If you are looking for a good smartwatch with a rotating bezel, this guide is for you.
Smartwatches come with small displays and swiping left or right on every screen isn’t a pleasant experience. So, smartwatches offer different ways to navigate the screens.
In Apple Watch, you get the digital crown and on some smartwatches, including galaxy watches, you get the rotating bezel. When it comes to rotating bezels, you will find smartwatches with two types of rotating bezels: Physical Rotating bezels & Digital rotating bezels.
So, whether you are interested in a smartwatch with a physical rotating bezel or a digital one, keep reading because I’ll cover both of them.
In this WearToTrack Guide, I’ll cover the following topics:
- What is a Rotating Bezel?
- The difference between physical & digital rotating bezels
- Smartwatches that come with rotating bezel in 2024
- And many more!
So, without any further ado, let’s get started.
Table of Contents
What Is A Rotating Bezel?
Rotating Bezel is a thin metal bezel that is found on top of smartwatch frames and it rotates which allows the users to navigate between the screens.
It was started by Samsung on Galaxy watches and adopted by some other smartwatch companies. It’s worth noting here that this mechanism is only available on a limited number of smartwatches.
What Is The Difference Between Physical & Digital Rotating Bezels?
Physical rotating bezels and digital rotating bezels are two types of rotating bezels that you will find on modern smartwatches. As the name suggests, physical rotating bezels are the ones with metal rings and you will have to manually move them to navigate.
On the other hand, digital rotating bezels are the ones that come with sensors around the display and they imitate the rotation of a physical rotating bezel.
Physical rotating bezels surely look cool but they take up a lot of space and make smartwatches look bulky.
That’s why companies including Samsung have moved from physical rotating bezels to digital rotating bezels which allowed them to give a more compact look to the smartwatch while preserving the functionality of the rotating bezel.
Now the question is: which one should you consider? It all comes down to personal preference. If you want to experience the rotating mechanism of a rotating bezel, you should consider a smartwatch with a physical rotating bezel.
However, if you just want the functionality of a rotating bezel then you should consider a smartwatch with a digital rotating bezel.
Top 5 Smartwatches With Rotating Bezel In 2024
If you are looking for a smartwatch with rotating bezels, this section is for you. In this section, I’m going to share the top 5 best smartwatches that come with rotating bezels. Here are my top recommendations.
1. Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic – Best Smartwatch with Physical Rotating Bezel
Let’s start with Galaxy Watch 4 Classic which is arguably the best smartwatch in 2023 that comes with physical rotating bezels.
It’s the last generation of the Galaxy Watch lineup that comes with a dedicated rotating bezel. The design of the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic is pretty sleek and classic.
It comes with a silver rotating bezel which you can use for navigating the UI. Another benefit of having a physical rotating bezel on the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic is that it provides good protection to the screen.
Although it’s a generation-old smartwatch, it’s still pretty good in terms of features. You get the Wear OS 3 which will give you access to tons of third-party apps on the Google Play Store.
On top of that, it’s packed with useful features such as ECG, Blood Pressure Monitor, Bio Sensor, Fall detector, heart-rate monitor, AFib detector, sleep tracker, and workout monitor.
Overall, If you are looking for a modern smartwatch with a physical rotating bezel and tons of advanced features, you can’t go wrong with the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic.
Pros
- Great Build quality
- Good quality OLED display
- Advanced features such as ECG, SPO2, and Stress monitor
- Comes with Wear OS 3
- The LTE option allows you to make calls and send messages
- Accurate Sleep Tracking
Cons
- ECG is only available in selected countries
- The newer version of the galaxy watch is already available
2. Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 – Best Budget Smartwatch with Physical Rotating Bezel
Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 is the predecessor of Galaxy Watch 4 and both smartwatches share many similar features but some stark differences as well.
In Galaxy Watch 3, you get a physical rotating bezel and it’s more prominent as compared to the subtle rotating bezel you get with Galaxy Watch 4.
In Galaxy Watch 3, you get features such as ECG, Fall detector, stress monitor, sleep tracker, and workout monitor. However, it lacks Bio Sensor which is currently only available on Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 5.
Another major difference between both smartwatches is that the Galaxy Watch 3 comes with Tizen OS and Galaxy Watch 4 comes with Wear OS 3.
The one area where Galaxy Watch 3 is better than Galaxy Watch 4 is the value for money. As it’s a two-generation old smartwatch, you can get it at a very reasonable price.
So, if you are on a budget and you want a good smartwatch with a physical rotating bezel, you should consider Galaxy Watch 3.
Pros
- Good build quality
- Comes with an OLED display
- Good Performance
- Comes with Advanced features such as ECG, SPO2, and a sleep tracker
- Good Value for Money
Cons
- Doesn’t have Wear OS 3
- It’s a two-generation old Galaxy Watch
- ECG features are certified only in limited countries
3. Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro – Best Premium Smartwatch with Digital Rotating Bezel
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is the latest Galaxy Watch by Samsung this year and it comes with a digital rotating bezel instead of a physical one.
Although it doesn’t have a physical rotating bezel, it works very similarly and you can slide your fingers around the corners of the display to navigate the user interface. In my opinion, the digital bezels are way more practical than physical ones and they also don’t take space around the display which gives the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro a sleek look.
As Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is a top-of-the-line variant of the galaxy watch lineup, it comes with the premium build quality. It features a titanium body and sapphire glass which makes the Galaxy Watch 5 pro very durable.
On top of that, you also get all the latest and greatest features on it. It includes Bio Sensor, ECG, AFib detector, Blood Pressure Monitor, sleep tracker, workout tracker, stress monitor, step counter, and fall detector.
So, If you are looking for a premium smartwatch with a digital rotating bezel, you should consider the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro.
Pros
- Premium Build Quality with titanium body and sapphire glass on top.
- Packed with advanced features including ECG, SPO2, and BioSensor
- Comes with Wear OS 3
- Excellent Battery Life
- Comes with a digital Bezel
Cons
- Expensive
- ECG & Blood Pressure is limited to certain countries
4. Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 – Best Smartwatch with Digital Rotating Bezel
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 is the standard version of the Galaxy Watch 5 lineup and this one also comes with a digital rotating bezel.
The only major difference between the Galaxy Watch 5 and 5 Pro is that the former doesn’t come with a titanium body. Instead, you get the aluminum body which isn’t as premium as titanium but it’s strong enough to handle minor crashes. Also, the battery size on Pro 5 is a bit large which offers it slightly better battery life.
Other than the above-mentioned differences, both smartwatches are pretty similar. In the Galaxy Watch 5, you get similar features such as ECG, Blood Pressure Monitor, Bio Sensor, AFib doctor, sleep monitor, and workout tracker.
So, if you are looking for a modern smartwatch with a digital rotating bezel at a great price, you should consider the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5.
Pros
- Durable Build
- Comes with Sapphire Glass
- Packed with advanced features such as ECG, Fall detector, and AFib detector
- Comes with Wear OS 3
- Offers accurate fitness tracking
- High-quality OLED display
- Good Value for Money
Cons
- Battery life isn’t as good as Pro Model
- ECG & Blood Pressure is available in certain countries
5. Samsung Galaxy Watch 4
Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 is another very popular smartwatch by Samsung that comes with digital rotating bezels. The functionality of the digital bezel on Galaxy Watch 4 is very similar to the other digital rotating bezels which means that you will need to slide your finger around the display for navigating through the user interface.
When it comes to features, Galaxy Watch 4 shares the same features as Galaxy Watch 4 Classic. In the Galaxy Watch 4, you get features such as ECG, Blood Pressure Monitor, Bio Sensor, Fall detector, sleep tracker, heart-rate monitor, and AFib detector. Also, it comes with Wear OS 3 which gives access to thousands of great third-party apps on the Google Play Store.
In terms of design, Galaxy Watch 4 is more modern and compact as compared to its classic version. Another advantage of Galaxy Watch 4 is that you can get it at a very reasonable price because its latest model is already out which caused the price drop.
So, if you want a modern smartwatch with a digital bezel and good value for money, you can’t go wrong with Samsung Galaxy Watch 4.
Pros
- Premium Build quality
- High-quality OLED display
- Advanced features such as ECG, AFib detector, and Stress monitor
- Accurate Sleep Tracking
- Modern Design
- Great Value for Money
Cons
- Advanced features such as ECG & Blood Pressure Monitors are only available in certain countries
- The latest model of Galaxy Watch is available
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Samsung Gear S3 Classic A Good Option In 2023?
Although Samsung Gear S3 Classic comes with a rotating bezel, it’s not a good option in 2023 for several reasons. It’s a more than 7 years old smartwatch with dated features which makes it a bad choice. On top of that, you can’t buy it in mint condition. So, unless you are interested in buying antique smartwatches, you should avoid buying Samsung Gear S3 Classic.
Why Did Samsung Remove The Rotating Bezel?
Rotating bezels look cool but they take up a lot of space on the smartwatch and also give them a dated look. So, Samsung decided to switch to digital gear which allowed the company to preserve the functionality of the rotating bezel while achieving a modern look on its smartwatches.
Did Galaxy Watch 5 Remove The Bezel?
Yes, Galaxy Watch 5 doesn’t come with a physical rotating bezel. Instead, it comes with a digital bezel which comes with sensors on the side of the display and you will need to move your finger on top of them to navigate the user interface.
Which Smartwatches Has Physical Rotating Bezels In 2023?
In 2023, only Galaxy Watch 4 Classic & Galaxy Watch 3 comes with physical rotating bezels. You also have the option to go for Samsung Gear Sports, Gear S2 Classic, and Gear S3 Frontier but these are dated smartwatches with no advanced features. So, if you want to get a modern smartwatch with physical rotating bezels, you should either go with Galaxy Watch 4 Classic or Galaxy Watch 3.
Which Smartwatches Has Digital Rotating Bezels In 2023?
These are the top smartwatches that come with digital rotating bezels in 2023.
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 5
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 4
Conclusion
Smartwatches that come with rotating bezels are easier to navigate and you don’t get tired by swiping left or right the screens.
When it comes to rotating bezels, you can either go with physical rotating bezels or digital ones: It’s entirely up to your personal preference. In this guide, I’ve shared the best 5 smartwatches that come with rotating bezels which you can buy in 2023.
I hope that you found this guide helpful and if you have any questions for me, please feel free to ask. Also, if you want to know which smartwatch emits the most radiation, check this guide where I’ve compared the radiation emission of popular smartwatch brands such as Apple, Fitbit, and Samsung.
As a professional trainer and a gadget lover, I’ve spent a lot of money and time buying wearable activity trackers, smartwatches, and gadgets, and checking them out. My site is focused on helping you with your activity tracking and smart technology journey. I try to provide the most helpful updated content on this subject. Hopefully, you will love my blogs and be a regular around here.
