Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 review: Should you buy it?

  Update, January 2020: Added details about alternative devices now available in the smartwatch market.

Should you buy the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6?

Right on schedule, Samsung rounded out the summer of 2023 with the launch of its latest smartwatch series, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6. The two-pronged lineup reintroduced the company’s Classic model featuring a rotating bezel (omitted from the Watch 5 series), as well as a standard base model. The latter, sportier device is almost otherwise identical to the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic and eerily similar to the vanilla Galaxy Watch 5.

In fact, my first major takeaway from testing the Galaxy Watch 6 was that it looked and felt very similar to the Galaxy Watch 5. The device features a full-color Super AMOLED display with a flat sapphire crystal overtop. On the 40mm model, users find a 1.3-inch screen with 432×432 pixel resolution. Those specs on the 44mm device land at 1.5 inches and 480×480. That’s roughly a 20% increase in real estate thanks to the device’s thinner bezels. The screen also offers double the peak brightness of the previous model, upgrading from 1,000 to 2,000 nits.

On the back side, the watch features the regular round-up of health and fitness tracking sensors. It also adds a quick-release button design for changing bands more efficiently. Below the glass, the watch runs Google’s latest Wear OS 4 software with a One UI Watch 5 overlay. I found the watch’s performance clean, sharp, and fresh. Apps load quickly, and readability is fantastic.

What holds up the user experience is the touch-enabled bezel. It’s wishy-washy at best and downright useless at worst (think any situation involving sweat or grease). I quickly resorted to swipes only for navigation, and even those weren’t foolproof. This bungle isn’t necessarily new for a Samsung Galaxy Watch; we cited similar issues on the Galaxy Watch 5 and previous Galaxy Watches without a proper rotating crown. It begs the question of how the touchscreen has not been ironed out yet. It also makes the sporty model a less attractive buy than its Classic sibling.

Given its athletic aesthetic, most users eyeing the standard model will be interested in its fitness-tracking capabilities. Here, Samsung delivers all the basics like tracking activity, steps, etc. A new running track mode records GPS data on outdoor tracks. Meanwhile, the device detects and creates custom heart rate zones (once you log a 10-minute run) to help users monitor performance and stay on target during training. I find them extremely helpful for determining how hard to push during interval work.

For cyclists, Samsung also reintroduced automatic cycling detection. Relatedly, the company’s detection is some of the best in the game across multiple workout types. On runs and walks, I can’t get even a house’s distance away without getting credit for it.

Unfortunately, heart rate data on the Watch 6 is inconsistent, though likely accurate enough for the average user. Most prominently, compared to my Polar chest strap, the device lagged at the beginning of interval workouts. It did match the strap with slightly better accuracy than we found in our Galaxy Watch 6 Classic testing, but more serious athletes would be better off shopping from Garmin’s stable.

Finally, three features still limited to Samsung phone users are on-demand ECGs, irregular heart rate notifications, and blood pressure detection. Though not deal breakers, these health tools could offer much value to more users if not locked behind Samsung’s wall.

Equally unfortunate is that GPS accuracy on the device is also spotty. During several runs, the device lost its way, plotting me slightly off track compared to other reputable devices. While my Apple Watch Series 8 and Garmin Epix showed near alignment, Samsung had me cut a few corners or waiver into streets. In the section of one of my neighborhood runs shown above, you can see where the Galaxy Watch took a deep cut rounding the corner of Lilipuna Road. It also tracked me on the opposite side of the road than I ran and frequently dipped into the street.

It’s not the worst accuracy I’ve seen, but it’s disappointing to see Samsung drop the ball somewhat. It also sharpens the sting of Samsung’s failing to carry over any of the navigation features of the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, including multi-band GNSS.

Overnight, the watch joined me in bed to track everything from sleep consistency and stages to skin temperature and potential snoring. Samsung also introduced a simple yet effective sleep mode screen. I appreciate how easy it is to enable and disable compared to Apple’s Digital Crown method.

Despite Samsung promoting a significantly improved sleep-tracking platform pre-launch, the tools are mostly reminiscent of the Galaxy Watch 5’s offerings. My penguin sleep animal is wobbly and cute. My stats roughly align with trusted sleep-tracking devices, and sleep coaching is basic but useful for building better habits.

After tracking stats day and night, one of the most crucial aspects of any smartwatch is battery life. Both the 40mm and 44mm Samsung watches received bumps in battery size this generation and now pack 300mAh and 425mAh batteries, respectively. Samsung claims up to 30 hours in always-on mode. With the always-on display enabled and about one hour of GPS workout tracking per day, my unit lasted almost exactly that. I also didn’t experience the finicky adjustment period I ran into when testing the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic.

What are the best Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 alternatives?

Samsung’s latest lands at the midrange price point within the wearables market, aligning the device with plenty of Galaxy Watch 6 alternatives from other big names. Consider the following picks before making your purchase:

• Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic ($429 at Amazon): As mentioned above, the Galaxy Watch 6 series devices share all the important core specs, including an Exynos W930 SoC, 2GB of RAM, and 16GB of storage. With its rotating bezel, we recommend the pricier model for a more elevated look and easier device navigation.
• Apple Watch Series 9 ($392.67 at Amazon): If you’re an iOS user who has stumbled upon this review by accident, we recommend heading back to Apple’s stronghold. The Apple Watch Series 9 is the best smartwatch for iPhone users, with seamless integration, accurate sensors, and unmatched app support.
• TicWatch Pro 5 ($349 at Amazon): A viable Wear OS competitor, Mobvoi’s TicWatch Pro 5 offers a rotating digital crown, fantastic battery life, and a unique dual display. It also shares the Classic’s aesthetic with a physical bezel, but it’s not a functional feature.
• Garmin Venu 3 ($449.99 at Amazon): For a reliable fitness tracking platform and a handful of smart features, Garmin’s Venu 3 is slightly pricier than the Galaxy Watch 6 but packs fantastic training tools. Users won’t find as much third-party app support as on a Wear OS device, but there are certainly enough tools to keep you busy.
• Garmin Forerunner 265 ($449.99 at Garmin): If smarts aren’t a priority but accuracy is, Garmin also offers the midrange Forerunner 265. The device’s heart rate and GPS tracking are stellar, and its AMOLED display positions it neatly alongside other popular wearables.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 specs

Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 review: FAQ