Samsung has found its stride in the smartwatch space with the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5. No, it’s not all that different from last year’s Samsung Galaxy Watch 4, but the few improvements are minor but significant. The battery life on the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 is up to 10 hours longer, and the device is more scratch resistant thanks to a sapphire crystal glass display. The bottom curvature is reshaped to more naturally fit wrists and increase the amount of surface area that actually makes contact with your skin, improving sensor reading accuracy.
Speaking of health sensors, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 now includes one that measures skin temperature. It doesn’t work yet, but once it does, it will inform sleep tracking and be accessible to third-party health developers. The Galaxy Watch 5 retains the distinct, modern stylings introduced with the Watch 4 last year. Everything is very different if you’re coming from a Galaxy Watch 3 or Watch 4 Classic. Instead of a rotating bezel, you interact with an invisible digital bezel around the screen.
[content-egg-block template=offers_logo hide=price]If you’re unfamiliar with the Galaxy Watch series, the main watch screen is one side of a polished metal disc, with the heart rate monitor and other health sensors on the other. The polished disc is held in place by a brushed aluminium frame, which also houses the two buttons on the right side and the arms that connect the watch body to its bands.
The smaller 40mm model is available in Graphite (black), Pink Gold, or Silver, while the larger 44mm model is available in Sapphire instead of Pink Gold. The range of colour options available with Samsung’s Bespoke service, which is available on samsung.com, extends far beyond those four options. Bespoke is a service that allows you to mix and match straps with the watch body, and it extends beyond wearables, with the Galaxy Z Flip 4 allowing buyers to personalise their foldable.
After selecting your case colour, you can select from 11 Sports Band colours, two D-Buckle Sports Bands, a Global Goals band, a Hybrid Leather Band, Ridged and Extreme Sports Bands, and finally, a Milanese Band. The silicone band material on the Watch 5 is also hairy-wrist-friendly, with a perpetual matte texture that keeps it from tugging on the skin.
When it comes to comfort, the Watch 5 is a welcome sight for anyone who isn’t used to wearing a smartwatch. It’s not too big, and the included Sports Strap keeps it secure. Despite having larger batteries in this year’s lineup, the Watch 5’s footprint hasn’t grown at all in comparison to the Watch 4. When viewed side by side, the sensors on the Watch’s undercarriage protrude slightly more than on last year’s model. This isn’t just to make room for larger batteries; Samsung claims it results in more accurate tracking.