REASONS TO BUY
Samsung Health app
Incredible display
Sapphire screen
REASONS TO AVOID
Unique design
Touch bezel not as good as the physical bezel
Some features only available on Samsung phones
Samsung Galaxy Watch6 Review
A fantastic watch with a beautiful display that will please almost everyone
Credit: Natalie Kafader
RELATED: Best Smartwatches of 2024
Our Verdict
Samsung has consistently delivered great displays, incredible functionality and convenience, a huge ecosystem of apps, and strong health and fitness tracking with their Galaxy series of watches, and the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 is no different. It is the best smartwatch for Android users on the market today, taking that title from the previous Galaxy Watch version. However, the differences we saw in the current version weren't necessarily a big bump in performance, giving you reassurance to look at the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 before making your purchase. A beautiful display (we tested the 44 mm size) protected by crystal sapphire is easy to see during workouts and in bright environments. With the GPS disabled, you can get multiple days of runtime for those who need to strategically get more out of their watches. A plethora of third-party apps are available via Google Play, and unlike Apple products, premium proprietary apps and features are not locked behind a paywall or subscription. You will not be disappointed with this model, and you'll be even more happy if you are a current Samsung phone user.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product Samsung Galaxy Watch6 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Overall Android Smartwatch | Best Overall Apple Smartwatch |  Best Buy in Smartwatches | Best Buy Under $100 | |
| Price | $330 List $188.00 at Amazon | $429 List $379.99 at Amazon | $279 List $219.00 at Amazon | $350 List $209.99 at Amazon | $90 List $74.99 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | This capable and beautiful model will please most, and is great for Android phone users | The only thing this model is missing is support for Android phones | The most affordable model in Apple's lineup, but compromises very little | A performance upgrade for first generation users | If you have reasonable expectations, you won't be disappointed by this affordable model |
| Rating Categories | Samsung Galaxy Watch6 | Apple Watch Series 9 | Apple Watch SE | Google Pixel Watch 2 | Amazfit BIP 5 |
| Smart Function (40%) | |||||
| Health (30%) | |||||
| Battery Life (20%) | |||||
| Display (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Samsung Galaxy Watch6 | Apple Watch Series 9 | Apple Watch SE | Google Pixel Watch 2 | Amazfit BIP 5 |
| Charge Time | 83 min | 61 min | 125 min | 71 min | 110 min |
| Battery Life - Regular Use | 62.5 hr | 55.6 hr | 27.8 hr | 34.5 hr | 33.3 hr |
| Battery Life - GPS | 9.1 hr | 11.1 hr | 12.5 hr | 10.0 hr | 6.3 hr |
| Measured Weight | 1.17 oz | 1.36 oz | 1.18 oz | 1.10 oz | 0.93 oz |
| Measured Dimensions | 1.69" x 1.75" x 0.51" | 1.78" x 1.50" x 0.52" | 1.75" x 1.50" x 0.52" | 1.61" x 1.61" 0.56" | 1.81" x 1.50" x 0.50" |
| Measured Display Hardness | 8.5 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 7 | 6.5 |
| Model Tested | 46 mm | 45 mm | 44 mm | 41 mm | 46 mm |
| Sensors | -Accelerometer -Barometer -Gyro Sensor -Light Sensor -Optical Heart Rate Sensor |
- Electrical heart sensor and ECG app
|
- High and low heart rate notifications
|
- Compass
|
- BioTracker™ PPG biometric sensor
|
| Battery Size | 425 mAh | 308 mAh | 296 mAh | 294 mAh | 125 mAh |
| NFC | Samsung Wallet | Apple Pay | None | Google Wallet | None |
| Splash, Dust, and Water | - Water resistance 50m (swim proof)
|
- Water resistance 50m (swim proof)
|
- Water resistance 50m (swim proof)
|
- Water resistance 50m (swim proof)
|
- Water resistance 1.5m (splash/snow proof)
|
| Safety Features | Fall Detection | - Emergency SOS
|
- Emergency SOS | - Safety Check
|
None |
Show full specification detailsHide full specification details
Our Analysis and Test Results
Performance Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 is another exceptional offering in a series of watches that continue to be leaders in the field. The shift from version five to six saw a bump in random access memory (RAM) from 1.5 GB to 2 GB of space to possibly account for more access to helpful apps. See other changes in our review below that made the Samsung stand out once again.
Whether you are on the go, in an office, or preparing dinner, this smartwatch puts convenience on your wrist.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Smart Function
The essence of a smartwatch lies in its smart features and functions. Our first test metric smart functions evaluates the number of available proprietary apps as well as third-party apps and their respective quality. It also explores how well each model makes and receives phone calls, texting abilities, and the GPS display.
The Galaxy Watch 6 scored well in our testing and evaluation of smart features and functions. In particular, the watch is simple and easy to navigate, and the proprietary Health app is particularly high quality. Better yet, unlike the Apple ecosystem, there are no features hidden behind a paywall, so you will enjoy Samsung's full suite of apps without limitation.
The Galaxy Watch 6 incorporates a touch bezel that is highly refined and about as easy to use as many other premium brand bezels. However, fans of a true mechanical bezel will be excited to hear that Samsung brought back a mechanical bezel with the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic, which is otherwise nearly identical to the Galaxy Watch 6.
Samsung hit the nail on the head with one of the most clearly laid out and all-encompassing interfaces that are highly intuitive and easy to use. When it comes to third-party apps, the Google Play app store offers a massive number of apps and is ahead of most competitors in the field, allowing users to enhance their smartwatch usability further and add some personalization. However, in our opinion, the apps on the Google Play store frequently fall behind Apple's apps and sometimes tend to be less performant when compared to the iOS version of the app. Of course, third-party apps can range in quality based on the developers, and our observations are somewhat anecdotal and not the rule.
This model is intuitive, easy to use , and loaded with smart features and functions.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Beyond proprietary apps, Samsung has also made the phone call and texting process intuitive and easy. The audio quality is exceptionally clear with no distortion, but we did observe the slightest echoing of the speaker. The speech-to-text feature and keyboard increase productivity and make it easier to get things done without pulling a phone out of a purse, pocket, or backpack.
Our team also found the GPS mapping on the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 to be one of the best. The watch offers great integration with Apple maps, and vibrant colors make the maps extra easy to use. Of the Android OS phone-compatible watches, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 is by far the best using maps on your wrist. Lastly, NFC allows users to pay for things via Samsung Wallet.
Smart functions and features include emergency features like fall detection to alert emergency contacts.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Health
Samsung has a solid track record with previous iterations of devices running their proprietary health and fitness tracking app, Samsung Health. This mature app and robust sensors helped earn the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 a strong score in our second test metric, health, which accounts for thirty percent of each model's final score.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 has over ninety possible workout types to choose from so that you can go from everyday wellness monitoring to workout and fitness tracking quickly and easily. If you have ever used Samsung Health on a Samsung device then the Galaxy watch will have a familiar feel. If you have not used it before, have no fear, as the Health app interface is intuitive and easy to use.
Testing the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 step counting accuracy.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Workout type selection can be very specific and is not limited to just running or cycling, but include for example the distinguished difference between Leg curls, extensions, press, and raises. In our standard test procedures, we found the sensing and data accuracy of the watch to be good overall, but did measure small discrepancies in heart rate data from our control equipment, and treadmill walking accuracy, which is a challenge for many wearable fitness tracking devices.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 also includes features like temperature sensing, high and low heart rate notifications, irregular rhythm notification, and cycle tracking that weren't part of our standard array of tests, but may provide additional value, and were worth mentioning.
Samsung health monitoring and fitness tracking sensors and features are solid overall.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Battery Life
Our third test metric, battery life, tested the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6's runtime across various real-world scenarios, where our team recorded the 425 mAh battery life and performance both with and without the GPS disabled. We extrapolated discharge data during other walking, sensor, and distance accuracy tests, and also recorded charging rates at five minute intervals.
The 425 mAh battery life while running this capable and performant smartwatch with the GPS on is just over nine hours, so not incredibly impressive. However, with the GPS disabled you can get over sixty-two hours of runtime before the battery is depleted. Fortunately, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 can rapidly charge the battery to a fifty-percent charge in thirty minutes. Or you can wait eighty-three minutes for it to achieve a complete charge.
We measured every aspect of every watch including charging rates and battery life.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Display
There is an increasing excellence in displays among the leading smartwatches, with the top models becoming more alike and more impressive all the time. Our test team assessed the display quality of each watch, and assigned the metric a weight of ten percent toward their respective final scores. Samsung is well known for beautiful TVs, phones, and other devices with brilliant displays, so it isn't much of a surprise that the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 earned one of the top scores for its incredible 44mm display.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6's super AMOLED display is 480x480 pixels on the 44mm size, and protected by super scratch resistant sapphire crystal that our team measured in-house at 8.5 on the Mohs hardness scale. The display is sharp, crisp, and incredibly bright. We measured the maximum brightness of the watch at 259 nits. However, numbers simply don't compel just how unbelievably bright this smartwatch is, even in an outdoor setting on a sunny day, where it remains easy to see, with little to no glare.
Mohs hardiness and scratch resistance testing is a heartbreaking but necessary test for the display on every watch we handle.
Credit: Sentry Kelly
Should you buy the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6?
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 is a premium smartwatch and the best choice for current or future Android and Samsung smartphone users. What you get from this smartwatch is a well designed and intuitive interface, beautiful display, good phone call making and texting abilities, and solid fitness tracking. It's a great fit for a lot of people, but Apple users wanting something familiar should consider other options.
What other Smartwatches should you consider?
Both Samsung and Android users seeking a top-tier smartwatch will love the performance, beautiful display, and health monitoring capabilities of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6, but other models might be a better fit for different Apple iPhone users, those on a really tight budget, and those more focused on health and fitness. The Apple Watch SE gen 2 is an excellent option, particularly for Apple iPhone users on a more constrained budget. It is also a little cheaper than the Galaxy Watch 6. For iPhone users willing to increase their budget for a higher level of performance and the, Apple ecosystem of apps and a familiar UI, then the Apple Watch Series 9 deserves some consideration. Fitness gurus might want to look at the Garmin Venu 3, while those who want a smartwatch worth owning at the cheapest possible price, should look at the Amazfit BIP 5.
—
Benjamin Hickok
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