Samsung Galaxy Watch FE Review: Galaxy Power, Now More Accessible
The Samsung Galaxy Watch FE is Samsung’s latest attempt to make its smartwatch ecosystem more accessible without stripping away the features that made its flagship models popular. Priced at $249.99, this LTE-capable model bridges the gap between affordability and premium functionality, borrowing heavily from the Galaxy Watch 4 and 5 series — both in looks and in smarts.
It comes packed with robust health tracking, Wear OS-powered apps, and Samsung’s slick user interface. Under the hood, it features a BioActive sensor for tracking heart rate, sleep, and workouts, plus NFC payments, GPS, and voice assistant support — all housed in a sleek 40mm design. While it doesn’t bring the latest silicon or the newer sapphire glass found on the Galaxy Watch 6, it still delivers a full-featured smartwatch experience for those who don’t want to splurge on the latest model.
For users who want LTE connectivity, native Google apps, Samsung Health insights, and a polished smartwatch experience without venturing into $300+ territory, the Samsung Galaxy Watch FE hits a very appealing sweet spot.
MSRP (when available or best estimate): $249.99
Price: Check Price on Amazon
✅ Samsung Galaxy Watch FE Pros
✅ Strong health tracking
Includes Samsung’s BioActive Sensor for heart rate, SpO2, sleep stages, and body composition.
✅ LTE connectivity
Lets you take calls, stream music, and receive notifications without needing your phone nearby.
✅ Wear OS by Google
Access to Google Maps, Wallet, YouTube Music, and the Play Store — a big plus over proprietary systems.
✅ Compact and comfortable
At 40mm, it fits smaller wrists well and feels light during sleep or workouts.
✅ Sleek design
Shares the Galaxy Watch aesthetic — with a polished aluminum case that feels higher-end than its price.
✅ Samsung Health integration
Offers rich insights, wellness summaries, and workout auto-detection.
✅ NFC payments with Samsung Wallet
Easy contactless transactions on the go.
✅ Competitive price
Offers many flagship-level features for under $250, rare in the LTE smartwatch category.
❌ Samsung Galaxy Watch FE Cons
❌ No rotating bezel
Fans of Samsung’s iconic navigation tool will miss it here.
❌ Older processor
Uses the Exynos W920, which is efficient but two generations behind the Galaxy Watch 6.
❌ Limited size options
Only available in 40mm — not ideal for those with larger wrists.
❌ No temperature sensor
Missing one of the newer health features seen on recent models.
❌ Battery life is average
Real-world use gives about 1–1.5 days with LTE on, less if you’re active.
❌ No sapphire glass
Gorilla Glass 3 is decent, but less scratch-resistant than flagship models.
Smart Features & Core Tech
Samsung Galaxy Watch FE
Health & Wellness Sensors
At the heart of the Samsung Galaxy Watch FE is the tried-and-true BioActive Sensor, which Samsung has used in several of its previous watches. This all-in-one sensor combines optical heart rate monitoring, electrical heart signal detection (ECG), and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) for body composition. While these aren't new innovations, it's still impressive to see them packed into a watch at this price point.
Heart rate monitoring is continuous and relatively accurate, though real-world tests suggest occasional lags during high-intensity interval training (HIIT) or weightlifting. SpO2 tracking and sleep monitoring are on board as well, though the lack of a temperature sensor — a feature now found in competitors like the Apple Watch Series 8 and Galaxy Watch 6 — limits the scope of reproductive health and illness-related metrics.
GPS is built-in and works well for tracking outdoor runs or walks. However, it sometimes takes a few extra seconds to lock on compared to more expensive models. There’s no support for skin temperature or blood pressure monitoring in the U.S. version, although these are available in some markets.
Smart Health Insights
The Samsung Galaxy Watch FE runs Wear OS with Samsung’s One UI Watch skin layered on top, giving it both brains and polish. It syncs tightly with Samsung Health, offering rich dashboards for sleep quality, heart rate variability, body composition, and stress levels. Sleep tracking includes snore detection (when paired with a smartphone), sleep stage breakdowns, and even sleep coaching based on your patterns.
Stress tracking is automatic and paired with breathing exercises — a nice touch, though not quite as in-depth as Fitbit’s EDA scans or Garmin’s HRV insights. Auto workout detection works reasonably well for walking, running, rowing, and elliptical machines. Strength training, on the other hand, usually requires manual start and stop.
Compared to Apple’s ecosystem, Samsung Health offers more biometric data but less cohesion across third-party services. However, the insights it does deliver are well visualized and accessible even for casual users. There’s no premium subscription required either, unlike Fitbit or Whoop.
Voice Assistant & Productivity Features
The LTE version of the Samsung Galaxy Watch FE includes both Google Assistant and Bixby (yes, it’s still around), giving users options depending on preference. Google Assistant is responsive and handles most commands quickly — such as setting reminders, sending texts, or starting a workout. Bixby can control Samsung-specific features more deeply, like starting Samsung Health workouts or managing device settings, though it's generally less useful for everyday tasks.
With LTE onboard, you can take calls, send texts, and stream music directly from the watch without needing your phone nearby — a standout feature in this price tier. Smart replies, emoji reactions, and voice dictation are all supported and work well. There’s also support for Google Keep, Calendar, and Gmail, making the watch surprisingly functional as a productivity tool.
Display & UX Enhancements
The Samsung Galaxy Watch FE sports a 1.2-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 396x396. It’s crisp, vibrant, and easily visible even in bright sunlight. The watch supports Always-On Display (AOD), and adaptive brightness works smoothly thanks to the ambient light sensor.
Navigation is done via touch and two side buttons — no rotating bezel here, which might disappoint longtime Galaxy Watch fans. That said, the haptics and swipe gestures are responsive, and the user interface feels fluid, even with the older Exynos W920 chip under the hood. It’s the same chip found in the Galaxy Watch 4, so while not cutting-edge, it’s still perfectly capable for daily use.
Animations are fluid and lag-free in most scenarios, though occasionally the watch may stutter when multitasking or loading a large app. The UI is polished and familiar, especially for Samsung smartphone users, who will appreciate the continuity between phone and watch.
Additional Tools & Bonuses
The Samsung Galaxy Watch FE includes most of the lifestyle tools you'd expect in a mid-range smartwatch. There’s NFC for Samsung Wallet, which allows contactless payments at most terminals. You also get onboard music storage, Bluetooth audio support, and remote camera shutter control — great for group selfies or hands-free photo setups.
Fall detection and SOS features are included, though not as tightly integrated as what Apple offers. There's no skin temperature sensor or car crash detection, but for general wellness and safety, the FE holds its own. The watch is IP68 rated for dust and water resistance and certified for 5ATM swim tracking — making it pool-ready but not ideal for diving.
One omission worth noting: there’s no UWB (ultra-wideband) or advanced Find My integration. However, given the target audience and price, these aren’t critical misses.
Overall, the Samsung Galaxy Watch FE nails the core smart features and health tracking tech you'd expect in a daily wearable — without bloating the price or sacrificing too much in functionality.
Performance & User Experience
Samsung Galaxy Watch FE
Health & Fitness Accuracy
The Samsung Galaxy Watch FE does a solid job across the board when it comes to fitness and health tracking — particularly for a mid-range device. Powered by Samsung’s BioActive Sensor, it delivers consistent heart rate readings during steady cardio sessions like running or cycling. However, accuracy tends to dip during rapid heart rate changes, especially in high-intensity workouts or strength training — a common issue for wrist-based monitors.
GPS tracking is built-in and fairly accurate, with route data staying close to phone-based measurements. That said, GPS lock can take longer than flagship watches like the Galaxy Watch 6 or Garmin Venu 3, especially in areas with tall buildings or dense tree cover.
Sleep tracking is a standout. The FE offers deep analysis, breaking sleep into stages (light, deep, REM) and providing sleep scores in the Samsung Health app. The inclusion of snore detection (when paired with a phone) adds value, and most users report that the watch reliably auto-detects bedtime.
SpO2 data is collected passively at night, though not on-demand. Stress tracking is automatic and reasonably accurate, though the lack of an electrodermal sensor (like Fitbit’s EDA) limits real-time feedback. Auto-detection for walks, runs, and elliptical machines works as advertised, with only slight delays.
Overall, the Samsung Galaxy Watch FE may not match the precision of high-end fitness watches, but for casual to intermediate users, it delivers reliable and insightful data.
Notifications & App Integration
Smart notification handling is one of the Galaxy Watch FE’s strong suits, thanks to its LTE connectivity and Wear OS underpinnings. The watch supports app notifications from nearly all Android apps — including WhatsApp, Gmail, Slack, and Instagram — with full previews, emoji support, and even quick replies. Voice-to-text is impressively accurate and fast, especially when using Google Assistant as the dictation engine.
For calls, the LTE version allows you to take and place calls directly from the watch. Audio quality from the onboard speaker is decent indoors and usable outdoors if ambient noise is minimal. Users report that calls are clear and connections remain stable unless you're deep inside buildings with spotty LTE reception.
App integration is solid. Since it's running Wear OS, the Galaxy Watch FE supports Google Maps, YouTube Music, and even third-party apps like Spotify, Strava, and Komoot. Unlike many budget or mid-range watches, you're not stuck with a proprietary app store — you get full Play Store access on your wrist.
Notifications sync quickly with Samsung phones and Android devices in general. iPhone users, however, will find functionality limited — no iMessage or app replies, and minimal integration with Apple apps.
While the Samsung Galaxy Watch FE doesn't reinvent how notifications work, it handles them reliably and smoothly — a critical win for daily usability.
Smart Assistant & Voice Control
Samsung gives you two assistants here: Google Assistant and Bixby. Most users will lean toward Google Assistant, and thankfully it performs very well. You can ask it to set reminders, control smart home devices, reply to texts, or even navigate via Google Maps — all with decent speed and accuracy.
Bixby is still present and slightly faster for Samsung-specific tasks, like launching Samsung Health workouts or adjusting settings. However, it’s less capable when it comes to third-party commands or answering general questions. The good news? You can disable Bixby entirely if you prefer a cleaner experience.
Thanks to the watch’s onboard mic and speaker (plus LTE), you can use voice commands even without your phone. This adds a layer of convenience when you're driving, walking, or working out, and the voice detection works well even in noisy environments.
Compared to Siri on the Apple Watch or Alexa on Fitbit devices, Google Assistant here feels more powerful and flexible. Its integration with Google services is tighter and more capable, making the Samsung Galaxy Watch FE a solid pick for voice control fans — as long as you're on Android.
Battery Life
Samsung advertises up to 30 hours of battery life for the Galaxy Watch FE — and while that's technically true, it's also a bit optimistic. With LTE turned on and Always-On Display enabled, most users report getting closer to **24 hours** with moderate use. Disable LTE and AOD, and you can stretch that to around **36–40 hours** on a light day.
The 247mAh battery is the same size found in the Galaxy Watch 4 (40mm), and real-world longevity is similar. GPS workouts drain battery faster, as expected — a one-hour outdoor run with LTE and music streaming can eat up to 15–20% of the charge.
Fast charging is supported and takes about 1.5 hours for a full charge. There’s no Qi wireless charging or reverse charging like on premium models, but the magnetic puck included gets the job done reliably.
For users who sleep with their watch on for tracking, daily charging becomes part of the routine. It’s manageable, but not impressive. Fitbit and Garmin still dominate the battery life game — some of their models stretch up to a week on one charge.
That said, for a Wear OS watch with LTE, the Samsung Galaxy Watch FE offers average (not terrible) battery performance — but you’ll need to charge it daily if you’re an active user.
Comfort & Design
The Samsung Galaxy Watch FE’s 40mm size makes it one of the more compact and lightweight watches in Samsung’s lineup. It weighs just 26.6 grams and features a smooth aluminum frame with slightly curved lugs that help it sit flat on most wrists. The included silicone strap is soft, sweat-resistant, and comfortable enough to wear overnight.
The 1.2-inch Super AMOLED screen is visually striking — colorful, responsive, and easily viewable even outdoors. The bezels are slim, though not invisible, and there's no rotating bezel mechanism, which may disappoint some Samsung fans.
The back sensor module sits flat and doesn’t dig into the skin, even during workouts. Touchscreen responsiveness is excellent, and while there are only two physical buttons, they’re tactile and programmable — offering fast shortcuts to your most-used features.
During sleep, the watch is unobtrusive, and many users report forgetting they’re even wearing it. That said, people with larger wrists might find the 40mm size a bit small — there's no larger option currently, which limits appeal to broader audiences.
Overall, the Samsung Galaxy Watch FE strikes a solid balance between style, comfort, and practicality.
Companion App & Ecosystem
Samsung Health and Galaxy Wearable are the two main apps that power the Galaxy Watch FE experience — and both are polished and reliable. Samsung Health offers detailed dashboards for all your tracked data, from heart rate to sleep and body composition. It’s intuitive, colorful, and doesn’t require a subscription to access premium insights, unlike some competitors.
Galaxy Wearable handles watch settings, firmware updates, and app installations. The app also offers plenty of customization — from watch faces to notification preferences to tile layouts. It’s easy to navigate and rarely crashes, though syncing issues can occasionally pop up after firmware updates.
App support is another big win here. Because the watch runs Wear OS, it has access to the full Google Play Store — including Spotify, Strava, Calm, Komoot, and many more fitness or lifestyle apps. This gives the Samsung Galaxy Watch FE a leg up over closed-system watches like the Huawei Watch Fit or Amazfit GTS.
Integration with Samsung phones is especially tight: SmartThings control, Samsung Wallet, and Find My integration all work seamlessly. Android users outside the Samsung bubble still get a great experience, but iOS users will face some limitations.
If you're already in the Samsung or Android ecosystem, the Samsung Galaxy Watch FE complements your devices well — with few compromises.
Final Verdict
Samsung Galaxy Watch FE
The Samsung Galaxy Watch FE is a textbook example of how to distill premium features into a mid-range smartwatch without cutting the soul out of the experience. For $249.99, you’re getting a stylish and well-built wearable that doesn’t just mimic flagship models — it carries a good chunk of their DNA.
It delivers core health tracking with accuracy that will satisfy casual and moderately active users. It also taps into the Google ecosystem for apps and voice control, making it more useful day-to-day than closed-system competitors like Amazfit or Huawei. The design is lightweight and sleek, ideal for smaller wrists, though the single 40mm size does limit options for some.
Battery life is the weakest link — not terrible, but firmly “just okay” if you want LTE, always-on display, and full functionality running. It’s a smartwatch that asks for daily charging, which may be a dealbreaker for ultra-busy users or weekend travelers.
Still, the overall experience punches above its weight. If you want LTE freedom, polished software, Samsung Health insights, and Google Assistant on your wrist — all without climbing into flagship pricing — the Galaxy Watch FE is a highly compelling choice.
Best For: Android users who want daily wellness tracking, smart connectivity, and LTE in a stylish, smaller form factor — all without breaking the $300 mark.
FAQ
Samsung Galaxy Watch FE
Does the Samsung Galaxy Watch FE require a subscription?
Nope. All core health and fitness features are available without a subscription. Samsung Health is free and doesn’t lock key features behind a paywall like Fitbit Premium does.
Can I use this with an iPhone?
Technically, yes — but functionality is limited. You won’t be able to reply to messages, use many apps, or sync as smoothly. It’s strongly recommended for Android users only.
Does it track sleep automatically?
Yes. The Samsung Galaxy Watch FE automatically tracks sleep stages, duration, and even snoring (when paired with your phone). Most users report high accuracy and useful insights.
Can I take calls or reply to messages from the Samsung Galaxy Watch FE?
Yes — especially with the LTE version. You can make and receive calls, send messages, and use voice-to-text or quick replies right from your wrist (on Android).
Additional Information
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