In 2022, Galaxy Watch fans were taken by surprise when Samsung decided to ditch an expected Galaxy Watch 5 Classic for the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro. In fact, I’d call the Watch 5 Pro the successor to the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic. Well this year after so much clamor for the return of the physical rotating bezel, Samsung released the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic alongside the Galaxy Watch 6.
The Galaxy Watch 6 Classic is the true successor to the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic, but unlike its predecessor which is available in 42mm and 46mm, it comes in 43mm and 47mm sizes. These two sizes are also available in LTE and Bluetooth models. So which of these is the right size for you? We’ll be taking a look at the differences between the 43 and 47mm units, and of course, I’ll also show you how I choose the right size for my wrist.
Basically, the 43mm and 47mm are the same. It’s the same stainless steel frame and sapphire screen. Same AMOLED display. Same health tracking features and the same 16GB storage.
However, in a few words, the difference between the 43mm and 47mm sizes is that the latter has a bigger display and possibly longer battery life than the 43mm unit. As a result, it has a higher price tag.
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Galaxy Watch 5 vs 6 – What’s New?
The Galaxy Watch 6 Classic and Galaxy Watch 6 are the latest watches from Samsung, these two launched with Wear OS 4 out of the box and of course, welcome some interesting additions. So before we discuss the differences between the 43 and 47mm units, let’s take a look at what’s new so that you know if upgrading is a worthy investment.
- 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.
So, compared to the Galaxy Watch 5, the Galaxy Watch 6 series is powered by a more advanced Exynos w930 chip and has a bigger display while also being a tad slimmer.
Galaxy Watch 6 Classic 43mm vs 47mm Full Specifications Compared
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Galaxy Watch 6 Classic 43mm vs 47mm – The Difference
- Display: The 47mm unit has a bigger display
- Design: The 43mm unit is more compact
- Battery life
- Price
Like its predecessor, the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic is powered by super AMOLED which is very colorful and very easy to read. I owned the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic, and never for once did I experience any difficulty reading complications on its 1.4 inches screen even on very sunny days.
So while the display tech is the same, the display size is different. It is 1.5 inches for the 47mm unit and 1.3 inches for the 43mm size. This means you get to see a little more at a glance on the 47mm unit. Nonetheless, at 1.3 inches, the 43mm unit still boasts a decent display size that should be easy to read.
There is no difference in the design except for the different dimensions and of course weights. Both the 43 and 47mm unit have the same stainless steel frame while the screen is a highly scratch-resistant Sapphire glass. Meanwhile, the straps come in silicone material and they can be swapped just in case you wish to use another strap of your choice.
However, the 43mm being smaller is more compact and it weighs 7 grams less than the 47mm unit. Nonetheless, the 47mm unit isn’t a bulky watch, it’s slightly more compact than the Ticwatch Pro 5.
Note that the strap width is the same. Starting with the Galaxy Watch 4 series, Samsung decided to start using standard 20mm straps for all sizes. The strap lengths differ though, Samsung watch bands are offered in two sizes; a 130mm – 190mm that fits medium/small wrists and a longer 145mm – 205mm that fits medium/large wrists.
Beyond the differences in sizes and weights, both the 43 and 47mm units are certified 5ATM which means these two are waterproof up to 50 meters. In other words, it’s safe to wear any of these to the pool or otherwise. Before swimming remember to turn on water lock mode, it helps prevent accidental touches.
As a result of its bigger case size, the 47mm unit has a bigger battery capacity than the 43mm unit. Though, according to Samsung, you can expect up to 40 hours of battery life with both sizes. Logically this should be true considering that a bigger display means a higher impact on the battery which of course is why the 47mm unit has a bigger battery capacity.
However, going by past experience, the bigger unit always lasted a little longer than the smaller unit. This was the case with the Galaxy Watch and even the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic. So I can say that the 47mm unit will most likely last a little longer than the 43mm unit.
As a result of the bigger display and possibly longer battery life, the 47mm unit has a higher price tag. While the Bluetooth model of the 43mm unit retails at $370, it’s $400 for the 47mm unit.
On the other hand, the 43mm LTE model retails at $420 while it is $450 for the 47mm unit. So you will need to pay $30 more if you decide to get the 47mm unit. But before that let’s find out what size is right for you.
43mm or 47mm – Which size is best for you?
So now that you know what’s new in the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic and the difference between the 43 and 47mm units, it’s time to decide on which size is right for you.
To decide on which size is right for you, I bear in mind that we all have different wrist sizes. So what’s suitable on my wrist might not be for you. What I do is to simply measure the width of my wrist using a meter rule and then compare it with both sizes.
I want the watch to sit in the middle of my wrist and not protrude beyond it. So my wrist size measures 1.9 inches which is equivalent to 48.26mm. This is closer to 47mm than 43mm, so I will settle for the 47mm unit which is what I will eventually buy by Christmas. So you get the drift.
And to choose the right band, use a tape and wrap it around your wrist, note where the tape meets and compare it with the available bands. Samsung officially sells a small/medium band that measures 130-199mm and a medium/large that measures 145-205mm.
So that’s it, I presume these few tips should help you choose the best size for your wrist.