Samsung - Galaxy Watch 6

I have the galaxy watch 6, which when shopping for it I thought they discontinued the pro line, so I just got the watch 6 40mm 5g. The GPS is perfection, the heart rate tracking is on point, the blood oxygen while running is great to have. I do use S Health though, I use every feature I can squeeze out of it. It's great to have the details and GPS maps all in one place, plus it provided me sleep tracking targets and can even set my alarm ⏰️ 😴 which has been very nice to have. It's like a supportive partner lol

I completely agree with @Centralredditfan. The chipset found in the W6 model is identical to the one in the W4, and unfortunately, it presents significant challenges for everyday use, including noticeable lag that can exceed six seconds at times, frequent freezes, and overheating. This makes it quite difficult to use. Furthermore, the W6C model seems to exacerbate these issues, as the bezel actions appear to take a few seconds to register within the software, or at least that is the impression. For me, the chipset upgrade in the W7 model is the most compelling reason to consider upgrading from the older generation. The second significant improvement is the upgraded sensor, as the W4 and W6 models share the same sensors. The only distinction lies in the temperature sensor and an infrared LED, which was introduced in the W6 generation to eliminate the need for green light on sleep monitoring...

I completely agree with @Centralredditfan. The chipset found in the W6 model is identical to the one in the W4, and unfortunately, it presents significant challenges for everyday use, including noticeable lag that can exceed six seconds at times, frequent freezes, and overheating. This makes it quite difficult to use. Furthermore, the W6C model seems to exacerbate these issues, as the bezel actions appear to take a few seconds to register within the software, or at least that is the impression. For me, the chipset upgrade in the W7 model is the most compelling reason to consider upgrading from the older generation. The second significant improvement is the upgraded sensor, as the W4 and W6 models share the same sensors. The only distinction lies in the temperature sensor and an infrared LED, which was introduced in the W6 generation to eliminate the need for green light on sleep monitoring...

You’re absolutely right to look past the glossy marketing and ask for real-life feedback, because fall detection is one of those features you really want to know is going to work when it matters. I’ve set up a few different smartwatches with fall detection for older family members, and also wear one myself when hiking solo, so I can definitely give some boots-on-the-ground perspective. The Apple Watch (Series 4 and up) still sets the gold standard when it comes to fall detection. I’ve seen it trigger a few times, once for my mom when she tripped on her porch, and another time when I slipped on icy steps. In both cases, it gave a haptic alert, started the countdown, and if no action was taken, it followed through and sent the emergency call as expected. It also pinged the emergency contacts with location info. That peace of mind is hard to beat. The main catch: you need an iPhone to pair it, and the cost isn’t cheap, especially if you’re getting the cellular model so it can operate independently. For Android users, Samsung Galaxy Watch (especially the Watch 5 and 6) is one of the stronger alternatives. It does have fall detection and can send alerts to emergency contacts, but the setup isn’t quite as intuitive, and the sensitivity seems to vary more than with Apple. My uncle had one and it worked okay, but we had to fine-tune the settings so it didn’t false alarm when he dropped to tie his shoes too fast. That said, the newer Galaxy models have improved that a lot and are generally pretty sleek and comfortable for daily wear. Garmin makes some models with incident detection too, especially for active users. If your concern is fall detection during exercise like cycling, running, or hiking, it’s great. But it’s less ideal for general daily wear or older adults, since the interface isn’t the most senior-friendly and the detection is more tied to activity than general falls. If you're looking for something lightweight, reliable, and not wildly expensive, Samsung is a solid middle ground. But if your priority is emergency handling that just works, Apple Watch still leads the pack. Just make sure the person wearing it understands how the alerts work and how to cancel them if they go off by mistake. That small bit of prep can make a huge difference.

I don't know how it is on the Ultra but I had a Galaxy watch 6 and the damn thing couldn't track my heartrate during a workout. Most of the watch was nice but the fact it couldn't do something a $100 Fitbit could do was a deal breaker

Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 works good for me

"Honestly there are SO many expensive options out there that do NOTHING, go for mid tier options like these 2 since stuff like this strikes a balance between price and features. 1) [The Amazfit one](https://quancoconline.com/dp-B0DHZDCF6WI) this one’s my top pick if you want REALLY GOOD battery life (27+ days), reliable fitness tracking, proper waterproofing, offline maps, and even AI voice control. Like, it does everything you actually need without turning into a second phone but it does not have google play store or third-party apps so if you’re into installing spotify or messaging apps on your watch, this ain’t it. 2) Galaxy watch6 is sleek, very smooth if you’re on a samsung phone, and probably the best looking out of the bunch. The fitness tracking’s good, and notifications are seamless but battery life isn’t great usually around 1–1.5 days tops, so you’ll need to charge it almost daily."

Yeah, the battery on the FE is definitely the shittiest of the current lineup. The FE is actually a rebranded Watch 4, which had a slightly smaller battery and a worse screen than the Watch 6 or Watch 7. Honestly, if you can, it might be worth swapping yours out for a Watch 6 or Watch 7 for the slightly better battery life. I mean, battery is still going to be kind of shit, but at least you should be able to get a single full day out of the 6 or 7. Also, sorry about the haters! I think your nails are fun!

GW 7 and Ultra made a huuuuuuge leap forward in lag. My GW6 was straight up laggy and juddery at times, the GWUltra i have is about as fluid as Apple Watch 8, which is totally fine. I actually prefer many of the GWU health features.

I use the galaxy 6. Came free with my phone. I love it! Sleep tracking is fun. Steps motivate me. Record workouts give a view of your heart rate throughout the workout which I'm always surprised how it dips back towards resting which means I'm resting too much while trying to get exercise. Overall, definitely a net positive.

I also have a Samsung watch6, and it has trouble with the heart monitor because of my tattoos, so I have to wear it like you do when run for the same reasons. I recently got the forerunner 570, and that does a lot better on the outside, but it has to be positioned right.