Earlier than smartwatches, there was just one purpose for anybody to take a look at their watch. Now, telling time is only one of a myriad of smartwatch features. Folks use smartwatches to verify time, preserve observe of necessary well being markers, talk with mates, select watch faces for the day and revel in numerous content material from their wrists.
Samsung Newsroom traced the evolution of the Galaxy Watch sequence over the previous decade — because the gadget transcended its conventional function and redefined what it meant to be a watch.
Pondering Exterior the Field: Opening a New Period of Smartwatch
Unveiled in September 2013, the revolutionary Galaxy Gear introduced the Galaxy expertise nearer to on a regular basis life. The wearable featured a 41.4-millimeter show that allowed customers to make and obtain calls, schedule occasions, set alarms and verify the climate with their voice. Pictures and brief movies may very well be captured within the second with out smartphones, because of the 1.9-megapixel digicam hooked up to the strap and the ingenious Memographer characteristic. Greater than a wristwatch, the Galaxy Gear set the stage for a brand new period of smartwatches.
Samsung launched the second-generation Samsung Gear2 in February 2014. Lighter and thinner than its predecessor, this gadget was outfitted with a longer-lasting battery and filled with extra options that may very well be used and not using a smartphone. Customers might monitor their coronary heart fee and observe their train in actual time with the center fee sensor or flip the watch right into a standalone music participant with the embedded file storage. The Samsung Gear2 Neo was launched on the identical time, providing shoppers an extra possibility with all the identical options of the Samsung Gear2 besides the digicam.
Launched in 2014, the Samsung Gear S was Samsung’s first smartwatch to characteristic a big, curved Tremendous AMOLED show that wrapped across the consumer’s wrist — supporting 3G and Wi-Fi and not using a smartphone connection. The Samsung Gear S2, its 2015 successor, was Samsung’s first smartwatch with a round show and the rotating bezel that’s now an indicator of the Galaxy Watch Basic lineup.
In 2016, Samsung launched the Samsung Gear S3 which turned heads with a sublime design impressed by conventional timepieces and extra revolutionary features that improved every day life. The At all times On Show characteristic repeatedly confirmed the time on customers’ wrists with the Tremendous AMOLED show that helps 16 million colours. That includes a built-in speaker and microphone, the gadget allowed customers to take calls on speakerphone and not using a Bluetooth headset. In the meantime, the GPS helped customers file train historical past or verify routes on maps and not using a smartphone.
Samsung Gear Sport, the final mannequin within the Samsung Gear sequence, provided a sporty design for these with an energetic way of life. Boasting 5 ATM water resistance, the watch may very well be worn whereas swimming. Improved water resistance features included Water lock mode which prevents unintentional activation of the touchscreen in sturdy currents.
Galaxy Watch: A New Companion for Balanced Life
In August 2018, the Galaxy Watch sequence was born. This rebrand mirrored the varied and ever-expanding features of a smartwatch in at the moment’s world — as a well being tracker, private assistant, vogue accent and far more. To boost the consumer expertise and spotlight Samsung’s smartwatch identification, the wearable maintained the signature round bezel from earlier fashions however added an hourly alarm and ticking sound of the second hand for the primary time. Out there in three colours and 42- and 46-millimeter sizes, this versatile gadget provided stress administration and sleep administration options to boost customers’ well being and wellness. Customers might preserve observe of exercises from 39 totally different sorts of workout routines as effectively, greater than some other watch available on the market on the time.
Samsung launched a brand new lineup of smartwatches in February 2019 with the Galaxy Watch Lively, particularly designed for customers with energetic existence. Boasting a 28.1-millimeter Tremendous AMOLED show, this watch retained the signature round form however eradicated the bezel and used aluminum to lower the burden by 25 grams. The 20-millimeter watchband made from versatile fluoroelastomer provided fashion-conscious customers quite a lot of choices to specific their individuality. However, health-conscious customers might observe their train, sleep, stress ranges and blood stress in actual time — they may even verify how lengthy they spent in rapid-eye motion (REM) sleep versus the opposite three sleep levels.
In August 2019, the Galaxy Watch Active2 took customized well being and wellness administration to the following stage for individuals in search of more healthy existence. Aside from the rotating bezel and different consumer expertise enhancements, the My Type characteristic supplied extra trendy, personalized watch faces to customers. The wearable was the proper companion in serving to customers undertake more healthy and extra balanced existence by the upgraded stress and sleep administration features in addition to the train characteristic that would observe greater than 39 several types of exercises. Furthermore, the upgraded Galaxy ecosystem improved connectivity and on a regular basis comfort.
A New Period: Built-in Healthcare Is Right here
After two years, Samsung introduced well being seekers the Galaxy Watch3 in August 2020. Sustaining the round bezel made from chrome steel, customers might select from a bigger 41- or 45-millimeter show with a lighter, thinner physique. For the primary time in Galaxy historical past, Samsung added a good lighter, stronger and extra premium mannequin made from titanium. The gadget supplied an built-in healthcare expertise from the wrist with well being, health, sleep administration and blood stress monitoring. As well as, Samsung launched electrocardiogram (ECG) readings and a blood oxygen characteristic to trace oxygen saturation over time.
The Galaxy Watch4 sequence redefined the smartwatch expertise in August 2021 — with two fashions, the trendy and minimalistic Galaxy Watch4 and the extra conventional Galaxy Watch4 Basic that includes the signature rotating bezel. Launched for the primary time, the BioActive Sensor measured numerous well being indicators resembling blood stress, ECG and blood oxygen saturation ranges extra precisely than the earlier watch. Customers wanting extra holistic well being insights might measure their physique composition by merely putting two fingers on the smartwatch to learn to handle and obtain their well being objectives. The wearable was outfitted with the brand new Put on OS, developed collectively with Google, in order that customers might entry a bigger number of purposes. In the meantime, the brand new One UI Watch replace considerably enhanced the consumer expertise by seamlessly connecting the watch with Samsung smartphones, wi-fi earbuds and different units.
Above Wrist: A Companion To Higher Know Your self
In August 2022, Samsung opened the following chapter of smartwatches with the Galaxy Watch5 sequence. Optimum for out of doors sports activities, the Galaxy Watch5 Professional was newly launched on this lineup. The extra superior Samsung BioActive Sensor improved the accuracy of physique composition, coronary heart fee and ECG monitoring measurements. Notably, a newly outfitted temperature sensor on the Galaxy Watch5 supplied pores and skin temperature-based predictions to assist girls conveniently observe their menstrual cycles.
Samsung as soon as once more stood by its health-seeking customers with the Galaxy Watch6 sequence, unveiled in July 2023. This wearable gives holistic well being options to supply extra customized, revolutionary well being options to customers who need to higher handle their well being. Full with a slimmer bezel, the show is about 20% bigger than its predecessors to assist customers see extra data at a look. Galaxy Watch6 is designed with the signature round design, whereas the Galaxy Watch6 Basic encompasses a rotating bezel paying homage to analog watches. A brand new button changed the spring-bar construction, permitting customers to simply change their watchbands with one click on.
With an much more delicate BioActive sensor and a high-performance processor, well being metrics grew to become extra specialised — starting from sleep administration and health teaching to coronary heart well being monitoring.
An AI-Based mostly Galaxy Well being Expertise and the Subsequent-Technology Watch
Samsung unveiled One UI 6 Watch in Might 2024. With this, the corporate has efficiently reworked the Galaxy Watch into a complete digital healthcare assistant that measures indicators resembling coronary heart fee, sleep patterns and extra. Well being insights are extra complete and detailed than ever earlier than, and customers now obtain customized messages powered by AI to encourage them to achieve their well being objectives. Furthermore, the upcoming Galaxy Watch sequence to be launched within the second half of this yr will measure Superior Glycation Finish Merchandise (AGEs) with an up to date BioActive Sensor that options light-emitting diodes (LEDs) in additional colours and newly designed photodiodes.
Samsung is consistently increasing its horizons and can proceed to take action. Every new wearable not solely gives fundamental watch features but additionally delivers companies that youthful generations have come to count on. Striving to develop into the closest companion that values each thrilling and valuable second in every consumer’s life, Samsung has pushed the boundaries of the smartwatch for greater than a decade — and the most effective is but to come back.
