The second Galaxy Unpacked event of the year saw the release of Samsung’s new line of foldables along with the new Galaxy Watch series. The Samsung Galaxy Watch6 Classic (read our review here) brought back the crowd-favourite physical bezel and featured some minor upgrades under the hood. The base variant of the Galaxy Watch6 sticks with the digital bezel of the previous generation but gets the vital processor upgrade and a minor boost to the RAM. We’ve been using this smartwatch for the last week, here is our in-depth Samsung Galaxy Watch6 review.

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Samsung Galaxy Watch6 review: Design and Display

The unboxing experience of the Watch6 is similar to the Classic variant. Inside the sleek rectangular box, you’ll find the smartwatch with the bands attached to it. You also get the wireless charger and some reading material along with the device. The Galaxy Watch6 is available in two size variants – 40mm and 47mm. You can also choose between LTE and Bluetooth connectivity options.

There are no major design changes on the Galaxy Watch6. The smartwatch carries forward the simple, minimalistic features of the previous generation. After having used the Watch6 Classic for a week, we really enjoyed how lightweight the regular variant is. The 44mm size variant weighs 33g. In comparison, the 47mm Watch6 Classic weighs 59g. We preferred the base variant for sleep tracking because it was very comfortable to wear to bed. While you eventually get used to the weight of the Watch6 Classic, wearing it to sleep can be challenging.

The silicone watch band of the Samsung Galaxy Watch6 uses the traditional pin and buckle design. Instead of resting in an adjustable loop, the watch band goes under the strap after being buckled. Unlike the Watch6 Classic, the watch band on the regular variant does not get a faux leather finish. This should not bother the users who plan on putting the watch through rugged use.

As always, the Super AMOLED display is the star of the show. The sapphire glass protection ensures that this display can absorb a few good knocks. The smartwatch did not register any scratches on the display during the time we used it. The 1.5-inch display is slightly larger than the 1.4-inch unit on the Watch5 (read our review here). Since there is no physical bezel around the display, the edge controls are much smoother. The touch-sensitive digital bezel on the Watch6 covers the same range of functionalities as the physical one on the Classic variant. While it can’t replicate the feel of a physical rotation, it is still a nice addition.

At the bottom panel of the dial lie the all-familiar heart rate, temperature, and SpO2 sensors. The microphone and the speaker grille flank the sides of this panel. There are two buttons on the right edge of the frame. The top button can be used to trigger Bixby or go to the home screen. The bottom button acts as a back shortcut key. These buttons also contain the BioActive sensors.

Samsung Galaxy Watch6 is rated IP68 for dust and water resistance. It can also withstand any water damage up to 50m. Swimming in deep waters should not present any problems to the smartwatch. We had it strapped while hiking, swimming, and working out. Not only was the Watch6 unfazed by any amount of water or sweat, but it also provided a very comfortable fit across the board.

Samsung Galaxy Watch6 review: Performance

The Samsung Galaxy Watch6 gets its biggest upgrade under the hood since the Watch4 series. The smartwatch is now powered by the Exynos W930 chipset. The RAM has been bumped up to 2GB as well. The internal storage of 16GB is optimum for running all the necessary apps on the watch. OS duties are handled by Android Wear OS 4 with One UI Watch 5. The updates to the OS are very minor.

The upgraded chipset is a welcome addition to the Watch6. The smartwatch is snappier than ever before and navigating through the widgets and health functions is a very seamless process. The flat display surface does not feel awkward to use or type on at all. Taking calls and responding to WhatsApp messages on the watch was a breeze. While the onscreen keyboard is still limited in its functionality due to the screen’s real estate, its voice typing feature is a lifesaver.

There are no major changes to the OS, which is a bit disappointing. Samsung is a victim of its own success here because at this point there is not a lot it can do to improve the UI of the smartwatch or add any out-of-the-world features to it. Instead, it has made the OS more refined and easier to use. You can now connect your Galaxy Watch to two smartphones, which is good news for people who use multiple mobile devices at once.

For those who are reading this review after watching the Apple Watch Series 9 presentation, you’d be pleased to know that the Galaxy Watch has features similar to the Double Tap gesture on the Apple Watch. After turning on the gesture controls, you can shake your arm twice to pick up a call and rotate your wrist to hang up. You can also nod your fist twice to open any health-tracking function or app of your choice.

The health and fitness tracking features of the Samsung Galaxy Watch6 remain ahead of the competition. The smartwatch is ultra-efficient at tracking your steps and distance covered while walking. You can track most gym workouts, dance routines, and sports using the Watch6. It even gives you the option to create your own workout routine.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch6 series also has the best set of sensors we’ve seen on any Android smartwatch. Readings from the heart rate monitor and SpO2 sensor were on par with medical-grade equipment. The blood pressure tracking feature is still not available in India, which is disappointing. The BioActive sensors on the two buttons on the dial can calculate your body fat percentage. While we can’t really speak to the accuracy of these figures, you can use them as a metric to track your progress rather than an actual representation of your body composition.

The app support for the Samsung Galaxy Watch6 is phenomenal as well. You will need the Samsung Wearable app to manage the smartwatch and customise its settings. The Samsung Health app is dedicated to diving deep into the health and fitness metrics that the watch tracks for you. We really liked the detailed sleep reports that the watch generated for us. You can even track your snoring activity (the watch uses your smartphone’s mic to record them) for a more comprehensive report. The sleep reports display your heart rate and blood SpO2 levels while sleeping and break down the cycle into deep sleep and REM sleep periods.

The new Samsung Galaxy Watch6 packs a 425mAh battery, which is slightly larger than the one on the Watch5. The smartwatch easily lasts an entire day, but there is still room for improvement. With Always On Display turned on, the battery life takes a hit. On days we used the watch to track workouts for a couple of hours, we had to charge it for a while just to ensure it didn’t die out while tracking the sleeping cycle.

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Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy Watch6 is the ideal Android smartwatch for people who place efficiency and performance above everything else. Sure, it misses out on the physical bezel and the flashy watch band of the Watch6 Classic, but we feel that it works in its favour. Being lighter than the Watch6 Classic, you wouldn’t mind wearing this watch to bed to track your sleep activity. Its minimal design and comfortable no-nonsense strap are perfect for rugged use. The price tag of Rs 29,999 is a bit steep, but you’re getting the best smartwatch that Android has to offer.

Samsung Galaxy Watch6: Pros

• Minimal design
• Excellent health and fitness tracking

Samsung Galaxy Watch6: Cons

• Bit pricey

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