[Galaxy Watch4 Review] The Refreshed Look and Feel of the Returned 'Galaxy Watch4'

Samsung Electronics 'Galaxy Watch4 Classic'

[Asia Economy Reporter Eunmo Koo] Samsung Electronics' smartwatch, the ‘Galaxy Watch4 Classic,’ is a product that declares it will not follow the path of its predecessors but will reinvent itself as a true classic. By changing materials, it has revitalized its appearance, and by adopting a new operating system (OS), it has improved the ecosystem's scalability. It also did not forget to enhance health management functions through body composition analysis and sleep management.

The first thing that catches the eye is its refreshed appearance. The previous model, the ‘Galaxy Watch3,’ which had a traditional watch design concept, underwent several refinements that significantly alleviated its dull impression. The overall texture was toned down to a matte finish, elevating its sophisticated atmosphere. The gap between the strap and the watch was eliminated, and the shape of the watch crown was changed from a protruding round form to a flat rectangular shape, smoothing out the overall lines.

The fluorine rubber strap provided as standard is quite firm and does not sag weakly downward. It looks sturdy, with both shoulders confidently spread around the watch body. Although the feeling of gently wrapping around the wrist is somewhat reduced, which some users might find uncomfortable depending on their preference, it visually balances well, appears stable, and has improved durability.

Samsung Electronics 'Galaxy Watch4 Classic'

Among the newly added health management features, body composition analysis stands out. When first used, you only need to input your height and weight, and thereafter, by placing the middle and ring fingers of both hands on the right home/back buttons without touching each other, the measurement completes in about 15 seconds. Data such as body fat mass, body fat percentage, skeletal muscle mass, BMI, body water, and basal metabolic rate can be checked through the watch and app, comparing how much they have increased or decreased since the last measurement. The results showed similar values when compared to those from a smart scale at home.

However, considering that the scale reflects weight immediately while the Watch4 requires manual input of weight, it may be difficult to compare the accuracy of results directly with the scale. Nevertheless, even taking this into account, the fact that body composition analysis, which was previously only possible at fitness centers, has moved to home scales and now settled on the wrist makes it a sufficiently useful feature. Since it allows quick and simple measurements and easy tracking of data trends, it seems convenient for setting personal goals and regularly checking and managing health continuously.

The sleep management feature also seemed helpful for condition management if used continuously. It was possible to check which sleep stages were experienced hourly and how many calories were burned. After using it myself, I received a sleep score of 56, which did not reach the average of 70 for men aged 30-39. It showed generally poor quality with 28 minutes awake, 1 hour 10 minutes REM sleep, 3 hours 13 minutes light sleep, and 7 minutes deep sleep. However, since the watch must be worn while sleeping, I felt some stiffness in my left wrist upon waking.

The integration of Google's wearable OS, allowing users to download and use various apps from the Google Play Store, is definitely a factor that increases purchase appeal. Many apps that were not available on the previous Tizen OS have been incorporated, with Google Maps being a representative example. Google Maps showed response speeds comparable to those on smartphones, making it convenient to find directions in alleyways without taking out the phone. Especially for the Classic model, the bezel wheel can be used to zoom in and out, enhancing usability.

Minor improvements were also noticeable. First, the customization freedom of watch faces has been enhanced. By selecting ‘Customize’ on the wearable app's watch screen, users can not only change the watch face but also continuously display almost all data provided by the Watch4, such as date, temperature, ECG, and blood pressure, as needed for monitoring. Up to four complications can be applied depending on the watch face. Considering that the enjoyment of smartwatches lies in customizing watch faces according to mood, this is a small but very significant change. Additionally, the icons are larger than in the previous model, improving overall touch accuracy, which is also an advantage.

Samsung Electronics 'Galaxy Watch4 Classic'

Furthermore, the overall device specifications have been upgraded. For the first time in the Watch series, a 5-nanometer (nm) processor has been installed, improving the central processing unit (CPU) performance by 20% and RAM by 50% compared to the previous model, resulting in faster speeds. Even when rapidly swiping through screens during use, it showed smooth transitions without lag.

However, the battery, which can last up to 40 hours on a single charge, did not feel particularly strong in practice, even considering heavy usage. While the ‘Galaxy Watch Active2’ I usually use can last more than two days without charging, the Watch4 seemed to require daily charging. In fact, I sometimes found the power off the next morning after forgetting to charge it. However, the fast charging speed gave the impression of compensating for the battery's weakness. The Watch4 battery can secure 10 hours of usage with a 30-minute rapid charge even when fully drained, and it takes about 2 hours to fully charge.

The Watch4 series is released in ‘Watch’ and ‘Classic’ models, priced at 269,000 to 330,000 KRW and 369,000 to 429,000 KRW, respectively. Considering that the previous Watch3 series was priced between 420,000 and 520,000 KRW, the price has significantly decreased.

Samsung Electronics 'Galaxy Watch4 Classic'

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.