Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic: The Ultimate Fusion of Style and Functionality for Android Users?

Samsung and Google have strengthened their collaboration like never before, joining forces to develop the latest Galaxy Watch 4 series. Previously, Samsung operated independently, marketing Galaxy Watches equipped with its proprietary TizenOS. In contrast, Google has been striving to assist manufacturers in their competition against the Apple Watch through its Wear OS platform. Now, these two approaches have been integrated. Does the Galaxy Watch 4 series effectively combine the strengths of both Google and Samsung? Or should you keep holding out for an Android counterpart to the Apple Watch? Here’s my evaluation of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic.

Pricing of Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 in India

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 series comprises two versions: the Galaxy Watch 4 and the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic. Both models are available in two sizes, with options for Bluetooth-only and LTE configurations. The 40mm Galaxy Watch 4 carries a price of Rs. 23,999 for the Bluetooth-only version and Rs. 28,999 for the LTE model. The 44mm Galaxy Watch 4 is priced at Rs. 26,999 for the Bluetooth variant and Rs. 31,999 for the LTE variant.

You can purchase a 42mm Bluetooth-only Galaxy Watch 4 Classic for Rs. 31,999, while the LTE version of the same size is available for Rs. 36,999. Lastly, the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic 46mm is priced at Rs. 34,999 for the Bluetooth model and Rs. 36,999 for the LTE version.

Design and Features of Samsung Galaxy Watch 4

The design philosophies of the Galaxy Watch 4 and Watch 4 Classic are distinctly different. The Galaxy Watch 4 appeals to fitness enthusiasts seeking a sleek device for tracking their activities, while the Watch 4 Classic resembles a more conventional wristwatch. For this review, I focused on the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic.

The Galaxy Watch 4 Classic features a 1.4-inch AMOLED screen and a rotating bezel

The Galaxy Watch 4 Classic exudes a premium feel, featuring a stainless steel casing that adds a pleasing heft when worn. It includes a rotating bezel that harks back to its predecessor, the Galaxy Watch 3 (Review). The bezel provides a satisfying click feedback, making it easy to confirm inputs without hesitation. Additionally, it aids in navigating around the watch and through various features, enhancing convenience.

The Galaxy Watch 4 Classic is equipped with a 1.4-inch AMOLED display, which sits just below the rotating bezel. You need not worry about scratches on the display, as it is protected by Gorilla Glass DX. There are two buttons on the right side; the upper one, highlighted in red, serves as a home button, while the lower one acts as the back button. By long-pressing the home button, you can activate Bixby on the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic.

The watch case features lugs that extend outward to secure the fluoroelastomer strap. The included strap is comfortable and did not cause any skin irritation during my review experience. The Galaxy Watch 4 Classic accommodates standard 20mm straps, allowing you to easily customize with other options. Its supplied strap incorporates quick-release pins for straightforward removal.

The base of the Watch 4 Classic houses a Samsung BioActive sensor that measures heart rate and SpO2 levels. It also uses electrodes in the side buttons to assess body composition. Although the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic can track blood pressure and perform ECG readings worldwide, these functionalities are currently unavailable in India. Samsung has informed Gadgets 360 that it is collaborating with relevant authorities to bring these features to India. The Galaxy Watch 4 Classic contains a microphone at the top and a speaker on the left, and it houses the largest battery in the series, rated at 361mAh, which charges wirelessly using the included charger.

Galaxy Watch 4 Classic supports standard 20mm bands

The Watch 4 Classic itself weighs approximately 52g without the strap, which I found noticeable, particularly when using it during sleep. I believe the Galaxy Watch 4 could be more comfortable for overnight tracking, as its smaller dimensions might prove to be advantageous for workouts as well.

Samsung has introduced new hardware in the Watch 4 Classic, powered by its custom Exynos W920 dual-core processor operating at 1.18GHz. It is equipped with 1.5GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage, of which around 7GB is user-accessible. The Galaxy Watch 4 Classic supports Bluetooth 5, dual-band Wi-Fi, NFC, and four satellite navigation systems. Moreover, Samsung has achieved an IP68 rating, asserting that this model is water-resistant up to 5ATM.

Software Experience of Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic

This is where the collaboration between Samsung and Google comes into play. Samsung has integrated its TizenOS with Wear OS, resulting in this software running on the new smartwatches, featuring One UI customizations. My Galaxy Watch 4 Classic had the August security update installed. Unlike other Wear OS smartwatches that connect to your phone through the Wear OS app, the Galaxy Watch 4 requires the Galaxy Wearable app. This indicates Samsung’s level of control over Wear OS on this particular device. The Galaxy Watch 4 is compatible only with Android smartphones operating on Android 6.0 or newer, and unlike earlier Galaxy Watch models, it does not yet support iOS.

I found the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic to be exceptionally customizable, offering a variety of watch faces to choose from and the option to download additional ones. Furthermore, you can personalize these watch faces by selecting the dial color and watch hands you prefer. Certain faces also allow the addition of specific complications for enhanced information display.

Google apps are accessible on the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic

The interface on the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic exhibits some differences from typical Wear OS smartwatches. Swiping down from the screen’s top provides quick toggles, while swiping up reveals your installed applications. A swipe to the right from the lockscreen displays notifications, and swiping left opens up “Tiles,” which are widgets for most of the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic’s functionalities. You’ll find standard Google applications like Contacts, Calendar, and Messages, all re-skinned to align with OneUI aesthetics. Google Maps is also available on the watch, along with the Play Store to download compatible Wear OS apps.

By long-pressing the home button, Bixby appears, further underlining Samsung’s influence here. Bixby is the sole assistant on the watch and requires you to log into your Samsung account before it can respond to commands. Personally, I’ve never favored Bixby, and I missed having Google Assistant available on the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic. I can only hope that an update will bring Google Assistant support in the future.

Performance and Battery Life of Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic

The Galaxy Watch 4 Classic ranks among the best Wear OS smartwatches I have experienced to date. The interface feels responsive, and the hardware performs efficiently without any signs of slowing down. When rotating the bezel quickly, the UI keeps pace and responds promptly. I could manage my notifications directly on the watch and had the option to type or verbally dictate a response, or select from a pre-defined quick replies list.

While the Galaxy Wearable app facilitates settings management on the Galaxy Watch 4, all health metrics are consolidated in the Samsung Health app, which is essential to download if the device is paired with a non-Samsung smartphone. In my usage of the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic for workout tracking, I was pleased with its ability to monitor specific activities. However, I had to manually select each exercise, rather than simply selecting Traditional Strength Training as I do on an Apple Watch. Nonetheless, the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic effectively tracks individual exercises. Automatic tracking is available for certain types of activities, which the watch successfully identified during my review.

The Galaxy Watch 4 Classic measures heart rate with good accuracy

Step tracking accuracy was commendable, as the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic recorded 1,003 steps against my manual count of 1,000 during walks. The distance tracking was also competent, with the watch measuring 1.02km for an actual distance of 1km. Heart rate monitoring on the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic aligned closely with treadmill readings and an Apple Watch SE (Review). However, I observed that the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic sometimes failed to capture heart rate data during workouts.

Sleep tracking on the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic was also accurate, recording my bedtimes correctly. Furthermore, the Samsung Health app provides a detailed analysis of different sleep stages. It also features the capability to monitor blood oxygen levels during sleep, though this must be activated in the Samsung Health app. Samsung has also introduced a sleep apnea detection feature, utilizing your smartphone microphones to capture sounds during sleep. Although I enabled this feature, the watch did not register any snoring throughout the review.

The SpO2 readings on the watch consistently exceeded 95 percent, which is a healthy range for individuals. Additionally, the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic can display your stress levels. To perform a body composition analysis, you simply need to touch and hold both side buttons. These buttons are equipped with small electrodes that enable the Watch 4 Classic to determine metrics such as BMI, muscle mass, and fat mass, alongside the sensors on its underside. I compared the readings from the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic with those from my weighing scale and noted some discrepancies in water weight, while other metrics showed only minor variances. While the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic shouldn’t be perceived as a medical device, it certainly allows you to track a comprehensive array of health metrics with reasonable accuracy.

Tracking SpO2 and analyzing body composition is possible with the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic

The Galaxy Watch 4 Classic includes a speaker, allowing for phone calls to be made directly from the watch. Callers did not experience issues when I took their calls on the watch, and the speaker volume was satisfactory when held close to my face. It’s also capable of playing music through the speaker, but the sound isn’t particularly loud, which could impact battery performance.

My experience with the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic’s battery life was about a day and a half with my usage patterns, which involved tracking workouts each morning and receiving WhatsApp notifications throughout the day, in addition to sleep tracking at night. I had to recharge it by the evening of the second day. I did not frequently perform SpO2 and body composition measurements. Moreover, SpO2 tracking and sleep apnea detection are disabled by default. If you enable all these features along with the always-on display, anticipate a diminished battery life. I haven’t tested the standard Galaxy Watch 4, but I suspect it would operate for just over a day with similar usage, thanks to its smaller battery capacity.

Charging the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic was a somewhat slow experience. It reached 23 percent in 30 minutes and hit 43 percent after an hour. A full charge took over two hours. You may need to strategize your charging schedule accordingly.

Conclusion

The Galaxy Watch 4 models mark the first offerings resulting from the partnership between Samsung and Google. The Galaxy Watch 4 Classic stands out as one of the finest Android smartwatches I have used, yet it comes with limitations that you should consider prior to purchase. Firstly, the interface showcases a distinctly Samsung flair rather than a Google feel, and compatibility with a Samsung smartphone enhances the experience. Additionally, the reliance on Bixby seems quirky, and Google Assistant would indeed be preferable. Lastly, the slow charging speed and the potential for faster charging would have been beneficial.

If you’re searching for a high-end, feature-packed Android smartwatch, the Galaxy Watch 4 series is undoubtedly the optimal choice. Although these models are pricier than some competitors, their functionality is largely unmatched. For active users, I would suggest opting for the Galaxy Watch 4 over the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic.