Samsung Galaxy Watch Active

Introduction

Unlike Samsung’s smartphones, its smartwatch lineup doesn’t enjoy a regular and predictable release schedule. It is difficult to predict when the next Samsung smartwatch will launch. Even when it launches, it may not necessarily be a successor to the current model. Case in point is the recently-launched Galaxy Watch Active.

Though it comes six months after the release of the Galaxy Watch, it is neither an upgrade nor a successor. It’s actually a successor to the two-year-old Gear Sport – a fitness-focused smartwatch from the company’s stable. Despite the Galaxy Watch Active moniker, it bears little resemblance to the Galaxy Watch and has an identity of its own based on new design and features.

Design

The Galaxy Watch Active marks a major shift in Samsung’s smartwatch design. It ditched the fluted rotating bezel that became the signature design element of Samsung smartwatches. The end result is a minimalist-looking smartwatch. Ditching the bezel also helped the company to make the watch smaller and lighter. The Galaxy Watch Active measures 39.5 x 39.5 x 10.5mm and weighs 25 grams without the strap.

The Watch Active features an aluminum build, giving it a more premium feel. It sports a circular Super AMOLED display with thick bezels and Corning Gorilla Glass protection. On the right side, there is a Back key and a Home key, and on the back, there is a heart-rate sensor. The Watch Active comes with 20mm silicone straps that are interchangeable.

Specs

The Galaxy Watch Active comes with a 1.1-inch circular Super AMOLED of 360 x 360 resolution, Corning Gorilla Glass protection, Exynos 9110 chipset, 750MB RAM, 4GB internal storage, Bluetooth 4.2, NFC, Samsung Pay, GPS, Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyro Sensor, heart-rate monitor, light sensor, WPC based wireless charging, 230mAh battery, and Tizen OS 4.0. The device boasts 5ATM water resistance, IP68 rating, and MIL-STD-810G durability standard.

You can find the complete list of specifications on our Galaxy Watch Active page here.

Software and Features

The Galaxy Watch Active runs Samsung's Tizen OS 4.0 with One UI on top and is compatible with devices running Android 5.0 or higher with 1.5GB RAM and above and iPhone 5 or higher with at least iOS 9.0 onboard. Like every other smartwatch from the company’s stable, it supports the installation of third-party apps for more features and services. It can also display notifications from the phone on the watch, along with offering options to interact with them. The Watch Active supports NFC-based Samsung Pay, Bixby, and voice dictation as well.

Coming to the fitness features, the Galaxy Watch Active has automatic workout tracking for six routines and can track a total of 39 different workout routines. This includes everything from running to lifting weights and swimming. There are different profiles for indoor and outdoor swimming. It supports active heart-rating monitoring, stress and sleep tracking as well.

Availability

Samsung announced the Galaxy Watch Active at the Galaxy S10 Unpacked event in February. It is priced at $199 and comes in Black, Silver, Rose Gold, and Green color options. Pricing and availability may vary depending on the region.

Downloads and Resources

The Galaxy Watch Active comes with a long list of features and the company keeps on adding more and refining further with software updates. You can follow our coverage of the Watch Active to know more and get the most of your device. Don’t forget to check out our review of the Galaxy Watch Active if you are planning to buy one.

All our readers can download Samsung firmware, APKs, and wallpapers for free from our website. We also offer optional premium plans that provide additional benefits such as expert support, faster downloads, giveaways, ad-free browsing, dark mode, etc.