I personally see these features as mere gimmicks, something to boast about but never truly use. For me, I’d see a notification pop up on my watch, dismiss it, then pick-up my phone if necessary, to view it or respond to said message. The watch is just a tool that lets me gauge the need for a response.
A red dot appears on the left of the watch face if you have pending messages. Swipe left from the home screen to access them. If you are insistent on answering messages on the watch, you could use the cumbersome but effective miniature keyboard or sketch alphabets with your index finger.
Related Article: Features of Watch4
Performance
Basically, the Watch4 performs like an absolute trooper. There isn’t a hint of lag or hesitation here – a trait of most WearOS watches. The experience is akin to that of the Watch Active2. The apps open and close swiftly, without detriment to the watch’s overall performance. It’s by far the best Android smartwatch you can buy right now.
Battery life is good but not great. Samsung says that the watch can offer 40 hours of battery life on a single charge. Though that might be possible if you turn off the always-on display, it isn’t the best way to enjoy the watch’s features. With my daily usage (always-on display enabled), I was consistently left with 25-35% battery life at the end of each day.
Once it drops to below 10%, the watch will keep prompting you to turn on the battery saving feature. Once enabled, you lose all smartwatch functionality, including the cool watch faces. Each time you lift your wrist, the watch displays the time in white. At this point, the watch is basically off, with the exception of its ability to tell time.
Despite its many advancements, the Watch4 needs to be charged every day. On the plus side, with just 30 minutes spent charging, the watch can provide 10 hours of battery life. A full charge takes about 2 hours. Honestly, I have no complaints about this. It’s packed with sophisticated sensors, functions as a remote for my phone, and can store music files.
Should You Buy This?
If you’re an Android user looking for a smartwatch, the Galaxy Watch4 is the best you can do. It’s relatively affordable, ticks all the right boxes and is rugged enough to take just about anywhere. The fitness features allow you to stay in shape, remind you to move about every hour with stretching tips, and give you a picture of your overall well being.
This is the best smartwatch to have right now, WearOS Powered By Samsung is a recipe that will probably reignite the interest in Android smartwatches.
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