Samsung Galaxy Watch4 Classic Review - One of the best Android smartwatches

We share our experience with the new Samsung Galaxy Watch4 Classic in 46mm with the new Wear OS after over 3 weeks of use!

Samsung Galaxy Watch4

Earlier this year, Google and Samsung have merged Wear OS and Tizen to provide a better smartwatch experience. Several months later, Samsung announced the first set of wearable smartwatches with the new "Wear OS powered by Samsung" inside the new Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch4 Classic.

In October, we received the Samsung Galaxy Watch4 Classic in 46mm for review. Currently, this variant sells for PHP 19,990 in the Philippines.

How does it perform in real-world use?

Let's find out here!

Unboxing/Accessories

White box

The Galaxy Watch4 Classic 46mm comes in a bright white box with Samsung branding and a render of the smartwatch in front while at the back are the specs, details, and regulatory information.

Inside the box

Inside the box is the smartwatch with strap, documentation, and a USB wireless charger. There is no extra strap with a different size.

Build Quality/Design

Bezel, watch face, side buttons, and lugs

The unit that we have is made out of metal for the case, a silicone strap, and a glass display. To ensure durability and make sure that it is okay for workouts, Samsung added both 5ATM of water resistance and IP68 of water and dust resistance as well as MIL-STD-810G rating.

This means that the device could withstand water pressure equivalent to 50 meters (5ATM), can withstand water submersion up to 1.5 meters deep for 30 minutes as well as prevent dust, dirt, and sand from entering the device, and has as gone through a series of 29 tests to rest its durability.

In front is the 1.4-inch circular display with 450 x 450 resolution, full-color Always-On display. Surrounding the display is the rotating command bezel.

On the right side of the watch body, you will find two buttons. The one with the red color is the Home key while the one with the black color is the back key.

Bottom sensor

At the bottom of the watch body are the regulatory information and the Samsung BioActive Sensor.

Strap and buckle

Attached to the watch body's lugs are the rubber straps. The straps are thick but lightweight. Each strap looks and feels high quality. Even the buckle is solid stainless steel.

Display Quality

Bright display!

As mentioned above, the display is a 1.4-inch Circular Super AMOLED panel with 450 x 450 resolution, full-color Always-On display, and Corning Gorilla Glass DX.

It is surprisingly bright enough to be readable under bright studio lights and under direct sunlight. The 450 x 450 resolution makes texts and images sharp and detailed which makes them easier to read.

The panel is also a touch screen that responds to taps and gestures quickly and accurately. In our experience, we almost never experience mistaps or incorrect actions after a specific gesture.

Battery

Battery usage reports

Inside the Watch4 Classic 46mm is a large 361mAh battery that charges with the included wireless charger. It takes under 120 minutes to fully charge the Watch4 Classic from 0 to 100 percent.

In our three weeks experience with the Watch4 Classic 46mm, we would wear the watch for a full 24 hour day even when we were asleep. It consistently managed to last more than 32 hours of use with around 20 percent battery left. In fact, it became our routine to charge the Watch4 Classic at the second day when we are on our downtime or when we would be in the bathroom.

It takes around 120 minutes to charge the Watch4 Classic 46mm from 0 to 100 percent with the included wireless charger. 

The Watch4 Classic also supports wireless charging standards and is compatible with Samsung's PowerShare feature. However, PowerShare is infamously slow in charging so its only good in a pinch.

Performance

Toggle buttons

The touch screen, command bezel, and hardware buttons all respond quickly and accurately.

Wear OS Powered by Samsung

The version of Wear OS powered by Samsung on the new Watch4 Classic is visually consistent with the latest version of One UI. This makes the look and feels of Samsung's ecosystem even better.

There is a ton of watch faces from Samsung's collection. This is expanded by the new OS's ability to let users access and install the vast variety of watch faces from previous versions of Wear OS.

Once set-up users can install Wear OS versions (if available) of the apps installed on their phones. In this case, we installed the Wear OS version of Spotify. We could browse and play thru our playlists. We can even cast the music to our preferred device in the local network.

Media controls

There is also a Media Control tile and app that allows you to control the playback and volume of the media currently playing on the user's smartphone. We used it to watch YouTube videos and Stream Spotify without touching our phone after the initial playback.

Stress measurement

The Watch4 Classic has several sensors that track and record health stats.

Daily health tracking with Blood Oxygen tracking

To use these features, the user has to download both the Samsung Wearable app and the Samsung Health app. In the Wearable app, users can control and set preferences of the smartwatch features.

While the Samsung Health app consolidates and records all the health-related tracking of both the smartphone and the smartwatch. It can track steps, heart rate, blood oxygen, and body composition.

In the Philippines, blood pressure monitoring is not enabled.

Pedometer and heart rate graphs

In one day, we managed to record over 14,039 steps. We can say that the step counter is accurate to an extent. However, we can't say that it is 100 percent accurate as it sometimes registers steps when we were sitting down while just moving our arms.

Users can also set the watch to monitor heart rate manually, continuously, or in intervals. 

Exercise tracking

The Watch4 Classic can record and monitor several types of exercise like walking, running, cycling, treadmill, circuit training, other workouts, hiking, weight machine, exercise bike, elliptical trainer, swimming, and more (arm curls, arm extensions, bench press, crunches, deadlifts). There is a lot of exercises that are being supported.

In both the circuit training and running exercises, the smartwatch monitors relevant stats like heart rate, pace, and cadence.

Sleep recording

The sleep monitoring is quite extensive. It not only tracks the hours of sleep but also measures when the user is awake, in REM, in light or in deep sleep. It can also monitor your Blood Oxygen and Snoring when asleep.

The Samsung Health app also awards users with badges when the user has achieved a milestone.

Overall, our experience with the Galaxy Watch4 Classic is one of the best smartwatch experiences we've had in a long time. However, it is only possible with a Samsung Phone like the Samsung Health and Samsung Wearable app have the best compatibility with recent Galaxy phones. It currently does not work with iOS.

Pros - Solid build quality, eye-catching design, IP68 resistance rating, long-lasting battery, extensive health and exercise monitor and recording, GPS

Cons - Limited strap options for 46mm model, best used with Samsung phones only

Samsung Galaxy Watch4 Classic Specs

Display: 1.4-inch Gorilla Glass DX protected AMOLED screen w/ 450 x 450 resolution at 455 ppi (46mm), 1.2-inch Gorilla Glass DX protected AMOLED screen w/ 450 x 450 resolution at 530 ppi (42mm)

RAM: 1.5GB

ROM: 16GB

Battery: 361mAh (46mm), 247mAh (42mm)

OS: Wear OS Powered by Samsung

Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0, WiFi, NFC, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo

Sensors: Accelerometer, light, geomagnetic, gyroscope, hall, optical heart rate, electrical heart, bioelectrical impedance analysis

Others: 5ATM + IP68, MIL-STD-810G, Colors: Black, Silver

Dimensions: 45.5 x 45.5 x 11 mm (46mm), 41.5 x 41.5 x 11.2mm (42mm)

Weight: 52g (46mm), 47g (42mm)

Price: PHP 17,990 (42mm), PHP 19,990 (46mm)

Verdict

On wrist

The surprise merging of Wear OS and Tizen has resulted in success. This is one of the best smartwatch experiences we've had in a long time. The battery may not last as long as fitness bands, but no other Android smartwatch offers this much polish in build, design, and software. 

Our only concern is that because Wear OS powered by Samsung works best only with Samsung phones as the Samsung Health and Samsung Wearable apps are most compatible with recent galaxy phones.

So if you are looking for one of the best smartwatches for Android and are already using a Samsung Galaxy smartphone, then the Galaxy Watch4 Classic is almost a no-brainer.

Just take note that there is a very limited number of strap options for the larger 46mm model.

Build/Design - 4.75

Display -  4.5

Battery Life - 4.25

Performance - 4.5

Average - 4.5/5