Samsung’s Galaxy Watch has become one of the most recognisable brands of smartwatch you can buy.
Two new models are usually launched each year, and that was the case in 2023, with both the Galaxy Watch 6 and 6 Classic impressing in many areas.
So, what can we expect from its highly anticipated successors? Rumours suggest that the line-up will return to its roots, but may also offer an all-new third model for the first time.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 range.
When will the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 be released?
If you’ll pardon the pun, Samsung has been as reliable as clockwork with the release schedule for its Galaxy Watch range. For several years now, the latest iterations have made their debuts in August:
With this in mind we’d assume to see the Watch 7 and Watch 7 Classic or Pro arrive in August 2024.
However, it appears that Samsung might be changing things up as SamMobile reports that the next Unpacked event will take place in July, potentially on 10 July.
It’s expected that the watch will be unveiled alongside the Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Z Fold 6 foldables.
How much will the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 cost?
Samsung has slowly increased the prices across its Galaxy Watch range over the past few years.
The standard 40mm models start at around the £300/$300 mark, while the Pro or Classic (both the premium editions of the Watch) begin at around £370/$400. These prices are in keeping with the competition, so we’d expect them to stay at a similar place with the Galaxy Watch 7 models.
Here’s how the previous generations were priced:
Galaxy Watch 6
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 (40mm, Bluetooth) – $299.99/£289
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 (40mm, LTE) – $349.99/£339
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 (44mm, Bluetooth) – $329.99/£319
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 (44mm, LTE) – $379.99/£369
Galaxy Watch 6 Classic
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic (43mm, Bluetooth) – $399.99/£369
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic (43mm, LTE) – $449.99/£429
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic (47mm, Bluetooth) – $429.99/£399
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic (47mm, LTE) – $479.99£459
Galaxy Watch 5
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 (40mm, Bluetooth): $279.99/£269
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 (40mm, LTE): $329.99/£319
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 (44mm, Bluetooth): $309.99/£289
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 (44mm, LTE): $359.99/£339
Galaxy Watch 5 Pro
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro (45mm, Bluetooth): $449.99/£429
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro (45mm, LTE): $499.99/£479
Galaxy Watch 4
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 40mm (Bluetooth only) – $249/£249
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 40mm (4G) – $299/£289
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 44mm (Bluetooth only) – $279/£269
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 44mm (4G) – $329/£309
Galaxy Watch 4 Classic
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic 42mm (Bluetooth only) – $349/£349
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic 42mm (4G) – $399.99/£389
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic 46mm (Bluetooth only) – $379/£369
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic 46mm (4G)– $429.99/£409
With the rumours of a Pro model in 2024, we wouldn’t expect prices to change too much from the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro.
What specs and features will the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 have?
At the time of writing, a potential release date for the Galaxy Watch 7 lineup is several months away. Despite this, there are a few key leaks and rumours regarding what to expect.
We have seen a few rumours that suggest which improvements the company is planning, so we’ve gathered them here to give some clues of what the Galaxy Watch 7 might bring to the table.
The device has been spotted in the Bluetooth SIG database, via SamMobile, in its 40mm LTE model destined for the US market. It’s model number, SM-L305U, lines up with what was expected.
The listing doesn’t give much away apart from that it will come with Bluetooth 5.3 LE, the same version used in the Galaxy Watch 6.
Return to a square design?
According to a recent report from SamMobile, Samsung is reportedly considering a return to its squarish design roots for upcoming smartwatches. While it’s uncertain if the Galaxy Watch 7 series will adopt this design, Samsung is internally enthusiastic about the idea.
If this proves to be true, future Samsung’s smartwatches would resemble legacy ones. As a reminder, the original Galaxy Gear featured a square 1.6-inch Super AMOLED display (and a camera built into the strap), resembling the current Apple Watch Series 9 more than the circular Galaxy Watch 6.
Samsung’s potential shift to a square design may evoke mixed reactions, as the circular appearance has become synonymous with the Galaxy Watch series, despite its previous success with square smartwatches.
Pro instead of Classic…again
Over the past few years, Samsung has released the standard Watch model, plus a premium Classic or Pro version. The Classic is a more traditional watch styling, with a rotating bezel mimicking some of the classic diving watches, while the Pro is a rugged version aimed at outdoor activities.
Samsung confirmed to PCMag in 2023 that the plan is to update each variant every other year, so the Watch 5 had a Pro model, whereas the Watch 6 has a Classic. This means that we should see a Galaxy Watch 7 Pro this time around, while the Watch 6 Classic should remain available to buy until it’s replaced next year.
Three different models
However, , the next Galaxy Watch 7 series is reportedly set to debut in three variations and not just storage capacities. It’s said that it will be available in both Classic and Pro models, along with a third option which hasn’t been named yet.
This third option might be the rectangular-shaped Galaxy Watch previously mentioned. If this hearsay proves true, it would be a debut for Samsung, marking the first time releasing three distinct versions of its newest smartwatch.
The trio of watches are expected to be identified by model numbers: SM-L300/L305, SM-L310/L315, and SM-L700/L705, with the latter assumed to be the top-tier option. Models ending with a 5 are expected to support eSIM functionality.
Sleep apnea tracking
One feature Samsung has announced ahead of time is that sleep apnea tracking will be coming to the Samsung Galaxy Watch platform.
In a February 2024 post, the company stated that the sleep apnea feature on Galaxy Watch has received authorisation from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the US. It’ll be available via the Samsung Health Monitor app, which is only available on Samsung phones, suggesting it won’t be compatible with other Android handsets.
Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder where sufferers can stop breathing for short periods of time. This decreases the quality of sleep, but in more severe cases it can exacerbate cardiovascular conditions. Being able to monitor your sleep to see if you’re struggling with apnea could be a huge step forward for health and getting a good night’s rest.
At the end of the announcement post, Samsung only confirms that the feature will be available in the US. Hopefully its release will be expanded to include the UK and rest of Europe before too long.
New processor
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 and 6 Classic are powered by Samsung’s own 5nm Exynos W930 chipset. It’s possible we’ll see Samsung stick with it for another generation, considering performance is already pretty decent.
However, according to Korean tech site NewDaily, Samsung will be moving to a new 3nm chipset. This could be a new Exynos W940, though there’s a possibility that Samsung will switch to Qualcomm.
Either way, the article suggests that we could see up to a 30% improvement in performance and 50% better power consumption, with the latter helping to benefit battery life. Both would be very welcome on the new devices.
Bigger storage
In addition, Samsung is anticipated to double the storage capacity from 16GB to 32GB, via SamMobile, providing more space for offline music and applications.
There’s no information on whether Samsung plans to increase the RAM.
That’s all we’ve found so far, but we’ll keep updating this article as more details come to light. In the meantime, you may be interested in similar articles for the Apple Watch X and Google Pixel Watch 3.
