A worthwhile upgrade if…

29/08/2023 17:55

I was already using the Galaxy Watch 4 for last 2 years but when I saw the Galaxy Watch 6, I really wanted to try this one and as soon as it was available, I ordered it.
As soon as I unboxed it and set it up, I could clearly see that the Galaxy Watch 6 is a vast improvement compared to the Galaxy Watch 4. Gone are the bulky bezels, which really bothered me on my watch 4, reduced by 30% alongside a 20% increase in screen size to fill the space. The larger screen just makes the watch feel more complete and everything benefits from the change. Watch faces look better, it’s now easier to read the information on the watch, and there are fewer chances of accidentally touching something you didn’t mean to on the screen. The display itself is brighter, which makes it incredibly easy to read outdoors. The watch is however noticeably heavier, weighing 59 grams compared to the Watch 4’s 46.5 grams. The stainless steel build should help resist minor scratches over time.
I really liked that Wear OS 4 has introduced a dedicated WhatsApp app for smartwatches (which isn’t currently available on the other watches), new Tiles for Spotify, and an overhaul to the Google Calendar Wear OS app. There are some minor issues I noticed, for instance, when I tried switching on the watch’s ‘Theatre Mode’ during a film, I was then prompted to run through steps to set it up on my phone. It’s not ideal when you are already in the theatre.
I was really impressed by the speed of the UI. Everything from scrolling through menus to jumping into apps runs smoothly. The rotating bezel is really amazing and the tactile feedback of the bezel's rotation is a unique characteristic. Its utility becomes evident during usage and I really can’t understand how Samsung removed this feature from their watches.
The primary concern for me was its battery. While the battery is smaller than Watch 5 Pro, it can last a full day even with all features in use, including the always-on display. I was able to extend it to 1.5 days without the always-on display which is not great but not a deal breaker as well.
The Watch 6 Classic also offers a couple of new health related features. Firstly, there's the irregular heart rate notification, and secondly, the on-device sleep coach for more insightful sleep analysis. I found both of these features to be really useful & have used them a few times already.
Considering all the new features, it's certainly a worthwhile upgrade if you are coming from Watch 4.