Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 5 Pro Review: Best Android Smartwatches

samsung galaxy watch 5 5pro review 5pro wrist Samsung

The market for smartwatches designed to work with Android smartphones is huge, especially with the relatively recent entry of brands like Oppo and OnePlus. Other brands like Fossil and Amazfit have been around for a while and have a strong presence as well. However, with an established presence in the high-end smartwatch space — Samsung, one name stands out for several reasons. The South Korean company recently launched its latest smartwatches, the Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 5 Pro.

Price Rs. 27,999 and Rs. 44,999 for the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 5 Pro respectively, these smartwatches are designed to be used with Android smartphones and promise flagship-grade performance and features. With Samsung’s One UI Watch 4.5 operating system based on Google’s Wear OS 3.5, and an impressive set of features, are these the best smartwatches an Android smartphone user can buy right now? Find out in this review.

samsung galaxy watch 5 5pro review 5pro wrist Samsung

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is slightly larger than the Galaxy Watch 5

Samsung Galaxy Watch 5, Galaxy Watch 5 Pro price and variants

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 is available in two sizes. The 40mm variant is priced at Rs. 27,999 for the Bluetooth version only, and Rs. 32,999 for the LTE version. The 44mm variant is priced at Rs. 30,999 for the Bluetooth version only and Rs. 35,999 for the LTE version.

The more expensive Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is available in a single 45mm size variant, which costs only the Bluetooth version. 44,999, and the LTE version is priced at Rs. 49,999. Samsung sent me the top-end LTE variants of both smartwatches for this review.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 5, Galaxy Watch 5 Pro Design and Features

The biggest difference between the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 and the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is in the design and build quality. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 (44mm) is just a hint smaller than the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, and features a 1.4-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 450×450 pixels. While the display size and resolution are the same on the Watch 5 Pro, the dial is slightly larger and the case is much thicker.

The Galaxy Watch 5 Pro weighs slightly more at 46.5g compared to the Watch 5 at 33.5g. This has a lot to do with the materials used; The Pro version has a titanium case, while the Watch 5 has an aluminum case. I loved how both devices felt to wear. The Galaxy Watch 5 was lighter and slightly more comfortable, while the Watch 5 Pro felt more solid and premium, and is built to withstand impact and rough use.

Both the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 5 Pro have two physical buttons and a microphone on the right side, while the left side has a speaker grill at the bottom. The underside of the two watches is identical with optical sensors for heat and fitness tracking, though the plastic finish on the two smartwatches is different. Both the smartwatches have a 5ATM rating for water resistance.

One big change on the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is the omission of the rotating bezel, which was popular on previous Galaxy Watch devices. This is replaced by a ‘digital’ bezel that performs the same function of scrolling; Running your finger along the edge of the screen lets you scroll quickly, and the watch also provides some haptic feedback to give a sense of physical rotation.

samsung galaxy watch 5 5pro review 5 screen samsung

Both the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro have round AMOLED screens

Both smartwatches have replaceable 20mm silicone straps, and in my opinion, the included straps are ideal for use with the devices due to how well they blend in with the shape of the dials and lugs. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 has a simple buckle-based fitting method, while the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro has a more complicated and less easily adjustable magnetic grip. The latter feels good and is easy to use once properly adjusted, but adjusting the tightness takes a lot of effort and finding the right setting can be tricky.

In terms of specifications, both watches use Bluetooth 5.2 for connectivity, and are powered by an unspecified 1.18GHz dual-core processor with 1.5GB of RAM and 16GB of built-in storage (7.5GB of which is user accessible). There is also dual-band Wi-Fi connectivity, GPS and NFC for additional connectivity functions. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 has a 410mAh battery, while the Watch 5 Pro has a 590mAh battery.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 5, Galaxy Watch 5 Pro software, interface and app

Samsung and Google’s software partnership for wearable devices isn’t new, but we’re seeing some improvements in the Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 5 Pro compared to the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic. The new devices run Wear OS 3.5, but as before, Samsung’s OneUI Watch 4.5 user interface is on top.

The system requires the use of the Galaxy Wearable app to set up and manage the connection between the smartphone and the smartwatch instead of the Wear OS app. Furthermore, it limits the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro to use only on Android devices; Essential apps like the Wear OS app are not available on iOS.

On the other hand, it sets the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro well apart from most current Wear OS devices. The devices combine the best bits of both platforms — extensive app support and the excellent Google app suite for smartwatches, along with the beautiful-looking and convenient user interface that Samsung has perfected over years of development.

samsung galaxy watch 5 5pro review app samsung

The Galaxy Wearable and Samsung Health apps — available only on Android — work with the Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro

The interface works well, it’s easy to navigate around and it’s really nice to look at. This will sound familiar to anyone who has used Samsung’s Tizen-based smartwatches, Wear OS or even older Android Wear smartwatches.

Most of the preinstalled apps are Samsung’s own, but you can access the Google Play Store for Wear OS to download and install other apps you want. This includes various Google apps like Maps, Keep and YouTube Music along with other useful apps like Shazam, Flightradar and Strava.

Health and fitness tracking uses the Samsung Health app, both on smartwatches and smartphones. You can install the Google Fit app on both devices if you want, but I really like the way the Samsung Health app presents the data. The Galaxy Wearable app lets you create ’tiles’ for quick access to various functions and features on the smartwatch, including various health and fitness-based tiles from Samsung Health, and some supported apps like Google Keep and Microsoft Outlook.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro has some additional software-based features that the Galaxy Watch 5 doesn’t have, including a Track Back feature for GPS-based guidance during outdoor treks and some post-cardio exercise recovery tracking and guidance. Other than that, the software experience is largely the same on both the Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 5, Galaxy Watch 5 Pro performance and battery life

Like other high-end devices in the premium price range, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro are proper smartwatches, offering an all-round experience and full connectivity. These include standalone apps with full functionality, the ability to make and receive calls using Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or LTE, and the ability to respond to certain notifications directly from the smartwatch.

The Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro all worked as expected, without mirroring your smartphone screen with a few simple apps built-in, complete wrist-worn devices with standalone capabilities (which most affordable watches have). Connectivity was stable and all major functions worked without a hitch.

samsung galaxy watch 5 5pro review 5pro buttons Samsung

The more expensive Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro has a titanium case, which feels better and more durable than the Galaxy Watch 5.

Most of the functions on the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro rely on Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, especially if your smartphone and smartwatch are always close to each other, as will be the case for most users. However, LTE connectivity offers some flexibility to be able to leave your smartphone behind at times, reserving the ability to call or view and respond to certain notifications on your smartphone for those who need it.

Fitness tracking was pretty good on the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro, although I strangely got slightly different results despite the two devices being similar in terms of tracking hardware. When I manually counted 1,000, the Watch 5 recorded 1,007 steps, while the Watch 5 Pro recorded 997. The difference was not much and the margin of error was less than one percent on both devices.

Oddly, there was also a slight discrepancy between the steps recorded by the Samsung Health app and the steps recorded during a particular workout. GPS tracking reported slightly more distance walked during outdoor walks, but the difference was small enough to ignore. Heart rate tracking is excellent on both watches, whether moving or sitting. The sleep tracking was decent, and offered useful insight into the quality of my sleep in addition to how many hours I slept.

samsung galaxy watch 5 5pro review 5 bottom Samsung

Both the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro are 5ATM water resistant

Blood oxygen tracking was also accurate, but getting a complete reading was the tricky part. Manual readings can only be taken when your hand is sitting in a certain position and I tried many times without success despite following the instructions. When I got a successful reading, the results were accurate (compared to a pulse oximeter). The devices are also able to measure body composition through a simple test, but I have not been able to verify its accuracy.

Battery life on the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro varies slightly, given the difference in battery capacity between the two smartwatches. The Galaxy Watch 5 lasted about 1 day, 15 hours on a single charge, while the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro lasted 2 days, 3 hours under the same conditions and usage. This is pretty good considering the performance of the devices and charging is fast on both smartwatches with the included magnetic charger.

judgement

Samsung has years of experience in the smartwatch business, and the Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 5 Pro are some of the best premium smartwatches you can buy right now. The devices are true all-rounders, offering full smartwatch capabilities, as well as accurate fitness tracking and excellent connectivity options. The software combination of Wear OS and Samsung OneUI Watch is also a strong differentiator in the segment.

There are some drawbacks — the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro can only be used on Android smartphones, and blood oxygen tracking is a little tricky to handle. Overall, though, this smartwatch is capable, versatile, and worth a look if you’re using an Android device as your primary smartphone.

Between the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro, the former costs Rs. 27,999 onwards, while the latter feels a bit expensive. However, the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro’s excellent build quality and good battery life somewhat justify the higher starting price, especially if you opt for the variant with LTE connectivity.


Affiliate links may be automatically generated – see our ethics statement for details.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here