Well, I finally did it! I purchased my first Galaxy smartwatch, and I'm unsure if I should be glad I waited this long or be sorry I didn't do it earlier. What I am sure of is that I like this new gadget way more than I expected. After less than a week of using my first smartwatch, I can wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone wanting to improve their lifestyle and lead a more active life.
Some of you might remember that I had my eyes on the Galaxy Watch 3 in mid-2020. I was convinced I'd buy one as soon as Samsung announced it. But then, Samsung revealed the Watch 3 for a higher price than expected, which put me off. That, combined with other priorities in my life at that time, made me postpone my plans for a smartwatch once again. And in the process, I have hopefully learned not to make concrete plans for unreleased devices.
The Galaxy Watch 4 series came next, and even though the physical rotating bezel was still present, it was the first smartwatch to run Wear OS instead of Tizen OS. I was unsure if I should jump on the bandwagon. And due to even more real-life issues I was facing, my mind just wasn't set on buying a smartwatch.
However, lately, after rising from the ashes of too many lockdowns (some self-inflicted), I decided I should try getting back on the horse and taking better care of my body. I quit the awful habit of smoking cigarettes not long ago and noticed I gained a bit of weight in the process. I started making plans on how to lose that extra weight, and that's when I remembered I never got around to buying a smartwatch. And so I finally did just that and got the 44mm Bluetooth-only Galaxy Watch 5 — thankfully at a hefty discount.
The Galaxy Watch 5 is my new favorite gadget
Up until a few years ago, I was fortunate to have a relatively slim body, and until recently, I never really had to think about my diet to stay in decent shape. But with advancing age, I need to be more mindful of my diet and stay more active, especially since I have an office job. Yes, I know. It sounds boring, but we all go through it sooner or later. In any case, for me, that's where the Galaxy Watch 5 comes into play.
I never thought I'd find a smartwatch useful until I started counting calories and keeping track of my diet. For the most part, I thought they were fancy gadgets for people who buy gym subscriptions they rarely or never use. But I was wrong to assume so, and the Galaxy Watch 5, with its built-in calculator and calory counter, helps me stay mindful and on track more than anything — and certainly more than I could have without it.
Maybe this proves that I'm the type of person who needs a trainer or guidance, given that I never was a fitness buff. But regardless, the daily goals and the gentle “get moving” nudges I get from my Watch 5 throughout the day have a positive effect on me. Is it enough to justify the cost of this wearable? Yes, I truly believe it is.
Daily goals, easy calorie intake tracking, and the occasional haptic nudges I get on my wrist motivate me just enough to remain mindful of my fitness and be more active throughout the day.
Although I haven't used my Galaxy Watch 5 as a fitness device for more than a few days to know with absolute certainty if it has a beneficial long-term effect, I can see how such a wearable can help some people who might need a bit of encouragement to keep on track with their fitness and healthy-living goals.
I haven't used my watch for much else but fitness tasks, sleep tracking and listening to music while I go for a fast walk and leave my smartphone at home. But so far, I can wholeheartedly say that I'm happier with this new gadget than I ever hoped.
If I'd have to nitpick anything, I'd say I found the somewhat sharp edges of the Galaxy Watch 5's sapphire crystal screen a bit odd and offputting at first, especially since I am used to swiping the screen of my Galaxy S22+ from the very edges without feeling like I'm losing surface skin cells. It does make me wonder if I would've preferred a physical rotating bezel — which Samsung might bring back later this year. But I got used to not swiping the circular touchscreen from its very edge and got over this minor issue pretty fast. It took less than half a day.
Battery life is also great even with every smart feature enabled, including continuous heart rate and stress monitoring, blood oxygen scanning during sleep, and always-on snore detection. The only features I don't keep on all the time are the always-on display and the GPS.
Honestly, I rarely see a reason to turn GPS on. The watch uses the connected phone's location data when in proximity. And when I go for a walk or a run without my smartphone weighing me down, the smartwatch's battery seems good enough for a full session with the GPS functionality enabled — especially since I return home after my walk or jog and take shower, which gives my watch time to recharge.
All in all, I'm quite happy with my Galaxy Watch 5, and I'm willing to recommend a Samsung smartwatch to the right type of prospective buyer. Personally, I think I'll never go back to not using a smartwatch for as long as I'll stay mindful of my health and diet. It really can be a useful tool. I only wish I'd jumped on the bandwagon earlier.
Then again, had I bought a smartwatch earlier, I wouldn't have enjoyed this level of autonomy on a single battery charge, or I would've remained stuck with a Tizen watch instead of getting Wear OS updates. So I have plenty of reasons to be happy that the Galaxy Watch 5 is the first smartwatch I bought. Even more so, knowing that, without any fitness goals, I probably wouldn't have fully appreciated the potential a smartwatch has and treated it like a regular watch that eats battery life for no good reason or used it solely as a music remote for my earbuds or a wrist-worn notification area. But if you're into fitness and a healthier diet, those features I just mentioned are merely a bonus.
SamsungGalaxy Watch 5
SamsungGalaxy Watch 5 Pro
