Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 vs Galaxy Watch 4: Worth an upgrade?

The third era of Samsung’s new Put on OS smartwatch line is now official. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 heralds the return of the Basic mannequin, brings bigger batteries and screens, and features a extra refined design. However is it value upgrading in the event you personal an older mannequin, just like the Galaxy Watch 4? Learn our Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 vs Galaxy Watch 4 comparability to be taught extra.

Relating to options, the Galaxy Watch 6 and the Galaxy Watch 4 are carefully matched. We’ll first point out what the brand new watch brings to the desk.

The Galaxy Watch 6 collection packs a brand new Exynos W930 chipset with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of inside storage. The sprightlier chip and barely extra RAM ought to make for an total extra fluid expertise. Powering this technique is a 425mAh battery for the bigger fashions and a 300mAh battery for the smaller choices. The Galaxy Watch 6 fashions characteristic bigger batteries than the Galaxy Watch 4, which bodes nicely for longevity. Samsung claims you possibly can rise up to 40 hours of use on the Galaxy Watch 6 with out the always-on show activated. This may match our experiences with the Galaxy Watch 4, however we’re wanting to discover the brand new watch’s real-world endurance numbers. It’s value noting that the Galaxy Watch 5 Professional, with its 590mAh battery, nonetheless stays the endurance champion within the Samsung smartwatch vary.

Samsung hasn’t adorned the Galaxy Watch 6 with many new sensors. Other than a bezel sensor on the Basic, you’re nonetheless getting an identical health monitoring loadout seen on the Galaxy Watch 4 and 5, together with the BioActive sensor trio (coronary heart charge sensor, ECG, and physique composition sensor) with SpO2 monitoring. The Galaxy Watch 6 does profit from the pores and skin temperature sensor, which first debuted on the Galaxy Watch 5. This sensor now has a broader goal, too, permitting customers to take the temperature studying of objects. Samsung offers an instance of testing the water temperature of a pool earlier than hopping in. Curiously, the corporate has opened up the temperature sensor’s API. We might see some helpful third-party apps quickly.

Lots of the Galaxy Watch 6’s true novel options come from its new software program. One UI 5 Watch operating on high of Put on OS 4 brings extra intricate sleep monitoring, a run monitoring characteristic, and a customized exercise builder to the wrist. A brand new UI with the promise of recent Google apps additionally awaits. We must always point out that the Galaxy Watch 4 also needs to get this specific software program improve, however it gained’t be accessible instantly.

The Galaxy Watch 6 collection supplies a textbook instance of iterative upgrades. Aesthetically, it appears to be like nearly precisely just like the Galaxy Watch 4, however there are some modifications. We fairly just like the bolder strap pylons that embody the show on the usual mannequin. Chances are you’ll discover the a lot narrower bezels on the brand new watch, and it’s obvious when holding these two gadgets alongside each other. Samsung elevated the display actual property to 1.5 inches on the bigger mannequin and 1.3 inches on the smaller providing with out considerably enlarging the Galaxy Watch 6’s physique. That’s an excellent deal in our ebook.

Notably, the Galaxy Watch 6 collection additionally sees the return of the Basic mannequin. Just like the chunkier Galaxy Watch 4 Basic, the brand new mannequin features a bodily rotating bezel surrounding its show, however it’s a lot slimmer and tidier than its predecessor. Whereas the Basic is a bigger system, its show offers away just a few millimeters to accommodate the ring.

Let’s speak concerning the measurement choices on supply. The usual Galaxy Watch 6 and 4 fashions share dial measurement choices. You possibly can have both a 40mm or 44mm dial. Nonetheless, the Galaxy Watch 6 appears to be like bigger due to the tighter bezels and bigger total show, however in actuality, it’s extra compact.  Samsung has tweaked the Basic mannequin sizes ever so barely. The Galaxy Watch 6 Basic has a 43mm or 47mm face, overshadowing the Galaxy Watch 4 Basic’s 42mm and 46mm flavors. Usually, the brand new Basic is a bigger smartwatch when in comparison with all different gadgets listed above. We really feel the usual fashions can be extra comfy as fitness center companions.

Curiously, the Galaxy Watch 6 does convey one basic change to its design that’ll possible go unnoticed by many. The system reworked its band strap mounting system, now utilizing a pill-shaped button to launch or connect watch bands. Throughout our preliminary hands-on time with the watches, it made altering bands on the brand new watch an absolute breeze.

In abstract, each Galaxy Watch 6 fashions seem bigger than the Galaxy Watch 4 line, owing to roomier shows. The 2021 smartwatches look decidedly stuffy compared.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 launched in 2021, with costs beginning at $279 for the 40mm customary mannequin. The Basic mannequin had a $50 premium. Fortunately, you’ve gotten a significantly better probability of discovering this system at a cheaper price, making it a good possibility in the event you’re funds restricted.

The usual mannequin’s colours embrace a playful Pink Gold possibility unique to the 40mm dial and Black, Inexperienced, and Silver choices shared throughout the 2 sizes. The Basic is offered in Black and Silver.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 collection debuted on July 26, 2023, with basic availability beginning on August 11. The collection begins at $299 for the 40mm customary mannequin — a $20 worth hike over the 2021 mannequin. The Basic different is now much more costly at $399. That’s a $70 worth hike over the Galaxy Watch 4 Basic and a $100 premium over the usual Galaxy Watch 6. Those that pre-order the system may even obtain a free Material Band. Buying and selling in an older system might additionally earn you a $250 worth drop.

Colorways are much less impressed this time round. Your alternative consists of Graphite, Silver, and Gold for the usual mannequin and Black and Silver for the Basic.

The Galaxy Watch line has adopted the Apple Watch strategy of iterative upgrades, and this would possibly rub some followers anticipating cutting-edge options the fallacious approach. We’re glad to see the return of the Basic mannequin, however is that sufficient to entice legacy customers from upgrading? Whereas the Galaxy Watch 6 isn’t considerably completely different from the Galaxy Watch 4, it’s a extra full smartwatch. It’s the higher possibility for smartwatch newcomers.

The roomier show, bigger batteries, smarter band design, and newer chipset make the Galaxy Watch 6 a extra environment friendly and easier-to-use wearable. The return of the Basic mannequin additionally offers customers pining for a rotating bezel a worthwhile possibility once more. Nonetheless, in the event you have been on the lookout for a brand new killer characteristic, you gained’t discover any on the brand new fashions.

The Galaxy Watch 4 continues to be a succesful health tracker and smartwatch with just a few years of help pending. In case you personal a Galaxy Watch 4, there’s no actual motive to improve except you need the brand new Galaxy Watch 6 Basic.

That’s it for our Galaxy Watch 6 vs Galaxy Watch 4 comparability. Do you favor the brand new or the outdated watch? Tell us within the ballot under.