For Android users, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 is one of the best smartwatches you can buy today. It’s stylish, feature-packed and — with the Classic edition — has a very satisfying tactile bezel for app control.
With Samsung sticking to a new model each year, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 could be just months away. So what are we expecting from the new wearable? Read on to find out.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7: Price and release date
Other than the ‘Active’ range — which hasn’t had a new model since 2019 — Samsung has stuck to releasing every new Galaxy Watch in August. So we’d fully expect the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 to be released then. The reveal may come a little earlier, possibly in late July alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 6, Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Galaxy Ring.
While the series has seen a modest price reduction over the years — the original Galaxy Watch started at $329, while the latest model has a starting MSRP of $299 — we’d be surprised if there were any more price cuts to come.
In other words, expect a starting price of at least $300 for the smallest model without cellular data, and the price to increase based on size and functionality. It seems there may be a second generation of the Pro model this year, and that should sell for upwards of $449, judging from the MSRP of the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7: Design
The Samsung Galaxy Watch’s design hasn’t changed too much in its first six generations, but that could be set to change in 2024. According to recent reports, Samsung is toying with a square design — and “the idea is enthusiastically being considered internally.”
Whether that would be for one model or for all of them remains to be seen. Interestingly, the leaker @kro-roe says that there will be three different types of Galaxy Watch 7 this year. The Classic and Pro models will apparently be joined by a “new one”. That could potentially be the rumored square model.
Get the BEST of Tom’s Guide daily right in your inbox: Sign up now!
Upgrade your life with the Tom’s Guide newsletter. Subscribe now for a daily dose of the biggest tech news, lifestyle hacks and hottest deals. Elevate your everyday with our curated analysis and be the first to know about cutting-edge gadgets.
Long-term Samsung wearable fans will remember that the company has produced square smartwatches before. The Galaxy Gear, Gear 2, Gear Live and Gear S all had squared-off designs before Samsung switched to round faces with the Galaxy Gear S2.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7: Specs
At the start of the year, the reliable tipster Roland Quandt reported that the Watch 7 will get a brand-new chipset: the Exynos W940.
With only one generation using the W930, this was a little unexpected. While processor upgrades are a given for new smartphones, wearables move at a slower pace — indeed, the Galaxy Watch, Galaxy Watch Active 2 and Galaxy Watch 3 all used the Exynos 9110, while the Galaxy Watch 4 and 5 got the Exynos W920.
Still, this has now been backed up by another leaker. On X, leaker @TheGalox wrote: “Exynos W940, the processor powering the Galaxy Watch7 series, will apparently be 50% more efficient and 30% faster than the previous model.”
Extra speed is, of course, welcome for smoother performance, but the real prize here is the efficiency. That means longer battery life — which has been something of an Achille’s Heel of recent Galaxy Watches which have fallen well short of the original’s four-day stamina.
There’s no talk yet of new health sensors, but one thing that’s all but confirmed is the introduction of sleep apnea detection. Last month, Samsung published a press release announcing that the feature has been approved by the FDA, and will be coming to Galaxy Watches in the third quarter of 2024 — just in time for the Galaxy Watch 7’s expected release date, which likely isn’t a coincidence.
Finally, there were reports in early 2023 that Samsung would be switching to MicroLED tech for Galaxy Watches in the future. But as we’ve heard nothing since, we’d assume this is penciled in for a later generation.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7: Outlook
The Samsung Galaxy Watch series has typically been defined by iterative generational updates: solid, but unspectacular with little reason to upgrade each year.
By contrast, rumors about the Galaxy Watch 7 appear substantial, if they turn out to be true.
With a possible new design, markedly better performance and stronger battery life, the Galaxy Watch 7 could be a serious improvement that could tempt even the staunchest holdouts into an early upgrade.
Alan Martin
Freelance contributor Alan has been writing about tech for over a decade, covering phones, drones and everything in between. Previously Deputy Editor of tech site Alphr, his words are found all over the web and in the occasional magazine too. When not weighing up the pros and cons of the latest smartwatch, you'll probably find him tackling his ever-growing games backlog. Or, more likely, playing Spelunky for the millionth time.
More about smartwatches
Latest
No comments yetComment from the forums
Most Popular
By Philip Michaels
By Brittany Vincent
By Dan Bracaglia
By Malcolm McMillan
By Aatif Sulleyman
By Nicole Pyles
By John Velasco
By Simon Warren
By Aatif Sulleyman
By Aatif Sulleyman
By Tom Wardley