Samsung announced two versions of its Galaxy Watch 5[1] this year, but unlike previous years where we saw a standard model and one with a physical rotating bezel, Samsung is doing away with the physical dial and has introduced a "Pro" model.
The Pro marketing of this watch is a bit over the top, with Samsung doing its fair share of promoting how much better the Watch 5 Pro is for outdoor adventures than the standard Watch 5 model. It physically has a harder sapphire glass display, titanium watch case, and much larger capacity battery, so these may help it withstand a bit more abuse.
A couple of software features round out the "Pro" moniker such as the ability to import GPX files for hiking and biking while also having your return routes automatically mapped out for when you forget to do it yourself. I'll talk more below about the extensive process to use GPX files, but it's clear that the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is not going to challenge your Garmin, Coros, or Polar GPS sports watch for outdoor adventures and multi-day use for workouts.
That said, I've gone hiking, running, and even sleeping with the Black Titanium Galaxy Watch 5 Pro[2] over the past five days and have built a fair understanding of what Samsung is trying to do with the new watch. And while it may be the company's latest smartwatch -- and the first to go Pro -- there are a few shortcomings that I'd like to be proven wrong about as I further test it and finalize the review rating.
Specifications
| Display | 1.4-inch 450x450 pixels resolution Super AMOLED touchscreen |
|---|---|
| Processor | Samsung Exynos W920 dual-core |
| Materials | Titanium body with Sapphire Crystal |