Galaxy Watch 5 preview – PhoneArena

Galaxy Watch 5 Intro

Aside from the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, Samsung is expected to announce another wearable on August 10, when the Galaxy Unpacked event is expected to give us the Z Fold 4, the Z Flip 4, and the Galaxy Watch 5 series.

Now the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro will be the crown jewel of the upcoming wearable lineup with its rugged design and big battery, but we can’t forget the regular Galaxy Watch 5, which will be the regular wearable in the lineup. With a slimmer profile and a similar array of features and functionalities, it could easily become the perfect companion for those invested in the Samsung ecosystem, especially those using older Galaxy smartwatches.

Update: Last chance to pre-order the Galaxy Z Fold 4, Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Galaxy Watch 5!

Galaxy Watch 5 Specifications

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 has been leaked profusely alongside the Watch 5 Pro. No changes are expected on the Galaxy Watch 5 as it looks like it will largely be a copy of the Galaxy Watch 4 which is… not a bad thing at all! The latter was a sleek and no-nonsense wearable that just did its job, so we’re all for it!

The digital edge that allows for some useful interface interactions is retained on the Galaxy Watch 5, and that’s good news for fans of Samsung’s wearables: while it’s not a rotating physical bezel, it still offers some extra interactivity.

There will presumably be two sizes of the Galaxy Watch 5: 40mm and 44mm versions, both of which will definitely be available in both Wi-Fi + LTE and Wi-Fi only variants. The full color spectrum of the Galaxy Watch 5 line is also known, we look at the following color options: Bora Purple, Pink Gold, Graphite and Sapphire.

Aside from that, we may also see the Galaxy Watch 5 being included in Samsung’s own Bespoke Edition program, which will allow potential wearers to mix and match a handful of colors and create unique color combinations, reportedly up to 1,000 (!).

Galaxy Watch 5 software and features

The Galaxy Watch 5 will most likely ship with the latest One UI Watch 4.5 OS, based on Google’s wear OS and with a dedicated Play Store on the deck. This update brings a new typing experience, including a new full QWERTY keyboard with swipe support that allows users to type in addition to dictating and scribbling. Most importantly, though, is the improved customization that Samsung has seemingly included in the One UI 4.5 update with a few new watch faces with more customizable complications.

So far, we don’t expect a brand new biometric sensor to improve the Galaxy Watch 5. We could potentially see a thermometer functionality that measures your current temperature and may alert you if you have a fever, but we’re not yet to hear any confirmation of that rumor. Aside from an EKG, an always-on heart rate monitor, and perhaps a BMI sensor to measure your body structure, the Galaxy Watch 5 also has a thermometer. Other watches with this capability include the Huawei Watch GT3, Garmin wearables and a number of other specialized smartwatches.

An important thing to mention is that the Galaxy Watch 5 will probably only be compatible with Android devices and the best features, such as EKG and blood pressure, will definitely require a Galaxy smartphone, similar to the Galaxy Watch 4 and 4 Classic.

Galaxy Watch 5 Battery and Charging

With the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, we’re probably looking at a battery larger than 500 mAh, which could be a record for the Galaxy Watch range, but the smaller Galaxy Watch 5 will likely come with a smaller battery. In the case of the 40mm version, it could be a 276mAh unit, while the larger 44mm version could get a 400mAh battery.

With a battery like that, the Galaxy Watch 5 is potentially looking at a day, a day and a half of active use.

As for charging, rumors are also putting a 10W charging option in the Galaxy Watch 5, which could get to a 45% charge in about half an hour and possibly a full one in about an hour, which is pretty snappy!

Galaxy Watch 5 leaked render

Galaxy Watch 5 Summary and Verdict

Well, the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro could certainly get the most attention, but we shouldn’t rule out the Galaxy Watch 5 at all. At the very least, it could be the workhorse of the Galaxy Watch range, probably starting at around $249 for the Wi-Fi version, but slightly more for the Wi-Fi + Cellular version.

We hypothesize that the Watch 5 could be a nice alternative to the upcoming Apple Watch 8, although not really: the two won’t be interchangeable, given that you can’t use an Apple Watch on Android and a Galaxy Watch with an iPhone. So if anything, go for the smartwatch that works within your ecosystem.