Galaxy Watch 4 Review
More of a guesstimated preview than a review, as not much is known for certain yet when it comes to the Galaxy Watch 4. However, based on information leaked so far, exciting things can be expected.
To be announced sometime between May and August 2021, you can probably expect to be the proud owner of a Galaxy Watch 4 by the end of August. The question is: will it fulfil our hopes and dreams, or be a big let-down? Well, here’s my best educated guess:
Design:
As the saying goes, “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it”. With this in mind, I would expect the Galaxy Watch 4 to be a similarly stylish design to its predecessor, with the same satisfying rotating bezel, circular AMOLED screen, vast array of different watch faces, choice of sizes and colours and optional LTE.
Potentially, there could be a slight adjustment to the sizing, to provide a slimmer and more lightweight design. Other than that, I can’t see that there is much room for improvement. But time will tell if Samsung have any surprises in store.
Either way, I can say with absolute certainty that this next generation of smartwatch will enable you to change the strap. So, feel free to browse our wide range of stunning Galaxy Watch 4 Straps in anticipation of creating some serious arm-candy.
Functionality:
Again, not a great deal of improvement is necessary given the great performance of the Galaxy Watch 3. I would expect this latest model to have the same range of features: such as an FDA approved ECG monitor, on board GPS, SpO2 tracking, VO2 max tracking, trip detection sensors, sleep tracking and a T9 keyboard for texting. I would also bet money on the fact it will have the ability to track a wide range of different exercises and activities, some of which will be automatically detected, and will be equipped with water resistance for swimming.
In terms of areas for change, the rumour mill has been speculating that there may well be a change of battery size. The jury’s out as to whether this will mean an improvement on battery life. If so, that would be a welcome advancement, so let’s hope Samsung don’t disappoint on that score.
A respected source has also suggested that there may be a switch from Tizen to an Android operating system, i.e. Wear OS. Neither of these platforms is perfect, but arguably, when it comes to choice in hardware, consistent usability and app continuity between your phone and your smartwatch, Wear OS ticks more boxes.
Another rumour circulating is that the Galaxy Watch 4 will include a glucometer for monitoring blood sugar levels. This would be a welcome addition to the already substantial range of health and fitness features, particularly for those with diabetes.
Pros:
It’s impossible to talk about pros for a yet to be released product. I’ve kept this sub-heading purely for continuity purposes. But essentially, this section is a wish-list of improvements I would like to see incorporated into the Galaxy Watch 4, which would feature in the pros section of a subsequent review.
Let me firstly say that, assuming the Galaxy Watch 4 is built in a similar mould to its predecessor and retains all the same capabilities, then that in itself would constitute a significant tick in the pros box.
In terms of improvements and add-ons, I would love to see from Samsung a more extensive library of apps to choose from, a slimmer and lighter design (provided this doesn’t detract from performance), more premium materials added to the mix (e.g titanium), a more durable screen, increased battery life and, most importantly of all, wider feature support - to enable all users in all countries to access all of the premium fitness tracking features (such as ECG, blood pressure and blood oxygen tracking) from the first day of purchase.
Cons:
Again, as the release date is pending, my hands are tied in terms of itemising any particular cons with any certainty. However, according to the rumours doing the rounds, a couple of potential shortcomings have already been identified… Although, it remains to be seen whether these misgivings will be substantiated.
It’s anticipated that the Galaxy Watch 4 will be expensive, the assumption being that it will be similar in price to its predecessor. Assuming a lower price is too much to ask for, I would at least hope it isn’t significantly more pricey than the Galaxy Watch 3.
There have been murmurings that the battery life may not be an improvement on the previous model. If this proves to be true then it’s cause for frustration, as an upgrade in this area would certainly be welcomed by many.
Verdict:
It’s an exciting time for Galaxy watch fans and, all speculation considered, I doubt they’re going to be disappointed. It’ll be interesting to see whether Samsung can improve on the already pretty amazing Galaxy Watch 3. Not to tempt fate, but I have every faith in them.
By LH