Galaxy Watch 6 Classic long-term review: if it weren't for this one thing

The Galaxy Watch 6 Classic is my personal go-to smartwatch, my daily driver for the wrist. I’ve had it in continuous use since launch. A mega great watch, if it weren’t for one thing that’s a real turn-off: the battery.

The battery: the big criticism

I use the 43 mm version, which my wrist can just about handle. It has a 300 mAh battery that, in combination with the new processor, is supposed to last 40 hours without the always-on display according to Samsung. By the skin of its teeth, I get a maximum of 32 to 36 hours, as much as on the Galaxy Watch 5. For me that’s a problem, because I have to charge the watch once a day, otherwise it dies on me in the middle of the next day. I know that Apple users smile wearily because they know the problem from the Apple Watch. But I refuse to measure myself against something worse just because it’s Apple. For the Galaxy Watch 7, I wish for a really good battery upgrade.

Why I wear it every day anyway

Build and design. The watch is extremely high-quality and solidly built. The bright 1.3-inch Super AMOLED display is framed by a high-quality bezel that you can finally turn tactilely again on the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic. The look is classic and timelessly beautiful. I like it best when a smartwatch looks more like a watch than like a small computer. I would have liked to see a gold version, because I wear only gold-colored jewelry, but that’s a matter of taste.

At 1.9 cm, the Classic isn’t a flat watch, but it weighs only 52 g, which is pleasantly light despite the size. It’s a statement piece, and I get asked about it often.

Performance and bezel. Thanks to the Exynos W930, the watch is really fast and responds quickly to input via the touch display or bezel. Instead of mashing around on the display with your fingers, you elegantly turn the bezel and get subtle mechanical feedback. The bezel looks elegant, is practical to operate and protects the display from scratches and bumps. Surprisingly, the watch is dust- and waterproof despite the bezel. The 43 mm Bluetooth version costs €419.

Features. We already know the most important features from the Galaxy Watch 5; not that much has changed compared to the predecessor. A future update is supposed to bring a heart rate alert for irregularities and fall detection like on the Apple Watch. I find both super sensible. Phone calls work great: without a smartphone, you can conveniently call via the speaker, and the person I’m talking to understands me very well.

Tracking. I use the watch mainly for sleep and workout tracking, which works exceedingly accurately. For both, there is extensive coaching in the app and on the watch. The automatic workout detection delights me again and again: within a few minutes, it recognizes when I’m cycling, walking, running or on the cross trainer, and asks whether I want to start the workout. Good, because I always forget that.

Straps. There are straps for the Galaxy Watch 6 that match the cases of the new smartphones like the Z Flip 5 and Z Fold 5. The new straps have a new clasp, but the mount on the watch has stayed the same. So you can keep using old straps.

Verdict

I love the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic because it has an insanely stylish, high-quality, elegant and classic design and works flawlessly. I would have liked to have it in gold, and the battery is, as I said, the point that doesn’t fit.