The Samsung Galaxy Watch Active prioritizes fitness tracking without sacrificing essential smartwatch features.
Display:
The Watch Active features a vibrant 1.1-inch circular Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 360 x 360 pixels. It’s bright enough for easy visibility outdoors and offers good touch responsiveness. However, the lack of a rotating bezel for navigation might take some getting used to for users coming from other Samsung smartwatches.
Camera:
The Galaxy Watch Active doesn’t have a built-in camera, which is fairly common for fitness trackers and smartwatches in this range. While it wouldn’t be ideal for capturing photos on the go, your connected smartphone can handle those needs.
Performance:
The watch is powered by a dual-core Samsung Exynos 9110 processor paired with 768MB of RAM. This combination delivers smooth performance for navigating menus, tracking workouts, and using basic apps. While it might not be the most powerful smartwatch on the market, it’s sufficient for everyday use.
Battery:
With a 230mAh battery, the Galaxy Watch Active offers decent battery life, typically lasting around two days on a single charge with moderate use. However, factors like GPS usage and constant notifications can drain the battery faster.
Storage:
The watch comes with 4GB of internal storage, which is enough to store your music playlists, workout data, and a limited number of apps. While it doesn’t have expandable storage, most users shouldn’t find themselves needing more space for typical smartwatch functions.
Software:
The Galaxy Watch Active runs on Samsung’s Tizen OS with access to a growing selection of fitness and lifestyle apps through the Samsung Galaxy Store. It seamlessly integrates with Samsung smartphones but also works with Android phones running Android 5.0 or later (with limitations on some features).
Connectivity:
The Galaxy Watch Active connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth 4.2. There’s also a Wi-Fi version available for standalone music streaming and app downloads without needing your phone nearby. Some models even offer LTE connectivity for making calls and using data without your phone.
Sound:
The watch itself doesn’t have a built-in speaker or microphone for calls. However, you can control music playback on your connected phone and receive notification alerts through vibration.