The Best Android Smartwatch In 2023
Samsung's latest smartwatch, the Watch 6 Classic, brings back the rotating bezel from the Watch 4 line and makes navigating the excellent Wear OS 4 smoother and easier. Now it is for sale for the first time; just pin the coupon to the page and it will be reduced to $300.
Samsung's latest Galaxy Watch, the Watch 6 Classic, maintains the high standards set by previous generations, even if it doesn't move forward in any way. But despite the minimal new features, the Watch 6 Classic's usability is still very high, making it not only one of the best Android smartwatches you can buy, but also one of the best.
The most notable update to the Watch 6 Classic is the return of the rotating bezel, a feature last seen on the Watch 4. Instead of relying on the watch's touchscreen to navigate the interface, the rotating bezel allows for easy navigation. I found this especially useful when trying to figure out where it would be easier and faster to spin the wheel rather than trying to scroll the screen.
The Watch 6 Classic also has impressive battery life, which I got nearly two days consistently, depending on how often I used the built-in GPS. I always had full day and night battery life, although sometimes I had to charge the watch the next day. It's a welcome improvement over the Watch 5, although it's still slightly behind the Watch 5 Pro in terms of battery life.
Apart from these updates, the Watch 6 Classic is very similar to the previous generation Watch 5. It offers a wide range of health and wellness features, including sleep tracking, a body composition analyzer and stress tracking.
The two health features I used the most were the body composition analyzer and the stress monitor. Along with a body composition analyzer, the watch showed real-time body fat percentage, BMI and muscle mass, which I used to track my overall fitness progress. The Watch 5 Pro also offered this, so I had a knowledge base (and existing data) to compare, and everything worked exactly the same.
I also find the stress tracking a useful feature, mainly because it's interesting to see when the watch indicates I have higher stress levels and when it doesn't. This has had a positive impact on my daily life as I have implemented some stress reduction tips and found them to be effective.
However, the Watch 6 Classic lacks a fitness tracker, and its inaccurate GPS makes it difficult to recommend to active users. Not only did it take over a minute to sync with a GPS connection, but the tracking distance and rate were noticeably off. Those looking for quality fitness tracking should choose the Watch 5 Pro.
In terms of design, the Watch 6 Classic is a stylish smartwatch that I really enjoy using. The large watch may be a little too big for people with small wrists, but I liked how much data I could see on it. With its bright clock, you can quickly check the screen or check the time.
Overall, it looks, feels and performs like a premium wearable, and while it won't satisfy those looking for a reliable fitness tracker, it's one of the best smartwatches on the market.
Read our full review of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic.
