Galaxy Watch 4 Vs. Galaxy Watch 4 Classic: Every Difference Explained

The Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 4 Classic are two of the best smartwatches Samsung has ever released — but which one is ultimately worth buying? Samsung’s journey in the smartwatch niche has been fascinating to follow. The original Samsung Gear lineup of watches started with pretty mixed reactions. After a couple of years, however, Samsung learned its lessons and started crafting truly excellent wearables. That continued in 2018 when Samsung switched to the ‘Galaxy Watch’ branding. Since then, Samsung’s smartwatches have stood out as some of the very best options for folks in the Android space.

Fast forward to 2021, and Samsung’s shaking things up once again with the Galaxy Watch 4 series. Where almost all of its previous watches were powered by its own Tizen operating system, the Galaxy Watch 4 uses a new version of Wear OS. It has a refined interface, improved notification handling, and much better app support. To usher in the all-new platform, Samsung has two distinct models available: the Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 4 Classic. Both watches have extremely different designs and very similar specs/features — making the buying decision easier said than done.

The most substantial difference between the Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 4 Classic is the hardware. The Watch 4 is made out of aluminum and has a decidedly minimalistic aesthetic. The case is very sleek with no intricate patterns/designs, there’s minimal bezel surrounding the display, and it’s available in a handful of fun colors (silver, black, green, and pink gold). The Watch 4 Classic, by comparison, is much more sophisticated. It has the same general shape as the regular Watch 4, though it swaps out the aluminum case for a stainless steel one. It also has larger side buttons, a physically rotating bezel around the display, and numbers etched into the border around the screen to mimic a traditional wristwatch.

Other Differences Between The Galaxy Watch 4 & Watch 4 Classic

In addition to these aesthetic changes, the unique designs of the Watch 4 and Watch 4 Classic also come with some practical differences. For folks who want their smartwatch to be as small and lightweight as possible, the Galaxy Watch 4 is the best choice. It’s available in 40 and 44mm case options weighing 26 and 30g, respectively. The Galaxy Watch 4 Classic comes in 42 and 46mm sizes that weigh 47 and 52g.

Elsewhere, the Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 4 Classic are identical. They’re powered by the W920 processor, AMOLED display technology, 1.5GB of RAM, and 16GB of storage. All of the health features are also the same. Both watches can track all-day activity, sleep, heart rate, and a ton more. For users who want to take an even deeper dive into their health, the Watch 4 and Watch 4 Classic can also track ECG, SpO2 levels, and even full body composition. Combine all of that with built-in GPS, optional LTE, NFC for Samsung Pay, and a 5ATM water resistance rating, and it’s safe to say the Watch 4 and Watch 4 Classic are pretty well-equipped.

With all that in mind, this ultimately comes down to a decision of hardware preference. The regular Galaxy Watch 4 is the best choice for someone who wants a clean, simple wearable for themselves. It’s an attractive smartwatch and isn’t nearly as boisterous as its Classic sibling. The aluminum case also makes the Watch 4 ideal for workout enthusiasts, keeping it lightweight and comfortable even while someone’s breaking a sweat. Perhaps even more important for many people, the Watch 4 is the cheapest of the duo with a $249 starting price. For someone who would rather have their watch act as a fashion accessory, that’s where the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic comes into play. It’s heavier and bulkier than the regular Galaxy Watch 4, but its added design elements give it a sense of class some shoppers will find hard to ignore — even with the higher $349 asking price. So long as someone buys the watch that fits their needs and lifestyle the best, the Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 4 Classic are both excellent wearables that are easy to recommend.

Source: Samsung

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Joe Maring
(1516 Articles Published)

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Joe has been actively writing and talking about consumer tech since 2012. His biggest passion lies with smartphones, but he’s happy to talk your ear off about just about anything with a CPU. He lives in Kalamazoo, MI with his wife, two cats, and pit bull/boxer mix.

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