Yeah in my experience fitness side of things and GPS just isn’t as accurate and play back for songs was always an issue where I just used my phone for Spotify through my headphones as never worked like I wanted to through the watch
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Samsung Galaxy S21 / S21+ / S21 Ultra
- Thread starter kkh786
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Yeah in my experience fitness side of things and GPS just isn’t as accurate and play back for songs was always an issue where I just used my phone for Spotify through my headphones as never worked like I wanted to through the watch
Yeah maybe get a cheap iPhone to just use your Apple Watch with. It’s why many youtubers you see with an Apple Watch on even when using an android device
I think it’s the UI. It just doesn’t appeal to me. Also I found that out of all the platforms Apple Music is better at recommending things for me to listen to. It was like that from the start. I suspect that it had secretly analysed my iTunes library. Whereas Spotify doesn’t have anything to go off unless I play music a lot on Spotify which I don’t.
google play music despite me having my music library uploaded for years didn’t make good recommendations in the beginning but as I started using it more on the google home devices it got better. I also liked the UI on google play music. YouTube music is just trash.
I will actually go further and say I prefer Galaxy Watches over Apple Watches. I have also (as many here) tried both but for my use case Galaxy Watches work better.
Apple Watches never seem to give me as accurate sensor readings as the Galaxy Watches such heart rate, step count etc.
Nevertheless my use cases are as follows: health/fitness tracking, spotify offline, payments, calls and messages all work seamlessly. I don't find a delay in notifications either.
It has to be said.. I love the rotating bezel and the UI that comes with it. Watches to me are meant to be circular!
Never had an issue with notifications coming through on my Samsung watch. They all came through in good time. My main issues compared to the Apple Watch were:
Vibration was not as strong as on the Apple Watch
Disconnected from my note 10+ at shorter distances in my house than the series 4 Apple Watch and xs max.
Bixby on the watch was poop. It didn’t do what I wanted. Even simple things like setting a timer or reminder were chore. Let alone using voice dictation to reply to a message.
There are more watch faces in the Samsung store for sure but they aren’t as customisable as the Apple Watch in terms of complications. With the galaxy watch faces the developer sets the complications. So it’s a matter of finding a watch face you like but it also has to have the complications you want. On the Apple Watch there are more complications and the user can chose which complications to use. Also whilst the Apple Watch has only a limited amount of watch faces they are curated for quality. The ones on the Samsung store are a mixed bag
I couldn’t use the galaxy watch to control my Apple TV/chrome cast.
The galaxy watch could only control media playback on my note 10+. My Apple Watch can control playback on my HomePods. The Samsung watch also didn’t talk to my google homes in terms of controlling music playback.
Those were the main issues.
Other issues were:
Not being able to store podcasts or audiobooks for offline playback. Granted as I’ve said earlier I’ve never used this feature but it’s nice to have.
it also didn’t have an ECG sensor but the newer active watch did. I got the watch because it could make and receive calls on the watch the original active couldn’t. There was also some uncertainty whether Samsung pay worked on the original active Watch. So I got the galaxy watch.
Things I liked better about the galaxy:
Alert when your watch goes out of range of your phone.
rotating bezel. Much better than putting your fingers all over the screen and easier than the Digital Crown. The raised bezel also protects the screen from scratches and dings.
The always on display. Obviously I was coming from the series 4 which didn’t have an AOD at that time. Even so the AOD on the galaxy watch is still better than what’s on my AW5. It’s so Dim on my series 5 watch. It was always visible on the galaxy watch.
More choices of watch faces. Even though I complained that the store is not curated. You can’t deny the vast range of watch faces. The Apple Watch can’t compare when it comes to sheer choice.
The battery life was excellent. It lasted a day and a half with ease. I do get rogue battery days when I’m at work on my Apple Watch where I’ll have to top it up before the end of the day.
Looks a little too feminine. Maybe when they make a men's version, better than one day battery life and compatible with Android I'll give it a try.
S21u puts the iPhone to shame!! iPhone clearly falling behind and it's not even close. Battery life is definitely all day and shocking with the specs this device has. Have a few more days to mess with it and i believe this phone gonna make my decision easier than prior devices. Definitely time for a change!
Not sure if you advising me. But I’m not doing the two phone lineup, I have done it before… it’s not for me, no shade to those who do so. I liked having a AW during the years I owned one, but I’m alright with my current devices.
I’m not interested going back to the iPhone… so there’s no need for me to purchase an AW. And I’m accustomed to having a cellular AW, I’ll end up having 3 lines.. Android, iPhone and AW. I’ll pass.
Oh, I didn’t know. I figured you were using any one of the S21 variants since you didn’t specify the device. You were holding out on updating your Note10+.. while I don’t have a chance to hold out, I’m still waiting on my update on the Fold2.
Nah was talking about Dave if it was a deal breaker he could always get an iPhone for cheap that way could still use his S21 ultra as main phone that way and still use the Apple Watch
I’ve still got my iPhone 11 Pro Max. I didn’t trade it in, it’s just now sitting in a draw during the 28 day trial period.
I guess it could be, even tho it might be a bit clunky. I'll keep the iPhone around anyway, i don't have any plans to sell it.
Yeah I think it really comes down to preference at this point. I also used to be more into watches too. I really just use them for notifications, step counting, and tracking runs. Both watches do it just fine except you can get the Galaxy Watch Active 2 for $250 less.I will actually go further and say I prefer Galaxy Watches over Apple Watches. I have also (as many here) tried both but for my use case Galaxy Watches work better.
Apple Watches never seem to give me as accurate sensor readings as the Galaxy Watches such heart rate, step count etc.
Nevertheless my use cases are as follows: health/fitness tracking, spotify offline, payments, calls and messages all work seamlessly. I don't find a delay in notifications either.
It has to be said.. I love the rotating bezel and the UI that comes with it. Watches to me are meant to be circular!
I knew I was going to get a watch with the store credit from Samsung when I got my Ultra. I played around with the Galaxy Watch 3 and the Active 2 and I went with the Active. I just didnt notice enough of a difference for the price and the Watch 3 seems much less functional as a day-to-day watch. I can wear the Active 2 to the gym, office, or casually and it wears pretty similar to say an Apple Watch in terms of looks. The Watch 3 doesnt work as well in some settings like the gym. Its too bulky and isnt very sporty looking.
So far, I have no complaints about the Active 2. I dont use it near to the level that it can be. For me its basically just a notification device that I use instead of pulling out my phone and as a music remote when I have my headphones in during a workout. But it does those things well, so no complaints.
That's why I got the Active 2 as well. The 3 is too bulky.
We sound similar. I don't get the watch to use it for tons of apps. Just need a watch to do the basics.
The phone yes, the Watch definitely not. I think if I do send it back it will be because of the Watch. But time will tell, I have up to 27 days left with it.
The Apple Watch is miles ahead in terms of both design (the Apple Watch feels more premium with the Stainless Steel) and the OS. I definitely know why Apple haven’t made a round watch, it’s much more clunky to use with touch.
You need to try a physical rotating bezel before making such statements mate. Those are what define proper Galaxy Watches.
