Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic Review - Is it Worth It?

The Smartwatch Landscape: Apple's Dominance and the Rise of Wear OS

Currently, Apple holds a commanding position in the smartwatch market. Recent data from CounterPoint indicates the Apple Watch accounts for over one-third of all global shipments in the first quarter. Samsung, utilizing its own Tizen OS, secures a distant, yet significant, second place with an 8% market share. Given their leadership in other tech sectors, both companies are actively seeking avenues for increased competition.

Google's Strategy: Acquisition and Collaboration

Google’s approach to gaining ground is two-pronged. Firstly, the acquisition of Fitbit effectively expands its existing market reach. Secondly, Google has successfully persuaded Samsung to re-adopt Wear OS after a period of development with Tizen. For Samsung, returning to the Google operating system provides enhanced access to developers and a wider range of applications.

From a market share perspective, Samsung currently possesses a distinct advantage. While its independent Tizen development hasn’t revolutionized the market, it has solidified the company’s position as a strong second-place contender. Any return to Google’s ecosystem needed to be on Samsung’s own terms, ensuring favorable conditions for the company.

The Galaxy Watch 4: A Collaborative Effort

Following the announcement of renewed collaboration at Google I/O, Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Watch 4, the first product of this partnership. Available in standard and Classic models, the wearable operates on “Wear OS Powered by Samsung.” This signifies a close collaboration between Samsung and Google to create a customized version of Wear OS that closely resembles the functionality and feel of Tizen.

This represents an attempt to integrate into a growing – though previously challenged – wearable OS ecosystem without sacrificing the user experience Samsung has refined over several years. The partnership between Samsung and Google has effectively identified the strengths of each system, resulting in a compelling and unified experience. This is a beneficial situation for Google, and could encourage other major hardware manufacturers to join the Wear OS platform.

Combined with continuous hardware improvements and advancements in health tracking, the Galaxy Watch 4 is now a strong competitor to the Apple Watch. Like Apple, the new wearable is deeply integrated with the Samsung ecosystem, reinforcing the company’s broader strategy.

Ecosystem Integration and Strategic Positioning

The new Galaxy Buds are considered the premier earbuds for Samsung users, and the same holds true for the company’s latest smartwatch. While Samsung is expanding compatibility through Wear OS, the Galaxy Watch remains primarily a Samsung device optimized for use with Samsung apps and mobile hardware. This is a calculated risk for the world’s leading smartphone manufacturer.

Samsung has refined its Galaxy Watch lineup over time, experimenting with various models and configurations. The current setup appears to be a streamlined and logical progression. The lower-end Galaxy Watch Active has been rebranded as the standard Galaxy Watch, while the original Galaxy Watch is now the Galaxy Watch Classic.

To clarify: the standard Galaxy Watch is thinner, lighter, and designed for a sportier aesthetic. The Galaxy Watch Classic offers a more refined appearance, featuring Samsung’s signature rotating hardware bezel instead of a digital bezel.

The Rotating Bezel: Samsung’s Unique Advantage

The rotating bezel remains a key differentiator for Samsung. It is an area where the company demonstrably surpasses Apple in the smartwatch category. While Apple’s Digital Crown is functional, the rotating bezel provides a superior method for navigating the smartwatch interface. Its removal in the Galaxy Watch 2 was a puzzling decision, rectified with its reintroduction in the Galaxy Watch 3.

Previous Samsung watches were criticized for their large size. Even for individuals with average-sized wrists, the devices could feel cumbersome. Offering only one size severely limits the potential customer base.

Fortunately, the Galaxy Watch 4 offers greater flexibility. The standard Watch is available in 40mm and 44mm sizes, while the Classic comes in 42mm and 46mm. A premium is added for the Classic models, primarily for the design differences, with LTE options available at additional cost. These prices remain competitive with the Apple Watch Series 6.

I chose the 42mm Galaxy Watch Classic, and after several days of use, I am satisfied with my decision. Given the design, the 46mm version would likely be too large for everyday wear, and certainly impractical for sleep tracking.

If given the option, selecting a model with the rotating bezel is highly recommended. A 40mm Classic would be ideal for users with smaller wrists, but Samsung is moving in the right direction by offering four distinct sizes.

Health and Fitness Features

Samsung is prioritizing health features, similar to its competitors. The watch accurately detects workouts, performing comparably to the Apple Watch in automatically recognizing walks and runs. It also effectively tracks rowing machine workouts. More complex routines, like HIIT and yoga, require manual activation for accurate tracking.

The inclusion of an ECG for detecting heart irregularities is becoming increasingly standard, and is a tool recommended by many medical professionals. The Body Composition feature is a standout, providing key health metrics such as skeletal muscle mass, body water percentage, metabolic rate, and body fat percentage with a simple finger placement.

Sleep tracking provides detailed insights, including blood oxygen levels, sleep stage analysis (light, deep, REM), and an overall sleep score. When used in conjunction with a nearby smartphone, the app can also estimate snoring duration. These metrics offer valuable, actionable insights into sleep patterns.

Battery Life and Overall Impression

Battery life on the Watch Classic is adequate, lasting a day and a half with typical to light usage. This is sufficient for fitness and sleep tracking, provided you can recharge it during the day. While acceptable, it isn’t exceptional.

In conclusion, the Galaxy Watch 4 delivers a compelling smartwatch experience. It is the best smartwatch for Samsung users, and a strong contender for the best Android-compatible smartwatch currently available.