Samsung's Galaxy Watch Active ($149 at Amazon) is the younger, sportier, sibling of Samsung's flagship Galaxy Watch ($232 at Amazon) from 2018 packed in a slimmer and more barebones exterior. It has a slightly smaller screen that comes in only one size with no LTE alternative, with a sleeker body that feels lighter and lies flatter on the wrist. But it's most attractive quality is arguably its price.

The Galaxy Watch Active is a great smartwatch and fitness tracker at a reasonable price, but don’t count on actual blood-pressure monitoring any time soon.

The Galaxy Watch Active's lightweight and simple design make it better for working out and wearing to bed than previous models; It packs in health and fitness features at a lower price than its competitors and works on both Android and iOS.

It's missing the rotating bezel we loved on previous Samsung watches and comes in only one size with no LTE option; The blood-pressure monitoring is half baked at best; Samsung's Health app doesn’t make it easy to locate all your data.

The Galaxy Watch Active is the best Samsung smartwatch for most people. Despite not having the great rotating bezel of other models, it packs in GPS, full waterproofing and great performance for the best comparable price. It’s light, subtle and the battery lasts three days under most conditions. Connection to phones is solid and the display is lovely, if a little small. I found myself wearing it all the time, which is the best compliment you can pay a smartwatch. Recommended.

If you’re looking for a round smartwatch that does fitness and core smartwatch features well in equal measures, the second-gen Active is one smartwatch worth checking out.

Familiar sporty look with two size options; Comfortable to wear day and night; Touch bezel works well; Easy-to-use software; Decent fitness-tracking features;

Software a bit clunky for sports tracking; ECG and Fall Detection not available yet; Battery life only slightly improved; Underwhelming app support remains; LTE model bumps up the price;

Think of this as a smaller, sportier version of the Galaxy Watch. Thanks to a fabulous display, good battery life for its size, easy-to-use interface, and premium finish, it's up there with some of the best-looking smartwatches on the market. But with the Active 2 now also available, the original model feels a step behind - unless you can find a bargain price.

Lovely design; Great build quality; Good price; Easy to use interface; Good fitness tracking options;

Bixby isn't strong; No rotating bezel; No LTE model; Tizen OS still lacks apps; Active 2 has more features;

Editors' note, Nov. 18, 2020: With the addition of the long-awaited electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) and an update that's given the watch many of the same health features as the more expensive Galaxy Watch 3, we've awarded the Active 2 an Editors' Choice. It's a good all-round option for someone looking for a smartwatch compatible with Android and iOS. Our review, originally published September 2019, follows.

A year after release, there's a lot to like about the Galaxy Watch Active 2 especially now that ECG is finally available.

Comfortable during workouts and when sleeping; Same VO2 max and trip detection as the Watch 3; Updated running coach works if you can live with the Bixby voice; Touch bezel to navigate between menus; Comes in two sizes, with an LTE option.

Battery life on the smaller 40mm version takes a beating during workouts, especially with the always-on display active; ECG is only available when tied to a Galaxy phone.

Smartwatches may no longer have to be expensive to be good. Case in point: the Galaxy Watch Active . Pitched as a lower cost version of last year's Galaxy Watch , Samsung has boiled that flagship smartwatch down to its essentials.

With two-day battery life, excellent design, and fitness features that don’t overpower the overall experience, the Galaxy Watch Active 2 is one of the best smartwatches you can buy for an Android phone.

He absolutely loves his watch. He wears it everyday. Thank you Bing Lee

Fitness trackers and smartwatches can be seen almost everywhere you look these days. Samsung has a few different variations and it's been a couple of years since I last reviewed one of their offerings .

I had the Galaxy Watch 46mm, but that was way too big. I wish Active is slightly bigger so it can have a bigger battery capacity. The battery goes down to 50-60% after 1 full day of light use. So I have to charge it every night to make sure it doesnt drain completely.