Digital WatchGalaxy Watch Active 2Latest WatchOTHER DEVICESSamsung Galaxy WatchSamsung Galaxy Watch Active 2Watch Active 2
Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2
Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2
- It seems like every company is now making a smartwatch — or, in the case of Google, a smartwatch platform for other companies to build on — but only Apple consistently makes the best smartwatches you can buy. Samsung is nipping at Apple’s heels with the launch of the Galaxy Watch Active 2, a beautiful new smartwatch with built-in sleep-tracking, advanced workout-tracking and an ECG sensor for diagnosing atrial fibrillation. (One caveat: That last feature doesn’t work at launch, but will be turned on later.)
- In the design department, Samsung wins by a mile. This is the smartwatch I actually want to wear. Apple’s watchOS 6 delivers a slew of features that Samsung can’t match (yet), but the Galaxy Watch Active 2 is still one of the few Android smartwatches you’ll want to buy. Bonus: The Galaxy Watch Active 2 also works with iOS, so if you don’t want to be locked into a platform, this is a better alternative than the Wear OS options out there.
Galaxy Watch Active 2 price and availability
- The Galaxy Watch Active 2 is available to buy as of Sept. 27. The 40-millimeter Bluetooth version of the watch with an aluminum finish is $279, and the larger 44-mm model is $299. A stainless steel option starts at $379. For cellular connectivity, you’ll have to shell out $429. Samsung is also releasing an Under Armour special edition of the watch with MapMyRun integration at the forefront for $309.
Design and Display
- The Galaxy Watch Active 2 is a fitness-focused device, as is obvious from the name, but aesthetically it strikes a tone between sporty and traditional timepiece with its slim, minimalist design. The watch is offered in a shiny, silver stainless steel case for the LTE variant while the Bluetooth versions come in silver, black, and a pink color called lily gold. Like its predecessor, the Galaxy Watch Active 2 sports 5-ATM water resistance and easily interchangeable 20mm watch straps.
- The bezels of the watch are a bit thinner than its predecessor to accommodate slightly larger screens. There are 1.2-inch and 1.4-inch AMOLED displays in the 40mm and 44mm options, respectively, with 360 x 360 resolutions on both.
- New to the Watch Active 2 is a rotating bezel for navigating the watch, but this isn’t an addition you’ll actually see. Unlike the mechanical rotating bezel on the Galaxy Watch, this is a digital implementation that functions as an edge gesture. This brings back the beloved navigation feature, previously missing from the original Galaxy Watch Active, and lets you navigate the interface with it.
- Lastly, Samsung has introduced a new feature called My Style, which lets you take a picture of your outfit and generates five different watch faces based on it, depending on the area of the outfit you select.
More sensors mean better
tracking, including a new ECG monitor
- The Active 2 also increases its tracking sensors, doubling the heart rate light sensors from four to eight and adding twice the sensitivity to the accelerometer, making it able to measure g-force up to 32Gs, as oppose to the original Watch Active’s 16G limit. Samsung said this will aid accuracy in activity tracking, but for now, it hasn’t added any new tracking features.
- Last, but certainly not least, is the new electrocardiogram monitor. This ECG monitors the electrical signals from your heart, helping you detect irregular heartbeats or atrial fibrillation. This isn’t meant to replace medical-grade equipment and shouldn’t be used for diagnosis, but an FDA-cleared device like this can help you stay abreast of important aspects of your health.
- Unfortunately, it’s still pending FDA clearance, as it’s in the research and trial phase. At launch, this won’t be enabled, much like Samsung’s blood pressure monitor featured on its predecessor, which six months later has yet to make it to devices.
Specifications and LTE Connectivity
- The crown jewel of the specs for the new wearable for many may be the option for 4G LTE connectivity, enabling you to roam without your phone and still receive calls and messages. Processor-wise we have the same dual-core, 1.15GHz Exynos 9110 and 768MB of RAM, with the LTE model making a slight upgrade to 1.5 GB of RAM.
- The battery size has also been bumped up a bit from the original’s 230mAh juice pack. The 40mm steps up slightly to 247mAh while the 44mm version leaps further to 340mAh, although Samsung hasn’t stated what, if anything, this may change for the expected use times. The LTE versions are likely going to draw more battery life.
Software
- Running the show is Samsung’s proprietary Tizen operating system, which has a couple of new app integrations. Users can now scroll through their Twitter feeds, liking and retweeting posts as they please, and a new integration with YouTube facilitates browsing and watching trending videos — however useful that may be on a watch.
- On the fitness front, you won’t find much in the way of new features, other than the aforementioned increased tracker sensitivity, which should deliver better tracking. You’ll still find automatic workout detection, guided workouts, and Bixby integrations like being able to say, “I want to run 5 miles in 30 minutes,” and be coached with real-time insights throughout.
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