Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 review: the perfect smartwatch for Android

Natalie Vesna 10/28/2020

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Samsung has released a full-fledged sports version of the smartwatch in the spring of 2022. Less than six months have passed since the device received a successor - the Galaxy Watch Active 2. And this haste is completely justified.

Looking ahead, let's say that materials and design are far from the only advantages that the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 smart watch has received. The review that we offer you will show all the advantages and capabilities of this model.

Previous “sports” models of the Korean company belonged more to the class of fitness trackers. The Active was Samsung's first truly sports watch - and, not surprisingly, it had an impressive set of some shortcomings. However, the electronics giant managed to fix them in record time and present a sequel in which most of the errors were corrected.

Characteristics

Sensors

Both versions are equipped with the same set of sensors. Accelerometer, multi-axis gyroscope, barometer, HR sensor.

In the second version, it was the last sensor that was revised - HR or Heart Rate. It received 8 LEDs and began to even more accurately determine the moment of filling the vascular bed of the capillaries to calculate the pulse, and also monitor the color of the blood even more precisely. The color indicates the level of oxygen in the blood, which provides grounds for determining the level of stress, fatigue, etc. Smart watches can offer their owner breathing exercises to normalize the level of anxiety and nerves—that is, stress.

Watch design, straps, options

Watches are an individual product, which means you need to offer many options. Samsung has learned this very well. So Samsung Watch Active 2 comes in two body material options:

1. Aluminum
2. Steel

The watch is also available in two sizes:

1. Diameter 40 mm
2. Diameter 44 mm

The material of the straps also changes: stylish leather is attached to stainless steel, and waterproof fluoroelastomer is attached to aluminum. This is logical: the steel version is more versatile, and the aluminum version is better suited for sports.

The straps are 20 mm wide and can be replaced.

Note that the version of the watch in an aluminum case is available only with Wi-Fi. If you choose a watch with a steel case, you can even purchase the Galaxy Watch Active 2 with 4G (LTE). Both sizes available.

Thanks to the choice of color, the watch positions itself as both women's and men's. You can choose options to suit your taste:

• Black
• Pink gold
• Silver

Display

Watch Active 2 is available in two sizes:

• 40 mm with a diagonal of 1.2 inches;
• 44 mm with a diagonal of 1.4 inches.

The choice of model depends only on personal preferences - dimensions do not affect the functionality and interface of the device.

Screen resolution - 360x360 pixels, type - SuperAMOLED. It is perfectly readable even under bright sunlight, and you can set automatic brightness adjustment.

There is an AlwaysOn Display mode - the clock can work constantly.

The screen is covered with protective anti-reflective glass Corning Gorilla Glass DX+, which does not scratch or break upon impact.

The watch can withstand immersion depths of up to 5 m.

The controls are touch-sensitive and there are also two buttons that can be used to change settings. The buttons have different coatings and shapes, so they can be distinguished even by touch.

The round bottom button turns the watch on/off, wakes it from sleep mode, and is used to return Home. Double-click to open any favorite application. The upper extended button opens the Payment Menu, you can enter a security code and pay for your purchase by placing the watch on the terminal.

The sensor will respond to touches while wearing gloves if you enable the increased screen sensitivity function.

Water protection

The device has water protection of 50 meters (5 ATM), so you can not be afraid to swim or take a cold/warm shower without removing it from your hand.

Even though the watch has received protection according to the ISO 22810:2010 standard, this does not mean that the watch will survive years under water. However, you can dive into them to a depth of 50 m while swimming or wandering in the rain. The most important thing in our time is that you can wash your hands in them, and at the same time wipe the watch itself.

How long does the charge last?

The company stated that the watch will last for two to three days of active use. I did not experience any problems with autonomy, but perhaps someone will consider the figure of two days of active use to be small. If you disable constant synchronization with your smartphone and GPS, set up notifications and lower the brightness to 50%, the watch will work for three or four days. But then all the functionality of the device will not be fully available.

The battery is charged from 10 to 100 percent using a magnetic charger according to the WPC standard in one hour and 40 minutes.

What is in the box

Oddly enough, the equipment of both versions - aluminum and steel - is the same, except for the strap. Inside the package is the watch itself, wrapped in protective fabric, as well as a whole set of accessories. The packaging layout, on the one hand, is similar to the Apple Watch, on the other – absolutely logical.

So, in the watch box there are:

• Smartwatch Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2
• Protective fabric watch case
• Strap in a separate box
• Watch charging adapter
• Instructions

A spare charger would be a nice gift from a first-tier manufacturer. But, alas, it is not there, nor is there a spare strap. On the other hand, if you manage to lose it, you can buy a spare one from company stores.

Other hardware features

In addition to the ECG electrode, the LEDs for an improved heart rate monitor are located on the back of the watch. If previously the company used only 4 LEDs, now there are 2 times more. According to Samsung, this will allow you to determine your heart rate faster and more accurately. This change is necessary for more accurate operation of the blood pressure measurement function.

Again, there are a number of caveats here. The watch cannot measure blood pressure, and it cannot do this even in theory. The Korotkoff method is the only method known to science that allows one to measure blood pressure. And according to this method, it is necessary to physically compress the artery, which, of course, the watch does not do.

However, Samsung has developed an app called My BP Lab, which allows the watch to take specific measurements based on your heart rate. After this, you need to use a medical tonometer (a device for measuring blood pressure) and enter the obtained tonometer readings into the My BP Lab application.

The watch will compare the results of its measurements with the results of your tonometer and will be able to very approximately determine the pressure in the future without a tonometer. The point of such measurements is not the accuracy of the readings, but the tendency. Even if the Galaxy Watch Active 2 shows the wrong pressure, it will still be able to record an increase or decrease in pressure. But again, this feature will only become officially available after FDA approval.

Returning to the watch, we can note two more important elements: a speaker on the left side and a microphone between the buttons, they are also needed for making calls:

The volume of the speaker is quite high, the interlocutor can be heard very well and there is no need to specially bring your hand with the watch closer to your ear.

Let's also pay attention to the small hole between the upper lugs of the watch, as well as the mysterious small cover on the back side:

Bezel

One of the main features of Samsung watches has always been the active bezel. But if in other Galaxy Watch models it needs to be rotated mechanically, then in this one we have a touch bezel - essentially, just a frame that responds to gestures. It can be disabled in the settings by going to “Advanced” and deactivating the “touch ring” feature.

A separate advantage of this solution is haptic feedback in the style of Taptic Engine. The vibration motor simulates the feedback from a real mechanical bezel. Of course, the mechanical one is more familiar to fans, but the touch one also works great.

Connection

What has changed in the second generation of Galaxy Watch Active is the Bluetooth protocol. Changing version 4.2 to 5.0 does not add range. But it saves battery power, since 5.0 is much less energy consuming. Of course, the smartphone with which the watch is connected must also have the fifth version of Bluetooth. If the phone has an old version, then the watch will automatically turn on the same one.

Wireless headphones are also connected to the watch via Bluetooth. If it’s inconvenient to carry 150 grams of a smartphone with you while jogging, then 10 grams in your ears will not cause discomfort; on the contrary, it will make the workout more fun and dynamic. It is advisable to have headphones with 5.0, of course. A2DP and AVRCP profiles will provide stereo sound.

Both versions of the watch support Wi-Fi communication and have an NFC module that works with Samsung Pay

It doesn’t matter what kind of phone you have - payment system support is an attribute of the watch, not the phone. It is enough to install the required software module - Tizen OS allows you to

OS and interface

The Tizen operating system is Samsung’s own development, which was not useful in smartphones, but turned out to be appropriate in TVs and smartwatches. It can do almost everything that an Apple Watch or a Wear OS watch from Google can do. The default version is 4.0, but it is likely that more than one update will be released.

It is possible to install third-party applications. In addition, there are replaceable widgets and watch faces, both from Samsung and from third-party developers. The default interface is quite sparse, but looks extremely stylish. You can also make it more stylish: the MyStyle function allows you to change the tone of the dial to match the color of your clothes. However, the photo will have to be taken with a phone.

No rotating frame

If you've used a Samsung watch before, you may notice the lack of a rotating bezel around the screen. This frame has been a Samsung staple for years and will be missed by many. But now, without it, the watch has become more compact. They sit comfortably on your hand and you pay less attention to them.

Without borders, navigation is carried out using taps and finger gestures on the screen. Samsung also offers a Digital Frame feature. By default it is turned off, once turned on you can move your finger along the edges of the screen to scroll through the menu. Once you get used to it, this option will start to seem convenient. Still, it's not as intuitive as a real frame.

Autonomy

One of the advantages of Tizen is its excellent optimization, so the watch lasts quite a long time on a single charge for its class. The 44mm version survives confidently for three days, while the 40mm version lasts only two. Although the 44mm version has a screen that consumes more power, the dimensions allow it to accommodate a 340 mAh battery, while the 40mm version only has a 247 mAh battery.

Take care of the charging station: there is only one in the kit. However, the watch uses standard Samsung technology, so you can use a smartphone with reverse wireless charging function instead. Just put the clock on its back wall. Finally, there are power banks with wireless charging functionality.

Sleep tracking

Since the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active can work without recharging for about two days, it can also monitor your sleep. I tested it, and I can say that while I was sleeping, I didn’t even feel the gadget on my hand.

The results were divided into phases - deep sleep, light sleep and total time. They turned out to be quite accurate and interesting to study. I found it helpful to learn that deep, restorative sleep occurs early in the night, which motivates me to go to bed early so I can feel better the next day.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Active has stress measurement functions and a guided breathing session. Although I don’t practice meditation, it will be useful for those who engage with themselves more deeply.

Compatibility

One of the advantages of proprietary systems is the ability to achieve perfect compatibility between “your” devices. In this sense, Apple with its “ecosystem” is considered the standard, but believe me, Samsung is no worse at ecosystems. The Galaxy Wearable app is available in the app store. With it, you can completely customize the watch to your taste, and also synchronize its readings with the Samsung Health service on your smartphone. Of course, the watch is compatible with other Android smartphones, but not so flawlessly. Some features may not work.

The same applies to the iPhone. In principle, there is also a Samsung Galaxy Watch app for iOS, but it only provides partial compatibility. Therefore, Apple Watch is better suited for working with iPhone. Well, or a Samsung smartphone - to work with this watch. But some A31 or even A50 is approximately the same price as the most affordable Apple Watch 3. So think about it.

Application for the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 bracelet

Galaxy Wearable is the main application that you need to use with this device. It downloads for free and takes up little space on your smartphone. It has wide functionality, which is periodically expanded after a new version of the program is released.

Here's what she can do today:

• connect your device and synchronize it with your smartphone, ensuring stable communication via Bluetooth
• show a list of models that are connected to the smartphone;
• change the settings of the smart watch based on the needs of the owner;
• configure the receipt of notifications;
• control all available functions of the device via a smartphone.

Important!

You can control your smart watch through an application installed on your phone, provided there is synchronization between the devices. If there is no stable connection for various reasons, then difficulties may arise when changing the settings. Moreover, they may not be preserved.

Advantages and disadvantages

PROS:

• Spectacular appearance in any of the available options
• Straps for different tastes
• Modern functionality
• Support for third-party apps and watch faces
• Can be used for conversations as a headset or with optional 4G
• Protection against moisture and shock

MINUSES:

• No Google Pay support
• The ECG function is not officially supported in Russia (it can be configured, read here)
• Relatively few third party apps

Bottom line

Did I like the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active? Definitely yes. This is a small, light, comfortable watch. They have a beautiful screen with the option of constantly displaying time and notifications, and automatic workout tracking functions. The battery lasts about 2 days on average and there is sleep tracking.

Among the minuses, I note unpleasant tactile feedback and an uncomfortable round front panel, which is difficult to interact with on a small screen. It's not the best smartwatch on the market, but it's one of the best for the money.

Fitness functionality

There was no breakthrough here. The functionality of applications that monitor workload and health remains at the same level.

The watch can still track 4 (not two, like most) sleep phases, count steps and automatically detect as many as 7 workout modes. And they can measure pulse continuously. And issue a warning about its decrease or increase - going beyond the critical values ​​​​set by the user.