I have a confession: I'm not a smart watch gal.
I've clocked others around me don their smart watches, be buzzed by an endorphin-hit notification and been in gym classes where the entirety of the group starts their workout in sync by tapping on their wrist. Did I feel left out? Sure. But did I get the hype? Not at all.
But because my colleagues are keen to keep me on my toes, when there was an opportunity to test a smart watch at Mamamia, you can bet they all turned to me with a passive-aggressive look and said, 'You have to do this'.
So, I did. I signed myself up for an all-in roadtest of the Samsung Galaxy Watch5 to see if I could be converted to the smart watch life. Is it all it's cracked up to be?
Here's exactly how it went.
Getting used to the watch life.
Now, not only am I a non-smart watch user, but I am also a non-watch wearer in general. But after unboxing the Samsung Galaxy Watch5 I knew I was going to like wearing this one.
Its super soft silicone strap slips on so easy, and the whole thing is much lighter than I anticipated. Perhaps that's because I imagined carrying a computer on my wrist, but this thing is light, nimble and looks rather dashing in Pink Gold if I say so myself.
Take a look at the watch on my wrist here. So fancy! Post continues after video.
Once it was physically on me, it was time to start syncing the watch up with my phone and setting up all the info that this little guy needs to do its thing.
This took way less time than I thought it would. I've set up smartphones before and been overwhelmed by how many fiddly bits of information you have to input manually (no thanks) – but this synced up so fast. Particularly because of one jazzy feature that I didn't know existed... the body scan.
Rather than having to put in your height, weight, age, etc, you can have the Samsung Galaxy Watch5 do a very non-invasive body scan with its 3-in-1 BioActive Sensor. This involves you having to stand up with your arms lifted high (in an almost chicken-dance manner) for 15 seconds while the watch figures out your details.
Here it is loading before it told me all sorts of juicy stats, like my body fat percentage and heart rate.
One other element that I was #sceptical about was the battery life. I charged it up before use, and then it lasted an entire day and night before I got the little 'low battery' warning. So I popped it on charge while I hopped in the shower, and by the time I towelled off, it was fully charged and ready to rumble!
There was definite confidence associated with a solid battery life, as it meant I wasn't worried while I was out and about that it was going to conk out on me. Plus, it meant I could do something I haven't done in years: leave my phone at home. Because everything I needed was on the watch, and with Optus Number Share, I could receive and reply to messages and notifications, make calls, and I could even pay for a cheeky coffee without needing my phone or wallet.
Talk fitness to me.
One of the benefits I was most looking forward to was that smart watches supposedly make you way more motivated to move. This is something that I'm in desperate need of. Why? Well, because I always love it when I do get out and about and move my body, but the mental game I play with myself before I heave my tired self off the couch is one that I would really like to cut down.
So getting a cute little buzz on my wrist, politely reminding me to stand up and shake for a bit moved me into autopilot – meaning I barely even registered that I was doing lots of little exercises throughout the day.
And then to tackle the longer, heartier workouts, let me tell you something that I didn't know about myself before this road test: I am very competitive when it comes to a step count.
When I look down at the vibrant green screen of the Galaxy Watch5 when I've hit my step count for the day... OOFT! That validation tastes so damn sweet.
I even found that I was tempted to trade in my rather boring weights session at the gym for a big old coastal stroll to compete with my previous day's step count. I whooped Tuesday's count, got some sun on my bones and smashed through two podcasts. Is this going to be my new fitness routine? I think so!
Another thing that I loved was that by wearing a smart watch all day, it tracked all those sneaky intermittent movements. Walk to the corner store? Steps are logged. Get up 450 times a day to pee? Those waddles register too.
It made me feel smug to see that I am keeping moving throughout the day, and the little nudges from the Galaxy Watch5 just have me feeling more motivated to keep up the good work.
Everyday intel.
While I only tested this smart watch out for a week, there were two big positive life changes I've made because of it.
The first was all to do with my heart rate. You see, I have only ever had my heart rate measured at the doctors, and I reckon that's happened maybe twice in the last three years – so I'm not very up to speed with my ticker.
However, while I wearing the Samsung Galaxy Watch5, I got used to checking my heart rate at various times throughout the day. Sometimes when I was out walking, during the middle of a work task, cooking dinner and when I was chilling on the couch.
During one of the couch measurements I flashed my heart rate result to my partner, who quickly responded with: "Oh, that's pretty high Katie." Turns out I had been looking at the results, but not really 100 per cent sure what a good heart rate is... Clever, I know.
My resting heart rate was a fair bit higher than the 'normal' resting heart rate. While I felt fine, I tracked the resting heart rate over the next couple of days, and it didn't really go down. So, now I'm booked in for the doctor next week for some testing to see if everything is okay and to get a plan in place about what I can do to lower my ticker-rate.
If it weren't for the smart watch, I would have had no clue my heart's having a party in there when it doesn't need to be. Definitely a positive win for my health.
The second thing that I've shaken up because of the Galaxy Watch5 is my home office space.
Despite doing the whole working-from-home thing a lot more since the start of the pandemic, I haven't really optimised my home office set-up. I have an awkwardly small desk and my computer screens balanced on a rather unstable pile of books.
Getting the notification a couple of times during work from my little Samsung buddy telling me to stand up, get moving and break up the long stints of sitting down had me thinking... and now I'm buying a standing desk. Yep, one of those jazzy electric up-and-down ones so I can switch between sitting and standing whenever I please (or whenever my watch reminds me!).
I'm also very tempted to get a little treadmill to go under my desk so I can smash out some steps while I'm standing. Told you I am very competitive with my steps now!
This Galaxy Watch5 is really setting some things in motion for me for my health, and I'm all about that.
Overall verdict.
I think you can all tell from reading this that I have been defeated. My anti-smart watch stance has been decimated to make way for a lifestyle that is so much better for me – one that includes a Samsung Galaxy Watch5 that does all the hard work for me.
I want to be able to keep moving, get excited about step counts and keep an eye on my heart rate. These things are way more important to me than I thought they would be, but I am so grateful that they are on my radar now. And to do all of this without the extra weight of my phone is super convenient (here's looking at you, Optus Number Share).
So please, excuse me while I join the gaggle of gals in my gym class smugly starting my smart watch before a workout.
Because I'm a smart watch girlie now.
Enjoy the benefits of being connected to your health, sleep and fitness with the Samsung Galaxy Watch5 from Optus.
You can buy the watch now and pay later, completely interest free with OptusPay on an eligible Optus plan.
For Number Share, compatible phone and eligible plan/s required.
When using 3-in-1 BioActive Sensor, this is intended for general wellness and fitness purposes only and not to be relied upon for medical or diagnostic purposes.
When using ECG feature, if an irregular heartbeat or atrial fibrillation is detected, consult a doctor. Follow the instructions for use. If symptoms persist, worsen or change unexpectedly, talk to a health professional.
Image: Supplied/Mamamia.
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