Important points of ZDNET
- The Samsung Galaxy Watch FE LTE is available in three colors for $250.
- The watch is small, supports many health and wellness features, and can be used for communication even if you leave your phone at home.
- A smaller watch means a smaller display, a previous generation processor, and no AI health features.
More purchasing options
With its enhanced durability, advanced features, and big, bold design, I feel like Samsung made the Galaxy Watch Ultra just for me. I spent a few weeks with a much smaller, petite watch that clearly wasn’t made to fit my wrist, but it’s appealing to many others who want to explore the world of smartwatches. This is an option.
Related article: One of the best Android smartwatches I’ve tested falls short of what Samsung and Google offer
The Watch Ultra weighs 61.5 grams. Watch FE LTE Only 25.9 grams. The Watch Ultra’s main dimensions are 47mm, while the Watch FE is only 40.4mm. So, while the Watch FE LTE feels small on my wrist, I find the silicone band very comfortable and the size makes it very useful for sleep tracking.
Samsung offers FE (Fan Edition) smartphones and tablets, and this year’s Galaxy Watch FE will be the first smartwatch to bear that name. The Samsung Galaxy Watch FE LTE is a $250 smartwatch that you can use on the go without having to connect your phone via Bluetooth.
The entry-level smartwatch is reasonably priced considering it has most of the features of the Galaxy Watch 7 and Watch Ultra. The 40mm Watch 7 with LTE costs $350. That means you can get FE for $100 less without compromising too much.
The processor is the same as the Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro. I used a Watch 5 Pro for several years before upgrading to the Watch Ultra, and it’s a perfectly capable processor that gives me the freedom to manipulate the user interface.
Samsung’s BioActive sensors are key components for measuring health and wellness data. The sensors on Watch FE LTE help you track your sleep, electrocardiogram, irregular heart rhythm, blood oxygen, and more. It doesn’t track skin temperature, so this is one of the trade-offs for a smaller, cheaper watch.
The smartwatch with the best battery I’ve tested is also one of the cheapest.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch FE LTE offers the same Wear OS 5.0 and Samsung features as the company’s other watches. This software supports all Google apps, including Messages, Google Assistant, and Google Maps.
The Galaxy Watch FE’s sleep tracking matched what I’ve measured on other watches. After recording your sleep for seven days, Samsung Health will show you what type of sleeper you are with animal and sleep pattern descriptions.
The smaller size of the watch also helps keep the heart rate sensor securely on your wrist during exercise, although larger watches can sometimes slip off. We also found the heart rate sensor to be about the same as other watches.
Also: The best Android smartwatches you can buy: Tested by experts
That said, the GPS tracking isn’t as accurate as any other watch we’ve tested over the past few weeks, and the distance often appears longer than it actually ran or doesn’t follow the route the truck actually took. did. The Watch FE LTE supports four GNSS networks for positioning, but unlike more expensive watches, it doesn’t support dual frequency bands. If you need precise positioning, the Galaxy Watch FE LTE may not be the best choice.
This watch is perfect for step tracking, indoor activities, and other workouts that don’t require precise location. Samsung Health works with Samsung wearable apps to provide a complete health experience based on data collected by Watch FE LTE. Samsung Health also includes a number of free fitness programs, so you can enjoy different workouts at three fitness levels and different fitness goals of your choice.
Finally, the included silicone band is very comfortable and attractive. Changing your watch band is quick and easy with just the press of a single button on the back of your watch band.
ZDNET purchase advice
Although I tend to focus on larger watches that fit my wrist better, this year I’ve been enjoying the opportunity to try out smaller watches as I evaluate watches that my wife and daughter would be happy to use. Smartwatches help you stay in touch, increase awareness of your health, identify upcoming health challenges, monitor women’s health indicators, and motivate you to improve your fitness and performance.
of Samsung Galaxy Watch FE LTE is an affordable small watch option for the masses, and it’s good to see Samsung continue to offer a variety of watch options to suit each person’s lifestyle and price range.
