Samsung Galaxy Watch Extremely In-Depth Assessment: Lastly Correct?



Within the yr of our Lord 2024, it seems Samsung has lastly delivered a principally correct smartwatch. Positive, it took a decade, however the eagle has most likely landed. Largely. The catch on ‘principally’ is after all the place I’ll spend essentially the most time on this sports activities and fitness-focused evaluate. As a result of, as at all times, there’s nuance to which elements are improved, and which elements aren’t so scorching. All of which is able to get to the query of whether or not or not it’s a viable sports activities watch, and value the additional value over the less expensive Galaxy Watch 7.

For these unfamiliar, the Galaxy Watch Extremely goals to take Samsung’s current watch, and make it extra ‘all the pieces’. Extra battery, larger dimension, extra buttons, and extra options. It added multiband/dual-frequency GNSS, an improved optical coronary heart price sensor, an emergency siren, and extra

In fact, earlier than we get too into the weeds, there are numerous comparisons to be drawn to the also-orange-tinged Apple Watch Extremely sequence. Be it identify, appears to be like, band, buttons, siren, or extra. Nonetheless, in most methods, these two watches don’t really compete in opposition to one another. They’re each successfully locked into their very own phone-based ecosystems (even Samsung now, extra so than ever). In most methods, each are straight competent extra with Garmin than one another. But, it’s nonetheless fascinating to see the instructions these two large corporations take.

With that, observe that I purchased all these models myself, each the Samsung Galaxy Watch Extremely in addition to Samsung Galaxy Watch 7, and in addition the Samsung Galaxy Ring. In the event you discovered this evaluate helpful, you need to use the hyperlinks on the backside, or contemplate changing into a DCR Supporter, which makes the positioning ad-free, whereas additionally gaining access to a principally weekly video sequence behind the scenes of the DCR Cave. And naturally, it makes you superior.

What’s New & Key Specs:

Right here’s the fast rundown of the Samsung Galaxy Watch Extremely core specs, in addition to what’s new in comparison with current Samsung Galaxy Watches (primarily the previous-get Watch6):

– Priced at $649USD, 699EUR
– Is available in one 47mm dimension, however three totally different titanium colours, with sapphire glass
– Solely out there in an LTE version
– Waterproof spec is 10ATM/100m, together with rated at ISO22810, nevertheless, is just rated at 10 minutes at 100 meters.
– Samsung says you possibly can dive with it, however that particular ISO reg isn’t used for diving watches…
– Added dual-frequency/multiband GNSS
– Elevated show to three,000 nits
– Added 85db emergency siren/alarm
– New 3nm processor, Samsung says is 3x sooner
– New optical coronary heart price sensor, Samsung says is extra correct
– Battery claims are all around the map, however 48hrs in exercise energy saving mode, and 100hrs in common energy saving mode, no apparent declare listed on both US or EU website for ‘common on a regular basis mode’

Nonetheless, it’s the software program and new options which can be simply as fascinating right here. All of these things are additionally relevant to the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7:

– Will use Google WearOS 5 (first watch to take action)
– Including biking FTP prediction: Claims to have the ability to detect FTP in a easy 4-minute take a look at, paired with Bluetooth energy meter (requires cellphone)
– Including triathlon/multisport exercise mode (monitoring all three sports activities in a full triathlon)
– Including new operating race companion mode to race in opposition to earlier bests
– Including help for Power Rating
– Including FDA authorized Sleep Apnea detection (first firm to take action)

Bought all that? Good, let’s get cooking.

Each day Fundamentals:

First up, let’s stroll via a number of the day-to-day items, together with the brand new day by day metrics like Power Rating and extra. We’ll get into the sports activities bits a bit later down beneath. In fact, let’s begin by speaking in regards to the buttons and show.

The Galaxy Watch Extremely has gained a way more sensible/brighter show, at 3,000nits. I had no issues seeing it on the seashores of the Mediterranean Sea, or the tops of mountains within the Italian Alps. That mentioned, throughout openwater swimming, it was really fairly difficult to see the numbers underwater, solely after I stopped might I simply see them.

Along with the brighter show, the watch has gained a brand new button – the ‘Fast’ button. This may be custom-made to open a particular app/operate; by default, it’ll open up the Exercise menu to pick a sport to begin. It’s the spherical orange button seen right here:

One factor I respect about Samsung’s implementation of this quick-access button, is that it’s positioned in between the button guards of the opposite two buttons. This implies it doesn’t unintentionally get pressed like Apple’s Watch Extremely Motion button which is consistently getting unintentionally pressed. Nonetheless, regardless of Samsung’s button rotating/spinning button, mentioned rotation really doesn’t management any rotation facet within the menus. It simply rotates for funsies.

In the meantime, the opposite two buttons are used for affirmation and escaping/again. There isn’t any rotating bezel right here although, one thing I’d argue was a giant miss. Particularly as a result of the highest of the watch {hardware} is already so kinda visually complicated anyway (not less than in private choice), that including a rotating bezel wouldn’t have taken away from that, whereas really including to it. As a substitute, we’re left with the ‘Squircle’ design that appears to be half of each worlds. Right here’s the default watch face, which I discover fairly good.

By way of the touchscreen, it really works simply effective when dry, however is completely ineffective when moist in rain or heavy sweat – barely worse than Apple, and positively not so good as touchscreens on extra sports-focused watches from Suunto/Garmin/Polar. It’s not a dealbreaker, nevertheless it’s positively not superior in sports activities when moist.

In any occasion, on to the apps. The Galaxy Watch Extremely makes use of WearOS, which signifies that, for essentially the most half, it’ll really feel like different Google WearOS watches, albeit with Samsung’s One UI added to it for a little bit of aptitude. With WearOS although, you get the power to put in varied third-party WearOS apps like Komoot and Strava, or Spotify.

In the event you swipe down from the highest, you’ll get the management panel and entry to numerous settings:

In the meantime, swiping from the left/proper will get your listing of custom-made tiles. There’s a slate of default tiles, after which you possibly can add different ones, each from Samsung/Google, in addition to third-party apps too. The primary tile you’ll see of observe is your well being/health stats for the day, proven within the form of a coronary heart. This consists of energy, steps, and lively time. By tapping into it, you’ll get additional particulars in an extended web page:

Swipe once more from the correct and also you’ve obtained the brand new multisports startup display, then the common sports activities picks display:

Extra about each of these in a second. Swipe once more and also you’ve obtained your new ‘Power Rating’ web page, which fluctuates all through the day, based mostly on a slate of actors together with Sleep time, Sleep time consistency, Mattress/Wake time consistency, Sleep Timing, Earlier Day Exercise, Sleeping HR, and Sleeping HRV. Additional, it appears to indicate that pores and skin temperature and respiration price are accounted for, however doesn’t straight embrace that within the listing of specs:

In my case, my vitality rating has nearly fully stayed at 70-80’s the complete time, it doesn’t matter what I did. The singular exception was the day after a 9-hour trip, the place it dropped right down to 47.

Given the huge variability in my coaching and sleeping throughout the final two weeks, the truth that it principally confirmed a really related rating every day isn’t tremendous confidence-inspiring. That mentioned, I do respect what number of elements they use for it. It simply looks as if the weighting of mentioned elements continues to be a bit off right here.

In any occasion, the following panel reveals your present coronary heart price, present steps, present stress, and sleep stats from final evening. You may faucet on any of those to get extra info, comparable to your stress or coronary heart price ones:

Or the sleep ones:

my sleep stats over the past two weeks, they have been fairly nicely tracked from an general time I went to sleep/woke-up standpoint. I’d document every evening earlier than I fell asleep the time I used to be falling asleep (I have a tendency to go to sleep inside a pair minutes), after which every morning what time I wakened. And right here, Samsung did fairly nicely throughout the board on this realm, being very shut typically (I chopped off the week prior, since I obtained bored with transcribing occasions a gazillion occasions over):

By way of sleep phases/levels, there isn’t actually a good way to validate that. Even high-end comparability programs are solely about 80% correct on common in figuring out these sleep phases/levels, and inside that, there’s broad variability. As I’ve mentioned many occasions, I wouldn’t examine coronary heart price accuracy to one thing 80% correct (and even 90% correct), so doing it right here isn’t one thing that makes a lot sense to me both. As a common rule, I see wide range/variability between totally different models/corporations for a similar information units.

That mentioned, I used to be shocked to see how far out of alignment Samsung’s HRV metrics have been most nights, as in comparison with the opposite wearables I’ve had, which typically trended fairly intently collectively.

That mentioned, by way of the always-incredibly-nebulous sleep rating, Samsung appears essentially the most optimistic every day, whereas Whoop oscillated essentially the most. But, the Whoop ‘sleep rating’ doesn’t really exist, so I had to make use of the closest proxy, which is the ‘Restoration Rating’, which appears to be like at a slew of things (Whoop has a rating for % of complete desired sleep, however that’s only a time-based factor). In any occasion, for what little it’s price:

Now, earlier than we get to health tidbits, it’s vital to notice there are a number of options that are solely out there you probably have a Samsung cellphone. For this evaluate, I used an older S21 Samsung cellphone I had, although, I’ve additionally concurrently obtained one other watch on a Google Pixel cellphone, so I can cross-reference which options are/aren’t out there. Right here’s the issues that require a Samsung cellphone:

– ECG (Electrocardiogram): This lets you make on-demand ECGs, which Samsung has had medically licensed as a Software program as a Medical Machine program by the FDA (and equal in Europe). That is solely out there for Samsung telephones, and solely inside licensed international locations.

– Irregular Coronary heart Fee Rhythm Notifications: This function runs within the background, and alerts you to irregular rhythms robotically. This too requires a Samsung cellphone, and in addition is just out there in licensed international locations (they obtained FDA certification for this a number of months in the past).

– Blood Strain detection: This function robotically determines your blood stress degree, after calibration in opposition to one other identified machine. My testing up to now discovered this finicky at greatest, as this isn’t a medically licensed part (whereas ECG is). Whereas there was a lot discuss of Samsung getting medical certification right here, this hasn’t occurred but. Once more, this additionally requires a Samsung cellphone.

Notice that different new options, together with ‘Power Rating’ and ‘AGEs’, do certainly present up on non-Samsung telephones. Right here it’s exhibiting up on a Google Pixel cellphone simply effective (and AGE beneath it).

That mentioned, I can’t consider a extra ineffective metric than the brand new AGEs Index. Primarily as a result of there’s actually no definition of it, no readability on which finish of the spectrum is nice, nor does it appear to vary in any respect between myself and good friend/reviewer DesFit, the place we’ve got an similar supposed AGEs, regardless of being fairly totally different from a physique standpoint. Supposedly it’s monitoring “Superior Glycation Finish-products”, and…that’s actually all Samsung says. They use a variety of phrases of their press launch about it and the sensor, none of which give any perception. And nearly each screenshot reveals the identical rating as my rating – making me marvel if it even works in any respect.

Now, past day by day exercise monitoring sort options, there’s a slate of widgets for issues like climate, calendar, battery life, and extra:

Talking of battery life, how’s that been? Surprisingly good.

Samsung was tremendous fuzzy of their presentation on battery life facets, by way of actual particulars for a lot of issues – seemingly conflating energy saving mode with common utilization, and so forth. Nonetheless, by way of real-world utilization, regardless of typically hours of exercises every day, I’m very persistently getting 2.5 to three days of battery life on the unit (no LTE enabled on the watch). That’s fairly strong for a WearOS watch. And by ‘fairly strong’, I imply, that’s effing astounding for a WearOS watch.

By way of issues like smartphone notifications and all the pieces else, that’s all principally the identical as each different Samsung Galaxy watch from the final…eternally. And extra importantly, there’s 1,000,000 different opinions on the market that cowl these types of issues. So with that, let’s get into the sports activities goodness.

Sports activities Modes:

To start out a exercise, you will have a number of choices. You may swipe until you get to the sports activities tile (any of them), you possibly can crack open the apps menu and go by way of a pair totally different routes, or you possibly can merely hit the ‘Fast’ button, which is able to open up the sports activities itemizing (by default). That’s what I are inclined to do.

From there, you possibly can swipe left/proper via the totally different sport modes. These sport modes are specified out of your cellphone, however you possibly can customise them. On the prime, it’ll present you the GPS lock standing (which is lastly nearly instantaneous). There isn’t any strategy to configure dual-frequency or not, all the pieces is at all times simply dual-frequency. Extra on battery impacts later.

In the meantime, beneath it there’s the settings button, which cracks open this menu:

Right here you possibly can specify targets (issues like distance, energy, length, race, or route). Plus, you possibly can configure customized intervals that you simply create on-watch.

It’s also possible to customise the assorted information pages and information fields from the watch. You get two totally customized information pages, plus a HR zone web page and operating effectivity metrics web page. There’s additionally an interval and map web page, if these targets are enabled.

For the customized information pages, you possibly can put as much as 7 metrics on a web page. Samsung has a lot of the core information fields you’d need, although not fairly close to as many as their endurance-sports-focused rivals from Garmin/COROS/Suunto/Polar/Wahoo. Apple additionally has extra, in addition to extra information web page configuration choices/graphs. Samsung doesn’t have any operating energy, as the remainder of these corporations do.

– Length
– Time
– Energy
– Coronary heart Fee
– Common Coronary heart Fee
– Max Coronary heart Fee
– Distance
– Common Tempo
– Common Pace
– Tempo
– Pace
– Steps
– Cadence
– % VO2 Max
– Elevation
– Elevation Achieve
– Lap Tempo
– Lap Distance
– Lap Length
– Lap Pace
– Lap Energy
– Set

This listing hasn’t modified this yr in any respect. Likewise, the power to customise zones that was launched final yr stays. This consists of setting customized HR zones in a number of totally different manners:

Now, it’s vital to notice that whereas Samsung talked about connecting a biking energy meter, that’s *NOT* accomplished on the watch degree. Actually, the Samsung apps on the watch are unable to connect with any exterior sensors (HR, biking, or in any other case). Whereas third-party apps can nonetheless write their very own connectivity bits to sensors, there’s nothing native on WearOS or the Samsung apps to take action.

As a substitute, if you wish to join an influence meter, you want to use the Samsung Well being app in your cellphone to scan for the facility meter (which does require web connectivity, oddly). It’ll oddly additionally ask for a crank size on each energy meter, even people who don’t have any enterprise needing a crank size (like a wise coach or crankset-based unit, as solely energy meter pedals want that information). As soon as that’s accomplished, the app itself will solely keep a connection to the facility meter throughout your exercise (and there’s no strategy to see the facility information in your wrist). It’s worthwhile to see ‘POW’ within the higher left nook of the app.

In attempting this many occasions, I can say with out query, that the complete energy meter piece is a correct dumpster hearth. It not often remembers my energy meter pairings, and when it does, it promptly disconnects for unknown causes (with out notifying you), a couple of minutes into the trip. I’ve tried 4 totally different well-known and trusted energy meters, all exhibited the identical points. That is very a lot only a Samsung concern.

Likewise, I’ve revealed a whole video on Samsung’s much-vaunted “FTP prediction in 4 minutes” new function they rolled out right here. That too, isn’t superior. You can examine it right here, or watch the beneath video:



So as an alternative, let’s simply do a standard exercise the place it merely information the information. When you’ve obtained no matter you needed settings-wise, you’ll go forward and faucet to begin, the place it’ll do a 3-second count-down and start recording. You may then swap between information pages to see your information, in addition to lock the display by way of the water lock within the occasion you’ve obtained rain/water/coat over it, and many others…

All of this labored simply effective throughout a run. I obtained automated laps per my settings (1KM on operating, 5KM on biking), and finally, didn’t have any points with instantaneous tempo or such whereas operating. I did have one situation on the Samsung Galaxy Watch Extremely the place an exercise mysteriously stopped/ended throughout a trip, however I don’t know why. It began a brand new automated exercise, although that doesn’t document GPS. I then re-started a handbook exercise and it was effective.

I had many extra situations of this on the Galaxy Watch 7, even regardless of enabling water lock simply in case I used to be in some way inadvertently ending it by way of sweat or one thing.

In the meantime, I had no points seeing the display in vibrant circumstances throughout any exercises, besides glancing on the information pages whereas swimming in openwater, with my wrist underwater. Then the display didn’t appear to go to full brightness, so it was powerful to see. However as soon as I finished and checked out it, it was effective.

In any occasion, on the finish of a exercise, you possibly can look via your abstract stats, as seen within the gallery beneath.

Now, with regards to routing, Samsung delivers a bare-minimum function right here. In some ways, it’s kinda like Apple’s ‘barely there’ routing within the newest WatchOS11. Nonetheless, each achieve this fairly in a different way, albeit neither of which is tremendous useful to most athletes needing routing.

In Samsung’s case, they do fortunately help .GPX file imports, although getting the information into the Samsung routing function would require you e-mail it to your self, or in any other case get it onto your cellphone’s File Supervisor. From there, you possibly can import it into Samsung Well being, following which you’ll determine which sport sort, which lastly will add it to the library on the look ahead to that sport sort. It’s cumbersome, however kinda-sorta will get the job accomplished.

When you’ve obtained the file efficiently to the watch, then you possibly can select it from the game menu, down beneath within the choices as a ‘goal’ (akin to picking a exercise distance goal). Upon choice, you’ll see a fast overview of the route. In the event you’ve obtained connectivity (mobile on cellphone/watch), you then’ll see a satellite tv for pc map too. However for those who’re exterior of vary/connectivity, then it’s only a breadcrumb picture.

When you’ve began, you’ll get flip notifications about 50m earlier than every flip, in addition to seeing the upcoming and historic route traces.

Notice that you simply gained’t get any on-the-fly re-routing, which is pretty regular for many watches. Actually solely Garmin has that on their map-enabled watches, no person else does. Additional, you gained’t see issues like topographic maps, nor waypoints, or actually every other options considerably widespread to mapping and navigation-capable endurance-focused watches. However you possibly can certainly not less than comply with a GPX route. I’d like to have seen Samsung leverage that Strava integration they’ve already obtained for importing exercises, and as an alternative pull the Strava Routes .GPX information to avoid wasting customers time. However hey, not less than they help some primary routing.

The Emergency Siren:

This will likely be a really fast and environment friendly part. It didn’t actually appear to suit nicely into both different part (Fundamentals or Sports activities), so, I figured I’d stash it right here. In brief, the Galaxy Watch Extremely now has an emergency siren, which could be activated and broadcast at 85db, which within reason darn loud and primarily the identical loudness as Apple’s Watch Extremely at 86db.

That mentioned, within the case of each, it’s actually extra in regards to the tone/sample/pitch than anything. The aim is to make a tone/sample that’s distinctive, and travels nicely all through the wilderness.

To activate/entry the siren on the Galaxy Watch Extremely, you’ll long-hold each the up/down buttons on the correct facet for about 3 seconds, which brings up this menu:

After tapping siren, it begins at 10-second count-down, whereas vibrating/pulsing, and a comparatively chill siren audio degree not a lot totally different than a typical message notification.

It’s after this second that issues get actual, and the quantity will get legit loud, whereas concurrently exhibiting the battery life:

It continues on a variable sample, designed to attract consideration. I embrace a snippet of this within the video evaluate, if you wish to hear it. Total, it appears simply as loud because the Apple Watch Extremely 2 siren, and in sure pitches/moments, barely louder.

Coronary heart Fee Accuracy:

There’s one space that Samsung has continued to wrestle with since its very first wearables: Accuracy.

Irrespective of what number of occasions it’s tried over time, the corporate has been largely unable to provide a watch that’s each correct in GPS tracks, in addition to correct with its optical coronary heart price sensor. Whereas current earlier editions have improved the GPS accuracy to be barely viable, the center price sensor remained unacceptable.

Lastly, although, it appears to be like like issues are altering. I’ve been testing the Samsung Galaxy Watch Extremely in every single place, from downtown metropolis buildings, to ragged cliff mountains and canyons, to openwater swimming, and extra. All with the goal of seeing if it’s correct for each GPS in addition to coronary heart price. Samsung notably mentioned they improved the optical HR sensor on each the Watch 7 and Extremely, in addition to including in multiband/dual-frequency GNSS on each. So, let’s see if it holds up.

First, we’re going to have a look at a fairly onerous interval run, coronary heart price on this part, after which GPS within the following part. We’ll improve issue as we go alongside. Right here, we will see from a coronary heart price standpoint, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Extremely largely does job (in comparison with a chest strap, Samsung Galaxy Watch 7, and Whoop 4 band). Right here’s the information set for these 800m intervals (you possibly can open this hyperlink to see all the unique information):

It has some very minor flutters on the peaks of the intervals, however holds the ship collectively. The Watch7 struggles a little bit bit in half the intervals and the cooldown. We see some slight struggling of the Whoop 4 through the cooldown additionally, which is frankly fairly odd since that’s kinda easy-town for it.

Both approach, we’re off to a promising begin for the Extremely.

So, let’s lower length of every interval, and considerably improve depth. I’ve swapped out the Galaxy Watch7 for the Apple Watch Extremely 2 (operating the general public WatchOS11 beta). I’ve additionally added in a COROS HR strap to the Suunto watch, plus the chest strap. Right here’s that information set:

We are able to see right here that the Samsung Watch Extremely and Apple Watch Extremely every took a flip screwing up an interval, in surprisingly related methods. Each have been late to the get together on their respective intervals. Although, Apple additionally over-did it on the final one, whereas Samsung struggled within the first 4-5 minutes with being over there. Total, I’d name this kinda so-so efficiency by each.

So, let’s have a look at yet another interval run, earlier than we transfer on to different extra depressing efforts. This was a run I had initially deliberate to be a 20-miler long term, however after 5KM, my legs have been simply flat within the noon warmth, so I circled and made it into some lazy intervals, bringing the whole to 10KM. Right here’s the information:

We see some preliminary minor quirkiness within the Galaxy Watch Extremely within the first 1-2 minutes, in addition to throughout one of many final intervals, however general, it’s fairly good. The Galaxy Watch 7 does nicely right here too. Whoop has some minor points on 1.5 intervals. Total although, this isn’t a nasty set.

Subsequent, coronary heart price accuracy whereas biking, I’m going to poke into sections of some longer 9-hour days. Trying on the complete day is simply too messy (on account of stoppage/and many others…). However as an alternative, I need to have a look at the great lengthy climb sections, to see the way it dealt with. First although, right here’s a 2.5-hour climb from the ocean into the mountains.

At first look above, you’d assume it was good. However as you dig into nearly any part on the trip, it’s really fairly variable, kinda everywhere, overshooting/undercutting. Primarily anytime I barely surge the depth, it overshoots or undercuts a bunch, as seen beneath:

Clearly, Whoop isn’t nice, however you possibly can see the Watch7 really appears to do a greater job right here following alongside the chest strap. You may zoom anyplace in that complete trip, and it’s principally the identical sample.

So, let’s transfer to the following day, going deeper into the mountains on an almost 9-hour day of driving. As I mentioned, given all the assorted stoppage time (due partly to consuming, but in addition a really ugly flat tire state of affairs), I’m simply going to zoom in on the primary climbs. Right here’s one such climb:

As you possibly can see, at a excessive degree, issues are comparatively shut, however for no matter motive, on that final third of the climb, issues obtained fairly messy from each Samsung Watches, for no apparent motive. The chest strap remained good and fixed. I promise, I wasn’t doing 180bpm efforts in the midst of a 9hr day. That mentioned, the bit the place it began to shift from viably OK to fairly tough HR, was because the highway did the identical, going from a cleaner and extra secure gravel, to a bit rougher. Maybe that’s a part of it, however then that doesn’t bode nicely for issues like mountain biking.

And certainly, because the gravel route stays rougher, the center price from each Samsung watches stays largely unusable. Right here’s one other snippet afterward, exhibiting that fairly clearly the place the chest strap is good and secure with my efforts as I attempt to keep a gentle tempo, whereas the watches are everywhere (Extremely barely higher than Watch7 right here):

And once more, you possibly can have a look at the information units your self right here, transferring alongside the complete trip.

In the event you’d like to have a look at one other exterior trip, right here’s this coastal trip, exhibiting comparatively related poor efficiency from the Watch7 and Watch Extremely. It simply surges when it shouldn’t surge.

In the meantime, indoors on a coach, it’s completely effective:

Clearly you possibly can see the chest strap is a contact bit sooner on the restoration throughout intervals, however in any other case the optical HR sensors are effective right here.

Thus, in abstract, by way of coronary heart price accuracy on the Samsung Galaxy Watch Extremely, it’s typically fairly good for operating efficiency, even intervals, with none main points. Like all coronary heart price sensors (together with straps), it’d bobble a bit briefly right here or there, however in a minor approach.

Nonetheless, for biking, it actually struggles greater than its rivals – particularly if/when the bottom is rougher, however even on superbly flat pavement. Sadly, Samsung doesn’t have native pairing of coronary heart price sensors to the watch or exercise app, and thus, they’ll’t simply sidestep it like all of their rivals.

Nonetheless, for most individuals operating both steady-state or structured interval exercises, it’ll do completely effective from an accuracy standpoint.

GPS Accuracy:

So, what about GPS/GNSS efficiency? Within the case of the Samsung Galaxy Watch Extremely, the GPS is at all times in multiband/dual-frequency mode. This implies it burns extra battery, however theoretically will get higher GPS efficiency.

First up, let’s return to that interval run alongside the seaside. This could have been trivially simple for any GPS watch. It’s actually only a straight line. And certainly for the Samsung Galaxy Watch Extremely, it was – zero points. That information set:

But, the Galaxy Watch7 drank far an excessive amount of rosé beforehand, and plotted an impressively very dangerous GPS observe. This was the 2nd or third exercise on the watch, and as you’ll see, it really improved considerably in later exercises to be on par with the Galaxy Watch Extremely. The unit was totally updated in response to all of the replace/settings/about pages, so no concept there.

So, let’s improve issue barely, this time in some forested areas, now every week or so later with the Watch7 as nicely (which appears happier now). Right here on this exercise you possibly can see the Extremely does completely effective. Right here’s that information:

Whereas even at a excessive degree you possibly can clearly see the Watch7 is oddly struggling.

So, let’s kick it up once more, this time with my standard downtown metropolis take a look at. This take a look at actually makes issues undergo, as I’m going up and down a sequence of downtown streets with very tall buildings:

I begin off the take a look at a little bit methods away although, letting the models heat up. Right here we will see the Suunto Race S actually wanted that warm-up, because it was all offset at first (although, would later arguably win the day).

However the spicy stuff is beneath. The Samsung Watch Extremely in orange, you possibly can see it doesn’t have a horrible efficiency right here. I begin on the backside of this picture, and it does nicely for the primary move (like everybody), nevertheless, as I make the flip, Samsung and Apple begin to wrestle. Notice that I particularly change sides of the road half-way down the center row right here, to make sure equal protection on each wrist sides.

That altering of the road facet is why you see the Apple go from “Nah, I’m misplaced” to “Okay, I’ve obtained this”, whereas Samsung goes from “Barely holding on” to “Nope”. All of the models handle to principally get better for the final move up prime.

Within the above, I’d say Suunto really managed to win the day, with essentially the most correct GPS observe, coming from the least costly unit. Then it’d be Garmin in 2nd place, Apple in third place, and Samsung simply barely behind Apple in 4th place. Whereas each Apple and Samsung screwed up that center avenue, Apple didn’t screw up elsewhere, whereas Samsung did.

Subsequent, let’s have a look at some mountain areas. That is the trip up into the mountains in a really powerful canyon, surrounded on each side with steep partitions, and with many tunnels. I’ll prevent some studying, the efficiency right here by all models was really glorious. Kudos.

Once more, bear in mind you possibly can go go to the GPS observe utilizing the hyperlinks above. Nevertheless it’s actually good from each Extremely and Watch7.

The subsequent day, the sample continued as I climbed up steep mountain passes, once more, very robust efficiency by all models:

With nearly no variations:

Identical goes for the recorded barometric altimeter information, differing by lower than a variety of 20m throughout all models after almost 9 hours of driving:

Lastly, what about openwater swimming? Ask and also you shall obtain, right here’s that information:

It’s spot-on with the swim reference observe – very properly accomplished (although, I’d warning the Watch 7 completely failed its swim take a look at).

Lastly, for lack of anyplace else to place it, what about battery life throughout GPS actions? I’ve seen actually good efficiency right here as nicely – simply beating Apple’s GPS on-time efficiency for the Apple Watch Extremely.

For instance, let’s have a look at that 8hr 40min trip into the mountains.

Begin battery: 87%
Finish battery: 40%
Whole battery used: 47% in 8hr 40mins
Tough estimate battery potential: ~18hrs GPS time (no navigation)

These numbers mirror all my different exercises, driving and operating, which put it at roughly 5%/hour as the standard GPS exercise burn-rate for the Samsung Galaxy Watch Extremely. Right here’s one other instance:

Begin battery: 92% @ 9:22AM
Finish battery: 56% @ 5:05PM
Whole battery used: 36% in 7hr 43min

I’m fairly darn pleased with that, for certain.

In the end, after I have a look at GNSS/GPS accuracy on the Samsung Galaxy Watch Extremely, it’s very strong. Lastly. I’ve obtained no points actually anyplace, except for some minor quibbles within the downtown core take a look at, the place it didn’t fairly do in addition to its rivals. However in most different regular or difficult situations (mountains), it was nearly similar throughout the board.

Notice: The entire charts in these accuracy sections have been created utilizing the DCR Analyzer software. It means that you can examine energy meters/trainers, coronary heart price, cadence, pace/tempo, GPS tracks, and lots extra. You should utilize it as nicely in your personal gadget comparisons, extra particulars right here.)

Last Abstract:

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Extremely is certainly the very best WearOS watch available on the market right this moment, for those who want longer battery life, excellent GPS accuracy, and full entry to the WearOS platform. Whereas from a exercise coronary heart price standpoint, it’s a bit hit and miss. I discovered it very correct throughout operating and biking indoors, however struggled in most out of doors rides. Likewise, the brand new options round supposed biking energy help and FTP performance, are fully ineffective for any precise bicycle owner with an influence meter.

Nonetheless, for those who have been to have a look at this watch via the lens of an outdoors-focused unit for climbing or path operating, the battery life is kind of good. Positive, it’s not Garmin/Suunto/COROS/Polar-level battery good, however that’s a little bit of a special goal market at this level. It beats Apple’s battery life in real-world utilization, each by way of day by day smartwatch mode, in addition to exercise modes. And Samsung does not less than have the power to import in a .GPX file for routing, even when it’s a bit finicky. Inversely, Apple has areas like the brand new coaching load options, and naturally a a lot better optical HR sensor for all sports activities. However once more, most individuals aren’t actually switching between these two platforms.

What’ll be fascinating to see right here within the coming weeks, what Google is ready to ship with this yr’s presumed Pixel Watch. Will they go for a a lot needed bigger dimension, together with bigger/longer battery? Will they add in multiband GNSS? They already had robust coronary heart price efficiency, so such a tool might bridge the hole for individuals who desire a WearOS-enabled smartwatch, however don’t have a Samsung cellphone to unlock options like ECG or such on the Samsung Galaxy watches.

Both approach, it’s nice to see Samsung lastly delivering on robust GPS accuracy, whereas additionally together with principally good optical HR efficiency for issues like operating. Hopefully subsequent yr we’ll see them spherical out the accuracy of the opposite sports activities, and maybe spend a little bit of time on sharpening a number of the sport app items (like biking energy) to make them extra usable.

With that – thanks for studying!