Samsung Galaxy Watch: A Solid Pick

The Samsung Galaxy Watch wants to fix whats always been a sticking point for smartwatches: battery life.

- Victoria Song

Promising five days of power, the Tizen-based Galaxy Watch also offers fitness and sleep tracking, heart-rate monitoring, and intelligent notifications with Bixby integration. It’s expensive at $329.99, and adding LTE connectivity drives the price up even higher. And though the Galaxy Watch offers activity tracking, its results aren’t on a par with dedicated fitness trackers or even with hybrid models such as the Fitbit Versa. Still, it’s one of the better alternatives out there to the Apple Watch.

SHARP LOOKS ON A ROUND FACE

The Galaxy Watch isn’t that different from the Gear S3 in terms of physical appearance. Available in 42mm and 46mm sizes, it looks stylish on the wrist, with a more professional look than the sporty design of many fitness-oriented wearables, including the Gear Sport. Both sizes have a circular rotating bezel around a crisp 1.2- or 1.3-inch (42mm or 46mm) AMOLED screen.

The Watch is available in black, rose-gold, or silver. The black and silver versions feature a black strap, and the rose-gold has a blush strap. The straps are textured and flexible, and they can be swapped out for new ones. The 46mm version can use any 22mm strap, while the 42mm model works with 20mm straps.

We tested the 42mm rose-gold model, which is stylish and comfortable to wear on a daily basis. It looks great with casual wear and is easily dressed up for something more formal. And the round face lends the Galaxy Watch a more classic feel than the square Fitbit Versa or Apple Watch. But in terms of size, we found the 46mm to be on the chunkier side—almost like a small hockey puck on the wrist. Compared with both versions, the Fitbit Versa and Gear Sport are both slimmer and less obtrusive on your wrist.