Final 12 months’s Samsung Galaxy Watch Extremely was my favourite Google WearOS smartwatch, so once I noticed the 2025 Watch Extremely with its new blue and orange coloration scheme that matches my USCG navy service colours, I had to purchase it.
It seems that the brand new coloration scheme (and twice the interior storage quantity) are the one {hardware} variations between the 2024 and 2025 Watch Extremely fashions, so if you do not have a burning need for the colour then search for the 2024 mannequin which may be out there at a reduced value.
That being stated, there are a handful of recent software program options with Samsung’s new One UI 8 replace, together with Operating Coach, Google Gemini (out there with a press and maintain of a button), antioxidant measurements from the center fee sensor, and vascular load help.
Simply be aware that none of those software program options are restricted to the 2025 Galaxy Watch Extremely, so there aren’t many compelling causes to buy the most recent mannequin.
Nonetheless, in the event you’re on the lookout for extra storage, increasing from 32GB to the brand new mannequin’s 64GB could also be essential sufficient for some folks to spring for the brand new watch.
One motive I just like the Watch Extremely is the built-in LTE service so I can run safely with out my cellphone and I additionally use the watch to retailer downloaded Spotify music to take pleasure in with bone conduction headsets. With the 2025 Watch Extremely I can now load it up with an enormous assortment of media content material to inspire me to maneuver.
With the addition of so many new apps for the Watch Extremely, that additional cupboard space is perhaps extra priceless than you’d first assume. For instance, media playback apps like Spotify are a should for a lot of, whereas health monitoring apps like Strava, Map My Run, or Hole19 are a number of the most downloaded.
All of those take up area, and the good thing about that additional storage in the end means extra selections. That is particularly helpful with my new Z Fold 7 that serves as a mini pill whereas the Watch Extremely serves as my communication triage machine.
I take pleasure in operating and after a few weeks, I discovered the Samsung Operating Coach to satisfy my humble wants. I’m not going to win any races, however I just like the audible steerage and customized teaching that this characteristic supplies, particularly when it takes me two weeks to finish every week of a coaching plan. The Operating Coach does not stress me to run extra usually, however is there to slot in with my schedule and help my efforts to enhance my efficiency and practice with some variable routines.
Whereas it’s good that each years of the Galaxy Watch Extremely help the antioxidant index, I’ve but to see any outcome aside from “Low”, which leaves me to query the utility of this metric. Even once I spend a day consuming salads and fruit, my index worth does not change, and I’m not getting any worth out of this take a look at.
Vascular load is attention-grabbing to me since I’m now 56 and coronary heart well being is extra essential now than up to now. Samsung does a greater job than others at offering you with data on what every metric means and methods in which you’ll enhance for higher well being.
When evaluating this watch to others, I attempted out the Galaxy Watch 8 Basic for a few weeks and whereas I like the fluid rotating bezel, the small show and restricted battery life didn’t fulfill me sufficient to surrender the Galaxy Watch Extremely. Samsung made this huge look ahead to folks like me and the $650 value remains to be $150 lower than the Apple Watch Extremely 2.
ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation
Because of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, I’m again to utilizing an Android as my main smartphone and with that transfer, the 2025 Samsung Galaxy Watch Extremely is the right companion.
The lengthy battery life, correct GPS monitoring and coronary heart fee measurements whereas operating, and massive watch that matches my wrist nicely implies that I’ve a mixture to cowl all of my adventures. I do know that the colour of one thing is probably not an enormous deal to many individuals, however the truth that I can exhibit my school and navy service colours results in conversations concerning the USCG and wearable expertise.
