Samsung offers two models in its Galaxy Watch series at present: the Galaxy Watch 5 and the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro. The latter is a recent addition to the lineup and is designed to be tough enough to handle harsh environments. However, even the basic Galaxy Watch 5 has a tougher screen and a larger battery than the Galaxy Watch 4 series.
Price and availability
The Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is appropriately named, as it carries a “pro” price tag that starts at $450. Adding LTE connectivity will cost another $50. This makes the Watch 5 Pro significantly more expensive than the Galaxy Watch 5, which has a starting price of $280. The 44mm variant of the Watch 5 model is priced at $310, which is $39 more than the smaller size.
The Galaxy Watch 5 is more expensive than the Watch 4, which is reasonable considering its sapphire crystal glass and longer battery life. However, it may be difficult to justify the $170 premium of the Watch 5 Pro over the Watch 5 for the same reasons. Both watches have a durable build and a long-lasting battery that can easily last for several years.
You can purchase both watches from various retailers, including Amazon, Flipkart, and Samsung’s own website.
Hardware and design
The Galaxy Watch 5 is offered in 40mm and 44mm sizes, while the Watch 5 Pro is only available in a 45mm casing. The Watch 5 shares a similar appearance with the Watch 4, but Samsung has slightly modified the underside’s curve to enhance the watch’s contact with your wrist. The Watch 5’s case is made of aluminum, whereas the Watch 5 Pro is made of titanium. Both models use a sapphire crystal glass that is claimed to be 1.6 times stronger than the one used in the Galaxy Watch 4 series.
The Watch 5 Pro’s sturdier construction makes it thicker and heavier than the base model. The Watch 5 Pro weighs 46.5g and measures 10.5mm, while the Watch 5 weighs 28.7g and is 9.8mm thick. Both watches have IP68 + 5ATM certification, which means they can be worn while swimming.
Unlike the Watch 5, the Watch 5 Pro features a D-Buckle Sport Band, which some users may find a bit difficult to use. Both the Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro models use 20mm watch bands, allowing you to replace the band if the included band is too tight or too loose on your wrist.
The Watch 5 Pro’s larger design may not be ideal for people with smaller wrists. Even the 40mm Watch 5 might be too big for some with slender wrists, as the included band with its shaped ends may prevent it from rotating enough for a good fit. You can opt for a high-quality 20mm watch strap with flat ends to resolve this issue. If you don’t like bulky watches, the standard Galaxy Watch 5 might be a better option for you.
Software / OS
Both the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 and the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro operate on One UI Watch 4.5, which is based on Wear OS 3.5. This software has some similarities to the Tizen operating system that previous Galaxy Watches from Samsung used, but it also has access to the Play Store. The software experience is identical for both models, and Samsung has committed to supporting them until 2026, for up to four years after their launch.