If you’ve liked the mechanical bezels of the past Galaxy Watch iterations, you will sorely miss it, for sure. The touch gesture ring which sits right under the raised lip of the fixed bezel now is not as precise as a mechanical indent, as expected, but it also blocks part of the screen as your finger tries to get to the desired menu. But, it does have an upside to it too. The lack of any moving part means tighter seals and less dust and water ingress, so for a “pro” watch like the Watch 5, it actually is a step in the right direction, like it or not.
The two side buttons are superbly built, with one acting like a home button which can be customised for a double press, or you could long press it to summon Bixby or power the watch off. The second button is a back key or recent apps view, depending on your selection. The underside of the Watch 5 Pro is also of a different curvature now, aiding in closer contact to the skin, hence making for more accurate readings from the sensors. Along with improved electrical and optical heart rate sensors, there’s also the Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis sensor that skilfully measures your body fat percentage, BMI, and skeletal muscle. It will even let you set goals if the initial readings don’t meet your Insta followers’ approval. There’s also a new skin temperature sensor that Samsung is keeping under wraps until an update to activate it is released later.