Samsung Galaxy Watch Active Vs. Apple Watch Series 4: Which Is Better?

If you’re thinking about getting a smartwatch, the Apple Watch Series 4 and the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active are definitely two of the best choices you should consider. Beyond regular functions, these watches can help monitor your health through its various tracking features. While the Galaxy Watch Active costs Rs 13,972, the Apple Watch Series 4 starts at double the price, Rs 27, 944.

So what do these smart devices have to offer? CNET has tested the pair side-by-side, from which you can compare and make a better decision on which on to buy.

Design: round or square?

Both watches’ navigation relies on the touchscreen and physical buttons, but the Active sports a round face as in traditional timepieces and the Series 4 has a modern square one. It’s worth noting that the Active doesn’t have a rotating bezel like the original Galaxy Watch.

In terms of sizes, the Active is 39.5mm, and the Series 4 offers two options, including 40mm and 44mm. Though both watches’ screens are easy to see outdoor, bright conditions, the Series 4 features a thinner bezel, which gives you more space for the display, with thicker straps giving a more elegant look.

The pair both give various options for finishes, colors, and strap materials. There are more third-party faces for the Active while the Series 4 offers more third-party straps.

However, the Active is a little thinner, lighter, and more comfortable to wear either when sleeping or during the day.

Features: fitness and health tracking

Both watches excel in monitoring fitness and health. There are 39 workout types on the Active and 14 on the Series 4, and they let you add other workout types in the “Other” category. The pair also support automatic workout tracking and setting daily goals.

The following includes their mutual features:

• Track calories burned and heart rates.
• Record swims.
• Track outdoor workouts using GPS.
• Indicate your everyday exercise, move, and stand goals.
• Give alerts in case you haven’t been active for a while.
• Offer breathing exercise for stress management.
• Share activities with your friends and allow participating in challenges.

However, the Active is a bit slower in measuring heart beats and updates less frequently than the Series 4.

The Series 4 offers a few extra features for monitoring hearts like electrocardiogram app and FDA-cleared ECG. It’s also able to notify in case of low or high heart rates, or unusual rhythms which can signal atrial fibrillation. The watch is also equipped with sensors for detecting falls and can automatically call 911 emergency contacts for help.

On the other hand, Active can track stress levels, monitor sleeps, and give analysis on sleep type and quality via its Samsung Health app. In addition, the watch offers a beta blood pressure monitor.

Both watches allow health metrics and fitness tracking reviews through their companion phone apps, but it’s not easy to find and interpret this information. Apple shows the data in its Activity and Health and Samsung does this through the Health app, but navigating is difficult. The Active illustrates your heart rates in various zones: peak, cardio, and fat burn, while Apple only shows ranges.

Smartwatch features: both robust

The watches let notifications pop up on your phones, you can make calls, send messages, or download third-party apps.

While the Series 4 only works with iOS, the Active can work with both Android and iOS. However, if you use the Active with an iPhone, you get as many options for connectivity, such as replying to messages using the watch.

Both the Active and the Series 4 have built-in GPD, but only the Series 4 offers an LTE version for an extra Rs 6,986.

With a built-in speaker, the Series 4 let you take calls on the go without having to take out your phone, the Active doesn’t have a speaker. While the Series 4 comes with Siri assistant, the Active has Bixby.

The watches both allow you to play music by transferring from the phone, but the Active gives better support for Spotify while the Series 4 has full support for Apple Music. The pair have mobile payments, Apple Pay and Samsung Pay.

Notably, the Active has an always-on display, which may make the battery run out faster but is convenient.

Battery life

These smartwatches underwent testing on a normal day, including 45 minutes of workout and commuting to work, getting notifications, tracking sleep, and listening to music. The Active survived for two full days, while the Series 4 could do less than a day and a half (40mm version).

Who wins?

Considering the price factor, the Galaxy Watch Active has a clear competitive advantage, especially when it does work with iOS too. There are a lot of fitness features, the long battery life in the Active, and it’s more comfortable on the wrist.

However, if you’re a deep-rooted Apple fan, you will treasure the Series 4’s ease of use, heart-related features, and especially the LTE option.

So, there's no clear winner here, it all comes down to your personal taste and preference.