Smart watch Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2

Recently, the so-called "smart watches" are gaining more and more popularity. The popularity of such watch models is due to the fact that they allow not only tracking time, but also monitoring the state of human health, as well as monitoring activity. Such watches are suitable for monitoring health during sports, active games, but ordinary people will also discover many useful functions in them. Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 is no exception.

Samsung is one of the best modern home appliances and electronics manufacturers, from TVs and microwave ovens to smartphones. Smartwatches are a separate area in which this firm has also excelled. Users appreciated the Samsung Galaxy Watch line, which has won success not only due to functionality, excellent quality and reliability, but also by its inexpensive price compared to the Apple Watch.

General information

The novelty is a continuation of the first generation of Samsung Galaxy Watch Active, it will hit the market in about six months after the initial premiere. The release of the device is scheduled for September 2019, pre-order will be available from the 6th. The gadget will be presented in two variations: with a diagonal of 40 mm and 44 mm. Buyers are given the opportunity to choose not only the size, but also the design of the smart watch - a stainless steel case with a leather strap or aluminum with a plastic one. Since the device must be constantly on the hand and in contact with various media - water, dust, it has a class of resistance to mechanical stress and other external factors MIL-STD-810G (IP 68 for water and dust resistance, and pressure resistance of 5ATM ).

Due to the fact that for many buyers one of the main criteria for choosing smartwatches was the presence of a bezel - a rotary element that allows you to move from one menu section to another, its electronic counterpart was added to the novelty. Thanks to this, the interface of the Tizen operating system functions more correctly. With the help of vibration feedback, the user gets the feeling of interacting with the device, as if it were a mechanical bezel. Additionally, the gadget uses sound effects that simulate the rotation of the bezel, the so-called "haptics".

In addition to the aforementioned changes, an ECG sensor with an ECG sensor was added to the new model (which will be able to function later - after the release of the corresponding firmware), as well as an improved heart rate sensor and accelerometer. The amount of RAM, according to the manufacturer, is doubled.

Specifications:

Appearance

The design of the watch is not too different from the previous model - the round display has slightly increased in diameter, on the right side there are two buttons, the upper one is rectangular, the lower one is round with a red bezel, both are painted in the color of the device case. There is a microphone hole between them. The watch bracelet is removable, so it can be replaced with any other, with a landing size of 20 mm.

On the back of the device there are photosensors (8 pieces) that track the heart rate and are designed to take ECG readings after this function becomes available.

The screen image can be set according to user preference and there are five color styles to choose from. It is possible to set the color scheme in accordance with the chosen style of clothing, for this it is enough to take a picture of it on your phone and set a suitable theme on the watch.

Screen

The manufacturer, when developing this model, took into account the needs of people with not only narrow, but also wide wrists, for whom he developed 44- and 40-mm versions of watches. Thus, there is now a good alternative to the Galaxy Watch.

Compared to the previous model, the screen diameter has slightly increased - in 40 mm and weighing it is 1.2 inches, in 44 mm - 1.4.

The appearance of the display has not changed, it still uses a Super AMOLED (360 x 360) screen covered with shock-resistant Gorilla Glass DX + glass. Compared to the previous model, this glass has better resistance to mechanical damage and is more resistant to sun glare.

The tactile sensations when interacting with the screen are pleasant, the response time is minimal. Multi-touch function is supported. The touch frame located on the display can be rotated in both directions. To improve feedback when interacting with the gadget, a vibration response is provided, which makes it possible to understand whether the watch has reacted to a particular action.

Visibility in the sun is satisfactory, you have to cover the screen from direct sunlight to view small characters. The manufacturer guarantees good screen sharpness when viewing content.

Battery

Due to the increase in the size of the display, as well as due to the fact that new energy-consuming sensors are integrated into this model, the manufacturer increased the battery capacity: in the previous model, a 230 mAh battery was used, in the new model with a 40 mm case - 247 mAh, in the device with a 44 mm body - 340 mAh.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2, like the first model, supports wireless charging. Despite the short battery life, according to testers, it will be possible to charge the gadget using Wireless PowerShare technology directly from a smartphone.

According to the manufacturer, the autonomy of smart watches is at least 2 days. With economical use of the battery, it is possible to extend this period up to 5 days using the built-in power saving programs. In order for the device to keep charging for a long time, you should refuse, or limit the use of functions such as GPS and continuous heart rate monitoring during training.

Performance

The smart watch is controlled by a powerful and powerful dual-core Exynos 9110 processor with a frequency of 1.15 GHz. Memory capacity - 4 GB, RAM 768 MB (for the version with LTE support - 1.5 GB). The built-in memory after installing the system leaves only 1.5 GB free.

Of the useful options, we can note the presence of the NFC module, which allows you to make payments without the physical presence of a bank card.

The Tizen operating system based on the One UI interface makes operating the device simple and straightforward. Users will be interested in the Watch Camera Controller function, which allows you to control the phone's camera from a smart watch. With its help, you can take a selfie, turn on / off video shooting, view the photos taken, set the lens response time, and also switch from the main to the front camera, set up autofocus.

The device supports branded services Samsung Health, SmartThings, Samsung Pay, and others. An unusual feature in the watch is the ability to translate text or voice messages online. It will greatly facilitate the user's communication during contacts with foreigners (for example, on vacation).

Continuing the review of the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2, one cannot fail to mention the appearance of the LTE function in the device, which was previously unavailable. Considering the estimated cost of the device, this option may be the most suitable for users looking for the best value for money. In the rating of high-quality smartwatches, the device in question, according to experts, will take one of the leading places.

Support for Bluetooth 5.0 provides faster data transfer, a wider range of interaction between a smartphone and a watch, and also improves the quality of communication between them. Many users will appreciate the integration with Internet services such as YouTube and Twitter. The device has one-click access to social networks. The user can reply to messages and watch small videos directly from the watch. Music lovers can control the music and radio on the phone from the clock.

Features for athletes

The main purpose of smart watches is not only to control time, but also to monitor the state of the human body during sports and other activities.

Compared to the first version, no significant changes were found in the Galaxy Watch Active 2. We can only note the presence of the ability to take ECG readings, but at the moment the device cannot make such measurements due to imperfect software. In addition, the gadget allows you to track 39 types of workouts, including running, cycling, swimming, walking, etc. Some of them can be activated automatically. The presence of a GPS sensor allows you to plan a route when walking or running, and track your location.

Among the useful "tricks" are stress monitoring, sleep quality monitoring (these functions are available as part of the Samsung Health package).

The standard functions of the watch include counting steps, distance traveled and calories burned, unlocking a smartphone.

Prices and configuration

The smartwatch can be pre-ordered starting September 6, 2019 with a sales start date of September 27, 2019. If they pre-order on Samsung.com, the customer will receive a free wireless charger that allows them to be independent of cord length.

A model with a 40 mm case will cost about 280 USD, the average price of a 44 mm version will be about 300 USD. Prices for the model with LTE functionality have not yet been announced.

It is not so easy to make a choice which model is better to buy - Galaxy Watch Active of the first or second generation, because the manufacturer has already reduced the price of the predecessor of the gadget in question, and its cost is a little more than $ 200 (and if you search well, you can buy it here and there even more profitable).

Advantages and disadvantages:

• added ECG sensor;
• tracks nearly 40 types of workouts;
• quality materials and assembly;
• electronic bezel;
• a popular model for which many reviews, as well as operating manuals are issued;
• there is a possibility of Internet access.

• the price is not at all budget;
• it is not yet possible to take ECG readings (this function is under testing).

Conclusion

For those who choose which company's smartwatch is better, we recommend focusing primarily on the list of tasks that the purchased gadget should perform.The smart gadgets market is already full of various models and modifications, so any buyer will find a suitable device for himself.

An important factor is how much this or that model costs, and here you need to understand for what period the device is being bought, and whether the buyer has free funds. If the financial issue is not urgent, the Galaxy Watch Active 2 will be the perfect choice, otherwise you can look for a cheaper model. The first model will be an excellent choice for those who do not care about the ECG function, and besides, the manufacturer already offers a good discount on it.

If you are interested in the model in question, we recommend that you wait a little, at least until the rush demand for it subsides and the price reaches its average level. We hope that our review will help you make the right choice!