A few days ago, I bought a Samsung Galaxy Watch 4, which was launched in August 2021 for $250, but now it is available on Amazon for $150. However, I bought this watch second hand for $97, but in this article, we will evaluate it based on the price of $150, and I will tell you 3 reasons that why should you buy this watch.
This is Real Smartwatch
The first reason is that this is a real smartwatch. I mean, other smartwatches in the $150-200 range usually come with a custom OS. For example, if you take the Amazfit GTR 3, which sells for around $110, you won’t have access to the Play Store, and you can’t install third-party apps. You can only view notifications but cannot provide custom replies. You’ll encounter these same issues even with budget smartwatches.
| Galaxy Watch 4 | OnePlus Watch | Amazfit GTR 3 |
| $150 | $159 | $110 |
| 30g | 45g | 45g |
| Armor Aluminum | Stainless Steel | Aluminum |
| 5ATM+IP68, MIL-STD-810G | 5ATM+IP68 | 5ATM |
| 1.4″ Super AMOLED 450×450 | 1.39″ AMOLED 454×454 | 1.39″ AMOLED 454×454 |
| Gorilla Glass DX+ | N/A | N/A |
| NFC, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Beidou | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Beidou |
| Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth 5.1 |
| 361mAh | 402mAh | 450mAh |
But if we look at our Galaxy Watch 4, it comes with Wear OS, which offers several advantages. You can reply to notifications, and it also provides access to the Play Store, allowing you to install other apps like Google Maps. With Google Maps, you can get directions directly on your watch. Additionally, the Galaxy Watch 4 comes with Google Assistant, enabling you to use voice commands. It also includes a phone dialer, so you can make phone calls and perform other related functions.
Performance & Lifespan
Now, if you’re spending $150, obviously you won’t face any performance issues. However, I’ll still provide you with the specs. The Galaxy Watch 4 comes with an Exynos W920 processor, 16GB of storage, and 1.5GB of RAM. I have been using it for the past week, and I haven’t experienced any performance issues.
Overall, the UI of the Galaxy Watch 4 is quite smooth, and you can expect to receive software updates for up to 4 years. So basically, you will receive updates until 2025, and even after that, you can continue to use it for another 1-2 years because it offers a wide range of features.
But the only downside I found with this watch is its battery backup. The battery tends to drain within 1-1.5 days, and I have to charge it every day.
Health & Fitness
In budget smartwatches, health sensors are often less accurate or even fake, while in the $100-150 range, smartwatches tend to have health sensors that are near to accurate, with only minor variations of 2-3 digits.
| Galaxy Watch 4 | OnePlus Watch | Amazfit GTR 3 |
| Accelerometer | Accelerometer | Accelerometer |
| Gyroscope | Gyroscope | Gyroscope |
| Geomagnetic Sensor | Geomagnetic Sensor | Geomagnetic Sensor |
| Barometer | N/A | Barometer |
| Bio Active Sensor (Heart Rate, ECG, Bood Pressure, Blood Oxygen) | Optical Sensor (Heart Rate, Blood Oxygen) | Optical Sensor (Heart Rate, Blood Oxygen) |
| Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis Sensor | N/A | N/A |
| Ambient Light Sensor | Ambient Light Sensor | Ambient Light Sensor |
Specifically, when it comes to the Galaxy Watch 4, it is equipped with a Bio Active Sensor, which is an all-in-one sensor. With this sensor, you can check your heart rate, measure blood pressure, and even monitor your blood oxygen level. Additionally, you can also check your Body Impedance Analysis (BIA), which is not commonly available in other watches.
Indeed, the Galaxy Watch 4 provides automatic workout detection, meaning it can automatically recognize and track your workouts without manual input. It also supports the Google Fit app and Samsung Health, allowing you to synchronize your fitness data and make use of the features provided by these platforms.
Even when the software updates for the Galaxy Watch 4 cease in 2025, you can still continue using it for health and fitness purposes.
Final Words
Overall, the Galaxy Watch 4 has a premium design and is IP68 water-resistant. It features an AMOLED display, which provides an Always-On Display mode, Tap to Wake, and Raise to Wake functionality.
In my opinion, if you buy this watch new, it is worth it because you won’t find all these features in other smartwatches in this price range. However, if your budget is lower, you can also consider buying it second hand like I did.
