Building on the slimmer and sleeker mantra.
Samsung has announced the Galaxy Watch Active2, headlined by a touch bezel, more sizes and finishes, and an electrocardiogram (ECG) in a slim profile.
The latest 2019 smartwatch from Samsung is an iterative change from its predecessor, now featuring a new digital touch rotating bezel for intuitive navigation by sliding on the watch’s border clockwise or anti-clockwise.
This continues a hallmark feature of the Galaxy Watch line up, without the bulk or feedback of a physical rotating bezel.
The watch is available in 40mm (247mAh battery) or 44mm (340mAh battery) diameter sizes matched with either an aluminium chassis with Fluoroelastomer band or stainless steel with a leather strap.
A more costly LTE guise can also be had with e-SIM to allow phone calls, messaging and other data-required applications such as Spotify to run independently from the phone, though it only comes with the stainless steel and leather combination.
The lightest aluminium 40mm weighs in at 26g, while the heaviest stainless-steel 44mm is only 42g — all models are 10.9mm thick.
It still runs on Samsung’s proprietary TizenOS with an updated One UI interface on top, which is displayed on the usual curved Super AMOLED Corning Gorilla Glass DX+ screen with always-on-display functionality
The tweaked software now allows users to match their watch face with their style with ‘My Style’.
Through the Galaxy Wearable app on the phone, a simple photograph of an outfit or object can be colour extracted to reflect a more personalised watch face with five different patterns to choose from.
It is all powered by the Exynos 9910 (1.15GHz) dual-core processor, 768MB RAM and 4GB storage (standard Bluetooth model) or 1.5GB RAM and 4GB storage (LTE model).
Moreover, the smartwatch has improved on health features as well with tracking for more than 39 workouts — seven can be automatically activated by detecting movement — and an updated Running Coach to monitor running pace plus give seven different running programs to help meet users’ goals.
Galaxy Watch Active2 also includes improved health sensors on the back which is said to take heart rate readings faster, along with a new ECG sensor, though this isn’t approved for legal use yet in any country at the moment.
All health features continue to be tracked via the Samsung Health app which can also track sleep and guide user’s through meditation via the ‘Calm’ app.
Durability wise, it is rated at 5ATM and IP68 water and dust resistant with MIL-STD-810G.
Other apps have also been added as well, including a Watch Camera Controller which mimics the viewfinder of the connected smartphone and gives photo and video controls; Twitter for checking feeds; YouTube for watching ‘short video clips’; and Google Translate for those liberal travellers and explorers.
Spotify, Samsung Pay with NFC (no MST), SmartThings to control your smart home, and an improved Bixby personal assistant which can now start a workout carryover.
It also has wireless charging capabilities which can be topped-up via the included magnetic charger (no more dock), or a phone that can wirelessly charge other devices on its back, though it still uses the WPC standard which means most Qi chargers won’t work with the Watch Active2.
There is Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi, NFC and A-GPS/ GLONASS/Beidou on all models, and is compatible with any Android phone 5.0 or higher, or iPhone 5 running iOS 9.0 or above – but works best with Samsung’s own Galaxy’s.
The aluminium model is sold in Cloud Silver, Aqua Black or Pink Gold with the Fluoroelastomer band; while the stainless steel is in Silver, Black, or Gold with Leather strap.
The Korean giant will also sell a range of interchangeable bands which uses the standard 20mm watch size fittings, and also comes with a neat QR code to match the watch face to the band with ‘My Style’.
Globally, it will start to roll out from August 23.
As for Australia, prices will start from $549 for the 40mm Bluetooth-only version and will top out at $799 for the largest 44mm LTE model.
However, we do miss out on Silver stainless-steel for the LTE model.
Full pricing will be confirmed when it lands locally on October 8.
The Connected by Henry Man 