Samsung is expected to release the Galaxy Watch 5 later this year, and we now have an official date for its launch. The Galaxy Watch 5 series will be an update over the Galaxy Watch 4 lineup that was released last year. The new series is expected to come with a host of new features, including support for skin temperature measurement. Reports also suggest that the upcoming watches will offer a massive battery upgrade over their predecessors to rectify complaints about the Galaxy Watch 4's poor battery life.
However, for all the new additions, rumors also suggest that the Galaxy Watch 5 series might eliminate a much-loved Galaxy Watch 4 feature. According to reports, the upcoming lineup will ditch the 'Classic' version for a 'Pro' model, meaning there will be no rotating bezel in any of the Galaxy Watch 5 variants. This has caused a lot of disappointment among buyers waiting for the new lineup, with many saying they'd rather buy the older device or switch over to a different brand altogether. It looks like all the Watch 5 variants will feature a touch-sensitive bezel instead.
Samsung has now officially announced the date for its next Galaxy Unpacked event. In a press release, the company announced that the event will take place on August 10 at 9 a.m. ET. The event will be live-streamed on Samsung's official website and YouTube channel. While the company hasn't officially announced which devices will be launched, it is letting users reserve a new Galaxy Watch, alongside new earbuds and phones on its website. That pretty much confirms the Galaxy Watch 5 series will make its debut, alongside the stars of the show – the Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Z Fold 4. Samsung had recently teased the August 10 launch date in a cryptic puzzle ahead of the official announcement, but even before that, tipster Jon Prosser confirmed the same launch date. In addition, he claimed that the Galaxy Watch 5 series and new foldables will go on sale on August 26th.
Galaxy Watch 5 Will Come In Three Variants
Prosser also confirmed long-standing rumors that Samsung will ditch the 'Classic' variant for a new 'Pro' model this year. According to the tipster, the Galaxy Watch 5 series will have three versions, including a standard 40mm model that will be offered in three colors — Phantom Black, Silver, and Pink Gold. In addition, there will also apparently be a larger 44mm variant of the same model, and it will be offered in Phantom Black, Silver, and Sapphire. The company has also hinted at the existence of a rugged smartwatch, which could be launched to compete with the new 'Extreme Sports' Apple Watch. It's unclear if this is an additional model in the Galaxy Watch lineup, or the new Pro version that will be optimized for outdoor activities.
Finally, there will be the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, which will come in a much larger 46mm avatar. It will reportedly be available in only two colors — Phantom Black and Silver. Earlier reports had claimed that the 40mm model would ship with a 276mAh battery, while the 44mm version would sport a 397mAh unit. As for the Pro model, it is said to come with a 572mAh battery that should help it offer much better battery life than any of the Galaxy Watch 4 models. The Pro model is also likely to see some upgrades in the build with the use of titanium for the body, and for the first time on a Samsung smartwatch, sapphire glass for the display.
Source: Samsung, Jon Prosser/Twitter