What’s new with the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5?
The Galaxy Watch 5 is available in 40mm and 44mm sizes, with a choice of strap and case combinations, including new redesigned options to better suit your taste. It has the same contemporary design, complete with soft-touch silicone watch bands and two side-mounted buttons to the right of the display.
Though it may not appear so, the display has been upgraded. It has the same size and resolution as its predecessor, but it is 60% more durable this time around thanks to improved sapphire crystal glass. That should help protect it not only from breaking but also from scratches, though how much is unknown.
Samsung’s 3-in-1 bioactive sensor has returned, combining an Optical Heart Rate Sensor, an Electrical Heart Sensor, and a Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis sensor in a single box on the smartwatch’s back, albeit it’s significantly larger this time to better track your vitals throughout the day.
There’s also a new body temperature sensor, which Samsung claims is accurate even when the surrounding environment is significantly hotter or colder than your body, though no applications – Samsung-developed or otherwise – currently use it.
There is also an increase in overall battery life. The Galaxy Watch 5 boasts a 13% larger battery than its predecessor, which results in marginally longer battery life, as well as faster charging speeds that offer 8 hours of use from 8 minutes on a charger and a 45% charge in just 30 minutes. It’s not quite as advanced as the Watch 5 Pro, which we’ll discuss in a moment, but it should comfortably last two days on average.
The Galaxy Watch 5 incorporates Google’s updated WearOS, as well as a few heritage Tizen capabilities that existing Galaxy Watch customers will appreciate. Despite the fact that the Watch 4 was the first to receive the improved software, it remains one of the very few smartwatches to use Google’s refined watch OS.
You can expect sophisticated health, fitness, and activity tracking from Samsung, including body composition analysis and the option to set targets for muscular mass, skeletal muscle, and more – but all of this is already available on last year’s Galaxy Watch 4. Sleep tracking is a similar story; it’s still amazingly advanced compared to the Apple Watch Series 7, complete with sleep status, blood oxygen monitoring, the ability to measure snoring, and insights/coaching to improve your quality of sleep, but it’s not exclusive to the Watch 5.
If you’re looking for something a little more powerful, the new Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro might be more to your liking.
What is the new Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro?
With the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, it appears that Samsung has finally put the revolving bezel to rest. In its place is a raised bezel with a sunken display within, and while it may appear strange at first, the design makes sense. It not only protects the display from harm while you walk, but you can also run your finger over the bezel to accomplish the same app-switching functionality as the rotating bezel.
Aside from the lack of a bezel, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro offers numerous significant improvements over the already capable Galaxy Watch 5. With an emphasis on outdoor sports and exercise, the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is built to withstand a beating and keep going. It has a titanium body that is 2x stronger than aluminum, and the new sapphire crystal display is 90% stronger and scratch resistant than its predecessor.
With the largest battery in a Samsung wearable to date at 590mAh, the firm promises the Watch 5 Pro will last up to 80 hours (just over three days) with ordinary use and 20 hours of GPS tracking – more than enough for even a marathon.
Along with the in-depth health, fitness, and sleep tracking found on the standard Galaxy Watch 5, the Pro model goes a step further, especially for outdoor sports like running, trekking, and mountaineering.
The Watch 5 Pro can give turn-by-turn guidance via display, voice, and vibrations, as well as a return-to-home prompt that will bring you back to where you started your exercise. Custom jogging routes can even be imported for the most dedicated runners and ramblers out there.
So, while the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is officially a rugged, robust version of the Galaxy Watch 5, it’s really a rugged, durable version of the Galaxy Watch 5 suited for outdoor sports.