The Samsung Galaxy Watch 2 is what we expected the company's next smartwatch to be called, but it's looking like it might actually be called the Galaxy Watch 3, likely to make the device seem better than the Galaxy Watch Active 2.
That's odd given it's a successor to the Samsung Galaxy Watch, but 2020 has been the year the company plays fast and loose with naming conventions, so it's no surprise.
We originally thought the device was called the Galaxy Watch 2, but some time after the Galaxy S20 range launch leaks started to suggest the new smartwatch was actually the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3. That name is now all but confirmed.
The new smartwatch is overdue, especially when you consider that Samsung launched the Galaxy Watch Active 2 only six months after the original 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 all over the place and there's no definitive official stance. The latest rumors point to an appearance at the August 5 Unpacked show that Samsung is holding online.
Below you’ll find all the leaks and news that we’ve heard so far about the wearable and further down there’s a wish list of all the things we want from the Galaxy Watch 2 / Watch 3, to make it a worthy upgrade and a real rival to the Apple Watch 6 and the other best smartwatches.
Update: Some hands-on pictures of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 have leaked from their certification tests. We also know that the watch is going to support gesture controls.
Cut to the chase
- What is it? Samsung's next flagship smartwatch
- When is it out? August 5 or just before looks a good bet
- What will it cost? Likely at least $329 / £279 / AU$499
Samsung Galaxy Watch 2 release date and price
Originally we expected to see the Samsung Galaxy Watch 2 a year after the original device - around the same time as 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 will be a Samsung Galaxy Watch 2 at all, especially as the Active sequel can be bought with a leather strap, positioning it as a classier option than the original and a real 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 one or other of these ranges, have now appeared on official certification documents in China. Since then, something listed specifically as a 'Samsung Galaxy Watch' has been certified in the US.
That more or less proves that Samsung has a new smartwatch in the works, but certifications for new devices normally appear close to launch, so it also suggests the wearable might soon be announced.
As for price, there aren’t any rumors there, but the original Galaxy Watch started at $329 / £279 / AU$499 (for the smaller 42mm version), so the Galaxy Watch 2 will probably cost at least that much.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 2 news and leaks
One of the earliest rumors was 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 on it.
As you can see below, the wearable has GPS, LTE, a 5 ATM water resistance rating, a 45mm stainless steel case, military-standard durability, and uses Gorilla Glass DX.
According to the most recent reports, it seems that Samsung may skip a number and call this upcoming wearable the Galaxy Watch 3, partly to avoid confusion with the Galaxy Watch Active 2 (we hope you're keeping up at the back). We've heard quite a few leaks under this name at this point, lending the rumor credence.
Beyond that, it's rumored that the Samsung Galaxy Watch 2 will have a physical rotating bezel. That's no surprise since the original Galaxy Watch had this feature, but we'd like to see it return, as it's a great way to navigate the interface.
One source also suggests that the wearable will come in 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 might have been shrunk down a little, which is no bad thing, as the original was a hefty device in 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 about that, especially since the sketch above mentions a 45mm size. Equally though, it's very 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 very similar build of Tizen (Samsung's own-brand operating system) to its predecessor, suggesting the watches could function very similarly save for the physical differences.
We also think that the upcoming Galaxy Watch 3 will support gesture controls – Samsung has already pushed out the accompanying Android app, showing how different parts of the wearable will work.
Another leak from the smartwatch's certification shows a more honest look at the device, not in press renders or promotional material, and it shows the device you'd get in the box.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 3Via NCC certification pic.twitter.com/j0DUtgWkzxJuly 7, 2020
A leak from sources known to popular Samsung blog SamMobile have said that the smartwatch will come with double the storage of previous editions so there will be 8GB of space for apps and music.
The same blog has also reported that there will be a titanium version of the watch, alongside the expected aluminum and stainless steel ones. Titanium is light, durable and expensive, so this could be a premium option.
It has also been reported that the Samsung Galaxy Watch 2 is codenamed ‘Renaissance’. One definition of that is ‘rebirth’ or ‘revival’, which – while we might be reading too much into the name - could suggest big changes are coming to the design or features of the watch.
Finally, in 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 would use electrodes built into the strap to measure body fat percentage.
We doubt we’ll see this on the Galaxy Watch 2 though, as that isn’t specifically named in the patent, and patents often take a long time to turn into products – if they ever do.
That's it in terms of rumors, but we can take some educated guesses about the Samsung Galaxy Watch 2, especially now that the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 has been announced, as the two are likely to share some features.
A big new feature on the Watch Active 2 for example is its ECG (electrocardiogram), a feature which will let it monitor your heart’s rhythm and alert you to possible atrial fibrillation. In other words, it could be a life-saving feature. The Apple Watch 4 also offers this and we'd be very surprised if the standard Samsung Galaxy Watch 2 didn't.
The Galaxy Watch Active 2 also has a digital rotating bezel. This is in place of the physical one on the Galaxy Watch and could be something Samsung will move to for the Galaxy Watch 2. It's arguably not quite as slick, but also takes up less space, allowing for a more compact design.
Of course, Samsung is also going to want to keep the two wearables distinct, so maybe it won't ditch the physical bezel - especially as its return has now been rumored.
What we want to see
While we don’t know a huge amount about the Samsung Galaxy Watch 2 yet, we do know what we want from it.
1. More third-party apps
The Samsung Galaxy Watch runs Tizen, rather than one of the big-name wearable operating systems, and one downside of that is 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 like to have seen it work with developers to get more apps on the platform, especially big name ones.
2. Better stress tracking
The Samsung Galaxy Watch tracks a lot of things and mostly does a good job, but stress tracking is definitely a weak link.
While it’s available, it required us to manually measure our stress levels rather than tracking them automatically in our tests (despite claiming that it can do it automatically), and its accuracy could be questionable, since the data seems mostly based just on heart rate. So we’d like to see this feature overhauled for the next model.
3. Group challenges
Competing with friends can be a big motivator to get more active and handily the Samsung Galaxy Watch lets you do this. Your friends don’t even need a Galaxy Watch of their own – a Gear watch or the Samsung Health app will do just fine.
However, you can only challenge friends individually, rather than having a group competition. It seems like this would be an obvious and easy feature to add, so hopefully Samsung will.
4. Compatibility with more wireless chargers
The Samsung Galaxy Watch charges wirelessly, but not just any wireless charger will do, you need a proprietary one that comes with it. This is inconvenient and if you’re ever without your charger means you’re likely to soon have a dead watch (though the Galaxy Watch at least has good battery life).
So for the Samsung Galaxy Watch 2 we want it to work with standard, everyday wireless chargers. That way if you’re at the office or a friend’s house without yours there’s at least a chance someone will have one you can borrow.
5. Big improvements to Bixby
Another downside of using Tizen rather than Wear OS is that the Samsung Galaxy Watch is reliant on Bixby rather than Google Assistant.
This is a problem, because Bixby is nowhere near as good as Google Assistant (or Siri or Alexa for that matter), with one particularly major issue being that it simply struggles to understand us on the Galaxy Watch.
While you don’t have to use Bixby to interact with the Galaxy Watch, it has the potential to be a major feature, but until it gets a lot better it won’t be.
6. An ECG
One of the big new features Apple added for the Apple Watch 4 was an ECG, a feature that lets it check for atrial fibrillation.
It’s a major upgrade and one we’d love 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 like to see an LTE model available on more or less all networks, so it’s an option for everyone.
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