latest
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7: Rumors and what we want to see in Samsung's next wearable
More storage? Better efficiency? Three models? Get the latest here
Samsung's 2023 smartwatches, the Watch 6 and Watch 6 Classic, are among our favorite smartwatches right now. But as we inch ever further into 2024, we can't help but think about what's up ahead: the Galaxy Watch 7 series. Samsung hasn't outright confirmed it's releasing new watches this year, but given it's dropped a new Galaxy Watch generation each August since 2021, we feel pretty confident we'll be seeing the Watch 7 on store shelves this summer. There still isn't much info out there about the upcoming wearables, but we've been hearing rumors since late 2023. Here's everything we know so far — and what we hope to see.
Samsung needs to steal Xiaomi's unique bezels for the Galaxy Watch 7 Classic
What if the next Galaxy Watch bezel was both rotatable and swappable?
Swapping out your smartwatch’s strap is par for the course these days, and there’s really no reason not to: if you’re going to wear this thing all day, every day, then you can do better than the cheap fluoroelastomer band that comes in the box.
Your Galaxy Watch is now FDA approved to detect sleep apnea
The feature is rolling out in the US in the third quarter
If you find yourself tossing and turning at night or waking up feeling exhausted in the morning, you might be dealing with sleep apnea. It’s a condition where you momentarily stop breathing during sleep. Anyone can be affected, but some of the leading smartwatches like Samsung's Galaxy Watches can help detect and manage it. The good news is that the Food and Drug Administration has approved the wearable's sleep apnea detection feature in the US.
The Galaxy Watch companion app is broken for some Samsung and Pixel users
The January 2024 update could be to blame
Samsung arguably makes some of the best smartwatches in the Wear OS ecosystem. However, the way it pairs with Android devices is less than ideal, requiring the Galaxy Wearable app and a corresponding app (or plugins) specifically designed for the smartwatch you own. A strange new bug has now come to light, wherein some Pixel smartphones are unable to access the Galaxy Wearable app.
How to install apps on your Samsung Galaxy Watch
Explore third-party apps on your Galaxy Watch with these methods
With the adoption of Wear OS, you can sideload apps on your Samsung Galaxy Watch. You can download and install apps from the Google Play Store and other sources. Installing apps on a Samsung Galaxy Watch remains the same across different models, for example, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4, the Galaxy Watch 5, and one of the best Android smartwatches of 2023, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6.
Samsung improves its Galaxy smartwatches' battery life with every iteration, and the Galaxy Watch 6 is the best yet. In our Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 review, we found we regularly got two days of use with regular use.
Google's upcoming Watch Unlock trick for Android may also work with Galaxy Watch models
The feature may not be exclusive to the Pixel Watch after all
Google has every reason to make its plethora of devices work seamlessly within the Android ecosystem, and earlier this year, the company demonstrated a few ways it could achieve that, including a new method for unlocking your phone using your smartwatch. This capability, dubbed Watch Unlock, will allow the Pixel Watch to keep your handset seamlessly unlocked as long as certain requirements are met. It appears this capability won't be limited only to Google's smartwatches, and will apparently make its way to Samsung's Galaxy Watches in the future.
Samsung Galaxy Watches will pick up irregular heart rhythm detection with One UI 5 Watch
The update will launch later this year
When you think about the best options for Android smartwatches, Samsung's Galaxy Watch series checks almost all the boxes. The Galaxy Watch 5, while great, still lacked certain health features at launch, but a future update will bring one essential function for users concerned about their hearts.
Latest Galaxy Watch update brings new smart home controls to your wrist
A SmartThings update will let you livestream Nest cameras or adjust the thermostats
Samsung continues to invest in connecting its smartwatch platform to smart home devices in order to expand its ecosystem. The company doubled down on these efforts five years ago when it released the SmartThings app for the Gear S3 and Gear Sport, and it hasn't looked back since. The app literally put smart home controls on users' wrists, allowing them to adjust thermostats or adjust ambient lighting without taking their phones out of their pockets. Samsung is now expanding its SmartThings ecosystem to include additional devices such as Ring and Nest cameras, as well as other smart home products.
Samsung halts buggy Galaxy Watch 4 update that's been bricking watches
Hopefully a fixed update will be available soon
Read update
Samsung's Galaxy Watch 4 is still a pretty popular smartwatch today, even following the release of the Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro. The Watch 4 has the same SoC, very similar software, and even many of the same features, so Watch 4 users aren't hard-pressed to upgrade — and users looking to save a buck on a Samsung wearable can snag it as well. It's still one of the best smartwatches you can get, but right now, you should be aware of a new update that could cause your watch to cease functioning altogether.
Samsung's Galaxy Watch5 Pro may make some very premium upgrades to its glass and body
The upgrades should improve toughness significantly
Samsung’s flagship phone lineup has had a three-tier arrangement for years now, with variations not just in size but also in features and, more importantly, price. This is very effective in that it helps cater to the need of a wider audience. So far, though, for its Galaxy Watch series, the company has released only two models every year — regular and Classic, with the latter being the pricier one. But as information from last month showed, there will actually be a third ‘Pro’ variant this year that’ll be even more premium than the other two. While barely anything was known about the said watch at the time, a new rumor sheds some light on how it'll build its material cache.
Early Samsung Galaxy Watch5 rumors are heating up — literally
Get your thermometers (or smartwatches) and start measuring
Samsung introduced its latest smartwatches, the Galaxy Watch4 and Watch4 Classic, late last summer, and they're easily two of the best Android smartwatches around. Obviously, that's got us excited to think about what Samsung might be planning for a follow-up, and now a new report talks about when we might hope to see the Galaxy Watch5 arrive, and suggests it might get an interesting new piece of hardware — a skin thermometer.
Samsung's new 5nm smartwatch processor is exactly what Wear OS needs to survive
New chip promises performance and efficiency improvements over current Qualcomm options
If you've read any coverage of Wear OS smartwatches over the last couple of years, you'll have noticed a lot of shade being thrown at Qualcomm's processors. The Wear 4100 was mislabeled as something of a savior, going down to 12nm from the 28nm EUV process on which the Wear 3100 was built. Alas, it wasn't that much of an improvement, and Wear OS continues to perform pretty badly. With any luck, Samsung's new 5nm processor will be just the kick up the backside Wear OS needs.
Samsung video low-key previews the Galaxy Z Fold3 and Watch4 in action
If you can't beat the leaks, join them
It's an open secret that Samsung is on the cusp of launching its newest hardware. Both new foldables and new smartwatches from the company have leaked out multiple times, showing off refreshes for the Galaxy Z-series and new Wear OS-equipped smartwatches. Not looking to be left out of the fun, Samsung has decided to tease new hardware all on its own, as a new YouTube video shows off some upcoming gadgets in style.
Samsung's Galaxy Watch4 might show up as soon as August
It looks like the much-anticipated Unpacked event should be next month
Samsung has plenty of new gadgets on the horizon, and nearly all of them have leaked out. From the Galaxy Z Flip3 and S Pen-equipped Z Fold3 to the hotly-anticipated Galaxy Watch4 series, we have a pretty good idea of what to expect from the fall lineup. All that's been missing is when we'll actually see the launch for all these new devices, but a new report is finally filling in those details.
Samsung unveils One UI Watch interface, but leaves us hanging for new Wear hardware
Those leaked watches will probably show up in an Unpacked event this summer
At a digital Mobile World Congress event today, Samsung is showing off its designs for a new generation of Galaxy wearables. But it's sticking to the One UI software side of things, declining to debut new wearable hardware, or even talk very much about that new combined Wear OS platform that it will be running on. It's a bit of a downer after those recent leaks of a next-gen Galaxy Watch 4 from last week.
Watch Samsung's virtual Mobile World Congress event here
We might get our first glimpse at a revitalized Wear OS today
Read update
Google raised eyebrows back at the I/O developer conference, saying that the next iteration of Wear OS would be developed alongside Samsung. The company's Galaxy-branded smartwatches have eschewed Wear OS for years in favor of its own in-house Tizen operating system. Our first real glimpse at this hybridized Wear OS might just come later today when Samsung shows off its "vision for the future of smartwatches," and you can watch it right here.
What to expect from the Galaxy Watch 4 as Samsung moves to Wear OS
One UI skin, walkie-talkie, and more all coming to Samsung's next watch
Samsung has always relied on Tizen to power its smartwatches — the company updated its first Galaxy Gear from Android months after release — but rumors that the company is planning a move to Wear OS have persisted for months. New leaks have shed light on what we can expect from Samsung's next watch, and it sounds like the Galaxy Watch 4 is shaping up to be the most exciting wearable in years.
Get your pick of refurbished Samsung Galaxy Watches starting at $115
Galaxy Watch to Galaxy Watch3, all on sale at Woot
Hankering for something to wrap around that bare wrist, perhaps something from Samsung? Save a few bucks with today's big sale on Woot — refurbished Galaxy Watch devices from the first to the latest are available at a decent discount until 10 p.m. PDT tonight.
Samsung Galaxy Watch4, Watch Active4 may launch sooner than you think
They look set to run Android instead of Tizen
If you're looking to get a smartwatch for your Android phone, you'll be hard-pressed to find one better than what Samsung has to offer, including the Watch3 and the Watch Active2. If you're not in a hurry, you may want to hold out for one of the successors to these watches as they are apparently not too far out.