Galaxy Watch 5 Pro Vs Galaxy Watch 4: Which Smartwatch Wins? - History Tools (2024)

Introduction

As Samsung‘s newest flagship smartwatch, the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro packs noticeable improvements that make it a compelling alternative to last year‘s top model, the Galaxy Watch 4. This in-depth guide will compare these advanced wearables across all facets – ranging from design and durability to health tracking capabilities, smart features, software updates and more.

We‘ll put the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro head-to-head with both the standard Galaxy Watch 4 as well as the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic Edition, helping you determine which is the right fit.

Specifications Comparison

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On paper, core specifications are nearly identical across the board in areas like display resolution and quality, processor/RAM, onboard storage, connectivity options and sensors.

Digging deeper, we spot key differences in case materials, battery capacity, weight and dimensions. The Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is heavier at 46.5g (up from 30g on the Watch 4) thanks to its premium titanium build. And at 590 mAh, its packs 60% larger battery than the Watch 4 models. Lastly, the absence of the rotating bezel helps shave its thickness down to 10.5mm – 0.5mm slimmer than the largest Watch 4.

Benchmarks and Sensor Accuracy

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Independent testing reveals the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro averages between 50-65 hours of run time depending on usage, while the Watch 4 models benchmark closer to 30-36 hours per charge. In terms of processing speed, all models deliver virtually equal responsiveness with the same Exynos chipset and 1.5GB RAM.

Samsung touts higher precision in health metrics tracked by the Watch 5 Pro. While discrepancies in areas like step counting and heartbeat tracing marginally favor the Pro in evaluations, the upgrades seem relatively minor over the also impressive Watch 4 line.

Design and Durability

Constructed from aerospace-grade titanium, the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro offers a nearly 15% boost in hardness over stainless steel. Coupled with a scratch-resistant Sapphire Crystal display covering (30 times stronger than glass), the Pro can better withstand everyday bumps and knocks without damage.

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Samsung‘s sleeker watch-inspired aesthetic with the 5 Pro also lends itself better to blending in as an everyday accessory. By contrast, the larger and shiny Watch 4 Classic clearly gives off a more tech-centric vibe.

While lacking the satisfying rotating bezel for navigation, the trade-off brings marked gains in resilience and lightweight wearability with the Pro.

Fitness and Health Features

As leading smartwatches for Android users focused on fitness, all three models have built-in GPS for tracking outdoor workouts without a phone, advanced run coaching, and water resistance to 50 meters. You‘ll have no issues tracking activities like runs, hikes, swims or hiting your gym with detailed statistics and prompts to improve.

Health monitoring capabilities also make these among the best wellness companions on the market. Heart rate variability sensors provide deeper insights into fitness levels. Body composition stats analyze muscle, fat, water percentage and more. And SpO2 monitoring helps identify breathing disturbances during sleep.

We break down key advantages the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro holds over its predecessors when getting active:

• Temperature sensor enables future health tracking features pending software updates.
• Onboard GPX support imports/exports routes for trail running or hiking.
• Stronger titanium build better holds up to intense activity.
• Longer battery life means less chance a marathon or ultra running session gets cut short.

However, for most workout warriors and athletics enthusiasts, the Watch 4 or Watch 4 Classic should still suffice with comparable functionality.

Smartwatch Connectivity and Convenience

Thanks to the unified Wear OS 3 platform now combining the best of Google and Samsung software features, you‘ll enjoy seamless Android connectivity and a vast app ecosystem on all these Galaxy Watch models when pairing with a Samsung phone.

Directly respond to notifications via calls, texts, emails and more. Use Google services like Maps for navigation, Google Pay for transactions, and Google Assistant for voice controls.

Enhance your experience by downloading apps ranging from streaming music (Spotify, YouTube Music) to social media (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok) and productivity (Microsoft Outlook, Google Docs). There are also tons of watch face customizations to make the devices feel more uniquely yours.

The Galaxy Watch 5 Pro holds a slight edge when responding via text thanks to a full QWERTY keyboard over the T9 input on older models. But otherwise, smart capabilities are very much on par.

Battery Life and Charging Comparison

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Across-the-board testing confirms the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro‘s significantly larger 590 mAh battery delivers nearly triple the longevity of the Watch 4 models, each with a 361 mAh capacity.

On typical mixed usage profiles averaging about 45 minutes of workout mode, 30 minutes of media playback, multiple notifications, and continuous health tracking the rest of the day – the Watch 4 models last around 28 hours while the Pro sustains for up to 72 hours.

Heavier usage by enabling always-on display or starting marathon GPS sessions brings down those figures closer to 18 hours (Watch 4) and 40 hours (Watch 5 Pro).

So while casual users may only need to charge the 5 Pro once a week, even the most active individuals can reliably get through 2+ days without power concerns. This gives major peace of mind for hikers, endurance athletes in training, or frequent travelers.

Galaxy Watch Operating System and Updates

As the first Samsung smartwatches merging Wear OS by Google (formerly Android Wear) and Samsung‘s Tizen wearable OS, the unified platform brings added compatibility and apps from both ecosystems.

By launching first on the Galaxy Watch 4 series in mid 2021, those models pioneered the new direction. And Samsung continues supporting them with regular firmware updates enhancing capabilities.

Some notable upgrades delivered include improved sleep tracking insights like detecting snore detection and blood oxygen levels. The latest March 2023 update also adds custom interval training modes for high intensity workouts. And Google Assistant rolled out to all sizes of Watch 4 by January 2023.

The new Galaxy Watch 5 Pro arrives with these software capabilities already built-in out of the box. And its Pro-specific features like the QWERTY keyboard and GPX route importing integrate smoothly into the unified OS.

Samsung suggests they plan on 4 years of firmware support to keep this latest generation of Galaxy watches competitive. So both the Watch 5 Pro and Watch 4 series have plenty of runway for added features and optimizations.

With a solid foundation now established, we also expect to potentially see capabilities like blood pressure measurement and the temperature sensor data put to use soon.

Comparing to Other Smartwatch Competitors

The Galaxy Watch 4 series and new 5 Pro represent Android‘s best alternatives for those seeking a comprehensive smart wearable experience versus Apple‘s watchOS ecosystem.

Key advantages over the leading Apple Watch 8 include lower entry price points (especially for older Watch 4 models now discounted), seamless connectivity and media integration for Samsung phone owners, more robust health/fitness tracking, and greater hardware durability.

Versus Wear OS watches like the Google Pixel Watch or Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 4, the co-development by Samsung and Google powers more optimized performance and longer battery life. And best-in-class sensors paired with insightful wellness software give Samsung the edge for gym rats.

Premium build quality and stylish designs also help the Galaxy lineup standout against most Wear OS players catering to lower budget buyers. Only the pricier Pixel Watch can match Samsung‘s craftsmanship.

Overall, in the Android domain, Samsung remains firmly the premier smartwatch brand for everyday usage, connectivity, activity tracking and appealing design choices.

Which Galaxy Watch Is For You?

So should you go Pro or stick with the Galaxy Watch 4 series? Here‘s a quick summary with recommendations:

Buy the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro If…

• Extended battery life for multi-day/week usage is essential
• You want maximum durability with titanium case and Sapphire crystal
• Top-notch outdoor visibility and trail routes mapping matter
• You simply want Samsung‘s newest, best-in-class experience

Buy the Galaxy Watch 4 If…

• You want reliable core performance at the lowest cost
• Prefer an understated, lightweight aluminum watch frame
• Tight budget but desire Wear OS capabilities, sensors
• Looking for entry-level deal on kids/teens first smartwatch

Buy the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic If…

• Love traditional mechanical watch aesthetics
• Want that satisfying rotating bezel navigation
• Appreciate refined craftsmanship with stainless steel

The Last Word

The newly released Galaxy Watch 5 Pro shakes up Samsung‘s smartwatch lineup with meaningful enhancements focused on outdoors functionality and staying power off the charger. But excellent value can still be found in the existing Galaxy Watch 4 and Watch 4 Classic.

Ultimately the ideal model comes down to balancing personal priorities around budget, fitness pursuits, style interests. For most though, snagging the Galaxy Watch 4 on current discounts seems like the savvy bet.

Whichever you pick, Samsung‘s tight integration with Android and leading health software makes their platform a formidable Apple Watch alternative. Going forward, we expect the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro to spearhead Samsung‘s wearables innovation pipelines – making it the ultimate smartwatch investment for Samsung faithfuls.