The new Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 is a limited hardware upgrade, but its software is a huge deal.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 is a sequel to one of our favorite smartwatches ever, and it’s the first time in a while that we’ve seen the company embrace Wear OS software. It’s not your typical Wear OS watch though; it’s called One UI Watch 3, and it’s been built by Samsung with Google’s help. On paper, the overall upgrade is limited, but the Watch 4 is suitable for anyone who’s looking for a top-end smartwatch that can track workouts, as well as offer a lot of other smart features that many alternative wrist companions can’t. That said, the Galaxy Watch 4’s compatibility isn’t as varied as previous Samsung watches. If you own an iPhone, this won’t work with it, and while it’s compatible with all modern Android phones, you’ll need to own a Samsung smartphone to access some features, such as blood pressure or ECG measurements. That is likely to be a disappointment to many, as Samsung’s previous smartwatches are some of the best in terms of compatibility. We’d still say the Watch 4 is worth having if you own a non-Samsung Android phone, but you should note that there are limitations. There’s a virtual rotating bezel – a returning feature from the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 – which, in conjunction with two buttons on the right-hand side allows for easy navigation around the smartwatch’s menus. Some may miss the physical rotating bezel from the Galaxy Watch 4, but this is a good alternative. The fitness features here aren’t hugely different to what we’ve seen before, but there is a new body composition tool that gives you a rough idea of your body fat percentage. We’ve found that GPS, heart rate monitoring and other fitness features are well thought out on the Galaxy Watch 4. Battery life isn’t a huge concern on the Galaxy Watch 4, but it isn’t the longest lasting smartwatch we’ve ever seen. It’ll last up to around two days with normal to intensive usage, and around three days if you’re not working out or using features like GPS. Introduced alongside the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3, the Galaxy Watch 4 is joined by a Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic – you should look at that smartwatch if you want a physical rotating bezel, which is the major difference between the two devices. As for the Galaxy Watch 4, this smartwatch is a great choice for anyone who owns a Galaxy smartphone. If you own a different Android phone, it’s still a worthy choice for your next smartwatch, but there are caveats around the features mentioned above. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 is available now in the US and UK where it went on sale on August 26, 2021. Those in Australia will get it on September 10. There are two sizes of the 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 like a larger watch, the 44mm model costs $279.99 / £269 (about AU$500) in its Bluetooth form and $329.99 / £309 (about AU$580) for the 4G variant. This is far cheaper than the Galaxy Watch 3, but that’s because this device is largely a replacement for the Galaxy Watch Active 2. If you want a larger smartwatch with a physical rotating bezel, you’ll want to opt for the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic. That’s a separate product line this year, although a lot of the specs are similar between that device and this one. The Galaxy Watch 4 Classic 42mm costs $349 / £349 / AU$549 for the Bluetooth model and $399 / £389 / AU$649 for the LTE model.
