One step closer to the perfect smartwatch!
There are many ways to use your smartwatch. In addition to checking the time, you can also check the phone, weather, schedule, etc. Under such circumstances, how many users mainly use health management? Gizmodo's Victoria Song reviews Samsung's recently launched Galaxy Watch Active 2.
When I got my hands on the Galaxy Watch Active 2 the other day, I was thrilled. In a recent hands-on article, we introduced some features. The Active 2 looks cool, has great apps, and a battery that lasts for days. The price is also affordable, and the LTE model has also appeared this time. It's a very attractive smartwatch, but there is one problem. It's a health tracking feature.
Samsung Galaxy Watch Active2
What is this? : Samsung Galaxy Watch Active successor price: 40mm $ 280 (about 29,900 yen) 44mm $ 300 (about 32,000 yen). The LTE model differs depending on the mobile carrier company. What I like: It looks good, the My Style feature is fun, the previous model's heart rate sensor problem has been resolved, and the battery life is good. A near-perfect smartwatch. What I don't like: The step counting and GPS features are absolutely useless.
Pedometer and GPS accuracy not improved
The original Galaxy Watch Active's health tracking was terrible. The heart rate sensor was erratic and I couldn't see accurate readings, including steps. When compared with a pedometer, the difference was about 20%. Samsung says that the Active 2 with its eight heart rate LED sensors has eliminated the problem, allowing for more accurate measurements. If this is true, it's a big evolution.
As one of the reasons for purchasing a smartwatch, many people buy it as a mini-smartphone that allows them to easily check information on their wrist, but not a few people also purchase it for health management. Samsung must have had some good ideas in this area, but it was lacking in accuracy.
After testing the Active 2 for a week, I've found that Samsung's claim that "the health tracking feature now measures accurately" is only half true. . In fact, the new heart rate sensor played a big role and evolved to be more accurate and reliable. Regarding the accuracy of heart rate measurement, the results were equivalent when compared with other smart watches. However, it was clear to me that the step counting and GPS functions still need improvement.
I walked around New York's Little Italy, Tribeca, and Greenwich Village with Active 2 and Apple Watch Series 5 (hereafter referred to as Series 5). Of course, the watch stays on until I wake up in the morning and go to sleep at night. My Series 5 record was 18,322 steps, 7.6 miles, and 636 calories burned. My Active 2 record is 29,934 steps, 13 miles, and 1032 calories burned. A comparison of the smartwatches from both companies showed a difference of more than 11,000 steps and a difference of 6 miles (about 9.6km) in distance. This is a bad result. I was pretty shocked by this result, given that modern smartwatches are aiming for greater precision and accuracy.
I used Google Maps to retrace my steps again to confirm. I think I can give myself a reward for walking 13 miles (about 20.1km) in a day. As a result of following the same road on Google Maps, the walking distance was about 5 miles (about 8.04Km).
I thought it might be a coincidence, so I wore two watches the next day as well. The Series 5 record this time is 12,996 steps, 5.5 miles (about 8.85 km), and 559 calories burned. Active 2 took 21,222 steps, 9.85 miles and burned 779 calories. It was still an excellent result.
The health tracking issue is also affecting GPS. As a trial, I downloaded the running app "Map My Run" to my smartphone and tried using it. In the 30-minute running mode, the running distance was 2.44 miles (approximately 3.926 km), and the average speed was 1 mile 12 minutes 23 seconds. For the Active 2, the driving distance was 2.79 miles (about 4.49Km), and the average speed was 10 minutes and 47 seconds per mile. Finally, in the case of Series 5, the mileage was 2.39 miles (about 3.846Km) and the average speed was 12 minutes and 22 seconds per mile. Pointing out a difference of just 0.35 miles (about 0.563Km) may sound quibbled, but depending on your training content, it can be an important record. It's the same for amateurs and pro runners alike.
Since the software installed in the smart watches sold by each company is different, some errors can be expected when acquiring data through the heart rate sensor. Around 1000 steps, half a mile in distance, and possibly not handling erratic arm movements accurately.
I also compared the Apple Watch Series 4 and Fitbit Versa 2, and the Series 4 recorded 21,520 steps and 9 miles (about 14.48Km). For Fitbit Versa2, it recorded 22,687 steps and 9.3 miles (about 14.96Km). As this result shows, the fact that the results were similar for devices from other companies means that the Active 2's tracking function needs to be fixed somehow.
I checked with other users who have tried Active 2 and it seems that others had the same results as me. Inaccurate data that occur at short distances are likely to become more inaccurate at longer distances. I asked Samsung if the product is ok and my device is not broken. Basically, Samsung wants you to use your watch. If that makes users more active.
Good except for health tracking
You're not disappointed with everything? I love everything except the health tracking feature.
The newly adopted touch bezel is very fun to operate the screen. The physical rotating bezel has gone digital, and now you can swipe the screen with your finger. The 1.4-inch AMOLED (organic EL) screen is bright and easy to see. The proprietary Tizen OS is snappier than the Watch OS (Apple Watch). In terms of the array of apps, I found the interface to be more intuitive than the cluttered layout of Watch OS.
The screen is round and may be for users who don't like the square design. As for watch faces, third-party products can be used, so more watch faces can be used than the Apple Watch.
Each time I review Samsung smartwatches, the number of available apps is steadily increasing. With Active 2, you can now watch YouTube from your wrist. I don't need it, but I'm sure some people do. (I tried watching the recipe video, by the way. It was slow at times, but I was able to watch it.) You can even tweet from your watch. In addition, since it is equipped with NFC, you can also shop with Samsung Pay. Voice assistant features Bixby. (Bixby isn't all that great, but honestly it's not as bad as asking Siri to set a timer or something simpler.)
My Style is new to Active 2. This feature is currently limited to Android users. With this feature, you can take a picture of your favorite clothes with your smartphone and customize the original watch face based on the color of the clothes. I personally prefer faces with more complications, but I think this design is perfect for weddings and dates.
Batteries don't seem to be a concern. When I wore it in a test, it lasted for 3 days on a single charge. It's not as good as the Fitbit, but it's a lot better than the Series 5. Don't worry about using the sleep tracking feature. Of course, battery life will vary depending on individual usage frequency, apps, and LTE communication.
Most features are well done. If Samsung just fixed the health tracking feature, it would definitely be even better. In addition, Automatic activity recognition prevents you from forgetting to control your workout while walking or running.
Another new feature in Active 2 is the Running Coach. I really like this feature. Keeping pace while running can be tricky, so Running Coach is a smart assistant that constantly tracks your pace and gives you real-time advice. It even tells you when to slow down and when to run faster.
To avoid inaccuracies in the health tracking feature, you can try not to work out often, or take a few thousand steps off your final step count. Alternatively, if you plan to run a predetermined distance, we recommend searching for a route in advance using a treadmill, a third-party workout app, Google Maps, etc., and making a plan. These features make life easier and don't force you to exercise. Especially when you set a goal for yourself, you should work hard towards it.
Actually, not everyone buys a smartwatch for health reasons. For those not interested in health care, the Active 2 is a ticking clock. Even if I'm somewhat negative about the device in this article, the Active 2 and its slightly more expensive predecessor, the Galaxy Watch, are good smartwatch purchases. At the same time, it can be said that it is a recommended watch for iPhone users. Especially if you've never bought an Apple Watch before for whatever reason. (If you're an iPhone user, the downside is that you can't use the My Style feature. You can buy the 40mm for $280, and the slightly larger 44mm for $300. The Active 2 (Samsung says pricing for the LTE model is undecided and will vary depending on the carrier you sign up with.)
Personally, I was happy to embrace the features of YouTube and Twitter. My Style, the more accurate Active 2 Running Coach. But none of these features are necessary for a truly perfect smartwatch. I've been waiting for health tracking improvements for over half a year, and I can only hope that the next update will bring accurate health tracking.
Summary
A beautiful, almost perfect smartwatch.
・The first problem is that the software for the health tracking function has not been improved. The heart rate sensor has been improved, but the step count measurement and GPS measurement are still terrible.
・New functions include My Style (currently available only for Android users), which allows you to take pictures and customize the watch face, YouTube, Twitter, Running Coach, the appearance of the LTE model, and eight sensors. New heart rate sensor and improved accelerometer.
・Battery that can be used for 2-3 days with one charge.
・The price is 280 dollars (about 29,900 yen) for 40mm and 300 dollars (about 32,000 yen) for 44mm. LTE models vary by mobile carrier company.
