When it comes to smartwatches, what is the first thing that comes to your mind? Of course, it’s the Apple Watch. As the pioneer of smartwatches, Apple has always been at the forefront.
However, in recent years, major brands have also been trying to develop their own products, hoping to get a piece of the pie. Recently, after launching its first-generation smartwatch, Samsung is set to release the new Galaxy Watch Active 2. From the information currently available, believe it or not, Samsung’s new Galaxy Watch Active 2 is a smartwatch that is about to become a hit.
At first glance, the Galaxy Watch Active 2 looks almost identical to the Galaxy Watch Active that was launched earlier this spring. But if you place your finger on the edge of the display and rotate it clockwise or counterclockwise, you will see that Samsung’s signature rotating bezel control panel is back.
The Galaxy Watch Active 2 comes in two sizes (40mm and 42mm), two surface materials (aluminum and stainless steel), and also offers an LTE version, doubling the number of tracking sensors for faster readings. In contrast, the Galaxy Watch Active was designed in only one size.
Samsung’s new smartwatch will not replace the Galaxy Watch Active. The 40mm version of the Galaxy Watch Active 2 starts at $279, while the 44mm version starts at $299, and the Galaxy Watch Active 2 will be sold alongside the $199 Galaxy Watch Active and the $349 Galaxy Watch.
To be frank, the Galaxy Watch Active 2 is Samsung’s best smartwatch to date. The stainless steel case gives it a sleek appearance, and it is equipped with the same smartwatch and health tracking features as the Galaxy Watch.
Moreover, the digital rotating bezel is a fantastic user experience. Additionally, it is priced lower than the Apple Watch Series 4.
If you are using a Samsung or Android phone, the Galaxy Watch Active 2 is your best choice.
In terms of appearance, the Galaxy Watch Active 2 looks quite similar to the Galaxy Watch Active.
The 40mm screen is 1.2 inches, while the 44mm screen is 1.4 inches. Both have a resolution of 360×360. The dial features a traditional round screen, looking both classic and stylish. The Galaxy Watch Active 2 comes with two straps, one rubber and one leather.
The digital rotating bezel surrounding the screen is the most interesting upgrade of the Galaxy Watch Active 2. While most people do not mind that the Galaxy Watch Active lacks a rotating bezel like the Galaxy Watch, the Galaxy Watch Active 2 features an electronic version of the rotating bezel on the screen.
It not only looks less bulky but also provides a great user experience. Switching between different applications is very smooth and fluid.
While the aluminum version feels good, the stainless steel variant gives the Galaxy Watch Active 2 a more luxurious look and feel.
It must be said that the Galaxy Watch Active 2 has a slight resemblance to Apple, especially with the red ring inside the round button—it’s clearly mimicking the red outer ring on the digital crown of the Apple Watch.
In terms of hardware configuration, the Galaxy Watch Active 2 has a fairly standard smartwatch setup: both models have 4GB of storage, with the 40mm model having 768MB of RAM and the 44mm model having 1.5GB, Bluetooth 5.0, and built-in GPS. This watch can also withstand being submerged in water up to 164 feet for 10 minutes.
On the software side, like other Samsung smartwatches, the Galaxy Watch Active 2 runs on the Tizen operating system and has a built-in heart rate sensor. If you have used a Samsung smartwatch before, there is almost nothing new for you to learn with the Galaxy Watch Active 2.
The advantage of the Tizen operating system is its speed, smoothness, and ease of use, especially with this version featuring a digital rotating bezel, which enhances your user experience.
In terms of features, the Galaxy Watch Active 2 comes with some noteworthy new functionalities: Twitter, YouTube, and Google Translate.
With Twitter, users will be able to see tweets, favorite tweets, and retweets.
For YouTube, you can watch full videos on your wrist, whether in the original aspect ratio or zoomed.
As for Google Translate, it requires an internet connection, as the translation is not done on the device.
Although the software is basically the same, Samsung has enhanced the sensors in the Galaxy Watch Active 2, doubling their sensitivity for faster readings, better sleep tracking, automatic workout detection, and heart rate monitoring.
The Galaxy Watch Active 2 has many health features similar to the Apple Watch Series 4, including Fall Detection, Afib notifications, and an ECG monitor.
To be honest, the Apple Watch Series 4 is still the best smartwatch you can buy, but with the launch of the Galaxy Watch Active 2, Samsung has narrowed the gap with Apple.
Unlike the previously dull Android options, the Galaxy Watch Active 2 seems to strike the best balance between style and health tracking features. This is the best-looking and most functional round smartwatch on the market to date.
Of course, these are just theoretical analyses; how this new smartwatch from Samsung performs will be witnessed together in September!
