Review: Samsung Galaxy Watch Active2 4G
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RIDDHI DOSHI- 4 minutes read
Ashwin Rajagopalan
Almost since the first Apple Watch debuted in 2015, smartwatches have depended on a Bluetooth bridge for connectivity to the internet or calls on your wrist. For many users, the convenience of snapping those invisible cords and leaving your smartphone behind can be a relief. Whether you’re running outdoors or are a gym regular, who doesn’t want to feel the phone in the pocket and yet stay connected, a 4G-enabled smartwatch can be super convenient. That’s why Samsung’s all-new smartwatch, one of the most expensive watches, assumes significance. It’s not just the best option for Android users seeking this standalone functionality, but a well-rounded smartwatch, quite literally.
It’s the circular dial that differentiates Samsung’s smartwatches in a smartwatch world dominated by squares. Part of the reason is the rotating bezel and the Tizen OS that have been the mainstay of Samsung’s smartwatch line. This watch ditches the physical rotating bezel, the on-screen navigation is quite a breeze. This is elegantly designed and one of the most expensive watches finished in stainless steel with a soft leather strap. You can show up for a client meeting in this – it’s the closest a smartwatch gets to a conventional fashion watch. It’s also feather-light, weighs just over 40 gm. You can swap the straps (with conventional watch straps) and we also like Samsung’s customisable watch face option that lets you match your outfit with a specially designed watch face – all you need to do is snap a pic of your outfit.
The 1.4-inch Super AMOLED (360 x 360 pixels) display is one of the most vibrant out there and offers great visibility even under harsh sunlight. You can opt for the always-on display – we managed a day’s battery after activating this. Like most of its rivals, the Watch Active2 doesn’t disappoint on the wellness front. From sleep tracking to calorie burns, it’s all there. You also get automatic tracking for seven exercises (including rowing, swimming and elliptical training) aside from manual tracking. The watch is swim-proof and also offers excellent drill-down data if you like to crunch your gym numbers. It’s the lack of a large choice of Apps that is probably the watch’s only weak link. But there’s one App that makes serious amends.
The 4G connectivity on the watch makes the Spotify App more than just a glorified remote to flip tracks on your phone. You can listen to songs on the cloud and also download songs directly on to the watch without hooking up with your smartphone. You will need a Spotify Premium Account for this though. This is one of Watch’s standout features. You can also move music files and images from your smartphone to the watch’s internal storage (You can use about 1.5GB of the total storage of 4GB). But above all, it’s the standalone functionality (setting it up was a breeze – I configured this with Jio) of the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active2 that makes it a compelling proposition for Android users.
