The Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 4 Classic are Samsung’s latest smartwatches. Based on Google and Samsung’s new unified platform, One UI Watch, which includes both Tizen and Wear OS elements, the smartwatches are pretty different in one significant aspect from the Tizen and Wear OS smartwatches: they don’t support iPhones, at all. Not a single iPhone, iPad, or other iOS device is supported with the new watches, so Apple users best look at a good Apple Watch as their companion wearable.
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Supported devices for the Galaxy Watch 4 series
The device support on the Galaxy Watch 4 series doesn’t ditch just the iPhone. The smartwatches will also not work with Android phones that don’t include Google Mobile Services (GMS). This means Huawei Android phones that don’t have GMS are out of luck, and Android (Go Edition) phones are also not supported. You’ll need a device with Android 6.0 or newer and 1.5GB RAM to use with the Watch 4 series.
It's unclear why Google and Samsung have decided to skip iPhone support when Tizen and Wear OS support iOS devices.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 series specifications
The Galaxy Watch 4 series is powered by an Exynos W920 processor. It comes with 1.5GB of RAM and 16GB of storage. The Galaxy Watch 4 is offered in 40mm and 44mm, whereas the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic comes in 42mm and 46mm sizes. Both smartwatches have Super AMOLED screens with Corning Gorilla Glass with DX+.
The company has included its new BioActive Sensor in the Galaxy Watch 4 series to collect optical heart rate, electrical heart rate, and bioelectrical impedance analysis data for health-related features. The smartwatch then uses it to monitor blood pressure, detect an AFib irregular heartbeat, measure blood oxygen level, and calculate body composition.
Samsung has also packed its One UI Watch on the smartwatches. It ensures the compatible watch app automatically installs when you download that app on your smartphone.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 4
Samsung Galaxy Watch 4
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 is a new âWear OS Powered by Samsungâ smartwatch. It comes in 40mm and 44mm sizes.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic
Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic comes in 42mm and 46mm sizes. It also runs on the new âWear OS Powered by Samsungâ platform.
Are you planning to get the Galaxy Watch 4 or Galaxy Watch 4 Classic? Let us know in the comments section. If you're wondering how these new smartwatches stack up against the Apple Watch 6, make sure to read our comparison. We've also compiled the best Galaxy Watch 4 bands.
If you have been interested in buying the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 yet own an iPhone, we've got some bad news for you – the new smartwatch from Samsung, and its Watch 5 Pro sibling, aren't compatible with iOS.
This isn't just speculation, as Samsung has confirmed as much on its support page (opens in new tab), listing the two new watches under "not compatible with iOS."
This isn't a huge surprise as the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 devices didn't work with iPhones, but when we learned that last year we were quite shocked, as many previous Samsung wearables did.
Why won't the Watch 4 or Watch 5 devices work with iPhones or iOS devices? Well, while Samsung hasn't commented on that matter, people have speculated that it's because these smartwatches run Wear OS 3, while previous ones used Tizen.
Tizen was made by Samsung, whereas Wear OS 3 is built by Google (though Samsung did make its own spin on the software for its new smartwatches), though other Wear OS 3 watches haven't excluded iOS users.
With Apple being one of the dominant players in the smartwatch market, Samsung is damaging its chances of rivaling its US-based competitor if lots of potential users can't actually connect to its watches. That's doubly the case when you consider how many iPhone users there are, who now won't even consider buying the Galaxy Watch 5.
Saying that, if you own an iPhone and want a new smartwatch, there are plenty of options beyond the Apple Watch. In fact, we've got a list of the best smartwatches you can check out to find inspiration.