Galaxy Watch 5: My best tips and tricks

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 and the Watch 5 Pro have been on the market for a few months now. Here are my tips and tricks to get even more out of your Galaxy Watch 5. My personal favorite trick is right at the end.

The tips at a glance

1. SmartThings on the watch: With Samsung’s SmartThings app, you control Samsung devices like a fridge, washing machine or TV with a smartphone or tablet. The app is also available for the Galaxy Watch. So you can, for example, control the TV when the remote is once again lying next to the TV.

2. Watch as a trackpad: The Galaxy Watch can also be used to operate smartphones, tablets or laptops, with the watch acting as a trackpad like a mouse. For that, you download the app PPT Control from the Play Store. It is only available for the Galaxy Watch, so make sure to look for the smartwatch version when you search. I even use it to control my MacBook. There’s a dedicated function for clicking through PowerPoint presentations, handy when I’ve forgotten my laser pointer at work again.

3. Control the camera: The camera app of your Samsung smartphone can be triggered remotely with the watch, and you can even set the focus. This is probably the feature I use the most on my Galaxy Watch.

4. Google Assistant on the Bixby button: Google Assistant is available on the Galaxy Watch 4 and 5. In the advanced settings, you can finally assign it to the Bixby button. If you press and hold the top button, Google Assistant starts instead of Bixby.

5. Quick launch with your wrist: In the advanced settings, you set a specific app to start when you shake your wrist. For me, it’s the timer app, because I often need it while cooking and then have wet or sticky hands. You can also set it so that you accept an incoming call by moving your arm up and down, or decline it by shaking your wrist.

6. Download Spotify playlists: If you have Spotify installed on the Galaxy Watch 4 or 5, you can download playlists to the watch. If you pair your Galaxy Buds via Bluetooth, you listen to music straight from the watch and don’t need a smartphone, for example during a workout or when out for a walk.

7. Have notifications read aloud: With connected Galaxy Buds, you can have notifications read out to you and reply to them by voice command. Messages are only read aloud when you are wearing the Galaxy Buds, otherwise it could get embarrassing.

8. Charge the watch with your smartphone (my tip of the year): Simply plug the Galaxy Watch charging cable into your Android device. I think reverse wireless charging is great too, but the watch often slips on the back, especially on a glass back like on my Galaxy Z Flip 4. Also, you can’t use the smartphone during that time. I’m thrilled that I can now charge my Galaxy Watch with my smartphone on the go. With the battery life, that is unfortunately necessary from time to time.

Verdict

Those were my personal tips and tricks for the Galaxy Watch 5. I find charging the watch through the smartphone, the camera control and the quick launch with your wrist especially handy.