Samsung has recently unveiled the newest addition to its Galaxy Watch line-up: the Galaxy Watch FE.
Designed to “extend Samsung’s advanced and holistic wellness experience to even more users” the Galaxy Watch FE is an entry-level model compared to other watches in the company’s range.
How does the new Watch FE compare to the four-star rated Galaxy Watch 6? We’ve compared the specs of the new entry-level smartwatch to the existing mainstream option to help you decide which one might suit your needs best.
The Galaxy Watch 6 has an Infrared Temperature Sensor
The Galaxy Watch 6 includes an Infrared Temperature Sensor for cycle tracking. Powered by Natural Cycles, the team behind the natural birth control system, Cycle Tracking on Galaxy Watch 6 works by taking your nightly skin temperature from your watch while you sleep, to then predict the dates of your period and other hormonal cycles.
This feature is missing entirely from the Galaxy Watch FE, although you can track your own menstrual cycle through the Galaxy Health app or through third party apps downloaded from the Google Play Store.
The Galaxy Watch 6 has a faster processor
The Galaxy Watch FE has the same CPU speed found in the previous Galaxy Watch 5, at 1.18GHz. Although we haven’t reviewed the Watch FE yet, we did find the Galaxy Watch 5 to be virtually unchanged to the “fast and fluid” Galaxy Watch 4.
However, the Galaxy Watch 6 boasts an upgrade from its predecessors, with a CPU speed of 1.4GHz which Samsung promises to be 18% faster. As we found the Galaxy Watch 5 “never felt slow”, we were “hard pressed to see a major leap in performance”. Even so, the Galaxy Watch 6 is still smooth and speedy in everyday use.
The Galaxy Watch 6 has a larger battery
The Galaxy Watch 6 has a battery capacity of 300mAh, which Samsung claims should result in up to 40 hours of battery life with the Always On Display (AOD) off. However, we found the battery to be disappointing and concluded that although it did last comfortably for one day, we couldn’t “see any scenario where you could genuinely get two days of use out of the Galaxy Watch 6.”
The Galaxy Watch FE battery is slightly less at 247mAh. Although we haven’t reviewed this model yet, seeing as it battery capacity is smaller than the Watch 6, we’d be concerned about its longevity.
The Galaxy Watch 6 is available in two sizes
The Galaxy Watch FE is available in just one size, a 40mm model. Instead, the Watch 6 comes in a choice of two sizes: 40mm and 44mm.
The 44mm boasts a slightly larger display at 1.5-inches compared to the 1.2-inch Watch FE, however all sizes include a SuperAMOLED screen and are fitted with Sapphire Crystal which promises to withstand scratches and drops.
The Galaxy Watch FE is cheaper
Naturally as the entry-level model, the Galaxy Watch FE is the cheaper of the two, with an RRP of £199/$199.99. The 40mm Galaxy Watch 6’s RRP is £289/$299.99 and the 44mm version starts at £319/$329.99.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
