The Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 is a minor upgrade on its predecessor and while it’s slightly better the price has increased as a result.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 is barely an upgrade on its predecessor, which came out earlier in 2020 but lacked the rotating bezel that made its beefier sibling, the Samsung Galaxy Watch, such a hit. But the refined version of Samsung’s sporty smartwatch comes with a digital bezel and a few other tricks to become the best wearable in the company’s lineup. The similarities to its predecessor are probably for the best – the Active 2 retains its predecessor’s slimmer, minimal, modern look. It’s almost certainly a more broadly-appealing setup than the Galaxy Watch’s girthy form, akin to the more ‘masculine’ style of traditional watches. It’s manageable and rigorous enough to take on runs, yet packing enough features and capabilities to rival the Apple Watch 6. But the Active 2’s extra features come at a literal cost – it’s nominally pricier than its predecessor, shrinking the watch’s affordability edge over Apple’s watches. Still, the Active 2 is a solid choice for consumers on the hunt for a smartwatch to take on runs and into the office, especially for Android users outside the iOS ecosystem. Yes, it can be used with an iPhone, but with limited functionality – and for the same price you could pick up the new Apple Watch SE or an older Apple Watch. The Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 is out now, starting at $279.99 / £269 for the 40mm version or $299 / £289 / AU$549 for the 44mm version. The 40mm model isn’t available in Australia. The Galaxy Watch Active 2 is also available in an LTE model in stainless steel, which in the US is offered through Sprint, AT&T, T-Mobile, US Cellular and Verizon. In the UK and Australia you can buy this version outright, at £399 / AU$749 for the 40mm version and £419 / AU$799 for the 44mm one. That launch price puts it between the Apple Watch 5 and the now-discounted Apple Watch 3 – which, while not reaching the high cost of the latest Apple smartwatch, still offers firm competition. But if you wanted most of the functionality of the Active 2 and to save a bit of money, you could opt for…the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active. While the extra features – digital haptic dial, LTE availability, and extra workout features – are nice extras, they probably aren’t worth the price jump. The Galaxy Watch Active 2 is a dead ringer for its predecessor – the 40mm version, anyway, since the new smartwatch is also available in 44mm, which is more manageable than the Galaxy Watch’s hefty 46mm bigger model. As it stands, both options are pretty light, starting at 26g for the smaller aluminum (without a strap) and 30g for the larger – present but not weighty when worn during a run. Like the original Active, the basic Watch Active 2 has an aluminum body. It comes in cloud silver, aqua black and pink gold colors. You can also get it in stainless steel (which is what the LTE model comes in) for a higher price, which comes in silver, black and gold. The cheaper model comes with a rubberized Fluoroelastomer band, which you’ll recognize if you’ve ever worn an Apple Watch – material that felt natural through casual and sweaty activity, and would be fine worn sunup to sundown (and beyond). If you want a classier look and feel, you can opt for the heavier (by about 11g) stainless steel body with a leather strap – but you can also swap out any Samsung-sold or aftermarket 20mm band if you so desire. In either case, the watch’s back has a heart rate monitor with eight photodiodes – double the amount of its predecessor. In our tests it gave reasonably accurate readings. The two side buttons are also the same as before – a ‘back’ button on top, which is now outlined in some case colors, and a ‘home’ button below, which brings up your apps. While double-tapping the latter brings up Samsung’s smart assistant Bixby by default, you can (and should) set it to something more useful, such as a shortcut to a frequent favorite.
