Samsung's latest smartwatches are here, and they bring changes big and small. The Galaxy Watch 6 (starting at $299.99, $20 more than its predecessor) and the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic (starting at $399.99) feature big, bright displays, but significantly shorter battery life than the last generation. The Classic model sports Samsung's famed physical rotating bezel, a popular feature among Galaxy Watch fans that allows for quick scrolling. This is the first time Samsung has released a Galaxy Watch with a rotating bezel since the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic in 2021.
The Galaxy Watch 6 and the Watch 6 Classic are available for pre-order now, with a general availability date of Aug. 11. Pre-orders include a free fabric accessory band designed for overnight comfort.
We got some hands-on time with the new wearables at a media event in New York ahead of their official launch, so let's dive into the details. We also have in-depth stories on the Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Fold 5, as well as the Galaxy S9 Tab lineup if you want to know more about Samsung's other product launches. Pre-orders are live for all the devices.
Gorgeous Designs With Bigger Screens
When it comes to wearables, looks are arguably just as important as performance, since these are devices meant to be worn on your body. In terms of aesthetics, the latest Galaxy smartwatches don't break the mold, but they don't have to.
The Galaxy Watch 6 looks very similar to last year's Watch 5, but with a slightly larger screen. It comes in 40mm (small) or 44mm (large) sizes with a 1.3-inch or 1.5-inch Super AMOLED touch display and an aluminum case. Its predecessor comes in the same sizes, but with a 1.2-inch or 1.4-inch panel, meaning the new generation offers a bit more screen real estate and a slimmer bezel.
The Watch 6 Classic, which has a narrower rotating bezel than its predecessor from 2021, comes in 43mm (small) or 47mm (large) sizes. It features a 1.3-inch or 1.5-inch Super AMOLED display and a more durable, shinier stainless steel case compared with the standard model's aluminum. In comparison, the Watch 4 Classic came in 42mm or 46mm sizes with a 1.2-inch or 1.4-inch display. Last year's Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, Samsung's Apple Watch Ultra competitor that doesn't feature a rotating bezel, has a 45mm titanium case with a 1.4-inch display.
Screen brightness on the Galaxy Watch 6 series maxes out at 2,000 nits, doubling that of the last generation and matching the Apple Watch Ultra.
Large-size models of the Galaxy Watch 6 and the Watch 6 Classic cost $30 more, bringing their starting prices to $329.99 and $429.99, respectively. The $449.99 Watch 5 Pro remains on the market as a more rugged, longer-lasting option for outdoor adventurers.
The Watch 6 Classic boasts a Hybrid Eco-Leather band, similar to the Watch 3 series (which had a real leather strap), while the standard model comes with a water-friendly sport band. Samsung isn't offering much variety in terms of case color this year: The Watch 6 comes in graphite, gold (only available in small), or silver (large), while both Watch 6 Classic sizes come in either black or silver. I'll miss the pink-gold Watch 5 color option, and I really hope that Samsung brings back the gorgeous bronze color of the Watch 3 someday.
Despite the limited case color options and their resemblance to earlier models, the Watch 6 and the Watch 6 Classic look quite striking in person.
Less Battery Life
Battery life is an important spec for wearables, and Samsung's latest-generation models take a step back on this front, likely due to the larger display.
The Watch 6 actually has a bigger battery than its predecessor—300mAh (in the small size models) or 425mAh (in the large size), up from 284mAh and 410mAh, respectively. At the same time, they have a much shorter manufacturer-stated maximum run time—40 hours on a charge (or just 30 hours with the always-on display enabled), down from 50 hours for the Watch 5.
That puts their stated run time back in line with 2021's Galaxy Watch 4, a disappointing downgrade. Stated battery life specs for the Classic model are the same as the standard Watch 6.
Also, keep in mind that Samsung's stated run times generally exceed real-world battery life. In my testing, the Watch 5 lasted as long as 36 hours on a charge with typical use (or 30 hours with the always-on display enabled). I'm interested to find out how the new models perform in the real world and plan to do a full battery rundown when I get them in hand, so stay tuned for my full reviews.
If you currently own a Galaxy Watch 5, be sure to ask yourself whether a slightly larger screen is worth a fairly significant battery life hit when assessing whether to upgrade to the latest generation. If battery life is a primary concern, the Watch 5 Pro is your best bet; in my testing, it lasted up to 79 hours on a charge with light use, nearly matching Samsung's official claim of 80 hours. If you have a Watch 5 Pro, I see no reason to upgrade to the Watch 6 series, unless you really want the Classic's rotating bezel, or your unit's performance has seriously degraded after a year of use.
Meanwhile, the Wear OS 4-powered Galaxy Watch 6 and Watch 6 Classic (with One UI 5 Watch) will give you access to a wide range of downloadable, third-party apps via the Google Play Store. The list of available third-party apps includes Audible, Gmail, Google Calendar, MyFitnessPal, Peloton, and WhatsApp.
In terms of other specs, all versions of the new watches run on the Samsung Exynos W930 dual-core 1.4GHz processor (an upgrade from the Exynos W920 chip in the Watch 5). They pack 2GB of RAM (up from 1.5GB) and 16GB of storage (no change from the last generation).
The Galaxy Watch 6 and the Watch 6 Classic feature the same 5ATM and IP68 durability ratings as the last generation, meaning they are waterproof to a depth of 164 feet for 10 minutes and can withstand dust, dirt, and sand. They also meet the MIL-STD-810H standard, meaning they should have no problem handling extreme temperatures and other environmental stressors such as vibration and shock.
All models feature Bluetooth (version 5.3) and Wi-Fi (2.4 and 5GHz) for connectivity, as well as built-in GPS (plus Glonass, Beidou, Galileo). Models with LTE connectivity cost extra.
The latest-generation Galaxy Watches continue to include a robust sensor suite, inducing optical and electrical heart sensors, a Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis sensor (for body fat and other body composition measurements), a temperature sensor, an accelerometer, a barometer, and a gyroscope.
The History of Samsung's Rotating Bezel
In my testing of previous-generation Galaxy Watch models with a rotating bezel, the feature is always a pleasure to use. Besides making it easy to navigate the watch, the rotating bezel is nice because it extends above the display, providing a buffer for the glass that helps to prevent scratching. The main downside is that it can, over time, accumulate dirt and become hard to turn, according to my cousin, a Galaxy Watch superfan who buys the new model each year.
Galaxy Watch users and professional reviewers, myself included, largely praise the rotating bezel, but Samsung has had somewhat of a hot and cold relationship with it over the years. It was a feature on the original Galaxy Watch from 2018, then Samsung ditched it for 2019's Galaxy Watch Active. A mere six months after releasing the Active, Samsung released a follow-up version that introduced the touch bezel, which lets you scroll by swiping your finger along the edge of the display.
In 2020, Samsung brought the rotating bezel back in the Galaxy Watch 3, arguably the best-looking iteration of the wearable to date (in my eyes, at least). The following year brought two versions of the watch: one with a rotating bezel (the Watch 4 Classic) and one with a touch bezel (the Watch 4).
Each year since then, Samsung has continued to release two Galaxy Watch versions. Neither of last year's iterations, the Galaxy Watch 5 and the more rugged Watch 5 Pro, sport a rotating bezel, but both have a touch bezel. Instead, Samsung kept the Watch 4 Classic in the lineup last year, as it is doing with the Watch 5 Pro this year.
Now, similar to the 2021 lineup, there's the Watch 6 Classic with a rotating bezel and the standard Watch 6 with a touch bezel. So for those keeping track, Galaxy Watch models with Classic in the name have a rotating bezel.
Samsung tells PCMag that the Pro and the Classic versions of the Galaxy Watch will get new models every other year. In other words, since we have a new Classic this year, we can expect a new Pro in 2024.
The Best Galaxy Watch?
In the years I've been testing and reviewing wearable devices, the Galaxy Watch has always stood out as one of the most stylish and performant Android-compatible smartwatches on the market. I expect this generation to follow suit, but I'll reserve judgment until I actually get them in to test soon.
Samsung's wearables face increasingly stiff competition from other brands, including Google and Mobvoi. Stay tuned for my full reviews of the Galaxy Watch 6 and the Watch 6 Classic to find out how they stack up against competing smartwatches from other brands as well as earlier Galaxy Watch models.
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