We recently acquired all the facts about the Ticwatch Pro 5, the brand new smartwatch in the Android ecosystem. In times past, I marvelled at the performance delivered by previous models, especially when compared to the Samsung Galaxy Watch. Therefore, at present, I feel a great interest in analysing the evolution of the new models in this intense battle: Ticwatch Pro 5 versus Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro.
At first glance and considering the price, I have a strong suspicion that the Ticwatch has broken through with a bang. I question whether it will be able to match or even beat the value for money of Samsung’s smartwatch, or whether it will incorporate more advanced features that will make me reconsider making the switch. Let’s check it out!
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Ticwatch Pro 5 vs Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro: Visual Criteria
The first thing we always look at when comparing different devices is their design. In this case, the Ticwatch has a sportier aesthetic, which is influenced by the thicker bezel, as well as the black colour of the silicone strap. In the case of the Samsung, there are several colours to choose from, but I particularly like the titanium grey because it is the most different.
The TicWatch Pro 5 features a hybrid design that combines materials such as 7000 series aluminium, stainless steel and nylon, giving it a premium look. On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 features a more rugged and durable design, certified to military standard MIL-STD-810H.
In terms of buttons, the TicWatch Pro 5 has eliminated one of the circular side buttons and incorporated a rotating crown that allows for haptically responsive menu navigation. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5, on the other hand, does not have a rotating crown, but a touch bezel for interface navigation.
What does its screen look like?
When it comes to the display, there are some important differences. The Ticwatch Pro 5 has a 1.43-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 466 x 466 pixels. It is also equipped with Corning Gorilla Glass reinforced anti-fingerprint glass. It is also worth noting that this smartwatch has an LCD screen that acts as a kind of secondary display, so that it is not always necessary to activate the more power-hungry screen.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, on the other hand, has a slightly smaller 1.4-inch Super AMOLED display with a slightly lower resolution of 450 x 450 pixels. In addition, the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro’s display can achieve up to 1,000 nits of maximum brightness, providing excellent visibility in bright conditions.
Ticwatch Pro 5 vs Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro: How long does the battery last?
Another important feature to consider is the differences in terms of battery life, as these are two devices that are often used to go out for several hours at a time. In this sense, we can compare by saying that the Ticwatch Pro 5 has a 628 mAh battery, a slightly higher capacity than the 590 mAh that the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro has. According to Samsung, its battery can last up to 80 hours of use, although this will depend on how it is used.
Ticwatch Pro 5 vs Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro: Sports monitoring and health options
Smartwatches have an important function for many users, and that is the ability to carry out more comprehensive sports monitoring and control. In this case, the first thing to note is that either of the two can be used in water sports, as long as they are not in the open sea. This is because their water resistance is up to 5 ATM or 50 metres, but in swimming pools, not in the sea. If you use them in the open sea, the resistance is likely to decrease.
As for their sensor suite, both include an accelerometer, gyroscope, ECG sensor for heart monitoring, step tracking, distance travelled, calories burned, etc. In addition, the smartwatches are equipped with additional sensors, such as SpO2 (blood oxygen) sensor, skin temperature, barometer and altimeter.
And as far as sleep monitoring is concerned, it is also quite effective in both models, where you can see detailed reports on sleep status, sleep quality and sleep phases.
Ticwatch Pro 5 vs Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro: OS update
One of the things I liked most about the Ticwatch Pro 5 is that it is based on Wear OS, one of the best operating systems for the smartwatch environment on the market. In fact, it’s based on Wear OS 3.5, while the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is based on Wear OS 3.
In terms of processor, the Ticwatch Pro 5 integrates the latest Qualcomm chip, the Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, on the other hand, is equipped with the Exynoes W920, a dual-core processor which, although it performs well, is from an earlier generation from Samsung. The Ticwatch’s processor is therefore more up-to-date, and that’s always an advantage.
In this regard, it is worth noting that the Ticwatch Pro 5 has more storage capacity, because it has 2 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal memory, compared to the Galaxy’s 1.5 GB RAM and 16 GB internal memory.
Ticwatch Pro 5 vs Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro: Voice syncing
Admittedly, one of the things that surprised me the most about the Ticwatch Pro 5 is that it doesn’t include Google Assistant, which I think is a step backwards compared not only to the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5, but to other smartwatches in general. Nowadays, most users (especially on Android devices) use Google’s voice assistant, and not having it can make syncing and compatibility with other devices difficult.
History and origin of each company
Ticwatch traces its origins to Mobvoi Information Technology Company Limited. Mobvoi is a technology company based in Beijing, China, founded on 1 October 2012 by Zhifei Li. Mobvoi is engaged in the sales and development of consumer electronics, Chinese speech recognition, natural language processing and vertical search technology.
In 2014, Mobvoi launched its own smartwatch operating system called TicWear, based on Google’s Wear OS. In partnership with Frog Design, they launched Mobvoi’s first smartwatch called TicWatch. In June 2015, the TicWatch was launched in China, which was very popular and ranked first in sales of Android OS smartwatches in the country[. Since then, Mobvoi has continued to launch different models of smartwatches under the TicWatch brand.
Importantly, Mobvoi has established a strategic partnership with Google. In 2015, Google and Mobvoi collaborated to bring Google’s Wear OS operating system to China. The Moto 360 was the first Wear OS device in China to include voice recognition and voice control in Chinese developed by Mobvoi. Mobvoi also launched the Google-backed Mobvoi shop in China.
The history of Samsung and its foray into smartwatch design dates back to 2013. In September of that year, Samsung unveiled its first smartwatch called the Galaxy Gear at the Unpacked event held at the IFA trade show. The software used at the time was based on Android, but later that year Samsung replaced this operating system with Tizen, an open source platform developed by the company.
In August 2014, Samsung launched the Gear S, which featured a curved Super AMOLED display and offered cellular connectivity for making calls and sending messages without the need for a nearby phone. Over the years, Samsung has continued to develop and improve its line of smartwatches.
These Samsung smartwatches are designed to integrate with other Samsung products under the Samsung Galaxy brand, and offer various features related to health, fitness and fashion. They use the Tizen operating system, although starting with the Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 4 Classic, Samsung began using WearOS as the operating system on its smartwatches. In addition, Samsung Galaxy Watches are compatible with smartphones running Android Nougat or later and require the Galaxy Wearables app.
Ticwatch Pro 5 vs Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro: Which model do I choose?
Having looked at both smartwatches, it’s time to draw a final conclusion on which one I’d choose. Bearing in mind that the Ticwatch Pro 5 is more recent on the market, it is logical that its price is, as of today, higher, although the trend will even out. In terms of other features, the two smartwatches are very similar, complete and advanced.
The Ticwatch Pro 5 has the advantage that the built-in processor is more up-to-date, but as it is Wear OS, its range is similar in both cases. I do like the second screen, which saves power and battery life compared to the main screen, which is slightly larger than the Samsung.
On the other hand, I think it’s a flaw that it doesn’t have Google Assistant, because it makes it less competitive than its rival. In addition, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 has a design that, in my opinion, is better suited to any type of situation because it is less sporty than the design of the Ticwatch.
Therefore, think about which are, for you, the most important qualities to take into account when deciding, because either of them is a quality smartwatch, with good sports performance and with which to optimise your workouts to the maximum.