The Galaxy Watch 6: Dream Performance vs. Reality - A Deep Dive into Connected Watches

The numbers

CharacteristicValue
Diameter40mm or 44mm
Weight28g (40mm) / 33g (44mm)
MaterialsStainless steel + Gorilla Glass
Waterproofing5 ATM (50m)
BraceletsInterchangeable (20 mm)
Read now!

The real highlight: the bracelets. Do you find the watch “less feminine” at first glance? Change the bracelet. Two seconds later, it becomes flirtatious, sporty or elegant depending on your desire. It's not nothing. You have a watch that suits your style, not the other way around.

Read now!

Comfort on the wrist: excellent. Not too heavy, well balanced. You almost forget you're wearing it. Even after 8 hours straight, zero discomfort.

Read now!

Screen: This is where it gets crazy

Those who complain about the screen size really aren't looking at what's on their wrist. The 1.3" or 1.4" AMOLED screen is incredibly bright. Even in direct sunlight, you read everything without problem.

Read now!

The specs

SpecificationDetail
TechnologyAMOLED 1.3" or 1.4"
Resolution454 x 454 px (40 mm) / 480 x 480 px (44 mm)
Density~330 ppi
Maximum brightness~1000 nits
Refresh rate60Hz
Read now!

The colors are vivid, the blacks deep (AMOLED advantage), the definition impeccable. No visible pixelation. Looking at the dials, health graphs or GPS maps on this screen is a real pleasure. AMOLED also allows you to display the time constantly without using up the battery (Always-On mode).

Read now!

Features: Wear OS 4 is heavy

Wear OS 4 with One UI Watch means access to hundreds of applications via the Google Play Store. You're not limited to what Samsung offers you.

Read now!

What works really well

  • Integrated Google Maps: you find your way directly from the watch, without taking out your smartphone
  • Phone calls. The sound is perfect, your interlocutor hears you very well. You can actually make your calls from the watch now
  • Automatic activity detection: the watch recognizes when you start doing sports
  • Smartphone control: take photos remotely, control music
  • On-board music: store music on the watch for running without a smartphone
  • Voice assistants (Bixby or Google Assistant)
  • Touch and button navigation, smooth and responsive
Read now!

The weak point: no rotating bezel (unlike the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic). This is a compromise to reduce the thickness. Some will regret.

Read now!

Health and sport: the real surprise

If you were coming from low-end watches, prepare for a shock. The precision here is exceptional. It's not marketing, it's measured.

Read now!

The sensors

  • Heart rate: very precise optical sensor
  • SpO2 (blood oxygen): continuous measurement
  • ECG (electrocardiogram): detection of atrial fibrillation
  • Blood pressure: daily measurement (monthly calibration required with a cuff)
  • Body composition: bioelectric analysis which corresponds well to that of dedicated scales
  • GPS: excellent precision
  • Accelerometer, gyroscope, barometer
Read now!

Accuracy Test - Actual Results

MetricGalaxy Watch 6ReferenceGap
Resting heart rate62 bpm62 bpm (manual grip)0 bpm
SpO297%97% (oximeter)0%
Blood pressure120/80 mmHg120/80 mmHg (cuff)0 mmHg
Distance traveled (5 km)5.02km5.00 km (GPS reference)+0.04%
Body composition32% fat mass32% (dedicated balance)0%
Read now!

Sports tracking

The watch automatically detects when you start doing sports. The reports are very precise: distance (GPS), average and maximum heart rate, calories burned, pace, elevation, heart rate zones. You have everything.

Read now!

Daily health tracking

  • Sleep analysis: hyper precise, detects light, deep and REM sleep phases
  • NEAT (Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis) tracking: perfect for tracking your daily activity without exercising
  • Tracking weight and fat mass: synchronization with connected scales
  • Stress and breathing: continuous measurements
  • Menstrual cycle: monitoring for women
Read now!

Important: ECG and blood pressure are not automatic. You must measure them manually (30 seconds for ECG, 1 minute for blood pressure). It's normal, it's like that on all watches.

Read now!

Autonomy: the big problem

This is the thing that will ruin your experience. This watch needs to be recharged almost every day. Do you only connect it to the phone for 2 minutes a day to save your data? It doesn't change anything. You don't listen to music, no calls, no notifications? It doesn't change anything either.

Read now!

Real autonomy test

ScenarioMeasured autonomyDetail
Basic use~24-30 hoursAlways on screen, continuous measurements, 2 min connection/day, no calls/music
Saver mode~40-50 hoursScreen on demand, reduced measurements
Intensive use~12-18 hoursFrequent calls, continuous GPS, music, notifications
Read now!

Battery capacity: 307 mAh (40 mm) or 425 mAh (44 mm). The 40mm model has an even smaller battery. Do you consider yourself lucky not to have chosen it? That's saying something.

Read now!

Charging is very fast (45-60 minutes for a full charge). This is a real plus which partially compensates for the lack of autonomy. But it remains a daily recharge.

Read now!

Why this limited autonomy? The bright AMOLED screen, precise GPS, continuous health measurements and the power of Wear OS consume a lot. This is the price to pay for such a complete watch. The Amazfit and Garmin last a week, but they offer fewer features.

Read now!

Autonomy verdict: this is an acceptable compromise if you agree to recharge every day. For basic use (NEAT tracking, daily sport, weight/fat tracking), it's manageable.

Read now!

Strengths and weaknesses

✅ Highlights

Read now!
  • Beautiful and bright AMOLED display
  • Superb design, elegant, not gimmicky
  • Full features (calls, GPS, music, apps)
  • Exceptional precision in health, sport and GPS
  • Very complete health monitoring with all sensors
  • Hyper-precise sleep analysis
  • Interchangeable straps to adapt the style
  • Very fast recharge (45-60 minutes)
  • Unbeatable value for money
  • Comfortable to wear all day
Read now!

❌ Weak points

  • Limited autonomy (1-2 days)
  • Daily recharge required
  • No rotating bezel (40mm)
  • 40mm model has even smaller battery than the 44mm
  • Non-automatic ECG and blood pressure
  • High battery consumption
  • Less autonomy than Amazfit or Garmin
Read now!

Face to face with competitors

CriteriaGalaxy Watch 6Amazfit GTR 4Garmin EpixApple Watch 8
Autonomy1-2 days14 days11 days6 p.m.
ScreenAMOLED (excellent)AMOLED (good)AMOLED (excellent)Retina (excellent)
FeaturesVery completeBasicsVery completeVery complete
Health monitoringExcellentGoodExcellentExcellent
Calls/MusicYesNoYesYes
Price~300€~200€~500€~400€
Best forComplete Android UsersMaximum autonomySerious athletesApple ecosystem
Read now!

The Galaxy Watch 6 is the best choice for Android users who seek a balance between comprehensive features, design and price. Yes, the battery life is limited compared to Amazfit and Garmin, but you gain features and screen. Unless you are a top athlete, there is nothing better at this price.

Read now!

? Final verdict

The Galaxy Watch 6 offers a complete technological universe in such a small box. It's stunning.

Read now!

Key points:

Read now!
  • ✅ Stunning and versatile design
  • ✅ Amazing screen
  • ✅ Full features (calls, GPS, music, apps)
  • ✅ Exceptional precision
  • ✅ Very complete health monitoring
  • ❌ Limited battery life (daily recharge)
Read now!

For whom?

Read now!
  • ✅ Android users looking for a complete watch
  • ✅ People wanting to monitor their health and sport
  • ✅ Those who agree to recharge every day
  • ✅ Users looking for value for money
  • ❌ Top athletes (prefer Garmin)
  • ❌ Those who want a week's battery life (prefer Amazfit)
Read now!

⭐ Rating: 4.5/5

Read now!

He is a true traveling companion. Despite the limited battery life, it's a great investment for health tracking, sports and full functionality. You will cope very well with daily charging given all the services it provides.

Read now!

? Where to buy it

DealerApproximate priceBenefits
Amazon280-320€Fast delivery, easy returns
Fnac290-330€Collection in store, after-sales service
Darty290-330€Extended warranty, after-sales service
Samsung.com299€Official warranty, Samsung offers
Baker290-330€Collection in store, after-sales service
Read now!

Compare prices and trade-in offers. Prices vary depending on the period (sales, Black Friday).

Read now!

Other options to consider

  • Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic : same watch but with rotating bezel (44 mm only, identical battery life)
  • Amazfit GTR 4 : 14-day battery life, excellent screen, but fewer features (no calls, no music)
  • Garmin Epix Gen 2 : for serious athletes, 11-day battery life, very advanced sports monitoring, but high price (€500+)
  • Apple Watch Series 8 : if you are in the Apple ecosystem, battery life 18 hours, but high price
Read now!

❓ Frequently asked questions

Q: How long does the battery really last?

Read now!

A: Between 24 and 30 hours of normal use (screen always on, continuous measurements). Allow 1-2 days before recharging. In economical mode, you can reach 40-50 hours. This is the weak point of this watch.

Read now!

Q: Is the screen really that good?

A: Yes, absolutely. It is a 1.3" or 1.4" AMOLED screen with a brightness of ~1000 nits. Very bright even in direct sunlight, bright colors, deep blacks. This is one of the best smartwatch screens on the market.

Read now!

Q: Is the accuracy of health tracking reliable?

A: Yes, very reliable. Actual tests show near perfect accuracy for heart rate, SpO2, blood pressure and body composition. The GPS is also very accurate. It's a real surprise compared to low-end watches.

Read now!

Q: Can you make calls with the watch?

A: Yes, you can make and receive calls directly from the watch. The sound is excellent, your interlocutor hears you very well. It's very practical so you don't have to take out your smartphone.

Read now!

Q: Do you need a Samsung phone to use the watch?

A: No, Galaxy Watch 6 works with any Android phone (Samsung, Google Pixel, OnePlus, etc.). It does not work with iPhone.

Read now!

Q: What is the difference between the 40mm and 44mm model?

A: The 44mm model has a larger battery (425 mAh vs 307 mAh), therefore better autonomy. The screen is also slightly larger (1.4" vs 1.3"). Choose 40 mm for small wrists, 44 mm for more autonomy.

Read now!

Q: Can we change the bracelet?

A: Yes, the straps are interchangeable (20 mm). You can purchase third-party bracelets to change the style (sporty, elegant, flirty, etc.). This is a real plus for adapting the watch to your style.

Read now!

Q: Are ECG and blood pressure measurement automatic?

A: No, you have to measure them manually. The ECG takes 30 seconds, the blood pressure 1 minute. This is normal and it's like this on all watches. The measurements are very precise (verified with a cuff).

Read now!

Q: Can you listen to music with the watch?

A: Yes, you can store music on the watch and listen to it with Bluetooth headphones. Perfect for running without a smartphone. You can also control music from your phone.

Read now!

Q: Is it really worth it compared to Amazfit or Garmin?

A: It depends on your priorities. If you are looking for maximum autonomy, choose Amazfit (14 days). If you are a high-level athlete, choose Garmin. If you're looking for a balance of features, design and price, the Galaxy Watch 6 can't be beat. Unless you are a top athlete, there is nothing better at this price.

Read now!

Q: What is the best dial to use?

A: It's a matter of personal taste. Digital dials consume less battery than analog dials. Test several dials to find the one you like and that suits your use.

Read now!

Q: How long does the warranty last?

A: The official Samsung warranty is 2 years. Some resellers offer extended warranties (Darty, Fnac).

Read now!

Last words

The Galaxy Watch 6 offers a complete technological universe in such a small box. Superb design, beautiful screen, comprehensive features, exceptional precision. It's stunning.

Read now!

Its only flaw, autonomy limited to 1-2 days, is an acceptable compromise given all the services it provides. You will cope very well with daily charging.

Read now!

Definitely recommended if you are an Android user and are looking for a complete connected watch to track your health, your sport and stay connected. It's a smart investment.

Read now!

Did you like this story?

Please share by clicking this button!

Visit our site and see all other available articles!

Swiss Made Watch