Wearable: Samsung Galaxy Watch 2 / Watch 3 release date, price, news, and leaks

Wearable: Samsung Galaxy Watch 2 / Watch 3 release date, price, news, and leaks

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 2 or Watch 3 - what is going to the company's next smartwatch be called

The original Samsung Galaxy Watch (Image credit: Future)

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 2 is what we expected the company's next smartwatch to be called, but it's looking love it might actually be called the Galaxy Watch 3, likely to form the device seem better than the Galaxy Watch Active 2.

That's odd given it is a successor to the Samsung Galaxy Watch, but 2020 has been the year the corporate plays fast and loose with naming conventions, so it's no surprise.

We originally thought the device was called the Galaxy Watch 2, but a while after the Galaxy S20 range launch leaks began to suggest the new smartwatch was actually the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3. For now, we do not know which is true.

The new smartwatch is overdue, especially once you consider that Samsung launched the Galaxy Watch Active 2 only six months after the first Watch Active arrived back in 2019.

The most recent leaks suggest the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3, as they call it, could launch in July, but reports are everywhere the place and there is no definitive official stance.

Below you’ll find all the leaks and news that we’ve heard thus far about the wearable and further down there’s a list of all the items we would like from the Galaxy Watch 2 / Watch 3, to form it a worthy upgrade and a true rival to the Apple Watch 6 and therefore the other best smartwatches.

Update: Some hands-on pictures of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 have leaked from their certification tests. These pictures look far more like what the watch will look on your wrist, than other pictures we have seen before, so it is a far more honest check out the watch.

Cut to the chase

1. What is it? Samsung's next flagship smartwatch
2. When is it out? We're unsure yet, but likely 2020
3. What will it cost? Likely a minimum of $329 / £279 / AU$499

Samsung Galaxy Watch 2 release date and price

Originally we expected to ascertain the Samsung Galaxy Watch 2 a year after the first device - round the same time because the Galaxy Note 10 launch in 2019 - but the device didn't appear. Nor did it land alongside the Samsung Galaxy S20 family of phones in February 2020.

The release of the Galaxy Watch Active 2 also makes us slightly question whether there'll be a Samsung Galaxy Watch 2 in the least, especially because the Active sequel is often bought with a leather strap, positioning it as a classier option than the first and a true alternative to the Galaxy Watch, and as we're now hearing about the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 3.

Either the Samsung Galaxy Watch 2 or Galaxy Watch Active 3 could land soon though, as two model numbers for Samsung wearables, which have previously been linked to at least one or other of those ranges, have now appeared on official certification documents in China. Since then, something listed specifically as a 'Samsung Galaxy Watch' has been certified within the US.

That more or less proves that Samsung features a new smartwatch within the works, but certifications for brand spanking new devices normally appear on the brink of launch, so it also suggests the wearable might soon be announced.

As for price, there aren’t any rumors there, but the first Galaxy Watch started at $329 / £279 / AU$499 (for the smaller 42mm version), therefore the Galaxy Watch 2 will probably cost a minimum of that much.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 2 news and leaks

There aren’t many Samsung Galaxy Watch 2 rumors yet, but an FCC listing for an upcoming Galaxy Watch (which is presumably either this or the Galaxy Watch Active 3) includes a sketch with various specs and features written thereon.

As you'll see below, the wearable has GPS, LTE, a 5 ATM water resistance rating, a 45mm chrome steel case, military-standard durability, and uses Gorilla Glass DX.

According to the foremost recent reports, it seems that Samsung may skip variety and call this upcoming wearable the Galaxy Watch 3, partly to avoid confusion with the Galaxy Watch Active 2 (we hope you're maintaining at the back). We've heard quite a few leaks under this name at now, lending the rumor credence.

(Image credit: FCC / Samsung)

Beyond that, it's rumored that the Samsung Galaxy Watch 2 will have a physical rotating bezel. That's no surprise since the first Galaxy Watch had this feature, but we'd wish to see it return, as it is a good way to navigate the interface.

One source also suggests that the wearable will are available two different sizes – a 44mm one and a 40mm one.

The original Galaxy Watch also came in two sizes, but they were 46mm and 42mm, so if true then the Galaxy Watch 2 may need to be been shrunk down a touch, which is not any bad thing because the original was a hefty device within the larger size.

It's worth noting that the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 has now launched in 44mm and 40mm sizes, so it's possible that this rumor was actually talking that, especially since the sketch above mentions a 45mm size. Equally though, it's extremely possible that Samsung will start offering those sizes across its smartwatch range, especially as that's in line with the Apple Watch.

The most recent size leak points to 41mm and 45mm though, so either way, it'll likely be smaller than its predecessor.

We've seen a leaked image of the smartwatch with the screen on, running a really similar build of Tizen (Samsung's own-brand operating system) to its
predecessor, suggesting the watches could function very similarly but the physical differences.

Another leak from the smartwatch's certification shows a more honest check out the device, not in press renders or promotion, and it shows the device you'd get within the box.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 3
Via NCC certification pic.twitter.com/j0DUtgWkzx

— the_tech_guy (@_the_tech_guy) July 7, 2020

A leak from sources known to popular Samsung blog SamMobile has said that the smartwatch will accompany double the storage of previous editions so there'll be 8GB of space for apps and music.

The same blog has also reported that there'll be a titanium version of the watch, alongside the expected aluminum and chrome steel ones. Titanium is light, durable, and expensive, so this might be a premium option.

It has also been reported that the Samsung Galaxy Watch 2 is codenamed ‘Renaissance’. One definition of that's ‘rebirth’ or ‘revival’, which – while we'd be reading an excessive amount of into the name - could suggest big changes are coming to the planning or features of the watch.

Will the Galaxy Watch 2 sport a replacement design?Will the Galaxy Watch 2 sport a replacement design? (Image credit: Future)

Finally, within the realms of unlikely but possible features, there’s a patent (spotted by Patently Mobile) for a Samsung wearable with a body composition feature that might use electrodes built into the strap to live body fat percentage.

We doubt we’ll see this on the Galaxy Watch 2 though, as that isn’t specifically named within the patent, and patents often take an extended time to show into products – if they ever do.

That's it in terms of rumors, but we will take some educated guesses about the Samsung Galaxy Watch 2, especially now that the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 has been announced because the two are likely to share some features.

A big new feature on the Watch Active 2 for instance is its ECG (electrocardiogram), a feature that can let it monitor your heart’s rhythm and provide you with a warning to possible fibrillation. In other words, it might be a life-saving feature. The Apple Watch 4 also offers this and we'd be very surprised if the quality Samsung Galaxy Watch 2 didn't.

The Galaxy Watch Active 2 also features a digital rotating bezel. this is often in situ of the physical one on the Galaxy Watch and will be something Samsung will move to for the Galaxy Watch 2. It's arguably almost as slick, but also takes up less space, allowing a more compact design.

Of course, Samsung is additionally getting to want to stay the 2 wearables distinct, so maybe it won't ditch the physical bezel - especially as its return has now been rumored.

What we would like to ascertain

While we don’t know an enormous amount about the Samsung Galaxy Watch 2 yet, we do know what we would like from it.

1. More third-party apps

Tizen is sweet, but its app situation isn't. Tizen is sweet, but its app situation isn't. (Image credit: TechRadar)

The Samsung Galaxy Watch runs Tizen, instead of one among the big-name wearable operating systems, and one downside of that's that there are fewer apps available than you’ll find on Wear OS or watchOS.

So by the time Samsung launches the Galaxy Watch 2, we’d wish to have seen it work with developers to urge more apps on the platform, especially superstar ones.

2. Better stress tracking

The Samsung Galaxy Watch tracks tons of things and mostly does an honest job, but stress tracking is certainly a weak link.

While it’s available, it required us to manually measure our stress levels instead of tracking them automatically in our tests (despite claiming that it can roll in the hay automatically), and its accuracy might be questionable since the info seems mostly based just on the pulse. So we’d wish to see this feature overhauled for the subsequent model.

3. Group challenges

Competing with friends is often an enormous motivator to urge more active and handily the Samsung Galaxy Watch allows you to do that. Your friends don’t even need a Galaxy Watch of their own – a Gear watch or the Samsung Health app will do exactly fine.

However, you'll only challenge friends individually, instead of having a gaggle competition. It looks like this is able to be a clear and straightforward feature to feature, so hopefully, Samsung will.

4. Compatibility with more wireless chargers

There should not be a requirement for proprietary chargers. There should not be a requirement for proprietary chargers. (Image credit: Future)

The Samsung Galaxy Watch charges wirelessly, but not just any wireless charger will do, you would like a proprietary one that comes with it. this is often inconvenient and if you’re ever without your charger means you’re likely to soon have a dead watch (though the Galaxy Watch a minimum of has good battery life).

So for the Samsung Galaxy Watch 2, we would like it to figure with standard, everyday wireless chargers. That way if you’re at the office or a friend’s house without yours there’s a minimum of an opportunity someone will have one you'll borrow.

5. Big improvements to Bixby

Another downside of using Tizen instead of Wear OS is that the Samsung Galaxy Watch is reliant on Bixby instead of Google Assistant.

This is a drag, because Bixby is nowhere near nearly as good as Google Assistant (or Siri or Alexa for that matter), with one particular major issue being that it simply struggles to know us on the Galaxy Watch.

While you don’t need to use Bixby to interact with the Galaxy Watch, it's the potential to be a serious feature, but until it gets tons better it won’t be.

6. An ECG

The Apple Watch 4 already has an ECG. The Apple Watch 4 already has an ECG. (Image credit: Apple)

One of the large new features Apple added for the Apple Watch 4 was an ECG, a feature that lets it check for fibrillation.

It’s a serious upgrade and one we’d like to see Samsung match with its rival device. This now looks very likely though, as Samsung has brought the feature to the Galaxy Watch Active 2.

7. Wider LTE availability

There are versions of the Samsung Galaxy Watch that support LTE, but only on select networks, which won’t suit everyone. For the Samsung Galaxy Watch 2, we’d wish to see an LTE model available on more or less all networks, so it’s an option for everybody.





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