What Samsung Galaxy Watch5 Pro offers to fitness enthusiasts (& non-enthusiasts like me)

The first thing I noticed when I got my hands on Samsung’s Galaxy Watch5 Pro was its magnetic D-buckle clasp.

As someone who is easily disgruntled by the inconvenience of putting on a watch, I found the D-buckle clasp to provide a swift and seamless experience while minimising the bulk that comes with typical pin buckles. This instantly made the watch a lot more wearable in my opinion.

Available in a single 45mm size and in two colourways (Black Titanium and Gray Titanium), the Galaxy Watch5 Pro differs in a few ways from the non-pro version.

Aside from the clasp that I love, this Pro watch also features an upgraded material and battery life.

Having used it for a couple of days, here’s what I can tell you about the Galaxy Watch5 Pro right off the bat.

A slight hiccup for me, an iPhone user

This may be a point of contention, but I’m an iPhone user, which has proved to be a recurring issue when it comes to testing out certain Android accessories, the Galaxy Watch5 Pro included.

While the Apple App Store features a Samsung Watch app, newer models aren’t actually available or compatible with it.

This makes perfect sense, as Apple’s own watch series is exclusive to iOS as well. But in the excitement to try out the Galaxy Watch5 Pro, I had neglected this little detail.

To work around this obstacle, I ended up borrowing my grandmother’s Samsung phone to test out the watch. Pairing it was quick and easy (if you discount the time I took to work out the logistics of my grandmother’s phone first).

A good sport for sporty people

Judging by the marketing of the smartwatch, it’s clear that the Watch5 Pro is intended for those who are into fitness.

On top of GPS route tracking and auto workout training, the build of the watch itself has been upgraded to accommodate a rougher, more outdoorsy lifestyle. The Watch5 Pro features a Sapphire crystal glass face that’s supposedly two times tougher.

Perhaps most importantly, though, is the Galaxy Watch5 Pro’s 590mAh (typical) battery. This is definitely superior compared to the non-Pro 410mAh (typical) battery for the large watch and 284mAh (typical) for the small one.

I’m sure this is heaven-sent for those who like to be active and go on intense adventures. But it’s also wonderful for me, who just doesn’t like charging her devices regularly.

According to my research online, many smartwatches designed for outdoor activities typically have input delay and lag challenges. But the Watch5 Pro definitely did not have this issue.

While the taps and the swipes are smooth, the gesture I like best is the bezel. It’s not a rotating bezel per se, but the curved edge between the glass watch face and the titanium casing is responsive, which lets you imitate a rotating dial so the actual watch face can stay visible and clean.

A larger, more purposeful design

I can envision the Galaxy Watch5 Pro to be ideal for those who want a watch for fitness. But if you’re looking for more of a lifestyle watch, perhaps the Galaxy Watch5 would be a better deal.

This is especially if you have a slender wrist since the non-Pro version comes in a smaller 40mm or 44mm size, and a Pink Gold colourway for those who like a more elegant look.

With that said, the 45mm smartwatch didn’t feel clunky or big on me at all. It actually felt quite lightweight on my wrist, so I was surprised to find that the watch supposedly clocks in at 76.4g with the band in size M/L, as it feels lighter than that.

In any case, the bigger size apparently allows for better wrist sensors for health tracking purposes. Although, I haven’t been able to try out certain features of the watch, particularly the more intense ones.

I’ll soon be getting my hands on a Samsung phone for that though, so stay tuned for a full review of the RM1,899 Galaxy Watch5 Pro.