Samsung announces new Galaxy Watch 4 and Watch 4 Classic

Samsung has just wrapped up its 2021 Unpacked event, and in addition to releasing a few high-end foldable phones, the company has announced new Galaxy watches. The designs of the watches have been moderately updated, as have their innards, and these will be the first smartwatches running Google and Samsung’s new Wear operating system.

For the first time, and possibly as a result of the Google / Samsung collaboration, the new Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 4 Classic will not be able to pair with iOS devices. Samsung told us that it currently has no plans to discontinue legacy support from previous Galaxy Watches that are compatible with iOS devices.

Google’s revamped Wear OS platform was first announced at Google I / O earlier this year as a collaboration between Samsung and Google. The new Galaxy Watches give us our first look at the software since the announcement. For now, it seems that the slightly wider application compatibility is the main feature of the software. Hardware may be the biggest advantage, however, as chips from Samsung, like the new Exynos W920 in the Galaxy Watch 4, will be available for all of Google’s future wearable devices, which are in desperate need of hardware upgrades.

Samsung’s One UI Watch skin covers the Watch 4’s new Wear OS. The aesthetic has been revamped and looks more minimalist and straightforward, but the basic functions remain the same. The watch has a back button and a home button, as well as a digital bezel for scrolling through lists and screens throughout the user interface. The Galaxy Watch 4 Classic will have a physically rotating bezel for the same functions. Both watches are rated 5ATM and IP68. Samsung claims the watches have up to 40 hours of battery life, likely due to low power modes that limit functionality.

Samsung health experience

As was the case in previous Galaxy Watches, two prominent health features, ECG and blood pressure monitoring, are only available to users of compatible Samsung Galaxy phones. Blood pressure monitoring is still not available in the United States, and some countries will not get ECG readings. The Galaxy Watch 4 uses a new proprietary sensor to track these health metrics; It monitors optical heart rate (blood pressure, heart rate), electrical heart rate (ECG) and bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA).

Body composition measurement and the associated BIA sensor are new additions to the Galaxy Watch series. Samsung says the Watch 4 will measure skeletal muscle mass, basal metabolic rate, body water, and body fat percentage, all in about 15 seconds. The company says the measurements reach 98% accuracy of DEXA bone density scans, the current gold standard. SpO2 monitoring is also integrated and will especially help with sleep tracking. Blood oxygen levels are checked once per second while sleeping, in tandem with a new audio snore detection feature for your phone. All of your health information is saved in the Samsung Health Monitor app, where you can also participate in team challenges with your friends and family.

The Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 4 Classic are available in aluminum and stainless steel watch cases respectively. The Watch 4 offers 40mm and 44mm sizes, while the Classic is available in 42mm and 46mm. Both versions have versions equipped with Bluetooth and LTE, which start at $ 250 for the Bluetooth Galaxy Watch 4 and $ 350 for the Classic. Pre-orders are available now, with shipping starting August 27. Those who pre-order between August 11 and August 26 can get a Samsung credit of $ 50 “while supplies last”.

List image by Samsung