Is it worth spending a bit more?

  • Source: Samsung

    Samsung Galaxy Watch 5

    Easy to recommend

    A great Wear OS watch for almost everybody

    The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 is one of the easiest Wear OS watches to recommend, with great performance, a vibrant display, and adequate battery life for a reasonable price. It’s got the latest version of Wear OS and should get software updates for years to come. The Watch 5 is a great place to start your smartwatch search.

    Pros

  • Same great performance as Watch 5 Pro
  • Available in two sizes
  • Regularly discounted
  • Cons

  • Battery life on the 40mm isn’t great
  • Few meaningful upgrades from Watch 4
  • Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro

    Upgrade pick

    A refined experience, for a price

    The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro features the same software and performance as the standard Watch 5, but adds a bigger display and a huge battery that can last two or more days on a charge. The Pro is also made out of titanium, a more durable material than the standard model’s aluminum, and includes some exclusive outdoor exercise features. If you want the most Galaxy Watch you can get, it’s the Watch 5 Pro.

    Pros

  • Battery life for days (literally)
  • Titanium case
  • Exclusive outdoor fitness features
  • Cons

  • Only comes in one size: Big
  • Pricey
  • Samsung’s current Galaxy Watch lineup consists of two models: the Galaxy Watch 5 and the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro. The Watch 5 Pro is a new addition to the series, with a more durable design that can take on rugged terrains easily. But compared to the Galaxy Watch 4 series, even the base Galaxy Watch 5 features a strengthened screen and a bigger battery.

    If you are in the market for one of the best Android smartwatches, should you take home the Galaxy Watch 5 or Watch 5 Pro? Are stronger materials and a huge battery worth the upgrade? Let’s find out.

    Samsung Galaxy Watch 5

    Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro

    Display

    1.19″ Sapphire Crystal Glass AMOLED (396 x 396px) (40mm) or 1.36″ Sapphire Crystal Glass AMOLED (450 x 450px) (44mm)

    1.36″ Sapphire Crystal Glass Super AMOLED (450 x 450px) (45mm)

    CPU

    Exynos W920

    Exynos W920

    RAM

    1.5GB

    1.5GB

    Storage

    16GB

    16GB

    Battery

    284mAh (40mm) or 410 mAh (44mm)

    590mAh

    Connectivity

    NFC, GPS, Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi (2.4GHz & 5GHz), LTE (optional)

    NFC, GPS, Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi (2.4GHz & 5GHz), LTE (optional)

    Durability

    IP68, Waterproof to 50m (5ATM), MIL-STD-810H

    IP68, Waterproof to 50m (5ATM), MIL-STD-810H

    Software

    One UI Watch 4.5 (Wear OS 3.5)

    One UI Watch 4.5 (Wear OS 3.5)

    Health Sensors

    Optical Heart Rate, Electrical Heart Sensor (ECG), Bioelectrical Impedance (BIA), Continuous SpO2, Skin Temperature Sensor

    Optical Heart Rate, Electrical Heart Sensor (ECG), Bioelectrical Impedance (BIA), Continuous SpO2, Skin Temperature Sensor

    Price

    From $280

    From $450

    Strap

    20mm

    20mm

    Dimensions

    40.4 x 39.3 x 9.8 mm (40mm) or 44.4 x 43.3 x 9.8 mm (44mm)

    45.4 x 45.4 x 10.5 mm

    Weight

    29 (40mm) or 32.8g (44mm)

    46.5g (45mm)

    Watch Material

    Armor Aluminum

    Titanium

    Mobile Payments

    Samsung Pay, Google Wallet

    Samsung Pay, Google Wallet

    Workout Detection

    Yes

    Yes

    Exercise Modes

    90+

    90+

    Color Options

    Silver, Graphite, Pink Gold (40mm only), Sapphire (44mm only)

    Black Titanium, Gray Titanium

    Price and availability

    Source: Samsung

    True to its name, the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro carries a ‘pro’ price tag, starting from $450, with the LTE version costing another $50. The Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is substantially more expensive than the Galaxy Watch 5, which starts at $280. The 44mm Watch 5 variant costs $310 — a $39 premium over the smaller size.

    The Galaxy Watch 5 is slightly more expensive than the Watch 4 all around. That’s understandable, given the sapphire crystal glass and longer battery life, but it might be hard to justify the Watch 5 Pro’s $170 premium over the Watch 5 for the same reasons. The sturdy construction and beefy battery life mean the wearable will easily last a few years.

    Both watches are available everywhere you’d expect to find them, including Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, and other retailers, as well as from Samsung itself.

    Hardware and design

    The Galaxy Watch 5 is available in 40mm and 44m sizes, while the Pro model only comes in a 45mm casing. The Watch 5 design looks very similar to the Watch 4, but Samsung tweaked the underside’s curvature to ensure better contact with your wrist. The Watch 5’s case is made of aluminum; the Watch 5 Pro is titanium. Both watches use a sapphire crystal glass over the display, which is purportedly 1.6x times stronger than the glass used in the Galaxy Watch 4 series.

    The more durable build makes the Watch 5 Pro heavier and thicker than the base model. The Watch 5 Pro is 46.5g and 10.5mm vs. the Watch 5’s 28.7g and 9.8mm thickness. Both smartwatches are IP68 + 5ATM certified, so you can wear them while swimming.

    Unlike the Watch 5, the Watch 5 Pro uses a D-Buckle Sport Band, which we found a little fiddly. Like the Galaxy Watch 4 series, the entire Watch 5 lineup uses 20mm watch bands, so you can swap bands if the in-box band ends up too loose or too tight on your wrist.

    The beefier design of the Watch 5 Pro means it might not be suitable for smaller wrists. Even the 40mm Watch 5 might feel too big for some with especially narrow wrists, as the in-box band with its sculpted ends can keep it from rotating enough for a proper fit. To alleviate that, swap to a high-quality 20mm watch strap with flat ends. If you are not a fan of big and bulky watches, opt for the regular Galaxy Watch 5.

    Software

    The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 and the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro run on One UI Watch 4.5 based on Wear OS 3.5, which shares some similarities to the Tizen software that Samsung’s older Galaxy Watches ran while also enjoying access to the Play Store. There’s no difference between the software experience, with Samsung supporting them for “up to four years after launch” into 2026.

    Health and fitness

    Health sensors match across the entire Galaxy Watch 5 series as well. Both include an accelerometer, barometer, gyro sensor, geomagnetic sensor, and light sensor. Samsung’s BioActive Sensor also measures your heart rate, electrical heart signal, and body mass. The temperature sensor is a new addition to the Watch 5 series, but it’s not used yet; it should be enabled in a software update.

    Samsung claims that the sensors on the Galaxy Watch 5 will take your measurements with greater accuracy because they now have direct contact with your wrist over a larger surface area, which should help those with thin or narrow wrists.

    Both watches can measure your heart rate and body composition and track your workouts, sleep cycle, and more. Plus, all the recorded data is synced to Samsung Health, where you can further analyze it. The only difference is that the Watch 5 Pro has some exclusive outdoor exercise features, like “find your way back” hiking guidance.

    Battery life

    Samsung claims the base-model Watch 5’s battery can last 50 hours on a single charge. That may be closer to true in the 44mm model, but the smaller 40mm version only manages about a day and a half of real-world use. The Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, with its massive 590mAh cell, is in another league altogether. It has a 60% bigger battery than the Galaxy Watch 4, which Samsung claims can last up to 80 hours between charges. In our review, we found the Pro could make it through three days of casual use before needing a top-up. If you want a smartwatch with the best possible battery life, go for the Watch 5 Pro.

    Besides bigger batteries, the Galaxy Watch 5 lineup also supports faster charging speeds, courtesy of a new USB-C charger. The company claims you can top off the cell to 45% in 30 minutes or get eight hours of sleep tracking after eight minutes of charge. For the Watch 5 Pro, a full charge takes a bit longer due to its large 590mAh battery.

    Which is right for you?

    For the additional $170 you pay for the Watch 5 Pro over the regular model, you get more durable build quality, a bigger screen, and significantly longer battery life. Unless these improvements are really important, buying the regular Watch 5 makes more sense. Thanks to a bigger battery, it should last at least a day and a half on a single charge — possibly even two, if you baby it. And when in a hurry, the faster charging times can help top off the cell to ensure the watch lasts for a few more hours with ease.

    The Watch 5 Pro is bulkier, which may not look good on everyone’s wrists. Also, unlike the regular Watch 5, which is available in more funky and bright colors, the Pro model comes in only two shades — black and gray.

    While the Watch 5 Pro’s longer battery life is tempting, that alone doesn’t make it the better buy for most people. However, if you frequently go for hikes and trail walks and rely on your smartwatch to track your workouts, the Pro model is an ideal choice. Its rugged build will come in handy in such scenarios, as you can rest assured knowing it can withstand such environments. And that battery life means it can go multiple days between charges.

    Source: Samsung

    Samsung Galaxy Watch 5

    The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 is a refined upgrade to the phenomenal Watch 4. Sapphire Glass makes Samsung’s newest wearable more durable, and its larger battery makes it easier to get through the day without charging. 

    Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro

    With a huge battery, titanium case, and exclusive features for hiking and cycling, the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is a good pick for anyone who wants a wearable they don’t have to fuss over in the great outdoors. Its durability and long-lasting battery life also mean it should last quite a few years before you’ll need to upgrade.

    Conclusion on Is it worth spending a bit more?

    If you have any query let me know in comment section.

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