Despite being around for almost two years since it was released in August 2018, the Galaxy Watch is still one of the best smartwatches you can buy today. For one, it runs on the same Tizen 4 as Active 2 and was also updated with most of the UX features on Active 2. You can get the Galaxy Watch in two sizes; 42mm and 46mm. Each of these two is available in LTE or Bluetooth only. In this post, I compare the Samsung Galaxy Watch Bluetooth vs LTE to find out the differences.
Samsung Galaxy Watch (46mm) LTE vs Bluetooth: Specs Comparison
| Samsung Galaxy Watch (46mm) (LTE) | Samsung Galaxy Watch (46mm) (Bluetooth) | |
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ABOUT DEVICE |
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| Device name | Samsung Galaxy Watch (46mm) | Samsung Galaxy Watch (46mm) |
| Device type | Classic/Fitness/Standalone smartwatch | Classic/Fitness/Standalone smartwatch |
| Predecessor | Samsung Gear S3 | Samsung Gear S3 |
| Successor | N/A | N/A |
| Date Released | August, 2018 | August, 2018 |
| Gender | Men | Men |
WHERE TO BUY |
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DISPLAY |
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| Display size | 1.3 inch | 1.3 inch |
| Display type | Super AMOLED Full color |
Super AMOLED Full color |
| Display resolution | 360 x 360 pixels | 360 x 360 pixels |
| Pixel density | 278 ppi | 278 ppi |
| Display always-on | Yes | Yes |
| Input type | Touchscreen, 2 physical buttons physical rotating bezel |
Touchscreen, 2 physical buttons physical rotating bezel |
BODY |
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| Shape | Circular | Circular |
| Casing material | Stainless steel/glass reinforced with polycarbonate | Stainless steel/glass reinforced with polycarbonate |
| Strap material | Silicone (leather straps also available) |
Silicone (leather straps also available) |
| Bezel Material | Ceramics | Ceramics |
| Weight | 63 grams | 63 grams |
| Color(s) | Black and silver | Black and silver |
| Dimension | 46 x 49 x 13 mm | 46 x 49 x 13 mm |
| Strap size | 22 mm | 22 mm |
| Screen protection | Corning Gorilla glass DX+ | Corning Gorilla glass DX+ |
| Durability test | MIL-STD-810G | MIL-STD-810G |
| Waterproof rating | Yes, IP68, 5ATM MIL-STD-810G |
Yes, IP68, 5ATM MIL-STD-810G |
CLOCK FEATURES |
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| Time/Date | Yes | Yes |
| Alarm | Yes | Yes |
| Stopwatch | Yes | Yes |
MEMORY |
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| RAM | 1.5GB (LTE) | 0.75GB (non-LTE) |
| Internal storage | 4GB | 4GB |
| Memory card slot | No | No |
MEDIA |
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| Audio | mp3/mp4 | mp3/mp4 |
| Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Camera | No | No |
| Music streaming | Yes | Yes |
CONNECTIVITY |
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| Bluetooth | Bluetooth v4.2 | Bluetooth v4.2 |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth calling | Yes | Yes |
NOTIFICATIONS |
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| Calls alert | Yes | Yes |
| SMS alert | Yes | Yes |
| Email alert | Yes | Yes |
| Reminder | Yes | Yes |
CELLULAR CONNECTIVITY |
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| Network Technology | GSM/HSPA/LTE | None |
| SIM | Yes, e-SIM | None |
FITNESS TRACKING |
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| Steps | Yes | Yes |
| Distance | Yes | Yes |
| Calories | Yes | Yes |
| Floors climbed | Yes | Yes |
| Sleep tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Heart rate monitoring | Yes | Yes |
| VO2 Max. | Yes | Yes |
| Stress | Yes | Yes |
| Swim tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Menstrual cycle tracking | No | No |
| Blood pressure | No | No |
| ECG Tracking | No | No |
| Blood oxygen | No | No |
| Preloaded sport modes | Yes | Yes |
PLATFORM |
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| Operating system | Tizen OS 4.0 | Tizen OS 4.0 |
| CPU | Dual core 1.15GHz | Dual core 1.15GHz |
| GPU | -- | -- |
| Chipset | Exynos 9110 | Exynos 9110 |
SENSORS |
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| GPS | GLONASS/A-GPS | GLONASS/A-GPS |
| Accelerometer | Yes | Yes |
| Gyroscope | Yes | Yes |
| Heart rate sensor | Yes | Yes |
| Barometer | Yes | Yes |
| Compass | No | No |
| Pulse Ox. | No | No |
| Altimeter | -- | -- |
| ECG | No | No |
| Thermometer | No | No |
| Ambient light | Yes | Yes |
OTHER FUNCTIONS |
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| Interchangeable straps | Yes, 22mm | Yes, 22mm |
| Custom watch face | Yes | Yes |
| Voice Assistant | Yes | Yes |
| Compatibility | Android 5.0+ & RAM 1.5GB+ iPhone 5+ and iOS 9.0+ |
Android 5.0+ & RAM 1.5GB+ iPhone 5+ and iOS 9.0+ |
| Payment system | Samsung pay | Samsung pay |
| Companion app | Samsung Gear app | Samsung Gear app |
BATTERY |
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| Battery type | Non-removable Li-ion battery | Non-removable Li-ion battery |
| Battery capacity | 472mAh | 472mAh |
| Est. battery life | Standby :5 days+, Mixed usage: 2 days+ |
Standby :5 days+, Mixed usage: 2 days+ |
| Charging mode | WPC based wireless charging | WPC based wireless charging |
| Charging duration | About 1-2 hours | About 1-2 hours |
BOX CONTENTS |
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| Samsung Galaxy Watch (46mm) | Samsung Galaxy Watch (46mm) | |
| Straps | Straps | |
| Charging dock | Charging dock | |
| Quick start guide | Quick start guide | |
Samsung Galaxy Watch (46mm) LTE vs Bluetooth: Video Comparison
Samsung Galaxy Watch (46mm) LTE vs Bluetooth: The Difference
- The design on the LTE and Bluetooth is the same, it’s same colorful AMOLED display, physical rotating bezel, and stainless steel material for the case. The 22/24mm straps are the same on both sizes.
- The fitness tracking features are also the same, you can expect any of these two to track your steps, floors climbed, calories, heart rate, sleep, outdoor activities like routes and locations.
- However, the difference between the Bluetooth and LTE model is the presence of cellular connectivity on the LTE model which the Bluetooth model lacks. As a result, the LTE model is a standalone smartwatch that allows you to make and receive calls directly from the watch.
- You can also make and receive calls from the Bluetooth model, but it must be connected to your phone which can cause some level of inconvenience especially while running or in the middle of another activity.
- The LTE model also has a higher 1.5GB RAM compared to 0.76GB of the Bluetooth model. I can really say how this affects performance on the LTE model, but from my experience, the Bluetooth model has one of the best and flawless performance I’ve seen on different smartwatches. Mind you, LTE isn’t available in every country of the world.
- On average, the Bluetooth only Galaxy watch 46mm can go up to 4 days from a single charge, this is higher than that of the 42mm of 2 days or more. You can expect the LTE models to go a little less than this considering the cellular features.
Which is Better?
I’m not a fan of standalone smartwatches because I think it complicates what a watch should be, but there are people who like standalone functionality in smartwatches probably because of the convenience and freedom it gives the phone. If you’re like me, the Bluetooth model is a great choice, while the LTE is a more comprehensive smartwatch and a great choice for anyone that fancies standalone features, but will cost you some extra bucks.