The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 is Samsung’s most advanced smartwatch to date, succeeding the Galaxy Watch 3, which until recently was the one that was crowned with that title. And it is that the new smartwatch of the South Korean firm arrives with several improvements at the level of characteristics and technical specifications, and to see which of both smartwatches is better and why, something that is already quite predictable, we compare them in this new opportunity, together with their prices and other important details.
Pros and Cons
| Galaxy Watch 4 | Galaxy Watch 3 |
| Crisp, vibrant OLED display | Beautiful classic watch design |
| Touch-sensitive rotating bezel | Customizable watch faces |
| Good fitness/sleep tracker | Rotating bezel |
| Concerns with BIA sensor | Bright OLED display |
| One-day battery life | One-day battery life |
To begin with, we are looking at two wrist terminals that have a somewhat similar aesthetic. At the same time, there are no significant differences between these, as both one and the other boast an elegant and sporty appearance. However, the Galaxy Watch 4 has a more attractive and sporty design, being also a watch that at first glance is more sophisticated, with a watch face with fewer protruding buttons.
Talking about the screen of these wearables, we have a circular panel of Super AMOLED technology in the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4, which has a size of 1.4 inches in the 46 mm version, which is the Classic and the one we evaluate now. . And this watch also comes in a smaller version, which is 42 mm and has a 1.2-inch screen. In turn, it is offered in standard versions, which come in sizes 44 and 40 mm.
Specification
| Galaxy Watch 4 | Galaxy Watch 3 | |
| $ | CHECK PRICE | CHECK PRICE |
| Model | Galaxy Watch 4 | Galaxy Watch 3 |
| Released | August 2021 | August 2020 |
| Screen type | Super AMOLED 2.5D | Super AMOLED 2.5D |
| Shape | Round | Round |
| Display | 1.4 inch | 1.2 inch |
| Resolution | 450 x 450 pixels | 360 x 360 pixels |
| Touchscreen | Yes | Yes |
| OS | Android + iOS | Android + iOS |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 802.11 Bluetooth 5.0 GPS with A-GPS GLONASS GALILEO BDS NFC | Wi-Fi 802.11 Bluetooth 5.0 GPS with A-GPS GLONASS GALILEO BDS NFC |
| Sensors | Barometric altimeter Optical ECG heart rate sensor Accelerometer Gyroscope Ambient light sensor Blood oxygen monitor (VO2 max) Geomagnetic sensor | Barometric altimeter Optical ECG heart rate sensor Accelerometer Gyroscope Ambient light sensor Blood oxygen monitor (VO2 max) |
| Water resistance | IP68 (5 meters) | IP68 (5 meters) |
| Dimensions | 45.5 x 45.5 x 11.0 mm | 45 x 46.2 x 11.1 mm |
| Weight | 52 grams | 43 g (titanium) 53.8 g (steel) |
| Battery | 361 mAh | 340 mAh |
Design
The screen of this smartwatch also has a resolution of 450 x 450 pixels and is protected by a Corning Gorilla Glass DX glass.
The circular panel of the Galaxy Watch 3, on the other hand, is also 1.4 inches, at least that of the 1.4-inch variant, since this smartwatch also has a smaller 42 mm that has a 1.2-inch panel. In turn, the resolution it produces is 360 x 360 pixels, somewhat lower than that of its successor, but still, it also has a 2.5D glass with protection for drops, bumps, scratches, and all kinds of abuse.
On the other hand, in the case of the Galaxy Watch 4, the performance section is represented by the Exynos W920, a dual-core processor chipset that works at 1.18 GHz max. and it is superior to the Exynos 9110 of the Galaxy Watch 3, which goes to 1.15 GHz and is of the last generation.
At the same time, the first has 1.5 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal storage space, while the second uses a lower RAM, which is 1 GB, and an internal memory of only 8 GB. Likewise, in both cases, said internal memory is suitable for storing apps, music, and files of all kinds,s such as images and more.
In terms of connectivity, both are among the most complete and advanced smartwatches of the moment, with compatibility with 4G LTE networks for Internet, calls, and more. And it is that both come with Bluetooth 5.0, integrated GPS with A-GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, and, for making contactless payments through Samsung Pay, an NFC chip.
On the subject of sports and activity tracking, the two also feature many advanced and similar features and functions, with little difference here. And it is that both have a sensor for measuring oxygen in the blood (SpO2), an ECG sensor (electrocardiograms) for the detection and monitoring of possible heart abnormalities such as atrial fibrillation, for example.
Smart Features
| Smartphone notifications | Yes (calls, texts, and apps) | Yes (calls, texts, and apps) |
| Wireless payments | Yes | Yes |
| Music storage and playback | Yes | Yes |
| Phone music control | Yes | Yes |
| Virtual assistant | Bixby | Bixby |
| Meteorology | Weather forecast | Weather forecast |
| Other smart features | Fall detection | Fall detection |
Both also have the typical functions of counting calories consumed, steps taken, distance traveled, and sleep monitoring. However, only the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 has a stress monitor. Of course, both can monitor and obtain metrics for sports and activities such as swimming, running, cycling, outdoor leisure, and more. The other thing is that they come with a fall detection function, which is usually more useful for older people and users.
On the other hand, the new Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 has an autonomy of up to 2 days, thanks to a 361 mAh battery in the 46 mm version of the Classic and 247 mAh in the 42 mm version. The Galaxy Watch 3, meanwhile, has an autonomy that can be up to 1 week thanks to a battery of 340 mAh capacity in the 45 mm model and 247 mAh in the 41 mm model.
As for other interesting features of both smartwatches, both have IP68 grade water resistance capable of protecting them against submersions of up to 50 meters and MIL-STD-810G military-grade resistance that makes them all-proof and perfect. Companions for adventures and trekking trips, and extreme sports.
Of course, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 comes with the Wear OS operating system under the One UI Watch customization layer, something that comes as a novelty with this smartwatch. The Galaxy Watch 3, on the other hand, has Tizen OS as the South Korean firm’s OS.
Conclusion!
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 is a smartwatch with more advanced features and technical specifications, although the truth is that there is not a very large gap between what this smartwatch offers and what the Galaxy Watch 3 has. A better buy in 2021, given that it features a better resolution screen, a more powerful processor chipset, a revamped operating system with multiple optimizations, and more RAM and storage space for music, apps, and files.
