Samsung now offers both a Galaxy Watch and a Galaxy Watch Active, so how do they differ and which should you choose?
Samsung has now launched the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active, the second wearable in what’s now become a range. This is offered as an alternative to the standard Samsung Galaxy Watch and we’ve given both of them four-star reviews. But there are lots more differences than just an adjective added to the Active’s name.
That said, the two wearables also have plenty in common, and the decision you make isn’t as simple as opting for the Galaxy Watch Active if you want a sporty wearable and the Galaxy Watch if you don’t.
With that in mind we’ve compared these two watches, highlighting all the key differences along with what’s the same, so you can make an educated choice as to which to buy.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch comes in both 46mm and 42mm sizes, with 22mm straps used for the larger model and 20mm for the smaller. While it comes with a silicone strap, you can swap that out for any standard pin-based watch strap.
The body of the watch is metal, but it’s a substantially-sized thing at either 41.9 x 45.7 x 12.7mm or 46 x 49 x 13mm (depending on whether you go for the small or large option). It’s also a hefty thing at either 49g or 63g (depending on what size you choose) without a strap, but it undeniably looks high-end.
Everything is a little simpler for the newer Galaxy Watch Active, as you can only get it in a 40mm size. The actual dimensions are 39.5 x 39.5 x 10.5mm, so it’s a little smaller than even the smallest variant of the standard Galaxy Watch.
It’s also a whole lot lighter at just 25g without a strap, despite also being made of metal, and that light weight makes it ideal for working out in. Speaking of the strap, you’ll get a 20mm silicone one, and as with the standard Galaxy Watch this can be swapped out for other bands of that size.
Other differences include the presence of a rotatable bezel on the standard Galaxy Watch, which can be used for navigating the wearable’s screens.
It’s a handy feature and arguably would be even more useful on the Watch Active, since its compact screen can make the watch a bit cramped to interact with, but it’s not offered here, perhaps to ensure a smaller build.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch Active does come in a slightly wider range of colors though, with black, silver, rose gold and green shades offered, while the Samsung Galaxy Watch just comes in silver, midnight black and rose gold.
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