Samsung recently announced an update for the Galaxy Watch 4 that adds extra features to the smartwatch, including Fall Detection and a convenient new gesture control. The Galaxy Watch 4 already matches or beats the Apple Watch in many ways, but Fall Detection was missing before, so this will bring Samsung's watch up to date on this important safety feature. Gestures make it easier to control the watch, so more is always better.
Samsung launched the Galaxy Watch 4 in late August, so it's nice to see the company adding to its capabilities so soon. Samsung is known to pack advanced technology into all of its devices and the Galaxy Watch 4 is no exception. Boasting an electrical heart sensor capable of recording an electrocardiogram (ECG), blood oxygen, heart rate, and bioelectrical impedance sensors, this is a full complement of health metrics. Samsung also added blood pressure monitoring, but it isn't approved in the United States yet.
Samsung recently announced that an update is coming for the Galaxy Watch 4 that will allow a Fall Detection SOS notification to be sent to up to four contacts. The sensitivity will be adjustable, which is helpful for those that might encounter significant shocks during sports, work, or exercise, and the feature can even recognize falls when standing still. For comparison, the Apple Watch doesn't have any options beyond enabling fall detection, which alerts emergency services unless the wearer taps I'm Okay. The new update also includes a handy new gesture for interacting with the watch and it should begin rolling out on October 20, 2021.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 4's Knock, Knock
Samsung is also updating the Galaxy Watch 4 with a new gesture control that provides super quick access to a user-selectable app or feature. The gesture uses a clever 'knock, knock' movement that is made with the wrist wearing the Galaxy Watch 4. That is, knocking in the air, not tapping on the watch face. The gesture can be customized to open a favorite workout or a frequently used app. Similar gestures that were already available include moving the forearm up and down to answer a call and rotating the wrist to decline an incoming call. The rotation gesture also stops alarms when they are sounding.
Samsung's Galaxy Watch 4 was already a strong Apple Watch competitor and the addition of Fall Detection makes this battle even more challenging. Along with the added gesture control, Samsung is demonstrating how it is still thinking and working to improve its smartwatch. Once blood pressure monitoring gets approved, it will be difficult for Apple to keep up with Samsung's innovations. In the meantime, Fall Detection and the new gesture is rolling out to the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 very soon.
Source: Samsung