Jimmy Westenberg / Android Authority
Update: June 7, 2021 (3:00 a.m. ET): We’ve updated the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Hub below with details about the wearables battery and a possible switch to Wear OS. Read on for the latest!
Original article: The Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 was one of the few smartwatches to challenge the Apple Watch Series 6 in 2020. Now the flagship wearable of the Korean company is to be upgraded, probably in the form of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4.
See also: The best smartwatches you can buy
Rumors about the upcoming wearable are picking up speed. Below is a comprehensive list of all the credible leaks and rumors surrounding the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4. Make sure to bookmark this article and check for the latest information regularly.
Name and date of publication
Samsung has changed its product naming scheme every now and then, skipping numbers or adding incorrect letters to the titles of its smartphones. However, we do not foresee that with the Galaxy Watch line. As the fourth iteration of its Galaxy Smartwatch, we expect the device to be called the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4.
As for the release date, Samsung typically launches its wearables in August along with the Note series. No Galaxy Note 21 will debut this year, however. Instead, Samsung could launch its latest wearables in August alongside the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE we’re expecting this month. A recent report from Korea supports this idea.
There are conflicting rumors from multiple sources regarding the launch date of Samsung’s next major products.
However, not everyone agrees with this rumor. Sometimes-accurate tipster Ice Universe believes Samsung could postpone the launch date of the Galaxy Watch 4 to the second quarter of 2021. According to the tipster, the smartwatch could come onto the market together with the Galaxy Watch Active 4. There’s no secondary source to support this early launch claim, but Samsung unveiled its Galaxy S21 series much earlier than usual this year and we expect a launch window for the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3 to happen in June.
However, another rumor has it that Samsung could just launch anything in August: the Galaxy S21 FE, two foldable devices, and two watches.
The bottom line is that there are a lot of conflicting rumors surrounding the launch windows for the latest Samsung devices. Hopefully we’ll get more clarity soon.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 4: design
Eric Zeman / Android Authority
Samsung is keeping the appearance of the Galaxy Watch 4 under lock and key for the time being. No renderings or mockups have been spilled yet. However, Samsung typically doesn’t make major aesthetic changes to its portable range. We should expect the Galaxy Watch 4’s looks to overshadow its predecessor.
Our verdict: Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 review | Galaxy Watch Active 2 in the test
This would likely signal the return of the round design and rotating bezel, as opposed to the touch-controlled bezel on the Galaxy Watch Active 2.
As for sizes, a leak of this information suggests that we could see two sizes:
- Galaxy Watch 4 (42mm) SM-R880
- Galaxy Watch 4 (46mm) SM-R890
If these sizes are true, it means the larger Galaxy Watch 4 would be a bit larger than last year’s 45mm model.
Specifications and functions
Jimmy Westenberg / Android Authority
The raw specs of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 also remain a mystery for now, but we can see some improvements in the wearable’s longevity.
According to an April report by The Elec, the 42mm Galaxy Watch 4 could have a 240 mAh battery – a 7 mAh decrease compared to the similarly sized Galaxy Watch 3. A listing from the Finnish certification body SGS Fimko (via 91 Cell Phones) suggests that the smaller Galaxy Watch 4’s battery could stay at 247 mAh. It will apparently also support 5W charging. The 46mm Galaxy Watch 4 can get a 350 mAh cell – 10 mAh larger than its predecessor. We doubt these tiny changes will lead to big real-world results.
As for the health tracking improvements, Samsung was tipped off in January to add blood glucose monitoring to a future smartwatch. The company last year developed a system that uses lasers to detect the chemical makeup of blood. The addition would be a boon to those who have diabetes. Unfortunately, a recent report suggests that Samsung may have given up on that idea.
However, it is safe to expect the pulse oximeter, heart rate sensor, blood pressure monitor, and EKG to return.
Wear OS or Tizen?
Jimmy Westenberg / Android Authority
A question mark hangs over the clock’s operating system. Rumors pro SamMobile – repeated by Tipster Ice Universe and some others – suggest that Samsung might switch from its in-house Tizen OS to Google’s Wear OS for an upcoming smartwatch.
See also: Why Samsung Should (and Why Not) Ditch Tizen for Wear OS
However, Samsung at Google I / O has dedicated its wearables future to Wear OS. The company said it will partner with Google to play an active role in developing the portable operating system. This suggests that there is a good chance that Galaxy Watch 4 will feature Wear OS instead of Tizen.
Despite the change, the Galaxy Watch 4 seems to have a familiar appearance. A new leak suggests that the Watch 4 could put a One UI layer over Wear OS.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 4: price and availability
Jimmy Westenberg / Android Authority
Samsung appears to be very conscious of the pricing of its products in 2021. This year, it launched the Galaxy S21 series at a lower base price than the S20 line. That was probably necessary, but could this philosophy also penetrate the company’s flagship smartwatch?
Connected: The best Samsung smartwatches you can buy
Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 3 started at $ 399, but the wearable offered numerous improvements over its predecessor. However, it seems unlikely that the company would sell the new watch for less. This could especially be the case if additional health monitoring technologies are implemented.
As for availability, it can be assumed that the Galaxy Watch 4 can be pre-ordered on the day of the announcement and that general sales will begin a few days later.
That’s all we know about Samsung’s next flagship smartwatch. Make sure to bookmark this Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 hub as we will regularly update it with new information!