Samsung Galaxy Watch 7: Rumors, upgrades, and what we want to see

Most Galaxy Watch 6 critiques have adopted a well-recognized theme: Samsung made a wonderful however iterative improve, with a number of key advances however sticking to the identical fundamental template because the final two watches. So the plain query turns into, will the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 simply be extra of the identical? Or will Samsung discover a technique to recapture our pleasure?Part of that reply will rely on whether or not Samsung continues alternating between the Galaxy Watch 4 & 6 Classic and the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro. We’ve seen hypothesis that Samsung may change again to a Galaxy Watch 7 Pro subsequent 12 months, focusing on customers who need higher battery life and health instruments above all else. So far, we have solely seen one definitive rumor a few main Galaxy Watch 7 improve. But primarily based on our Galaxy Watch 6 evaluation, we actually have loads of hopes for the place Samsung may enhance on its subsequent era of gadgets, each in {hardware} and software program.Here’s what little we all know — and all the things we suspect — in regards to the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 up to now. Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 launch dateSamsung itself is months off from deciding on a Galaxy Watch 7 launch date, however we do not want leaks or a lot perception to guess that Samsung’s subsequent wearables will launch in the summertime of 2024, almost definitely in August. While the Galaxy Watch 4 shipped on August 27 and the Watch 5 on August 26, the Watch 6 launch moved forward to August 11 this 12 months. So it is attainable Samsung’s watches and foldables may drift even earlier into summer time. What actually issues is that we’ve got practically a 12 months to attend at this level. Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 valueThe final three generations of Galaxy Watches began at $250, $280, and $300, respectively. Size upgrades ($30 further) and LTE upgrades ($50 further) have remained unchanged in value throughout all fashions.Whether because of inflation or as a result of rivals just like the Apple Watch ($400) and Pixel Watch ($350) cost extra for comparable gadgets, Samsung may simply proceed this gradual creep up in value with the Galaxy Watch 7. We hope it stays at $300 and up, however we additionally would not be stunned if Samsung tried $330 with the Galaxy Watch 7. It simply will depend on what sort of upgrades Samsung affords to justify the price.Samsung Galaxy Watch 7: Rumors(Image credit score: Michael Hicks / Android Central)Aside from guesswork a few attainable Galaxy Watch 7 Pro, we have solely seen one definitive rumor in regards to the mainline Galaxy Watch 7: Samsung may change from AMOLED to microLED shows. There’s purpose to be skeptical, nevertheless.This early 2023 report from SamMobile claims that the Samsung Display crew “has started to commercialize MicroLED technology for smartwatches.” Allegedly, Samsung fashioned a process power final 12 months to develop microLED tech and “hopes to complete the development within this year.”Part of this shift is definitely because of Samsung Display wanting to maintain Apple’s enterprise; it provides present Apple Watches with OLED panels and desires to keep up that relationship for future microLED fashions. But if Samsung efficiently mass-produces this expertise, the report suggests, it can instantly convey it to its personal watches as effectively. With Samsung Display’s 2023 deadline to develop microLED, that might ideally give Samsung sufficient time to include the tech into the Galaxy Watch 7 sequence. But it is unclear if issues will run that easily; Apple allegedly desires to convey microLED to the Apple Watch Ultra by 2025, and should not change out OLED for the mainline fashions “until cost falls significantly,” based on DSCC CEO Ross Young.So maybe we’d solely see microLED shows on a future Galaxy Watch 7 Pro, with the cheaper fashions sticking to AMOLED. Or if the expertise is not prepared but, maybe the Watch 8 Classic could be the primary to obtain it. We’ll know extra by the tip of 2023 about what progress Samsung Display has made. Samsung Galaxy Watch 7: Likely specs(Image credit score: Michael Hicks / Android Central)Purely primarily based on Samsung’s patterns with previous Galaxy Watch fashions, we are able to already guess areas the place the Galaxy Watch 7 and Watch 6 shall be both equivalent or very comparable. Samsung used the Exynos 9110 with the primary three Galaxy Watches, then the Exynos W920 for 2 watches, and at last, the Exynos W930 with the Watch 6. There’s purpose to imagine Samsung will follow the W930 for another era, as Samsung likes to optimize its watch {hardware} over a number of years. Samsung ought to follow aluminum for the usual Galaxy Watch 7, with both stainless-steel or titanium for a hypothetical Watch 7 Classic or Watch 7 Pro. All Watch 7 fashions ought to hold the identical MIL-STD-810H ranking in opposition to shock harm and their typical IP68 mud and water resistance. You also needs to see the identical BioActive sensor for coronary heart fee, ECG, and physique composition readings, together with the return of blood oxygen and temperature readings for sleep monitoring. We know Samsung has been engaged on a blood glucose monitor for years, however the issue of delivering medically-accurate readings makes it unlikely we’ll see it on the Galaxy Watch 7, and even the following couple of generations after that. Beyond that, the Galaxy Watch 7 will undoubtedly convey again Samsung’s wi-fi charging puck with no less than 10W charging pace, the newest Bluetooth commonplace, and the entire international navigational satellite tv for pc techniques like GPS and GLONASS. It may also have no less than 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage. You’ll additionally see high-resolution shows with no less than 2,000 nits of brightness. Samsung Galaxy Watch 7: WishlistWill we see the return of the Pro (left) or the Classic (proper)? (Image credit score: Michael Hicks / Android Central)As an Android smartwatch, the Galaxy Watch 6 was a top-of-the-line gadget. But in sure areas like health and battery life, it left loads of room for enchancment. As the one that reviewed the Galaxy Watch 6, this is what I would like from the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7, in addition to a hypothetical Watch 7 Pro, to see a extra thrilling launch this time round. Bounce again in battery lifeThe final three Galaxy Watches supplied 40, 50, and 40 hours of estimated battery life, respectively. You’ll discover that the Watch 6 fell again a tempo, almost definitely as a result of its increased clock pace and elevated RAM attracts extra energy than its small battery capability can deal with.Even although this quantity is effectively above Apple’s 18-hour battery life, the Galaxy Watch 6’s actual battery life falls to 30 hours or under when you begin utilizing extra intensive options. Any battery leeway Samsung can squeeze out could be welcome. Samsung managed to shrink the Watch 6 a millimeter to 12mm, making it among the many skinniest Android watches. I think some Watch 7 consumers would settle for a barely thicker design in alternate for one more 10–15 hours of battery life — although others would like a extra petite design. It’ll be attention-grabbing to see how Samsung proceeds.Offer higher GPS monitoringIn my evaluation, I defined how the Watch 6 cannot correctly observe your GPS actions, even in areas with no tree cowl that might clarify sign issues. So when your Garmin watch says you’ve got hit a sure distance, the Galaxy Watch 6 will nonetheless measure you additional again, forcing you to run additional or tougher than you meant.Unless Samsung can repair its monitoring issues, the following resolution is to supply All-Systems monitoring — which makes use of GPS together with GLONASS, GALILEO, or different satellite tv for pc techniques concurrently to triangulate a sign — or dual-frequency GPS. The latter makes use of each L1 and L5 satellite tv for pc frequencies that focus on your place from a number of angles, bypassing any sign obstructions and giving the watch extra location information.These techniques are actually helpful…but additionally draw extra battery life. So ideally, Samsung will supply higher battery life in order that the Galaxy Watch 7 has the capability for higher monitoring. Or, on the very least, the Galaxy Watch 7 Pro ought to have dual-frequency monitoring to compete with the Apple Watch Ultra for accuracy. Double its storageSamsung has caught to 16GB of storage for its watches for years, whereas the Apple Watch and Pixel Watch each supply 32GB. In truth, as soon as you’re taking the pre-downloaded software program into consideration, the Galaxy Watch 6 truly has nearer to 6GB of free area left for apps, watch faces, and music. The resolution is apparent: the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 ought to leap to 32GB of storage, giving customers extra leeway to stream extra music or check out extra apps with out having to delete others first. That approach, it will not look poor subsequent to the Pixel Watch 2.Make the Galaxy Watch 7 Pro a health fiendThe Watch 5 Pro has only one unique health characteristic to go along with its athletic look and namesake: downloadable maps you may comply with by way of the Routes tile. While this can be a begin, it is not practically far sufficient to make it a aggressive health watch.Here’s the place Samsung can enhance: its “Running Coach” and operating packages want to supply sooner and longer runs to focus on critical runners. It must department out its customized coronary heart fee zones to different sport actions like biking or swimming. And in a great world, Samsung may use your collected health information to provide you suggestions on how onerous to coach or how lengthy to relaxation on a given day. This, together with an 80-hour battery life just like the Watch 5 Pro has, would make the Galaxy Watch 7 Pro a tempting gadget for Android athletes who need each good apps and good health instruments.