experiencing the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 and Watch 6 Classic firsthand: the bezel returns.
experiencing the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 and Watch 6 Classic firsthand: the bezel returns.
In this digitally touched world, some folks crave the nostalgic, tactile click of yesteryear's tech. Some still long for mechanical keypads on smartphones, yet Samsung innovated with its rotating physical bezel on the "Classic" Galaxy Watch series. Unfortunately, the Galaxy Watch 5 transitioned to a "Pro" model, leaving behind this feature.
Recently at its latest Samsung Unpacked event, the company announced the comeback of the "Classic" title and rotating bezel, along with an expanded screen and enhanced app integrations. These improvements could potentially help Samsung retain its title as the "Best Android Smartwatch".
The Galaxy Watch6 Classic caters to the longing for the rotating bezel. Samsung representatives told us they took customer feedback into consideration and made the bezel slimmer and less intrusive. The bezel offers a robust feel as it navigates between apps, and it all comes together with a delightful clicking sensation. To be honest, it provides a cleaner and more satisfying user interface compared to swiping on the watch face, despite the slightly larger screen. The Classic offers various watch faces for those seeking a more traditional watch appearance.
The Galaxy Watch6 is available once again in its 44mm and 40mm versions. Samsung touts the new watch to have a 20% increased screen size compared to previous versions, with a 1.5-inch and 1.3-inch respective AMOLED displays. The increased screen size is due in part to a 15% decrease in the width of the exterior bezels. This added display area supports a 480 x 480 resolution, which is a minor yet pleasing improvement from the Watch 5's 450 x 450. Samsung claims that users can still expect up to 40 hours of battery life with the Always-on display off and 30 hours with it on. Eight minutes of fast charging provides eight hours of battery life, but of course, we couldn't test the battery life during our limited time with it. As rumors suggest, Google is preparing to release its Pixel Watch 2, and battery life could be a significant consideration for Android users considering their next smartwatch purchase.
Some external watch bands can be purchased separately for the Galaxy Watch6. These bands now feature a quick-release feature, which made removing and replacing bands a speedy task in our tests. Image: Kyle Barr / Gizmodo
Samsung is also boasting that despite the increased screen size and brightness, users will still enjoy extended battery life. The new watch will run on the dual-core Exynos W930 chip operating at 1.4 GHz, an upgrade from the 1.18 GHz Exynos W920. However, with many smartwatches, it may be hard to notice any difference in speed between devices.
On the software side, Samsung is promoting a host of improved health and wellness features. Some new apps introduced in the previous generation are highlighted here. The One UI 5 Watch includes atrial fibrillation detection, but the Galaxy Watch6 is also expected to offer more personalized sleep messages and sleep feedback, such as a "Sleep Consistency" rating for adhering to regular sleep schedules. The device measures a customized heart rate zone that can track resting and exercise rates.
The company has also promised more app integrations in the near future. Samsung has already announced that Samsung Wallet and WhatsApp will be part of a new range of apps for the Watch. Samsung also plans to add Google Calendar and Gmail integration to the Watch6 by the fall.
The Watch6 preorders begin on July 26, with most markets getting it by August 11. The regular Watch6 starts at $299.99 for the smaller 40mm variant and goes up to $329.99 for the 44mm model. The Classic is priced at $399.99 for a 43mm watch face, and the Large model scales up to $429.99 to access the 47mm watch face.
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The rotating bezel's return in the Galaxy Watch6 Classic is a testament to Samsung's focus on catering to customer preferences for physical tech features. The robust feel and cleaner user interface provided by the bezel make it a standout feature in the future of smartwatch technology.