Is it Price Shopping for the Samsung Smartwatch?

In a nutshell

Samsung raised the value of its Galaxy Watch smartphones final yr. One yr later, with the combination of Galaxy AI, prolonged monitoring capabilities, and a brand new SoC, there are lastly causes to spend extra on the smartwatch.

Whereas the battery life stays too quick for consolation, and you need to undoubtedly take a more in-depth have a look at the brand new Galaxy Watch Extremely (overview) earlier than shopping for, the Watch 7 remains to be the perfect smartwatch for Samsung followers. We additionally assume it is likely one of the greatest Android smartwatches ever, so learn on to seek out out why.

Design, Show & Sturdiness

Whereas Samsung set daring accents with the Galaxy Watch Extremely, nearly all the things remained the identical with the essential mannequin. Samsung retained the previous chassis and show sizes, though the 2 variants have grown barely in comparison with final yr. Because of AMOLED know-how, implausible shows are as soon as once more again in vogue. With 5ATM water resistance and sapphire glass, robustness can also be top-class.

Professionals:

• Fantastic construct high quality.
• Razor-sharp, shiny shows.
• Sapphire glass just isn’t par for the course on this worth vary.

Cons:

• Few modifications in comparison with the earlier yr.
• No enhancements to the show.
• Digital bezel remains to be a bit fiddly.

Suggestions from Samsung’s prospects concerning the Galaxy Watch’s design appears to have been constructive in 2023. Samsung is sticking to the design line from earlier years and solely launched a brand new shade variant — the inexperienced mannequin. Whereas it is a little boring for know-how journalists who additionally reviewed the Galaxy Watch 6 final yr, Samsung followers do not should get used to it.

In any case, the minimalist design together with Samsung’s high-quality AMOLED panels is nice sufficient in 2024. The Galaxy Watch 7 may be worn for a truffle kebab dinner someplace posh in addition to in a smoky pub. The colourful decorations on the usual wristband are a matter of non-public desire however as you possibly can see from my pictures, they’re at the very least effectively made.

This assertion may be utilized to the whole case of the Galaxy Watch 7. With tiny gaps and as much as 5 ATM water safety, you possibly can take it within the bathe or for a swim. Whereas Samsung additionally makes use of the identical sapphire glass in probably the most inexpensive smartwatch mannequin as within the new Extremely mannequin, this mannequin has a water resistance of 10 ATM.

One other particular characteristic of the Extremely mannequin is the rotating crown, which is already acquainted to Apple Watch followers. With the Galaxy Watch 7, Samsung is sticking to the 2 buttons on the right-hand aspect of the case and on the digital bezel. You possibly can swipe across the exterior space of the round case to scroll via menus. This works effectively in on a regular basis use, however is much less handy versus an “precise” management choice.

Total, the design, show and brightness are the identical. Slightly boring, however Samsung’s watch design stays tried and examined!

Software program & Compatibility

Our Galaxy Watch overview unit ran on One UI 6 for the Watch model as of September 2024 and featured the June 1, 2024 safety patch. Samsung is bringing the “Galaxy AI” AI engine to the smartwatch as a serious innovation. In on a regular basis use, nevertheless, the working system based mostly on Google’s WearOS proved its value primarily resulting from its excessive stage of expandability, big selection of capabilities, and intuitive menu navigation.

Professionals:

• Excessive expandability because of Put on OS.
• Galaxy AI integration is an innovation.
• Intuitive operation and clear menu navigation.

Cons:

• Extraordinarily many notifications by default.
• Some capabilities can solely be used with Samsung telephones.
• Not appropriate with Apple’s iOS.

As is the case with many producers, Samsung’s motto in 2024 is: How can we get “AI” as a buzzword on as a lot product packaging as attainable? The magic phrase is “Galaxy AI” and is likely one of the main improvements in OneUI 6.0 (overview). Within the Watch model, Samsung will primarily introduce new AI health capabilities, which I’ll dive into in better element later.

The graphical person interface of the working system has additionally been optimized. Similar to final yr, OneUI Watch is likely one of the most stunning smartwatch working methods. What I notably preferred about it, other than the beautiful menus and animations, is the constant working idea. Menus may be closed in the identical manner 90 % of the time, swipe gestures do not all of a sudden tackle totally different capabilities once you’re wading knee-deep within the working system and it is very easy to adapt to.

To optimize my person expertise, nevertheless, I finally restricted the notifications that irritated me, particularly throughout sports activities. I have been utilizing the Whoop 4.0 for a very long time (learn our overview), which was notably spectacular as a immobile wristband in on a regular basis life. With out customization, the Galaxy Watch 7 despatched far an excessive amount of data to my wrist. Why do I wish to know that I’ve already been biking for 4 minutes? Nicely …

What I discovered very annoying on this overview, nevertheless, is that the Galaxy Watch 7 can also be not appropriate with Apple’s iOS. Even with an Android smartphone, some capabilities similar to distant management of the digital camera stay unique to Samsung’s ecosystem. Remaining inside Samsung’s ecosystem naturally turns into extra attention-grabbing. Nevertheless, I’ve all the time discovered the “walled backyard” idea as an open door to criticism.

Know-how & Monitoring

Pulse measurement, temperature measurement, blood oxygen stage, and even blood measurement and an ECG -with its BioActive sensor, Samsung provides the widest vary of capabilities on this planet of smartwatch sensors. Whereas there’s a new characteristic right here with AGE measurement, Samsung can also be upgrading this timepiece from a technical perspective: the SoC used provides extra energy than within the earlier mannequin.

Professionals:

• Excessive variety of monitoring capabilities.
• Nice wealth of data within the Samsung Well being app.
• LTE assist and nice SoC efficiency.

Cons:

• Blood strain measurement and EEG assist just for Samsung telephones.
• Auto-tracking typically delivers extraordinarily fragmented exercises.
• Not appropriate with exterior sensors.

Earlier than we dive into the monitoring capabilities collectively, I would really like to try the Galaxy Watch 7’s {hardware}. Samsung offered me with the LTE model for my overview. For a further $50, you possibly can arrange an eSIM and function the Galaxy Watch independently of your smartphone.

The seventh Galaxy Watch technology makes use of Samsung’s personal Exynos W1000 SoC, which was manufactured utilizing the three nm course of. Within the primary mannequin, it’s supported by 2 GB of RAM. Music, pictures and different information may be saved on 32 GB of inner reminiscence, of which solely 21.1 GB is definitely obtainable. Which means the Galaxy Watch 7 is on no account inferior to the Extremely mannequin. That is nice to listen to!

Monitoring capabilities for sports activities

The Galaxy Watch 7 provides over 100 totally different exercises that may be tracked instantly on the wrist. Because of the twin GPS module, the smartwatch can document the space coated, together with pacing and modifications in altitude. On the very least, it repeatedly information the center charge and classifies it based on customized coronary heart charge zones. What I discovered to be actually sensible in on a regular basis life was the auto-tracking.

The Galaxy Watch 7 routinely acknowledges actions and information a motorcycle journey to the workplace as a exercise. This supplies a great general impression of all of the efforts you make to dwell every day actively. Nevertheless, it’s annoying the watch typically fragments of information when automated. As an illustration, it ends one exercise and begins a brand new one if you find yourself caught on the site visitors lights. This ends in chaos within the Samsung Well being app.

Along with every day biking actions, I primarily used the Galaxy Watch 7 to trace my runs as I used to be coaching for a marathon in the course of the overview period. Right here, the inner GPS of the watch deviated barely from the GPS of my iPhone 13 mini. Throughout a 30 km run, the watch deviated by a whole kilometer. Because the iPhone’s GPS is actually topic to fluctuations, I would not see this as a serious level of criticism.

The recording of the center charge labored fairly reliably. There are solely small variations right here in comparison with my Whoop 4.0, which I used as a reference level in the course of the overview till it gave up the ghost. What Samsung additionally provides are values that inform me about my operating approach. It’s attention-grabbing to see my contact time with the bottom and cadence when operating. For a exact evaluation, nevertheless, I might advocate exterior {hardware} that does not carry out measurements by way of the wrist.

The truth that this can’t be related to the Galaxy Watch 7 or the Samsung Well being app is one other main level of criticism for Samsung. Garmin smartwatches, for instance, do that significantly better.

Sleep monitoring and restoration monitoring

After all, the Galaxy Watch 7 doesn’t cease recording information about your physique after a exercise. Right here, Samsung provides distinctive options similar to physique composition measurement, blood strain measurement and, most just lately, a classification of “Superior Glycation Endproducts”. The latter are produced when carbohydrates react with the physique’s personal proteins and may permit conclusions to be drawn a couple of wholesome life-style.

It is rather attention-grabbing to view and analyze these values. I actually assume that they will encourage folks to steer a extra lively and wholesome life-style. Nevertheless, I might solely ever see them as pattern or guideline values. In case you have pre-existing circumstances or wish to use the watch to observe your blood strain, I might advise in opposition to it. On this case, Huawei provides the Watch D (overview), a mannequin that has an built-in blood strain cuff. Even so, a correct medical system is all the time higher.

Again to the Galaxy Watch 7! Along with the builders of the “Sleep Cycle” app, it provides added worth relating to sleep monitoring. Whereas sleep phases and blood oxygen ranges may be conveniently tracked within the morning, Samsung may also detect the presence of harmful sleep apnea. You place the smartphone on the bedside desk and it makes use of the microphone to detect whether or not you expertise respiratory interruptions at night time resulting from loud night breathing.

Samsung bundles the restoration values, to which respiratory workout routines, a stress monitor and extra are added, within the new “Power Rating”. This means your restoration and may be very useful when planning exercises for the day. As a Whoop person, I personally love utilizing these sorts of “readiness” capabilities however there’s nonetheless an enormous downside with the Galaxy Watch 7 …

Battery & Charging

… the battery life! The Galaxy Watch 7 usually solely lasted a couple of day within the overview. Nevertheless, based on the producer, it ought to final 40 hours with out the All the time-On Show enabled and 30 hours with AOD. A minimum of the charging time is brief at round one hour utilizing the equipped charging dongle. Because of Qi charging, the Watch 7 can be charged wirelessly.

Professionals:

• Charging time of round one hour is appropriate for on a regular basis use.
• Wi-fi charging is supported.

Cons:

• Must be charged every day …
• … which limits seamless monitoring.
• Power-saving mode just isn’t actually efficient.

Regardless of that includes simpler processors, Samsung is caught with a one-day battery life in its smartwatches. My person habits entails every day monitoring of exercises and a slightly low use of the sensible capabilities, making the producer’s specs of 30 to 40 hours fairly far off a practical take a look at case. Though charging is fast and simple because of the magnetic charging puck and quick charging, this bothered me immensely in the course of the overview.

After a day of monitoring a number of skilled bike rides and recording 10 – 15 km of operating coaching within the night, the Galaxy Watch 7 is unquestionably empty within the night. When nightfall fell and I had a social occasion to take care of, Camila laughed at me with the Galaxy Watch Extremely on her wrist as my mannequin had run out of energy regardless of my makes an attempt to save lots of power. The Mobvoi TicWatch Professional 5 Enduro (overview) or the Amazfit T-Rex 3 (overview) additionally supply longer operating instances. I must cost them beforehand for sleep monitoring and by doing so, I needed to wait an hour.

In different phrases, I typically charged the watch in a single day which led to lacking out on necessary health data similar to sleep high quality or the brand new AGE monitoring. After all, I am used to the four-day battery lifetime of the Whoop 4.0 however I discover it actually annoying to cost a smartwatch on daily basis!

Technical Specs

Conclusion