Jenith
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After over two years on my wrist, my Galaxy Watch 5 still surprises me, but not always in a good way. Samsung released the smartwatch in 2022, but I bought mine in the spring of 2023 at a discount. I've worn the Galaxy Watch 5 almost daily since, but truth be told, it hasn't been on my wrist all that much lately.
These are my thoughts on the Galaxy Watch 5 after more than two years. More specifically, the 44mm LTE variant, which I only used without an eSIM. Here's how I think it holds up in 2025.
Starting on a positive note, I am surprised that my Galaxy Watch 5's battery still holds up after more than two years. I can still achieve over two days of usage on a full charge with my usual settings. I don't feel like my Galaxy Watch 5's battery life has degraded much, or at all, which is really surprising.
Likewise, regarding build quality, I think the Galaxy Watch 5 held up surprisingly well. There are barely any wear marks on my Galaxy Watch 5, and I never had to replace the silicone wrist strap.
The display doesn't have any visible scratches, and the paint hasn't chipped away. The side buttons are also intact and still fully functional. So far, Samsung's build quality hasn't let me down.
Although looks can be subjective, I don't feel like my Galaxy Watch 5's design aged poorly. It looks decent enough, although to be frank, it never looked very premium to begin with. I always thought it looked very much like a sporty smart wearable rather than a classic analog watch with a digital display.
Still, even though I don't think it looks outdated, it is a little plain-looking now, especially next to Samsung's latest smartwatch models. I must admit that I have grown a little bored with the Galaxy Watch 5's design, but that's mainly because I have used it for more than two years without once changing the wrist strap.
https://www.imeisource.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/samsung_galaxy_watch_5.jpg
Galaxy Watch 5
https://www.imeisource.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Galaxy-Watch-8-and-Classic-1-1920x1082.jpg
Galaxy Watch 8 and Watch 8 Classic
In the end, though I don't think the Galaxy Watch 5 looks bad in 2025, I can predict that a different look will be one of the main reasons why I will eventually want to upgrade to a newer Galaxy Watch.
The last point I want to make about the Galaxy Watch 5, and the reason why I haven't worn it as much lately, is performance.
The Galaxy Watch 5 was never buttery-smooth, but initially, I felt like it performed well enough for any UI hiccups to be non-issues. At least, in my eyes.
Lately, however, it feels like my Galaxy Watch 5's performance has dropped below what I consider acceptable levels. The UI feels laggier and less responsive than before. And it is a little moody. It has its bad moments, as if the Exynos W920 chip has a hard time waking up and kicking it into high gear when needed.
In all honesty, I'm not sure if this is just a perceived drop in performance or a real issue. I can't tell if the recent firmware updates made my Galaxy Watch 5 perform worse or if there's a defect with my unit in particular.
Another possibility I don't want to overlook is that my Galaxy Watch 5 might perform just as well as it did before. But because I upgraded to a smoother Galaxy smartphone in the meantime, I could be noticing a higher contrast in performance between my daily buttery-smooth 120Hz smartphone and the Galaxy Watch 5.
Whatever the case may be, I can't say I am happy with how my Galaxy Watch 5 performs in 2025. And I can only hope that the upcoming One UI 8 Watch update will make things better.
Thankfully, health and fitness tracking seem to be as reliable as ever, even though interacting with the UI has become a bit annoying.
So, to recap my thoughts, I think my Galaxy Watch 5 feels surprisingly adequate for 2025 in some regards and not so much in others. I am considering an upgrade, and the main reasons are:
Right now, I am considering buying a massively discounted Galaxy Watch Ultra from 2024, the 44mm Galaxy Watch 8, or the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic.
However, I haven't yet decided whether or not I will change my Watch 5 this year. In 2025, the Galaxy Watch 5 still holds its own, but only just. I might end up waiting for the One UI 8 Watch update, just to see if the performance issues will be addressed. I will keep you posted.
If you happen to be on the lookout for a new Galaxy Watch, the latest Samsung models are available for pre-order until July 24.
The post Galaxy Watch 5 in 2025: Still solid or time to upgrade? appeared first on imeisource.
These are my thoughts on the Galaxy Watch 5 after more than two years. More specifically, the 44mm LTE variant, which I only used without an eSIM. Here's how I think it holds up in 2025.
Proven build quality, and battery life is still going strong
Starting on a positive note, I am surprised that my Galaxy Watch 5's battery still holds up after more than two years. I can still achieve over two days of usage on a full charge with my usual settings. I don't feel like my Galaxy Watch 5's battery life has degraded much, or at all, which is really surprising.
Likewise, regarding build quality, I think the Galaxy Watch 5 held up surprisingly well. There are barely any wear marks on my Galaxy Watch 5, and I never had to replace the silicone wrist strap.
The display doesn't have any visible scratches, and the paint hasn't chipped away. The side buttons are also intact and still fully functional. So far, Samsung's build quality hasn't let me down.
The overall design didn't age poorly
Although looks can be subjective, I don't feel like my Galaxy Watch 5's design aged poorly. It looks decent enough, although to be frank, it never looked very premium to begin with. I always thought it looked very much like a sporty smart wearable rather than a classic analog watch with a digital display.
Still, even though I don't think it looks outdated, it is a little plain-looking now, especially next to Samsung's latest smartwatch models. I must admit that I have grown a little bored with the Galaxy Watch 5's design, but that's mainly because I have used it for more than two years without once changing the wrist strap.
https://www.imeisource.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/samsung_galaxy_watch_5.jpg
Galaxy Watch 5
https://www.imeisource.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Galaxy-Watch-8-and-Classic-1-1920x1082.jpg
Galaxy Watch 8 and Watch 8 Classic
In the end, though I don't think the Galaxy Watch 5 looks bad in 2025, I can predict that a different look will be one of the main reasons why I will eventually want to upgrade to a newer Galaxy Watch.
The biggest problem: (perceived?) performance degradation
The last point I want to make about the Galaxy Watch 5, and the reason why I haven't worn it as much lately, is performance.
The Galaxy Watch 5 was never buttery-smooth, but initially, I felt like it performed well enough for any UI hiccups to be non-issues. At least, in my eyes.
Lately, however, it feels like my Galaxy Watch 5's performance has dropped below what I consider acceptable levels. The UI feels laggier and less responsive than before. And it is a little moody. It has its bad moments, as if the Exynos W920 chip has a hard time waking up and kicking it into high gear when needed.
In all honesty, I'm not sure if this is just a perceived drop in performance or a real issue. I can't tell if the recent firmware updates made my Galaxy Watch 5 perform worse or if there's a defect with my unit in particular.
Another possibility I don't want to overlook is that my Galaxy Watch 5 might perform just as well as it did before. But because I upgraded to a smoother Galaxy smartphone in the meantime, I could be noticing a higher contrast in performance between my daily buttery-smooth 120Hz smartphone and the Galaxy Watch 5.
Whatever the case may be, I can't say I am happy with how my Galaxy Watch 5 performs in 2025. And I can only hope that the upcoming One UI 8 Watch update will make things better.
Thankfully, health and fitness tracking seem to be as reliable as ever, even though interacting with the UI has become a bit annoying.
Reasons why I am considering an upgrade
So, to recap my thoughts, I think my Galaxy Watch 5 feels surprisingly adequate for 2025 in some regards and not so much in others. I am considering an upgrade, and the main reasons are:
- I want smoother performance.
- I want a different design, if only to break the monotony.
- I wouldn't mind a brighter screen, and the latest models look very bright in comparison.
- The improved BioActive sensor in later Galaxy Watch models sounds very tempting.
Right now, I am considering buying a massively discounted Galaxy Watch Ultra from 2024, the 44mm Galaxy Watch 8, or the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic.
However, I haven't yet decided whether or not I will change my Watch 5 this year. In 2025, the Galaxy Watch 5 still holds its own, but only just. I might end up waiting for the One UI 8 Watch update, just to see if the performance issues will be addressed. I will keep you posted.
If you happen to be on the lookout for a new Galaxy Watch, the latest Samsung models are available for pre-order until July 24.
Check out Samsung's Galaxy Watch 8 offers
Pre-order nowThe Galaxy Watch 8 Classic brings back the physical bezel
Pre-orderSee the ongoing Galaxy Watch Ultra (2025) offers
Pre-orderThe post Galaxy Watch 5 in 2025: Still solid or time to upgrade? appeared first on imeisource.