The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 comes in two looks and lots of colors

We got a look at Samsung's newest watches, which run a new OS but have a very Samsung design.

Sarah Tew

I'm a visual storyteller, working primarily in the medium of photography and photoshop. I listen to more podcasts than I can keep up with and enjoy gardening, cooking, reading, and am striving for a sustainable lifestyle. A big-picture thinker, I am always trying to put the pieces together, and though things are scary these days, I believe humanity will pull through.

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Scott Stein Editor at Large

I started with CNET reviewing laptops in 2009. Now I explore wearable tech, VR/AR, tablets, gaming and future/emerging trends in our changing world. Other obsessions include magic, immersive theater, puzzles, board games, cooking, improv and the New York Jets. My background includes an MFA in theater which I apply to thinking about immersive experiences of the future.

Expertise VR and AR | Gaming | Metaverse technologies | Wearable tech | Tablets Credentials

Nearly 20 years writing about tech, and over a decade reviewing wearable tech, VR, and AR products and apps

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Sarah Tew

Scott Stein

Aug. 11, 2021 7:00 a.m. PT

Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 and Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic

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The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 is a whole new move for Samsung. While the new watches look familiar, they run a whole new OS co-designed by Samsung and Google.

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The Galaxy Watch 4's looks are familiar: one version, the Galaxy Watch 4 (left) resembles the first Galaxy Watch Active. The Galaxy Watch 4 Classic (right) looks more like the Galaxy Watch 3.

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The watches have the same functions, but the Watch 4 is less expensive (starting at $250) and has an aluminum case, while the Watch 4 Classic (starting at $350) is stainless steel and has a physical rotating bezel.

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The Galaxy Watch 4 gets a few more color options: the 40mm version comes in black, silver and pink gold, while the 44mm version comes in black, silver and green. The Watch 4 Classic only comes in silver and black.

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Both watches have circular touch controls: the Classic uses the rotating bezel, while the Watch 4 (non-Classic) has a touch-sensitive rim.

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The watches have higher-resolution Super AMOLED displays, faster processors, more RAM, 16GB of storage and can fast-charge to 10 hours of battery in 30 minutes.

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The watches use Google Play for apps, but have Samsung Health and a variety of Samsung watch faces. They're the first examples of Google's new WearOS 3.

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The watches promise to sync more seamlessly with Android phones, but there are no plans for iOS compatibility.

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The health tech onboard includes some new features: snore detection (when using a nearby paired phone's microphone when sleeping) and a new body analysis sensor using electrical impedance.

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Third-party apps will be able to work with Samsung's fitness ecosystem, including Strava and Calm. Spotify is supported, too.

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A new sensor array on the back of the watch combines ECG (electrocardiogram), optical heart rate and electrical impedance. It's called the Samsung BioActive Sensor.