Galaxy Watch 5 Pro vs Watch 4 Classic: Which one should you buy?

Galaxy Watch 5 Pro4 Classic
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ProsPros
✔️Premium build quality with raised lip ✔️protecting the screen
✔️Can respond to WhatsApp or Telegram messages directly on wrist
✔️Excellent battery life for a feature packed watch
✔️Eye candy
✔️Sturdy build, crips screen
✔️Accurate health tracking
✔️Google Play store support
ConsCons
❌It’s not that much more capable than the non-❌Pro model
❌A bit thick
❌Need to jump through hoops to set up Google Assistant
❌No ECG and Blood Pressure for India
❌Average battery
❌No iOS support

Galaxy Watch 5 Pro vs Watch 4 Classic: Specs

CategoriesGalaxy Watch 5 ProWatch 4 Classic
Display size1.36 inches
Sapphire Crystal
42mm: 1.2 inches
46mm: 1.4 inches
Body size45mm: 45.5 x 45.4 x 10.5mm42mm: 41.5 x 41.5 x 11.2mm
46mm: 5.5 x 45.5 x 11mm
Resolution450 x 450 pixels (454 pixels per inch)42mm: 450 x 450 pixels (330 ppi)
46mm: 396 x 396 pixels (330 ppi)
TouchscreenCircular Super AMOLEDSuper AMOLED
Storage16GB16GB
Wireless interfaceBluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n 2.4+5GHz
NFC
GPS/GLONASS/Beidou, Galileo, GPS, LTE (select models)
Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n 2.4+5GHz
NFC
GPS/GLONASS/Beidou, Galileo, GPS, LTE (select models)
Depth10.5mm42mm: 11.2mm
46mm: 11mm
AccelerometerYesYes
GyroscopeYesYes
Ambient light sensorYesYes
Heart rate sensorYesYes
BarometerYesYes
GPSYesYes
Water resistanceYes (5ATM + IP68)Yes (5ATM + IP68)
Battery life590mAh
Up to 80 hours
42mm: 247mAh
46mm: 361mAh
Up to 40 hours
PriceFrom $450From $300
AvailabilitySamsungSamsung
DT reviewHands-on4 out of 5 stars

The new Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is Samsung’s latest flagship smartwatch, but unlike last year’s flagship, the Galaxy Watch 4 classic, this does not have a physical rotating bezel. There are a few things that Samsung removed that may lead you to wonder whether or not the Galaxy Watch 5 pro is worthy of an upgrade.

So if you have the Galaxy Watch 4 classic, is it worth getting the 5 pro or if you don’t have either one, which one’s the better one to buy; with the same processor, the same display size and a very different price tag this is a good question so in this post we’ll dive into all of that.

Galaxy Watch 5 Pro vs Watch 4 Classic: Design

I want to start with the design because it will be one of the most obvious differences between these. You’re less likely to have this get scratched when you’re rock climbing or doing something more extreme because the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro has improved scratch resistance on the display and a sunken in display as well.

Now, the Galaxy Watch 4 classic has a slightly sunken-in display. Still, it is not quite as hollow as the galaxy watch 5 pro, or at least it is more extreme, like a quick little sink-in there, because the size of the galaxy watch 5 pro is one millimeter smaller overall despite having the same display size or approximately the same display size. So the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is very slightly smaller there at 45 millimetres compared to the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic’s 46 millimetres.

The Galaxy Watch 5 Pro only comes in one size; the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic was available in 42 and 46-millimetre versions, so if you have a smaller wrist, you’re kind of out of luck. I don’t understand why Samsung did that.

Many people were complaining about the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro being bulky and heavy, but after using it and running with it, maybe it’s because of the strap a little bit, but I find that this watch doesn’t feel like a large watch on my wrist. It’s very comfortable, and as I said, I think a lot of that has to do with the strap.

Of course, you can swap out the strap or even purchase this particular strap and attach it to the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic. Still, the strap that comes with the 5 Pro has a nice little magnetic snap right there and is infinitely adjustable through a small click on the back. Then when you put it on, it snaps into place much like a metal bracelet despite being made of silicone, making it ideal for working out.

The galaxy watch 5 pro has a slightly different architecture for the health sensor array on the back of the watch, which they claim gives you better accuracy. We’ll get into an accuracy test in a second, but basically, the design makes it appear thinner when you look at it, but when you’re wearing it, as I mentioned, it feels thinner. Unfortunately, sapphire glass has the side effect of catching a little more glare.

The Galaxy Watch 5 Pro has a digital bezel you can use by gently placing your finger on the display to spin the watch around. There are a lot of watches out there, but one of the main reasons people chose the galaxy watch 4 classic was the physical rotating bezel. In the world of smartwatches, nothing else is as nice, satisfying, and premium as that physical rotating bezel.

Galaxy Watch 5 Pro vs Watch 4 Classic: Durability

Everyone claims the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic is more durable, but I’m not sure if that would make a discernible difference in real life. If we’re talking about durability, the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic is made of stainless steel, a fairly durable material. The display is still sunken here, so anything hitting from the corner would cause more likely damage to your bezel than the actual watch face itself.

Additionally, I think this device’s stainless steel body looks more premium. In addition, we have tick marks rather than just a huge black bezel around the display. I believe that Samsung should have, at the very least, added tick marks to the 5 Pro.

And did I mention that it lacks a rotating bezel? That’s going to be a recurring theme here. Some might say, “Why are you picking on this rotating bezel so much? Get over it.” Still, if you’ve ever used it, you’d probably agree with me that it’s one of the biggest selling features or selling points of the galaxy watch 4 classics that Samsung recently eliminated.

I’m surprised that Samsung didn’t figure out a way to incorporate the rotating bezel, but the physical differences are not the story’s entirety in this case. Samsung claimed they did away with the rotating bezel to fit a larger battery. Still, I assume there’s also something related to the price there, given that making a rotating bezel definitely can’t be cheap, considering this is much more expensive.

Galaxy Watch 5 Pro vs Watch 4 Classic: Features

There are some other improvements to the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro versus last year’s model, one of them being the temperature sensor on the back. We also have sleep coaching and some other things that are added from a software perspective, one of the big ones besides the temperature sensor, which can be used for more accurate sleep tracking, is the shape of the sensors on the back.

I’ve found that this architecture provides better readings because it doesn’t move around as much on my wrist. I can wear it comfortably, and it doesn’t move around much while running. I recently completed a four-mile run while wearing both of these watches and the polar h10 heart rate strap, which is a well-known accurate sensor.

As you can see, both watches performed admirably, but the watch 5 pro didn’t significantly outperform the watch 4 classics in this area. In terms of what is the same, we are getting the same bioimpedance ECG heart rate sensor, GPS, or the entire large suite of health tracking capabilities between these watches, so other than perhaps a slightly more accurate GPS on here, we’re not seeing that much of a difference as well.

Galaxy Watch 5 Pro vs Watch 4 Classic: Battery Life

As far as the internals go, the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro has a significantly larger battery, which is the other key selling point. Both of them are rated to charge up in 110 minutes from the charger, but you get a massive battery, almost double the battery life on the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, which in my experience, gives me about three full days if I’m using this pretty heavily with a run every day, whereas the  Galaxy Watch 4 classic.

This is the larger version I could say you’ll probably get me. Maybe you’ll, if you’re lucky, you’ll get two days right, but usually, it’ll be about one and a half, maybe a little bit more than one and a half days per charge with this watch.

Therefore, I would say that while neither of them can compete with many sports watches on the market, they are superior to something like an Apple Watch. The Watch 4 Classic will be superior if you compare it to other smartwatches for everyday use because it has a rotating bezel. Still, if you’re comparing it to sports watches from Garmin, Suunto, Coros, and other manufacturers, its battery life of three to four days is far less than the 30 days, or even longer you’ll see from some of their solar-powered devices.

Galaxy Watch 5 Pro vs Watch 4 Classic: Price

There are links below for you to check the most recent prices, but at the time of writing, the base model of the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro costs $450, compared to $350 and $380 for the Watch 4 Classic.

Samsung is known for frequently changing its prices and releasing big sales. You’re looking at $450 instead of $300 to $330 or about $150 more for these watches, which cost $350 for the smaller version and $380 for the larger version at the time of making this post.

Conclusion

Which one should you buy? Well, given that they have essentially the same processor, the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic has a rotating bezel, and they both offer essentially the same software and health sensors, making them nearly identical watches; I’d say that for the majority of people, the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic is the more compelling option right now. However, if you need extra battery life and care a lot more about exercising, the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is the better option.

Although I recommend the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic, I will be using the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro instead because I do a lot of running and a variety of other workouts, so I like the longer battery. Even though I love the rotating bezel, I find that it was never my favorite watch to run or work out with because it does move around a lot. So the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro has its benefits there.