Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 5 Pro: Everything you need to know
Samsung’s new flagship wearables are here, including a brand new Pro model.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 series has now been officially announced, and pre-orders will open on August 10. This article is a summary of all the new features in Samsung’s latest iteration of its smartwatch. If you intend to…
Samsung’s 2022 smartwatch line is a blatant example of evolution triumphing over revolution. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 5 Pro are similar to the previous Galaxy Watch 4 line in a number of ways, but they are better in the important areas. With new training features and the assurance of a longer battery life, Samsung is actively courting outdoor enthusiasts with the Pro model. But how do these two models differ from one another, and how do they compare to the alternatives? Here is all the information you require regarding the Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 5 Pro.
Also read Galaxy Watch 3 Review and SAMSUNG Galaxy Watch (46mm, GPS, Bluetooth) – Silver/Black (US Version)
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5: Design
Because Galaxy Watch 5 is an incremental upgrade, it has many features in common with its predecessor. The 40mm and 44mm case size options are still made of aluminum, but the Green color has been replaced with a new Sapphire option for the 44mm size only.
Even the circular display, which has 1.2-inch and 1.4-inch flat AMOLED panels, is unchanged from the Galaxy Watch 4 model, though Samsung does note a new Sapphire Crystal protection that is 1.6 times more durable than the Corning solution. Additionally, the bezel continues to be hefty and to house the capacitive sensors needed for its interactive features.
To wrap up the design discussion for the Galaxy Watch 5, Samsung notes that despite its dimensions staying the same, it was able to increase both the total battery capacity and the surface area of the bottom that comes into contact with the skin.
Regarding the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, it has a titanium frame and a 45mm case size. The display is 1.4 inches in size and matches the 44mm and 46mm Galaxy Watch 5 and Classic models. The Watch 5 Pro has a frame that rises around it, just like the Watch 5 Classic, but it lacks any movement because Samsung decided to use a digital bezel on this wearable instead of a raised bezel. But seeing that it’s more sport-oriented, this is a decision that I can’t fault.
Instead of completely redesigning the smartwatch, Samsung has chosen to enhance its current hardware and aesthetic.
The short-lived “Classic” line has been replaced by the newcomer, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro. Although it has a smaller 45mm dial, the Galaxy Watch 5 still has a 1.36-inch display. This slightly bigger lens allows for a raised bezel, which offers more screen protection from careless bumps.
Both Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 models have a pair of flatter, longer pushers on their right-hand flanks, just like the Galaxy Watch 4. The Watch 4 Classic’s round knobs are no longer in use. It’s probably a good thing because you’re less likely to accidentally press the flatter buttons while adventuring, especially with the Pro model.
While the standard 20mm watch straps are compatible with both Galaxy Watch 5 models, Samsung has improved the standard bands’ fit. The company asserts that the enhancements help sensors’ accuracy when tracking important health metrics.
Similar to the Galaxy Watch 4, the Galaxy Watch 5 has a standard sports band option. The Pro model adds a more reliable D-buckle band for a more snug fit and a more upscale appearance.
Fitness, health tracking, and software features
The Galaxy Watch 5 series brings to your wrist the standard array of health tracking technology. Many of these features will be recognizable to you if you skimmed through the Galaxy Watch 4’s specification sheet.
The “BioActive” sensor array, which consists of three sensors for tracking heart rate, electrical heart signal, and body composition, is back in the Galaxy Watch 5 line as a start. Although the Galaxy Watch 5 line uses the same set of sensors as its predecessor, Samsung claims that the improved wrist fit improves accuracy. A SpO2 sensor is used in the Galaxy Watch 5 series to continuously monitor blood oxygen levels.
A new skin temperature sensor uses infrared to sample a user’s body temperature fluctuations.
Also read The best wrist smart watch: top wearables you should buy today
One recent noteworthy addition has been made to Samsung’s sensor array. The varying body temperatures of a user are sampled by a new skin temperature sensor that uses infrared technology. This function, which is available on more recent Fitbits, is useful because it provides an early warning of potential illness. Samsung most likely has comparable ideas.
With the Galaxy Watch 5 series, Samsung also emphasizes improving sleep tracking and analysis. Sleep Scores are back, along with overnight blood oxygen monitoring and snore monitoring using the microphone on your phone. Additionally, the business is promoting its Sleep Coaching system, which made its debut with the Galaxy Watch 4 line.
Your watch will suggest a guided month-long plan to address any sleep issues after gathering roughly a week’s worth of sleep data. For those in the Samsung ecosystem, SmartThings integration also lets users control smart devices to encourage better sleep hygiene.
There are some new software features on the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro that are beneficial for training. With the flagship, you can record new routes, view them on your wrist, and download and share GPX routes. Additionally, it has Track Back, a brand-new feature that aides you in returning home if you veer off the path. The Pro also includes turn-by-turn directions, which should further appeal to any on-route runners and cyclists.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro specs
| Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 | Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 44mm: 1.4-inch Super AMOLED 450 x 450 resolution Sapphire Crystal40mm: 1.2-inch Super AMOLED 396 x 396 resolution Sapphire Crystal |
45mm: 1.4-inch Super AMOLED 450 x 450 resolution Sapphire Crystal |
| Dimensions and weight | 44mm: 44.4 x 43.3 x 9.8mm 33.5g40mm: 40.4 x 39.3 x 9.8mm 28.7 g |
45mm: 45.4 x 45.4 x 10.5mm 46.5g |
| Colors and materials | Armor Aluminum case Graphite, Silver, Pink Gold (40mm only), Sapphire (44mm only) |
Titanium case Black, Gray |
| Battery | 44mm: 410mAh40mm: 284mAhWPC-based wireless charging | 45mm: 590mAhWPC-based wireless charging |
| Processor | 5nm Samsung Exynos W920 Dual-core 1.18GHz |
5nm Samsung Exynos W920 Dual-core 1.18GHz |
| RAM | 1.5GB | 1.5GB |
| Storage | 16GB | 16GB |
| Connectivity | LTE (available in select models) Bluetooth 5.2 Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n 2.4+5GHz NFC GPS/GLONASS/Beidou/Galileo |
LTE (available in select models) Bluetooth 5.2 Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n 2.4+5GHz NFC GPS/GLONASS/Beidou/Galileo |
| Sensors | Accelerometer Barometer Gyroscope Geomagnetic sensor Light sensor Samsung BioActive sensor: optical heart rate (PPG), electrocardiogram (ECG), bioelectrical impedance analysis sensor (BIA) |
Accelerometer Barometer Gyroscope Geomagnetic sensor Light sensor Samsung BioActive sensor: optical heart rate (PPG), electrocardiogram (ECG), bioelectrical impedance analysis sensor (BIA) |
| Durability | 5ATM + IP68 MIL-STD-810G |
5ATM + IP68 MIL-STD-810G |
| Software | Wear OS Samsung One UI Watch |
Wear OS Samsung One UI Watch |
| Compatibility | Android | Android |
As a casual fitness enthusiast who enjoys a few walks and runs throughout the week, I can’t speak to how robust the Galaxy Watch 5’s health platform is for a serious or professional athlete. Nevertheless, I’ve been satisfied with the Galaxy Watch 5. It gathers a lot of information, from monitoring my sleep and workouts to my fat mass.
Galaxy Watch 5: Software
Wear OS 3.5 and Samsung’s One UI Watch 4.5 software are preinstalled on the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5. The user interface is essentially the same as that of the Watch 4, and it offers a number of navigational gestures. These are the fundamentals:
- Swipe down to view your Quick Settings
- Swipe up to see your apps
- Swipe right to view notifications
- Swipe left to cycle through tiles (aka widgets)
- Press and hold on the watch face to select a new one
One UI Watch 4.5 is easy to use once you spend some time getting familiar with the different gestures. Everything is easily accessible from the watch face, the software is attractive to look at, and the two physical buttons can be completely customized to open apps, activate a voice assistant, and more. In addition, Google Assistant is readily available out of the box, unlike the Watch 4, which didn’t have this feature until months after its release. And it performs admirably! When I press and hold the top button, the Assistant appears and responds to my questions and commands in a split second.
There are a few significant changes in One UI Watch 4.5 compared to One UI Watch 4.0, which shipped with the Watch 4 last year. With a full QWERTY keyboard that supports tap and swipe typing, you can now reply to messages. Swipe typing has been a little tricky to master, but tapping away at characters has been a surprisingly enjoyable experience thanks to generous autocorrect. Additionally, you can now alter your input method whenever you want. To switch to voice dictation, handwriting, or emojis at any time, simply swipe up from the keyboard.
Better input isn’t the only new thing in One UI Watch 4.5. This latest version of the software supports dual-SIM switching if you have multiple SIMs on your Galaxy smartphone, easier access to accessibility features, and more customization options for Samsung’s included watch faces.
All of this functions incredibly well and gives Wear OS the impression that it is now a complete smartwatch platform. Except that there is still one issue: apps.
I haven’t used a Wear OS watch as my primary wearable in a very long time, so I was hoping the app selection would be better this time around. Sadly, it doesn’t appear to be the case.
Also read How to use Fossil smartwatch app for your hybrid watch
Colors
There will be four color options available for the Galaxy Watch 5: Graphite, Pink Gold, Silver, and a new Sapphire. Black and Gray will be the two available colors for the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro.
Black is no longer available for the Galaxy Watch 5, but we don’t notice any differences. Last year, only the 40mm version of Pink Gold and Silver were offered. Sapphire, which is this year’s eye-catching color, takes the place of Green for the 44mm case.
| Model | Colors |
|---|---|
| Galaxy Watch 5 | Graphite Silver Pink Gold (40mm only) Sapphire (44mm only) |
| Galaxy Watch 5 Pro | Black Titanium Gray Titanium |
| Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 (40mm) | Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 (44mm) | Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro |
| Case colorways: | Case colorways: | Case colorways: |
| Silver | Sapphire | Black Titanium |
| Graphite | Silver | Gray Titanium |
| Pink Gold | Graphite | |
| Strap colorways: | Strap colorways: | Strap colorways: |
| Bora Purple | Sapphire | Black |
| Graphite | White | Gray |
| Pink Gold | Graphite |
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5: Price and availability
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 is currently on sale. Price for the 40mm model with Wi-Fi starts at $280. The 40mm Watch 5 costs $330 more when LTE is included. There is also the 44mm Galaxy Watch 5, which retails for $310 and $360, respectively, and has the same Wi-Fi and LTE configurations.
Top Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 questions and answers
Is there going to be a Samsung Galaxy 5 watch?
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 is one of the best Wear OS-powered smartwatches on the market right now. It also remains the only smartwatch series to run One UI Watch 4.5 out of the box.
Which version of Galaxy Watch is best?
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 was the best Samsung watch overall before the Galaxy Watch 5. It notably comes in two different designs (and prices) to cater to a wider variety of user needs. The standard Galaxy Watch 4 looks more like the previous Galaxy Watch Active devices and is the company’s flagship, starting at $249.
How far away can my Samsung smartwatch be from my phone and still be connected?
30 feet. If your smartwatch is connected to Wi-Fi, and your phone has a Wi-Fi or cellular network connection, your smartphone can be anywhere you like. The Wi-Fi network doesn’t have to be the same either. If your smartwatch isn’t connected to Wi-Fi, keep it within 30 feet your phone. (Distance varies by phone and smartwatch.)
Does the Galaxy Watch 5 have GPS?
The entire Watch 5 Pro package is reminiscent of a Garmin (GRMN) smartwatch that has long offered long battery life and deep integration with GPS features like routes and track back.
Also read our guide 10 Best Garmin Watches – Choose the right GPS tracker
Is the Galaxy Watch 5 worth buying?
Yes, we certainly think the Galaxy Watch 5 is worth buying. Thanks to the larger batteries and tougher build, it’s worth a look for Android smartphone users.
Is there a Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Classic?
No, Samsung has not launched a Classic model this time around. Instead, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is the new range-topper. However, Samsung will continue making the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic for those who want a physical rotating bezel.
Does the Galaxy Watch 5 run Wear OS?
Yes, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 line runs Wear OS 3 with the One UI Watch skin on top.
What’s the newest sensor on the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5?
Samsung has introduced a new skin temperature sensor to the Galaxy Watch 5. It uses infrared to monitor body temperature fluctuations.
Is the Galaxy Watch 5 waterproof?
Yes, both the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 5 Pro feature IP68 and 5ATM ratings.
What straps work with the Galaxy Watch 5?
All Galaxy Watch 5 series models work with 20mm straps.
Does the Galaxy Watch 5 support LTE?
Yes, you can purchase LTE models of the 40mm and 44mm Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 models and the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro.