Samsung - Galaxy Watch Active 2

Hi OP, I'm in the same boat as you. I even searched yesterday where the cancel preorder button is. I wore pebble Time almost majority of my life and now Galaxy Active 2 for about 3-4 years. I don't like my Galaxy (bulky, bad battery, useless fitness tracking that I don't need, bunch of options, always on display is crap); I did love my Pebble but I kind of feel Pebble is just old tech by now. The only major feature that I need is to answer a damn call on my wrist for 10-20 seconds and Pebble does not have it. My take is keep my preorder if I'm not happy at all with it I will sell it for like $200-180 and pick up an Amazfit or Garmin watch.

3 years ago I picked up a Samsung active 2 used for about $100 off eBay. Still kicking, battery still goes for 1.5 days with average use. I'm not pitching the product, I am suggesting you look into used previous year's models.

I have the samsung galaxy watch active 2 and it has no difficulty reading my heart rate through my tattoo.

Did you enable precise location and wifi and bluetooth scanning? Mine it's active 2 from Samsung and distance is pretty much stanble and good and it's an old Samsung watch. I doubt they lowered their standard.

I had swam several times with my Galaxy 3 active watch until one time when I came out of the pool it was glitching and just dead. I then looked it up and many people had the same issue. I had to "treat" myself to a new watch which I will never wear in the water now, too expensive to risk!

If the time is actually your main concern any $20 Casio looks fine and works fine. If you want an actual tide watch the rip curl next is my favorite and is usually on sale for under $100. The rifles is the same watch but I'm not a fan of the bulky body. If you need smarts like trying to track your actual surfing then like other people said, Apple watch or whatever. You can get an old Samsung active which has some smarts for like $50. The battery life on those watches is ass though. If all you need is time and tide the rip curls are better. 

Hello, i had a Galaxy Watch active for 5 years now. Yesterday i started swimming and the watch died within the first session. It is rated for 5atm, 50m underwarter and even offers swimming wourkouts. I am now looking for another watch to wear while swimming. I found the Garmin Vivoactive 6 but i am sceptical since it has the same water resistent stats as the Galaxy active. Does anyone has experience with the vivoactive for swimming? Also i am taking the Venu 3s into consideration, but i am not sure if there are notable differences, any tips?

I've been rocking a Samsung Active for 4 years and it's been great and tough as hell. I don't think they make it anymore though.

I use a galaxy active watch with a screen protector. Never had an issue

I have a Samsung active! It works 👍

The most accurate Galaxy Watch for health and GPS right now is the 7, but I think money is a constraint for you. If you could get even the small 40mm one in sales it will be better,

Mate, I was pretty frustrated with my old Samsung Galaxy watch for swimming. It had inaccurate lap counting and then attempting to stop using a touch screen with wet hands. 😅 No watch used for swimming should have a touch screen! My Garmin 255 music is great. Accurate and has never messed up with laps and...no touch screen, just buttons that work.