Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 LTE Review
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 is a notable contender in the smartwatch market, blending stylish design with a robust suite of health and connectivity features. Its sleek, minimal design is customizable with swappable straps, allowing users to personalize their look. Available in two sizes, 40mm and 44mm, the watch caters to different wrist sizes and preferences.
What’s new with Galaxy Watch 6
The new generation Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 is powered by a 1.4GHz processor (18% faster than Watch 5), comes with a 1.3-inch (40mm model) or 1.5-inch (44mm model) Super AMOLED display, 2GB memory and 16GB storage plus 4G LTE connectivity. Both sizes while come with different batteries is capable of up to 40 hours usage time.
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Samsung boasts that the Watch 6 has a larger display (20% larger) while maintaining a slim bezel (30% slimmer), that black margin around the screen. This makes the watch feels a lot bigger as the display gets pushed to the edge. You get more space, easier to navigate on screen and more customisable watch faces. Talking about slim, the case is also slimmer and sleeker for a better fit and more comfortable wear.
One of the standout features of the Galaxy Watch 6 is its comprehensive health tracking capabilities. It includes Samsung’s BioActive sensor array, which offers sleep tracking, heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen measurement, ECG, and even body composition analysis. This makes it an excellent tool for those keen on maintaining or improving their fitness and health monitoring.
Onboard Sensors: Accelerometer,Barometer,Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis Sensor,Electrical Heart Sensor,Gyro Sensor,Geomagnetic Sensor,Infrared Temperature Sensor,Light Sensor,Optical Heart Rate Sensor.
The watch also boasts good connectivity features, including optional LTE models, enabling users to stay connected even without their phone. This feature, combined with its built-in mic and speaker, allows for convenient call and text management directly from the wrist. It also combines with safety features like fall detection and emergency SOS contact so you can get help quickly even if you don’t have your phone with you.
Connectivity and Location Technology: WiFi Dual Band, NFC, Bluetooth v5.3, GPS, Glonass, Beidou, Galileo
What is it like to live with
As for durability, the screen is lined with Sapphire Crystal glass to make it scratch resistant. The case is also IP68 and 5ATM rated against dust and water, so will survive the outdoor come rain or shine. It is also a peace of mind to know that the watch is tested against military standards (MIL-STD-810H) for toughness. Choose between graphite black or silver case with the 44mm model or graphite black or gold case with the 40mm model. All cases are made from Amor Aluminium.
Your choice of strap may decide its suitability for use with your preferred activity. Band choices include sports, extreme sports, fabric, hybrid leather in various colours. Whichever strap you choose, switching between the bands is as easy as pushing a small quick release button to detach the strap. Swap it by clicking the new one back on.
If you are used to paying with your phone or via NFC on your smartwatch, the Watch 6 supports Samsung Wallet, allowing you to pay for your purchases with the watch without the need to pull out your phone. Hold the watch near the NFC reader to pay with a swipe or tap.
What could have been better
However, the Galaxy Watch 6 is not without its drawbacks. Its battery life, while adequate, requires daily charging if used extensively, especially for exercise tracking. This might be a deal-breaker for users who prioritise sleep tracking, as charging the device overnight would miss out on this feature. Having said that, it only takes 30 minutes charging to bring it back up to 45%. It will take approximately 1 and a quarter hours to fully charge. For me, I would charge it before I go to bed, especially just before I hit the showers and do my reading in bed.
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Final Thoughts
Despite the battery life, the Galaxy Watch 6 remains a strong choice for Android users, offering a blend of aesthetics, functionality, and health tracking that few competitors can match. Its integration with Android phones, especially Samsung devices, provides a seamless user experience, though some features are limited to Samsung phone users. The watch’s appeal could be broadened with improvements in battery technology to extend life between charges, enhancing its utility for comprehensive 24/7 tracking.
Now if you don’t need the LTE connectivity there is a Bluetooth only mode. Also consider the mid-tier Galaxy Watch 6 Classic (Bluetooth only or Bluetooth + 4G). While powered by the same processor, battery life and displays, it has a slightly different design, with a bigger stainless steel cases measuring 43mm or 47mm (see image below) compared to armor aluminium 40mm or 44mm cases on the Watch 6 LTE.
