Why is the Galaxy Watch Active 2 a "keeper" for you?

[waqqas31]

I am still within my buyer's remorse period and I'm not 100% convinced that this watch is worth keeping. I have the 44mm LTE version. It's a cool time piece, but I'm interested in what others do with theirs such that they could not give it up completely.

TIA!

 

[uvarules]

Great question. This is my 4th smartwatch and I'm an early adopter. Started on the Moto 360, then Galaxy Gear, Gear Fit 2 and now the Active Watch 2. I'm non LTE so can't help there but very much enjoying this one and how it interacts with my S10. Notifications are immediate and it functions very well with Samsung Health which I use for meditation, eliptical workouts, core and balance workouts for golf and of course the standard heart rate stuff. Hopefully will see ECG functionality sometime in the near future.

The battery life is insane based on past watch experiences and is good for 3-4 days wearing it during my waking hours, turn it off at night...

Love the watch and look forward to expanding how I use it, barely scratched the surface.

Just my $.02...

 

[Guyinbox]

It looks good and is comfortable enough to wear all day without feeling too bulky. Battery life is great. I enjoy the health tracking features, though I really wish it had options for storing music on the watch other than Spotify. The app selection on tizen is will garbage.

It will do until either Google releases a fitness watch, but I don't know that they'll be able to match the Apple watch on their first try.

 

[theobject]

I love the watch! Coming from a Gear S2 the battery life on this is amazing, I can go 3+ days on a charge. I wear it all the time and even when I'm sleeping to capture sleep data. I could not do that with the Gear S2, too bulky. I agree that Tizen app selection is weak, which is unfortunate. Adding Google Assistant to it makes it more useful from time to time.

 

[scrondar]

On my second day with the Active 2. It's the third smartwatch I've bought, and I got it at Costco so I would have plenty of time to spend with it should I ultimately decide to return it. It's very comfortable on my wrist (so much so that I sometimes forget I'm wearing it). As for utility, I don't use half the stuff it has, but I'm getting used to all it can do. I plan to start working out again, so it will definitely come in handy there. Previously, I wore the Huawei Honor 4 band, and while it did all I needed, I wanted a watch instead. So, nothing overwhelming, but I'm going to keep an eye on this thread to see what the rest of you are up to with it.

EDIT: About two weeks in now and it looks like a keeper. I got a nice leather band and a cobalt blue case for it. Now I just have to learn how to use it the way I use my other devices, and not as some strange new thing on my wrist. I reckon this will take some time but will happen. Just being able to read my messages and reply with my phone nowhere in sight is pretty cool, I gotta say.

 

[Sleepwlkr45]

I bought many android wear watches after the apple watch came out...and none of them came close to the longevity and usefulness of my wife's apple watch series 2. I switched to a gear S2 3G that barely lasted 8 hours, followed by a S3 frontier that I really liked. This Galaxy watch active 2 lasts a day and then some with always on display activated and tracks my steps and heartbeat. To me, this is one of the best watches yet....

 

[adegbenroagoro]

This is my third smart watch. Gear S2 Classic, Galaxy Watch and the Active 2. Still using the latter two watches. All I use it for is calls, messages, emails, social media, calendar, to-do list and to know the time of day. It does all those very well. Very comfortable to wear. Battery life is 2 5-3 days without any optimisation, muted and at maximum brightness. Great display. I'm quite satisfied.

 

[waqqas31]

This is my third smart watch. Gear S2 Classic, Galaxy Watch and the Active 2. Still using the latter two watches. All I use it for is calls, messages, emails, social media, calendar, to-do list and to know the time of day. It does all those very well. Very comfortable to wear. Battery life is 2 5-3 days without any optimisation, muted and at maximum brightness. Great display. I'm quite satisfied.

What apps do you use for social media and to-do list?

 

[j_hansen]

I'll probably only keep it until Samsung makes a new version but I prefer the Active 2 over the Watch 46mm.
(both Bluetooth, I couldn't be bothered with LTE)

 

[Greymire]

I switched from the Galaxy Watch only for ECG. I want a refund but out of my time period. I feel they have failed to honor their end. Heart rate freezes just line the Galaxy with more sensor (though it hadn't since yesterdays update).

 

[racedog]

Ditto on this. Bought for ECG but Samsung lied and has failed to deliver.

I switched from the Galaxy Watch only for ECG. I want a refund but out of my time period. I feel they have failed to honor their end. Heart rate freezes just line the Galaxy with more sensor (though it hadn't since yesterdays update).

 

[happycat9]

I am disappointed not only in their failure to deliver ECG, but on their failure to communicate. Honestly, it is a decent Smartwatch but I am very disappointed in the lack of information about ECG.

 

[Rose4uKY]

This is my third smart watch. Gear S2 Classic, Galaxy Watch and the Active 2. Still using the latter two watches. All I use it for is calls, messages, emails, social media, calendar, to-do list and to know the time of day. It does all those very well. Very comfortable to wear. Battery life is 2 5-3 days without any optimisation, muted and at maximum brightness. Great display. I'm quite satisfied.

Question I had a Gear S3 classic gave it to my husband bought a 42mm Galaxy Watch 4/2/19 it broke right before my 1 year and too long of a story but Samsung is giving me a hard way to go about. I've been dealing with them for a month sent my watch back to them twice and my ticket #'s keep getting cancelled and I was supposed to get an exchange no-one is emailing or calling me back. But anyway I am starting to like the Active 2 now. What do you like or dislike between the Galaxy Watch and the Active 2. If they end up not exchanging me I kind of want the Active 2. Is screen size the same? I know it can still take calls which I like. I think Battery may be a hair smaller. Just curious your thoughts on both. Thanks!

Edit: Is the active 2 different on the bottom of the watch or does it have that same little black sensor piece like the Galaxy watch? It's a little black circle with 5 tiny holes that look like the #5 to me like on a dice. Thanks

 

[adegbenroagoro]

Question I had a Gear S3 classic gave it to my husband bought a 42mm Galaxy Watch 4/2/19 it broke right before my 1 year and too long of a story but Samsung is giving me a hard way to go about. I've been dealing with them for a month sent my watch back to them twice and my ticket #'s keep getting cancelled and I was supposed to get an exchange no-one is emailing or calling me back. But anyway I am starting to like the Active 2 now. What do you like or dislike between the Galaxy Watch and the Active 2. If they end up not exchanging me I kind of want the Active 2. Is screen size the same? I know it can still take calls which I like. I think Battery may be a hair smaller. Just curious your thoughts on both. Thanks!

I'm sorry. I haven't been here for 2 months. I use my Galaxy Watch more when I'm wearing more formal clothing; the Watch Active 2 with casual wear. I don't have any complaints about my 42mm Galaxy Watch. The 46mm Watch Active external dimensions are essentially the same as those of the 42mm Galaxy Watch (I checked online before buying it). My gripes with the Watch Active 2 are minor: I don't like the virtual rotating bezel and scrolling down from the top to the shortcuts is more miss than hit. I seem to get better battery life with the GWA2 though they both have the same processor and it has a smaller battery. Maybe it's the age of the GW or maybe the GWA2 was better optimized.

 

[adegbenroagoro]

What apps do you use for social media and to-do list?

I'm sorry. I come here rarely. I'm not a social media guy so don't have any particular apps. All I get are notifications from WhatsApp. I put my to-do list items on my Samsung Calendar app on my phone. This automatically syncs with my watches.

 

[Rose4uKY]

I'm sorry. I haven't been here for 2 months. I use my Galaxy Watch more when I'm wearing more formal clothing; the Watch Active 2 with casual wear. I don't have any complaints about my 42mm Galaxy Watch. The 46mm Watch Active external dimensions are essentially the same as those of the 42mm Galaxy Watch (I checked online before buying it). My gripes with the Watch Active 2 are minor: I don't like the virtual rotating bezel and scrolling down from the top to the shortcuts is more miss than hit. I seem to get better battery life with the GWA2 though they both have the same processor and it has a smaller battery. Maybe it's the age of the GW or maybe the GWA2 was better optimized.

Sorry and thanks replying I see above I was trying to edit and something to my post and it posted my whole thing over again with my edit so I have 2 post one before the edit and after. I deleted one and added my edit to the other. But anyway Samsung has really made me mad and now their telling me watch has been sitting for 2 weeks or longer and noone is picking it up. I really want a non Samsung cause I am so mad at them for screwing me over but I don't know of a good Android Wear one that can let you talk on the phone with.

I was looking at the Active 2 though in the 40mm but your saying the bigger Active 2 is as big as the smaller plain Galaxy Watch? Cause I had a Gear S3 classic and it was too big and I gave that to my husband when I bought my Galaxy Watch 42mm. Plus I figured if I got the 40mm Active 2 my same bands would fit. I have 2 bands. But anyway I know screen size also is the same and the battery is supposably little less. And I was wondering about the on screen bezel thing. But Ok thanks so much! I wish I could see a picture of the back of the active 2. I am hoping it doesn't have that same sensor piece like the galaxy watch. I am just so lost without a watch that I am not waiting for them to send me back an exchange and when they do my husband said he might use it cause his Gear 3 he said is too big he things I don't know mine might be too small. But ok Thank you so much! I'll decide after reading a few more reviews today of other brands. Huwei makes one but to make and answer calls it was on the big one only.

 

[adegbenroagoro]

Sorry and thanks replying I see above I was trying to edit and something to my post and it posted my whole thing over again with my edit so I have 2 post one before the edit and after. I deleted one and added my edit to the other. But anyway Samsung has really made me mad and now their telling me watch has been sitting for 2 weeks or longer and noone is picking it up. I really want a non Samsung cause I am so mad at them for screwing me over but I don't know of a good Android Wear one that can let you talk on the phone with.

I was looking at the Active 2 though in the 40mm but your saying the bigger isn't as big as the bigger plain Galaxy Watch? Cause I had a Gear S3 classic and it was too big and I gave that to my husband when I bought my Galaxy Watch 42mm. Plus I figured if I got the 40mm Active 2 my same bands would fit. I have 2 bands. But anyway I know screen size also is the same and the battery is supposably little less. And I was wondering about the on screen bezel thing. But Ok thanks so much! I wish I could see a picture of the back of the active 2. I am hoping it doesn't have that same sensor piece like the galaxy watch. I am just so lost without a watch that I am not waiting for them to send me back an exchange and when they do my husband said he might use it cause his Gear 3 he said is too big he things I don't know mine might be too small. But ok Thank you so much! I'll decide after reading a few more reviews today of other brands. Huwei makes one but to make and answer calls it was on the big one only.

I think you should definitely buy the 40mm version of the Watch Active 2 since the Gear S3 Classic was too big for you. Huawei watches don't have good battery life. I'm putting a link below. This is my go-to site for DETAILED phone and watch specs and reviews.


https://m.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_watch_active2-9784.php

 

[Rose4uKY]

I think you should definitely buy the 40mm version of the Watch Active 2 since the Gear S3 Classic was too big for you. Huawei watches don't have good battery life. I'm putting a link below. This is my go-to site for DETAILED phone and watch specs and reviews.


https://m.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_watch_active2-9784.php

Thanks so much for your input! Decided to go get the Active 2 yesterday at Best Buy since it was $50 off for mother's Day. Samsung still has my galaxy watch which h should of been exchanged 3 weeks ago. My husband said I could get it and that when they sent me a replacement Galaxy watch he may use it and sell the Gear S3 classic. I like the buttons better on the Galaxy watch it's like the Frontier which I should of bought over the classic but anyway the Gear S3 is way to big for me.

Anyway I chose the 40MM Actvie 2 cause I love the mic and speaker for calls and the way it had no bezel looked nice. They only had one in stock Aqua Black I kind of wanted Cloud Silver but was ok with whatever. I wanted to do BB extended warranty anyone familiar with that? I was told it was 50 or 60 bucks but that I wouldn't have to deal with Samsung and that usually Geek Squad can't fix watches and you get a new one, It's a 2 yr warranty well I wasn't going to get it. I got to BB right before closing I ordered it at 5 they closed at 6. Turns out even though it said they had one in stock didn't have it anywhere they searched for 30 minutes. He said I have open box and explained me to about it and he had balck and the silver and I think online open box was just 18 less or something like that and I talked him into 60 off so I could get the warranty he couldn't just add it for free but took off 60 than I added it myself and I said it would make the deal sweeter if you throw in a screen protector. I told him all my problems with Samsung and with the Galaxy watch being 42mm I wasn't sure if my extra protectors would work and I didn't know where they were. I got a box off Amazon but anyway he threw in one Zagg ultra Clear and I am just hoping the touch capacity works good with it on. I love the on screen bezel hubby figured it out right away and I got it right away. And then it turned out after we were done and he is bringing me my receipt he said of the 2 yr extended is only 40 not 60 so here is a $20 BB gift Card and here is your Zagg and I got the Cloud Silver one and really like it.

Now for a couple questions OMG I am so sorry for typing so long. For Charging I was trying to use the stand charger that came with the Galaxy Watch and I kept getting a flashing red light which said error and so I took the wall plug from it and charged using what came with new watch. But I thought the old one would also work cause I thought it would be nice to have extra but anyway I tried again just now and it wasn't charging so I turned itaround and it went solid red and then said use original charger so I guess I'll just use this one always that came with it. Now this didn't come with a wall plug so I was doing just USB but then I took wall plug from galaxy watch made it quicker. Wonder if phone fast adaptive charger would be even quicker and would work? I know I won't watch You Tube Videos watch but it says you can and I couldn't find the right app in the Samsung store. But anyway so far I really like it and didn't think I would like the band that came with it and left there thinking I should of done black but I like the cloud silver and will keep that band on for a while. I did hit restore and my watch faces came back and maybe my settings I don't know It says I only have 1.3 gigs left of 4. I am glad I went with Samsung just cause of having the S10 plus and it had the features I wanted.

 

[adegbenroagoro]

I'm glad you're happy with your purchase. (I thought you'd buy the rose/pink colored version). The chargers are mutually exclusive and and can't be used for the other watch. Fast charging won't work with the Watch.

 

[Rose4uKY]

I'm glad you're happy with your purchase. (I thought you'd buy the rose/pink colored version). The chargers are mutually exclusive and and can't be used for the other watch. Fast charging won't work with the Watch.

I liked the Rose/Pink one but decided against it. Black or Silver goes more with stuff. And I chose Aqua Black it's called cause they had one in stock but of course they didn't when I went there. So I got a good deal on the Cloud Silver open box and took it. I really like it so far. Samsung still is giving me a hard way to go over my Galaxy Watch which they have had since 4/13 which is the 2nd time I sent it back. But yeah I was hoping to use my Galaxy Watch charger as an extra since it's QI but it said please use original charger when I put it on the charger. I may buy the duo charger at some point that fast charges your phone and then does your watch on the other side and I know the watch isn't fast charging but it charges quick enough for me. I'm on 38% now and had a full charge at 10:30 to 111am yesterday. The day before I put on AOD and it drained really quickly. I also use Good Night Mode now at night.

Not sure I will do this but it says you can watch You Tube Videos and I went to Samsung app store and couldn't find what to download.