Bearing in mind that humans have different wrist sizes, manufacturers of smartwatches and traditional watches can make 2 or more different sizes of the same watch to give you the end user the option to choose your preferred size. That’s the case with the Galaxy Watch 6 which like its predecessor, the Galaxy Watch 5 also comes in two sizes; 40mm and 44mm. So what’s the difference and which is the right size for you?
In this post, you will learn the difference between the Galaxy Watch 6 (40mm) and (44mm), and I’ll also show you how I choose the right size for my wrist.
In a few words, the 40mm and 44mm units are two similar watches. These two which are available in LTE and Bluetooth models have the same design and features. However, the 44mm being bigger has a bigger display that lets you see more at a glance, and the battery life is possibly longer. As a result, the 44mm unit has a $30 higher price tag.
Galaxy Watch 5 vs 6 – What’s New?
The Galaxy Watch 6 alongside the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic are the latest watches in the Samsung lineup. These two succeed the Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 4 Classic respectively. As expected the new watches come with some new additions which is why I think that before we continue, it’s pertinent to note what’s new in the Galaxy Watch 6 so you can decide if an upgrade is a worthwhile decision.
- There is a new chip with higher memory
- The display is bigger and bezel is slimmer
- Bigger battery capacities
- Galaxy Watch 6 is slimmer
The biggest feature of the Galaxy Watch 6 is the new Exynos w930 chip. This chip is a successor to the w920 chip (1.18GHz) that powers the Galaxy Watch 5 and 5 Pro. The new w930 chip boasts a faster 1.4GHz clockspeed which alongside a 2GB RAM is sure to deliver a robust performance on the Galaxy Watch 6 series. I say this with all certainty considering that in over 11 months of using the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro I haven’t experienced any glitch whatsoever.
So you can be certain to expect a blazing experience with the Galaxy Watch 6 and 6 Classic.
The Galaxy Watch 6 and 6 Classic also have bigger display sizes and as a result, the bezels are slimmer. It’s 1.5 inches for the 44mm and 47mm units and 1.3 inches for the 40mm and 43mm units of the Galaxy Watch 6 and Galaxy Watch 6 Classic respectively. The bigger display means you get to see more at a glance, and in my opinion, the slimmer bezel kind of leaves the watches with a classier and sleeker appearance.
To make up for the bigger display sizes, Samsung had to equip the Galaxy Watch 6 with bigger batteries. At least, this ensures no compromise in battery life. So, you should get about the same battery life as the Galaxy Watch 5 series. According to Samsung, you can get up to 40 hours with the Galaxy Watch 6 and 6 Classic. This is still lower than that of the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro which gives me about 3 days of battery life on average.
Interestingly, despite having slightly bigger battery capacities, Samsung has somehow managed to make the Galaxy Watch 6 and 6 Classic slimmer. Compared to the Galaxy Watch 5, the Galaxy Watch 6 is 0.8mm slimmer while the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic is 0.3mm slimmer than the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic.
In summary, compared to the Galaxy Watch 5, the Galaxy Watch 6 has a bigger display size and is also slimmer. And with Exynos w930 and 2GB RAM under the hood, it’s bound to perform faster than its predecessor.
Galaxy Watch 6 (40mm) vs (44mm) Full Specifications Comparison
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Galaxy Watch 6 (40mm) vs (44mm) Differences
Basically, the 40 and 44mm units of the Galaxy Watch 6 have the same features. The display is the same. So is the build as well as the storage capacity and health tracking features. The only difference here is the display size, footprints, price and possibly battery life.
- Display: The 44mm unit has a bigger display
- Design: The 40mm unit is more compact
- Battery life
- Price
Both the 40mm and 44mm units of the Galaxy Watch 6 are powered by super AMOLED – the same technology that powers many Samsung watches including my Galaxy Watch 5 Pro. Super AMOLED is very colorful and easy to read. Coming from Galaxy Watch, Galaxy Watch 4 Classic and Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, I have never had any reason to discredit the AMOLED display of Galaxy watches.
However, while the display tech is the same, the display sizes are different. It’s 1.3 inches for the 40mm and 1.5 inches for the 44mm unit. This represents a slight bump from the 40mm and 44mm units of Galaxy Watch 5 which has 1.2 and 1.4 inches respectively.
So while the 44mm has a bigger display, the 1.3 inches of the 40mm unit is bigger than the 1.2 inches of Google’s Pixel Watch 2. In other words, legibility shouldn’t be a problem with the 40mm unit, though the 44mm unit lets you see a little more at a glance.
If there is one reason I love Samsung watches it’s their durability, and the Galaxy Watch 6 series is no exception. Both the 40mm and 44mm units have the same aluminum frame which is accompanied by a highly scratch-resistant Sapphire glass. Meanwhile, the straps which can be swapped come in silicone materials.
Both watches are also rated 5ATM which represents 50 meters of resistance to water pressure. So it’s safe to wear in the rain or even in the swimming pool but diving isn’t recommended. The Galaxy Watch 6 is also certified MIL-STD-810H which means it’s tough and rugged, thus can withstand certain harsh weather conditions.
Both watches are easy to navigate, you get a touch-sensitive display alongside two physical buttons that make interaction a bliss.
However, while the build quality is the same, going by their sizes, the 44mm has a bigger footprint than the 40mm unit. And as a result of its smaller size, the 40mm weighs just 28.7g (excluding strap) – that’s 4.6 grams less than the 44mm unit. Nonetheless, the 44mm unit is still one of the most compact and lightest watches around.
I have used the Active 2 (44mm) which weighs 30 grams (excluding straps) and it’s very lightweight. In fact, I wore it to sleep almost every night. Comparing that weight to the 33.3g of the GW6 44mm unit, you will see that even though the 40mm unit weighs a little less, the 44mm unit is still very lightweight.
Based on the technical specifications, while the 40mm size packs a 300mAh battery, the 44mm unit packs a 425mAh battery capacity. And according to Samsung, you can get up to 40 hours with either unit.
Though, based on past experience, the bigger size has always lasted longer. This was the case with the Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Watch 3. So, even though, logically display size corresponds to battery life, you can expect the 44mm unit to last a little longer than the 40mm unit.
As a result of the bigger display, the 44mm unit is priced a little higher. While the Bluetooth model 40mm retails for $270, it is $300 for the 44mm size.
On the other hand, the LTE model of the 40mm unit retails for $320 while the 44mm goes for $350. So you will need to pay an extra $30 to get the 44mm unit.
40mm or 44mm? Which Size Is Right For You?
The reason for two different sizes is to give you the end user the option to choose your preferred size, and that’s bearing in mind we all have different wrist sizes.
With that in mind, the 40mm is the best choice if you have a small to medium-sized wrist while the 44mm is the best for individuals with medium to large-sized wrists.
I like my watch to sit comfortably in the middle without extending too far from my wrist. I think that way it looks very awesome on you. So the best way to determine what size is best for you is to use a meter rule and measure your wrist size then compare it to the size of the watch. In my case, my wrist measures 48.26mm, so I’ll settle for the 44mm unit as the 40mm size will look too tiny on my wrist.
So just go ahead, take the measurement and make your choice.