The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 could be the best Samsung watch yet. Rumors are heating up, the launch more likely than ever to happen next month. (We have also rounded up the 5 biggest rumors so far on the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5.)
Last year, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 featured two designs — a standard, sporty-looking model and Classic version with a physical bezel — plus a non-invasive body composition analysis sensor. It also became the first smartwatch to run Wear OS 3, a unified platform that integrates a selection of Google programs with the familiar Samsung apps.
So how will the fifth-generation Galaxy Watch maintain its claim to the best smartwatch for Android? There will be no shortage of competitors coming up. The Google Pixel Watch will launch this fall, and more Wear OS 3 smartwatches are expected to follow.
With this competition, the Galaxy Watch 5 will need to innovate to stay atop the wearable market. We could see new fitness-tracking features, an updated design, more ways to stay connected from your wrist and more. There could also be a new Pro model coming to replace the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic, among other Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 vs. Galaxy Watch 4 upgrades.
Here’s what we know so far about the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5, as well as what we’d like to see from Samsung’s next smartwatch.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 rumors (updated July 30)
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 possible release date
The most likely Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 release date looks like sometime in August, now that Samsung has a set an August 10 date for its next Galaxy Unpacked event. The online-only event will start streaming at 9 a.m. ET/6 a.m. PT on August 10.
Foldables will likely be the focus. (Get a load of that foldable on the August 10 invitation.) But It’s not unprecedented for Samsung to release multiple products during its Unpacked showcase. That’s why we think the Galaxy Watch 5 will join the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Flip 4 at this August 10 event.
Should the watch appear on August 10, you’d expect it to ship within the month, too. Jon Prosser has tipped the foldables to ship August 26, so you’d imagine the Galaxy Watch 5 would appear around then, too.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 price expectations
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 price could be the same as the Galaxy Watch 4’s price. The Galaxy Watch 4 starts at $249.99 for the 40mm Bluetooth model and $299.99 for the 40mm LTE model. The Galaxy Watch 4 Classic starts at $349.99 for the 42mm Bluetooth model and $399.99 for the 42mm LTE model.
If the Galaxy Watch 5 doesn’t come in two configurations, we could see greater variation in the price. It could even resurrect the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3’s original $399 starting price, which mirrors the Apple Watch 7’s cost.
Or, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 price might be higher than expected. According to a new rumor, the price of the upcoming Samsung smartwatch series would be an increase from the current Galaxy Watch models.
WinFuture’s Roland Quandt (opens in new tab) (via XDA Developers (opens in new tab)) shared alleged Galaxy Watch 5 prices on Twitter, claiming the wearable will start around €300 for the Bluetooth-only, 40mm model. That coverts to about $315 for U.S. customers, a step up from the entry-level Samsung Galaxy Watch 4’s $249 starting price.
Though companies charge different prices in different regions, Quandt’s intel suggests increases spanning the entire Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 lineup. The 40mm LTE model may cost around €350 (~$367,) while the 44mm Bluetooth and 44mm LTE models may cost around €350 and €400 ( ~$420), respectively.
You can reserve your spot in line to preorder whatever watch Samsung announces on August 10 by heading to Samsung.com (opens in new tab). A watch/phone/earbuds bundle will get you a $200 credit, while buying a watch all on its own will get you a $50 credit to spend on eligible products at Samsung’s online store.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 design
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 design isn’t expected to bring many changes, especially not to the entry-level, sporty-looking model.
GalaxyClub (opens in new tab) claims to have found codenames and model number for the rumored three models of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5.
The smallest of these is said to have the codename ‘Heart-S’ and the model number SM-R90X. It will reportedly comes in 40mm and 42mm sizes, which would essentially make it the replacement for the basic Galaxy Watch 4. For more, see our Galaxy Watch 5 vs Galaxy Watch 4 comparison for the biggest rumored upgrades.
The second model is the ‘Heart-L’ — or SM-R91X. This will reportedly come in 44mm and 46mm sizes, which would seem to fit with it being a replacement for the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic version.
Color-wise, one leak has claimed there will be silver or graphite on offer for the standard Galaxy Watch 5 models, with the smaller being also available in pink gold and the larger offering a unique sapphire option. The Pro model meanwhile will have black or gray titanium options, according to this leak.
Another recent leak says the Galaxy Watch 5 will come in graphite and silver colors for both the 40mm and 44mm models, with alternative gold and blue options reserved for the former and latter respectively. There’s also a “Golf” edition mentioned that is only available in graphite.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro rumors
A rumored Galaxy Watch 5 Pro could wind up replacing the Classic model in Samsung’s lineup.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro could be super tough according to one leaker. It been tipped to earn its ‘pro’ moniker thanks to a titanium and sapphire glass construction. These point to a watch that’s resistant to bumps, knocks and scratches with a premium look.
In terms of battery, the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro could reportedly blow away Apple Watch 8 on battery life. It is tipped to have upto 3 days of battery life.
In new renders, it seems the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro chassis is lifted up from the display, with a display bezel that curves down to connect the screen to the elevated edge. This lines up with rumors than the Watch 5 Pro would be an ultra-durable watch, or even one of the best sports watches that can survive the rugged nature of outdoor adventures.
But it looks like the age of the physical rotating bezel is ending. Though the navigational mechanism has accrued many fans since the original Samsung Galaxy Watch launch, it seems like Samsung is moving on.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 body temperature sensor rumors
Outside of the model/size info, we’ve also head a couple of rumors about the sensors that might come to the Galaxy Watch 5. The first of these, from Korean site ET News, claims that the Galaxy Watch 5 will come with temperature-sensing tech.
The second of these, from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, is that the Galaxy Watch 5 will miss out on temperature-sending tech.
So, who to believe here? Well, at this stage we have no reason to trust either one over the other. However, Kuo’s reasoning is that “algorithm limitations” might prevent the tech appearing in the new model. Given that he has also made the same claim about the Apple Watch 8 — which has also been tipped to get a temperature sensor — presumably he knows something about the subject.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro battery life rumors
According to one new rumor, there may be a Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro model. Not much has been claimed about this model, but it could have a huge 572 mAh battery. That’s not only a near 60% increase on the 361 mAh battery found in the larger, 44mm Galaxy Watch 4, it’s pretty much the biggest smartwatch cell we’ve heard of to date.
Also, an FCC listing for the Galaxy Watch 5 has tipped 10W charging speeds, which would be double the Galaxy Watch 4.
This big battery could not only extend the endurance of this claimed smartwatch, but also support a whole load on features, such as measuring blood glucose levels and offering features that are game-changing for diabetics.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 features: What we want to see
Whether the next Galaxy Watch will become the best smartwatch of the year depends mostly on the features it will offer. Here are a few we’d like to see materialize.
Longer battery life: It would be great if the next Galaxy Watch brings more battery life. Based on our usage, we found the Galaxy Watch 4 lasted just over a day with the always-on display and frequent activity tracking. Rivals like the Fitbit Sense and Garmin Venu 2 Plus last up to six days and nine days, respectively.
FDA approval for blood pressure monitoring: We’d also like a feature that’s already offered in the Galaxy Watch lineup to finally earn FDA approval. Samsung has put blood pressure monitoring in the last two iterations of its smartwatch, but users in the U.S. haven’t been able to take advantage of the health tool.
Recovery tools: A recent Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 software update introduced sleep coaching tools to help users improve their sleep quality over time. We’d like to see Samsung take this one step further with dedicated recovery tools that recommend rest days, like the Oura Ring Generation 3. The Galaxy Watch 5 could even borrow a feature like Fitbit’s Daily Readiness Score.
Fun color options: Taking a cue from the Apple Watch Series 7 colors, we think the Galaxy Watch 5 should expand color options beyond the basic metallics. Yes, many might want a neutral-hued smartwatch to match a variety of outfits. But a red, blue, green or other eye-catching color would make the Galaxy Watch 5’s design a bit more exciting.
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