Similar to the Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Z Fold 5, Samsung has focused on making minor refinements to its Galaxy Watch 6 series. While these refinements may not seem groundbreaking on paper, they do enhance the overall experience. The series introduces a new chipset, slightly larger displays (with one model featuring the return of the rotating bezel), and more personalized health and fitness tracking.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 series comes in two models: the standard Galaxy Watch 6 and the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic. The standard model is available in 40mm and 44mm case sizes, with prices ranging from Rs. 29,999 to Rs. 36,999 for Bluetooth variants and Rs. 33,999 to Rs. 43,999 for cellular variants. The Galaxy Watch 6 Classic is available in 43mm and 47mm case sizes, with prices ranging from Rs. 36,999 to Rs. 43,999 for Bluetooth variants and cellular variants.
In terms of design, the Galaxy Watch 6 retains a familiar look, while the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic reintroduces the rotating bezel, a beloved feature. Both models are equipped with a 5nm Exynos W930 chipset, 2GB of RAM, and a range of sensors, including an accelerometer, gyro, compass, heart rate tracker, temperature sensor, barometer, and a 3D hall sensor. They feature 1.5-inch Super AMOLED displays with sapphire crystal protection and 425mAh batteries.
The software performance on both models has improved significantly, with no lag when switching between features. The One UI 5.0 Watch interface has new watch faces, a battery tile for monitoring multiple devices’ battery levels, and the ability to create folders for organizing apps. Users can now also back up, restore, and transfer the watch to another phone without resetting it.
One notable feature is enhanced sleep coaching, providing detailed sleep tracking results and temperature monitoring while sleeping. Both models offer step tracking, accurate SpO2 tracking, and heart rate monitoring. Blood pressure monitoring and ECG features are not yet available in India.
While the watches perform well, there are some minor issues, such as sensitivity with the flick-to-view gesture and occasional clunkiness when using the rotating bezel in non-Samsung apps. Battery life is respectable, lasting over a day with the Always On Display (AOD) on and up to two days with AOD off.
In conclusion, the Galaxy Watch 6 series offers minor refinements over the previous model, making it a good choice for those looking for a premium Wear OS-powered smartwatch in India, especially if you prefer the rotating bezel. However, upgrading from the Galaxy Watch 5 may not be necessary unless you value improved software performance and slightly better battery life. Additionally, some of the new features will also be available on last year’s models through a software update.
