Galaxy Watch5 Pro review. Unique UI and battery life shine

　I borrowed Galaxy Watch5 Pro from Galaxy PR agency, so I will review it.

exterior

　The packaging is well thought out and everything fits in a minimal amount of space. The charger was nicely housed in the lid side of the box.

　From the outside, if the display is not turned off, it looks like a normal watch. There are only two physical buttons that can be used for operation.　When viewed from the side, there is an edge so that the display surface does not touch the outside directly. The main body is thick. Interested people may be concerned. I think that users who used toughness watches like G-SHOCK can use it without problems.　This time I borrowed a 45mm case. There is also a sapphire crystal on the back.　As long as the band matches the width, you can use the one used in a general watch. The default band is devised so that it can be easily put on and taken off.

　At first I didn't know how to put it on, but it seems to be a so-called buckle type band. No special tools are required to adjust the size, and once it is decided, it is easy to put on and take off, so this is very easy. The buckle part is also fixed with a magnet, so it feels good.

Initial setting

　This time we will pair with Pixel 7 Pro. For pairing, pair using the Galaxy Wearable app provided by Samsung, not the wear app provided by Google.　I'm going to proceed with pairing, but communication errors have occurred several times, and I can't proceed well... It worked fine when I tried it several times.　Galaxy Watch 4 and later is equipped with Wear OS by Google provided by Google instead of Tizen OS. Therefore, applications and dials provided for Wear OS can be used.　Therefore, you will be prompted to install the application from the Play Store during initial setup.

Interface that feels "Galaxy"

This is my　second Wear OS device after the Pixel Watch .

quick panel

　Quick panel for example. Swipe down from the top to display. You can't edit anything on Pixel Watch, but Galaxy Watch can be laid out freely like the Galaxy on your smartphone. Moreover, you can create multiple pages, and you can customize it to your liking.

Application list

　And application screen. In Pixel Watch, it is displayed by pushing the crown, but in Galaxy Watch, the list is displayed by swiping up from the bottom . Moreover, since it is displayed with an icon type like Apple Watch, there is a lot of information and it is very comfortable. Moreover, the layout can be freely rearranged from the smartphone.

Tile/Notification

　Swipe from right to left to reveal tiles. This is the same as the Pixel Watch. However, this tile also has a Galaxy-like interface.

　Swipe left to right to see notifications. On Pixel Watch it was displayed by swiping up from the bottom. You can see the next notification by flipping through the notifications from left to right.

Where is the rotating bezel...?

　Speaking of Galaxy Watch, the rotating bezel was impressive. The crown (digital crown) scrolls intuitively on a square device, but it doesn't feel right on a circular device. The Galaxy is a circular device with a rotating bezel that fuses watch-likeness with digital.

　However, the Galaxy Watch5 Pro introduced this time does not have such a rotating bezel. Did you abolish it...? As you might imagine, it was implemented in software .

　If you trace the circumference of the watch on the screen that requires scrolling, you can operate like a rotating bezel. This touch bezel is enabled on all scrollable pages, and of course the quick panel, tiles, and notification center introduced at the beginning are also supported.

　Personally, I was impressed by the very well-thought-out interface, where you can see the weather, schedule, heart rate, etc. instantly by scrolling directly to the tile screen after seeing a notification on the touch bezel. I thought.

dial

　I felt that the customizability of the dial was inferior. For example, only the color can be changed with this Tomcat dial, and only 6 colors. Applications on the screen (complications on Apple Watch) cannot be changed. I was a little shocked that the customizability was inferior here.

　However, the types of dials that are genuine and prepared are very abundant. With Pixel Watch, it was difficult to show individuality with only futuristic dials, but Galaxy Watch has various patterns by default, from dials unique to digital to classical dials. With this, you may find your favorite dial.

I like the button

　The side buttons are defined as the home key for the top red button and the back key for the bottom button. But the home key double press function can be assigned any free application. For example, assigning Google Assistant, assigning Google Pay (described later), assigning Spotify or a measurement application, etc., can be freely customized according to the user's preference.

　In addition to going back, you can also change the display of recently used apps to the back key.

　Other gesture functions are also installed, and it is also possible to launch a specific application by performing a gesture prepared in advance. This area feels like a Galaxy.

Google Assistant works perfectly

　If you set up Google Assistant, you can call Google Assistant just by raising your arm and saying "OK Google". As a writer building a smart home environment with Google Assistant, it is very convenient. The Nest Hub series will basically pick you up at home, but it's convenient when you go out.

　In this cold season, if you say "OK Google, turn on the air conditioner" before returning home, the room will be warm by the time you return, and you can control the robot vacuum cleaner. can be manipulated.

Google Pay

　I wondered if I could use NFC payment, so I installed the Google Pay app, and the setup was completed smoothly. I used it several times at the 7-Eleven near my workplace, but the reaction was good. Recently, contactless payment (touch payment) has become available at many stores such as Aeon, McDonald's, and convenience stores, so I think this will come in handy.

Perfect for activities

　I decided to walk about one station, and when I was walking, I was notified, "Are you running?" I thought it was clever, but when I ignored it, it automatically started recording.

　And when you get on the train, it will automatically end and be recorded. It starts and ends automatically without user's conscious operation. There is no forgetting to record, it is very convenient.

　While running, the dial displays time, distance, steps, calories burned, and heart rate, so it can be used for serious running. As expected, it is a Pro model.　If you install the S Health app, you can check more detailed records.

with battery

　The thing that impressed me the most was the battery life. The Apple Watch I usually use is set to 100% before going to bed, I sleep with it on, use it for the next day, and put it on the charger after returning home. How to use about 30% at the time of returning home. The Pixel Watch looks pretty much the same.

　However, Galaxy Watch5 Pro has 3 days unlike them. I had the opportunity to go on a business trip to Osaka and Nagoya this time, and I tried to get through the 3 days and 2 nights without bringing a charger.

　I used Always On Display, but I was able to return to Tokyo on the third day. Rather, the mothership Pixel 7 Pro was more dangerous. With these, you don't have to carry a charger around for a short business trip or overnight stay, so you can rest assured.

regrettable point

　I felt that the cooperation was not good enough. Taking the health care item as an example, Samsung provides S Health, and it is Samsung's function to detect exercise and automatically record the activity introduced earlier. However, I personally think that I want you to record it in Google Fit. This S Health is a specification that cannot be linked with Google Fit.

　However, Google Fit offers an application for Wear OS, but this app is very poorly made compared to S Health. Once you use S Health, you won't be able to use anything else.

　It's very attractive that each of them is trying to create their own world, but I felt that the user was involved in the manufacturer's speculation, and the product was not good enough. It seems that there is a third-party app that links S Health and Google Fit, but this is a billing system, so I don't feel like doing that.

Overall review

　If you don't need Suica, buying Galaxy Watch5 is super convenient. The Galaxy Watch5 Pro has solved all of the things I used to find Wear OS difficult to use. The high-speed scrolling of the bezel is also alive. The poor visibility of circular devices is also well covered by the software.

　If there is no complaint about the operating speed, there is no complaint about the battery life. In other words, the Galaxy color is too strong around the software. It is a product that can be highly recommended if you do not mind only here.