Lab – Galaxy Watch 5 and 5 Pro watches much thicker than announced by Samsung

Revealed just a week ago, Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 5 Pro promise better battery life, thanks in particular to larger batteries. However, if we look at their data sheets, the thickness of the Galaxy Watch 5 40 and 44 mm would not have increased compared to the Galaxy Watch 4, suggesting that Samsung has managed to gain some space in the cases. of its watches — by reducing the volume of the electronics or the thickness of the materials, for example — or quite simply uses a battery with better energy density. Despite looking effectively identical to the Galaxy Watch 4, for goodness sake we checked the thickness of the Galaxy Watch 5 with our caliper, with a surprise in store.

Before presenting our measurements, it should be noted that the thicknesses of the connected watches indicated by many manufacturers do not include the sensor islands which protrude from them most of the time. An Apple Watch is thus given for 10.7 mm, while it is 13.1 if measured with a caliper with the thickness of its sensors. In the case of the Galaxy Watches however, and in particular the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, the story is quite different.

The thickness of the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro has indeed challenged us and prompted us to carry out some investigations. Announced at 10.5 mm, the latter seems much thicker, even if we disregard its island of sensors. So to speak, as comfortable as it is to wear — we’ll get to that when it’s fully tested — the watch felt as thick as the latest multisport watches. outdoors that we tested (Garmin Epix Gen 2, Polar Grit X Pro, Amazfit T-Rex 2).

For its part, the non-“Pro” Galaxy Watch 5 seems less thick, but not particularly thin, despite a technical sheet announcing less than 10 mm thick. So how can Samsung display respective thicknesses of 9.8 mm and 10.5 mm for its Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 5 Pro? Here is the answer in pictures.

A question of design and method

As can be seen in the photo above, the measurement announced by Samsung corresponds to the distance between the surface of the glass and the start of the rounding of the bottom of the case.

Although this is not really shocking, insofar as a good part of this curvature sinks into the skin once the watch is tightened on the wrist, it still seems somewhat presumptuous to us to announce a thickness of 9, 8 mm even though the overall thickness of the Galaxy Watch 5 is in fact close to that of an Apple Watch (whose official thickness is announced at 10.7 mm from the Series 4).

Samsung can justify this way of measuring the thickness of its watch by the virtual absence of demarcation between its sensor island and its caseback, especially since the infrared body temperature sensor is placed next to the island major. The design of the watch is in question here.

A much greater difference in thickness for the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro

We won’t make a big fuss about the Galaxy Watch 5 40 and 44 mm, especially since it didn’t shock us when testing the Galaxy Watch 4. On the other hand, we can legitimately be taken aback by the thickness of the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, announced at only 10.5 mm despite the integration of a large 590 mAh battery.

The watch actually measures no less than 13.8 mm if we take into account the thickness of the case back, which is rounded until it reaches the sensor island. It is thus more than 3 mm that are deliberately subtracted from the thickness measurement.

If we add the island of sensors, we even reach around 15.2 mm, almost the same thickness as a Garmin Epix Gen 2 – announced at 14.5 mm and measured by us at 15.7 mm taking into account its island of sensors.

Comfort above all

Although the method for calculating the thickness of a watch is standardized, we can therefore see that a simple question of design can benefit a watch in its technical data sheet. A rounded caseback incorporating an island of sensors with little demarcation can thus be a game-changer, as is the case for the Galaxy Watch 5.

We find this regrettable, because consumers cannot therefore trust the values ​​announced by the manufacturers. We will therefore be even more vigilant in the future when it comes to official technical characteristics. Moreover, if the thinness of a watch is important, its shape and its mass are at least as important in the assessment of its comfort. On this aspect, we can already say that the Galaxy Watch 5 watches are fortunately very pleasant to wear, although they are not as thin as expected.