Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro: Must-Have Premium Model
Samsung’s new flagship watches include both significant and little tweaks. The most significant difference is that the series now includes a really premium model: the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro.
The Galaxy Watch 5 series is the most recent edition of Samsung’s smartwatch family to enter the market, and it is available in two distinct variants and six distinct combinations. The Galaxy Watch 5 basic model has a similar appearance to the sporty vanilla model from 2021, and the all-new Pro, which replaces the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic, provides an enhanced and more robust alternative for going out on the trail. Both are compatible with most recent Android phones, however the entire feature set is reserved for Galaxy smartphone owners alone.
If you’ve used, handled, or even just glanced at the Galaxy Watch 4 series, these watches may seem familiar. They still run Samsung’s One UI over the Google/Samsung cooperative effort that is Wear OS 3. Both Galaxy Watch 5 devices have GPS and Bluetooth, and LTE variants are available in all sizes.
All variants, according to Samsung, also have a newly improved sensor package. In addition to an electrocardiogram (ECG), an optical heart rate sensor, and a body composition sensor, Samsung has included a body temperature scanner to record your numbers at night. While all of the Galaxy Watch 5 duo’s merits and downsides apply to both watches, we evaluated the bigger, sturdier, and more feature-rich Pro edition.
We will be looking at the Pro model for this review so let’s dive in.
Design
Many Galaxy Watch owners like the rotating bezel, but you won’t find one here. Samsung’s fan-favorite tactile bezel, last seen zipping through Wear OS 3 features on the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic, is absent from the entire Galaxy Watch 5 line, including the Pro model. Instead, we’re left with another software-based touchscreen bezel from the South Korean conglomerate, which isn’t ideal. Nailing the sensitivity is difficult in the best of circumstances and practically impossible if sweat or moisture is introduced.
The Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is pleasing to the eye beyond the bezel. Both the basic and Pro versions now have Sapphire Crystal glass lenses covering their stunning AMOLED screens, which Samsung says is 60% tougher than the previous generation’s Gorilla Glass. All versions include IP68 and 5ATM water and pressure resistance certifications, as well as a MIL-STD-810G durability grade. While the basic model resembles the 2021 model, the Pro upgrades it with a titanium case, a bigger dial, and a raised metallic edge. As a consequence, you get a sophisticated standout piece.
Surprisingly, the watch does not quite match the proportions listed on Samsung’s official spec sheets, which were distributed at launch. Instead of 10.5mm, the Pro is somewhat thicker at little more than 15mm (0.59 inches). This is due to the fact that Samsung’s description only covers the device’s metal sidewall, not its protruding sensor package. The new sensor allegedly improves contact with your wrist, allowing the gadget to gather more precise body temperature and heart rate readings.
The metal sidewall, on the other hand, extends on either end to generate metal lugs, which is where we found a problem while testing the Galaxy Watch 4. The angle at which the watch band and lugs are joined creates a visible gap. This makes the already massive gadget seem much larger.
This leads us to another significant modification on the Pro model that consumers will notice straight away: the new quality D-buckle band. Samsung claims that this design change would give a more secure fit as well as an improved look. Once you’ve found your perfect fit, putting it on and taking it off is a breeze. No more remembering which hole to utilize for a tight fit; just align the magnets and go. The D-buckle really adds to the sophisticated experience and resembles a high-end analog attachment.
As previously stated, the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is only available in a few colors. The new D-buckle strap is available in Gray or Black, and it may be paired with either a Black Titanium or a Gray Titanium casing. The basic model comes in a few more exciting colors, but as you can see from the photographs of our Gray Titanium device, Pro model users will have to rely on the display for color bursts.
New watch faces with brighter colors and even more customisation help in this area. We were already fans of the several Galaxy Watch faces that are already available, and more are always welcome. Some old favorites were also updated, with extra complexities and backdrop possibilities. The software experience on the Galaxy Watch 5 should appear familiar once you touch beyond the watch face.
Battery Life
The main improvement Samsung delivers to the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is a larger battery. The premium model has a 590mAh battery that Samsung says would last 80 hours of typical use or 20 hours of continuous GPS operation. Battery life varies depending on device usage and functions enabled, but Samsung has made notable strides in battery endurance with the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro.
Unfortunately, although the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro has better battery life from generation to generation, early reviews indicate that the regular Galaxy Watch 5 does not fare as well, which is not surprising given that it has a considerably smaller 276mAh cell as normal (or a 397mAh battery for the 44mm version).
The increased battery life on the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is a step in the right direction for an everyday smartwatch, even if there is clearly more work to be done with battery optimization within Wear OS compared to Fitbit and Garmin devices, though the Pro model is certainly within Apple Watch endurance territory. Thankfully, Samsung didn’t stop there, as the whole Galaxy Watch 5 series now charges quicker — 10W wireless charging, up from the Galaxy Watch 4’s limit of 5W. It will charge from 0% to 45% in 30 minutes, according to the firm. A full charge took roughly 90 minutes in our testing, which is a full half-hour faster than the Galaxy Watch 4.
Brand New Health Features
All of the expected health and fitness features return on the Galaxy Watch 5 series, which aims to compete with the top fitness trackers on the market.
This iteration, like the Galaxy Watch 4, has Samsung’s “BioActive” sensor trio for measuring heart rate, electrical cardiac signal, and body composition, as well as blood oxygen monitoring through a SpO2 sensor. According to Samsung, this is an upgraded bundle with improved accuracy and a few additional features. The watch also tracks stress, sleep, and activity and provides female health monitoring through the Samsung Health app.
It is worth noting that just a subset of the lineup’s users get access to the whole health-tracking toolset. The electrocardiogram (ECG) remains a critical tool that can be accessed only when the watch is synced with a Samsung phone. Blood pressure monitoring is also exclusive to Samsung phone owners since both need the Samsung Galaxy-exclusive Health Monitor app. If you reside in the United States, you will be unable to utilize blood pressure monitoring even if you have a Samsung phone since the function is not accessible in the country.
The Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is adequate for the essentials. The step count is similar to other wearables, and the watch has over 90 sport modes for delving into a more particular activity. Users may also activate auto-detection, which is one of the finest in the game for walking. Track Back is a standout new function for hikers. Track Back will take you back to the start on the same route you went to your present position if you are on an out-and-back trail or in the middle of a trek but wish to return the way you came.
Another new feature is the ability to travel a route using a GPX file. When you first utilize this feature, you’ll see a Route tile on your watch. The enhanced heart rate sensor is also very nice. Furthermore, sleep monitoring on the Galaxy Watch 5 is more sophisticated than ever before, but not as advanced as it may be in the future. The new sensor, which is supposed to measure your skin temperature overnight, is not yet operational. Meanwhile, Samsung provides basic sleep statistics such as sleep phases, snoring detection, and blood oxygen monitoring. After seven days of monitoring, you’ll get a sleep score and sleep coaching in the morning.
Premium Smartwatch Features
The Galaxy Watch 5 series joins the select few watches that run Wear OS 3, and it’s still a formidable platform. Apps load swiftly, menus respond to swipes and taps, and the enormous Play Store app catalog significantly outpaces any non-Apple competitor. Everything from Google Wallet, move to iOS to Spotify is available. In general, Google’s tools and Samsung’s user experience continue to be the recipe that makes this a strong smartwatch.
All of this was also true with the Galaxy Watch 4. Both sets of watches even employ the same Exynos W920 processor, so performance is comparable. Simply told, there isn’t much new to mention about Samsung’s latest wearables’ Wear OS platform experience.
The main change is that Google Assistant comes pre-installed on the Galaxy Watch 5 series. You can even make it your primary assistant, thereby replacing Samsung’s much-maligned Bixby assistant. Meanwhile, Google Maps voice navigation assistance is this year’s new “coming soon” feature, which will be available at an unspecified later date.
On the Wear OS front, things may appear familiar, but Samsung’s One UI Watch 4.5 skin adds additional accessibility capabilities, including as high-contrast lettering, filters, color correction, and the option to adjust other graphics — a significant step forward. SmartThings integration allows customers in the Samsung ecosystem to control smart devices. Similarly, remote smartphone camera control and Samsung’s AR emoji watch faces are exclusively available to Samsung phone customers. These are little details, but they serve as a reminder that this is a device created first and primarily for Samsung consumers. If you forget that knowledge, a lengthy click of the Back button will bring it back to you. As of now, Samsung Pay is hardcoded as a shortcut, with no option for reprogramming for individuals who prefer Google Pay. This is especially strange given that the Home button shortcuts may be customized.
Other smartwatch capabilities may still be accessible when linked with any Android phone running Android 8.0 or later, but you’ll need to download additional background applications, such as the Samsung Accessory Service, to get everything working. Finally, the Galaxy Watch 5 series has several text input methods. You have the option of using speech, handwriting, or a keyboard.
Final Thoughts
After its release, we regularly placed the Galaxy Watch 4 series among the top smartwatches available. In fact, we usually thought it was the best choice for anybody who wasn’t already tied to the Apple ecosystem. The Galaxy Watch 5 series maintains that tradition well. It doesn’t provide dramatic improvements, but it also doesn’t break the wheel — unless you liked the actual bezel, in which case Samsung effectively removed the wheel. Aside from the removed bezel, the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro — the company’s redesigned, top-of-the-line Galaxy wearable — keeps everything we loved while improving on durability, accessibility, and battery life.
Furthermore, the Pro model has a few useful features for hikers and bikers, and in the grand scheme of things, it foreshadows an impending trend. Samsung is urging consumers to appreciate the great outdoors with an emphasis on durability and navigation, and the corporation isn’t alone in this attempt. Expect more durable designs and sophisticated fitness features on wearables to join the market in the near future.
However, the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is also a fantastic luxury watch for any Android user seeking for a trustworthy all-rounder. Sure, not having everything to play with at launch is always a pain. The temperature sensor, in particular, is a significant hardware improvement that is intended to distinguish the Galaxy Watch 5 series from its predecessors. It’s difficult to say how much value it adds to the lineup without seeing it.
In 2021, Samsung introduced two new flagship smartphones decked out in a completely new Wear OS. While the watches themselves looked remarkable, the most of the attention was focused on the fresh new Google-Samsung cooperation. Samsung has shown that it can continue to perform on both fronts in 2022. While the ordinary Galaxy Watch 5 may be a better option for those seeking for a more casual wristwatch experience, the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is the most durable, feature-packed Samsung wearable available, regardless of price.
