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Samsung Galaxy Watch Active

kkh786

kkh786

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Nov 25, 2013
736
817
United Kingdom
Ladies and gentlemen,

So I have finally got off the fence and pre-ordered the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active (it doesn't come out in the UK until 21st March).

The reviews from the US folks have given me enough to risk a dabble.

I do have some concerns about getting used to the large bezel and smallish screen size but the sensors seems to have been improved compared previous generations from Samsung.

The sensors are my main criteria as I will be using the watch mainly as a fitness gadget.

Please share your thoughts, if you already have one in your possession (or not).

KKH
 
I pre-ordered in Finland so I'm also still waiting for mine. I might have to wait for a couple of extra days since I can't fetch it on Friday, but
I'm not in a rush as I still have a perfectly functional smartwatch :)

The size is one of the factors where I'll have to see how it works for me, but at least charging should be more convenient as I've read that a generic Qi charger would work.
 
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So I received my Galaxy Watch Active today.. here are my initial thoughts.

The watch is very nice looking but I feel it is smallish in size. I guess I'm used to the larger watches.

Moving on.. I got used to not having the rotating bezel pretty much straight away.

The software is as refined as ever, it has been given the One UI treatment and that is a very good thing. I have no issues on the software side.

Initial testing shows heart rate monitoring is pretty accurate.

Let's see what the upcoming days bring.. will I get used to and accept the overall smaller size?!
 
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I got mine yesterday too, so far really love it. It's so light weight and slim compared to the GW (which was my original issue with the Gear S3 in 2016 - it was too thick and bulky to wear with my work shirts!).

This seems to really fit the bill. So far battery life seems like It'll be a charge maybe every two days, which i'm okay with, though with fitness tracking i expect to charge every day.

The screen looks really crisp and nice too. Sleep tracking last night seems to be pretty spot on as well.

I do think it will have a moderate impact on my Note 8s already poor battery life though, but only for a few months while waiting for the 10!
 
tann said:
How???!
Click to expand...
On the members app
41a76fac488c03635404bcf1fa72992c.jpg
 
So first test of the Active at the gym and I have to admit it has exceeded my expectations.

I have always had issues with my Gear/Galaxy not giving accurate readings from the inbuilt sensors but the Active has been spot on so far!

I will credit the design for this. It is very comfortable and you hardly notice it due to the light weight.

The fit is perfect, I am yet to see the green light leak from the back of the watch when I'm wearing it unlike all other prior Samsung watches.

It seems like Samsung has finally given us a reliable fitness watch!

Let the testing continue..
 
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Just wondering how everyone's battery has held up over time. I tried one for a couple days and the battery was so horrendous that I returned it. It was draining 5-6% per hour.
 
I’m curious for some long term experience as well. My Apple Watch, to be perfectly honest, is one of the things keeping me on an iPhone.

I’ve been focused on fitness over the last 6 months, and the iPhone/Apple Watch is great since it keep track of my activity, including syncing with my Peloton bike for calorie count and exercise minutes. Not to mention how good the AW is for notifications, quick text responses, even quick email replies.

I’d hate to lose the Peloton sync, but if the Galaxy Active and/or whatever health app it hooks into (Samsung Health?) has any ability to sync with Strava, that would be a work-around.
 
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mjschabow said:
Just wondering how everyone's battery has held up over time. I tried one for a couple days and the battery was so horrendous that I returned it. It was draining 5-6% per hour.
Click to expand...
I don't have the always on display on, and I can get 2 days.

I usually charge it while I get ready in the morning though.

If you heavily use fitness / GPS I think you can expect to charge it every 1-1.5 days.
 
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Just switched from iOS to a OnePlus and I REALLY miss my Apple Watch but love this phone so much that it isn't enough to make me go back.

Looking for a compromise wearable that will give me basic texts, notifications on reminders/calendar, with a bright screen and good to comparable battery life to AW.

Is the Active the best answer? Some mentioned Fossil?

This seemed like a logical choice but not much feedback here after initial release. Thoughts?
 
Cnasty said:
Just switched from iOS to a OnePlus and I REALLY miss my Apple Watch but love this phone so much that it isn't enough to make me go back.

Looking for a compromise wearable that will give me basic texts, notifications on reminders/calendar, with a bright screen and good to comparable battery life to AW.

Is the Active the best answer? Some mentioned Fossil?

This seemed like a logical choice but not much feedback here after initial release. Thoughts?
Click to expand...
It's a good watch. Samsung Health is actually pretty good as well. The battery though is horrible. If it weren't for battery life I'd actually like it a real lot.
 
Cnasty said:
Just switched from iOS to a OnePlus and I REALLY miss my Apple Watch but love this phone so much that it isn't enough to make me go back.

Looking for a compromise wearable that will give me basic texts, notifications on reminders/calendar, with a bright screen and good to comparable battery life to AW.

Is the Active the best answer? Some mentioned Fossil?

This seemed like a logical choice but not much feedback here after initial release. Thoughts?
Click to expand...

Battery life varies with how the device is used much like with phones. According to the usage you listed you don't use health monitor and GPS so disabling those should extend battery life along with things like disabling raise to wake gesture. Can't remember if it was you that mentioned Hole19 app but that only runs on Google Wear OS like on the Fossil Sport and not on Samsung Galaxy Watch Tizen OS.
 
mjschabow said:
It's a good watch. Samsung Health is actually pretty good as well. The battery though is horrible. If it weren't for battery life I'd actually like it a real lot.
Click to expand...

How terrible are we talking? Not able to make it through a day? I am used to charging my AW daily so i am ok with just daily battery.
 
Cnasty said:
How terrible are we talking? Not able to make it through a day? I am used to charging my AW daily so i am ok with just daily battery.
Click to expand...
Well... I've had some oddities. I went from about 90% to 53% in a matter of a couple hours earlier today. It said it was notifications eating up the battery. It is 3 day old watch so maybe it's still calming down, but it's most likely going back.
 
mjschabow said:
Yeah I think I'm returning it. I've thought about actually going to a Fitbit are not even having a watch at all.
Click to expand...
For battery i think galaxy watch better coz active have smaller battery...

Galaxy watch is having update to oneUI too... I dont know the battery impact with that....

https://www.sammobile.com/2019/05/20/one-ui-update-for-galaxy-watch-gear-s3-gear-sport/


But for me i dont have watch now since im using s7 now... Its been more than a month... Im still looking for cheaper alternative for android just for notifications and music controls....
 
Cnasty said:
Just switched from iOS to a OnePlus and I REALLY miss my Apple Watch but love this phone so much that it isn't enough to make me go back.

Looking for a compromise wearable that will give me basic texts, notifications on reminders/calendar, with a bright screen and good to comparable battery life to AW.

Is the Active the best answer? Some mentioned Fossil?

This seemed like a logical choice but not much feedback here after initial release. Thoughts?
Click to expand...


How is the one plus treating you? I am looking to switch as well but love my Apple watch with apple pay.

The struggle is real
 
I've been using the watch for a couple weeks. It's the first smart watch that I haven't given up on in the first week (although I've never had an AW). As other said, it's a good watch with bad battery life. For me, it makes it through a full day but definitely not 2.
 
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