Samsung is reportedly planning to release its next-generation smartwatch dubbed the Galaxy Watch on August 24, the same date that the Galaxy Note 9 will launch. According to a new report from ZDNet South Korea, the initial unveiling of the Galaxy Watch will take place on August 9, a date confirmed by Samsung to be the launch date for the Galaxy Note 9. Like all other previous announcements for the phablet device, the launch event this year will happen during the Galaxy Unpacked in New York, with pre-orders for both the Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Note 9 expected to open on August 14.
The Galaxy Watch branding first cropped up in a trademark application filed by Samsung with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), as reported last May, leading to the speculation that this could be the name of the upcoming wearable from the company instead of the Samsung Gear S4. The Galaxy Watch marks a significant shift in the South Korean giant’s smartwatch strategy since it will be the first wearable device under the Galaxy brand, a likely departure from the Gear branding. There are reportedly two versions of the smartwatch that will be shipped to consumers, each variant having a different size. And while previous rumors suggested that Samsung’s next-generation smartwatch will be powered by the Wear OS, the Galaxy Watch will supposedly run the Tizen operating system instead, according to industry sources in South Korea. Additionally, the wearable device will include a host of health care and fitness apps.
Earlier this month, it was also rumored that the Galaxy Watch will feature native support for Bixby, though the addition of Samsung’s artificial intelligence companion won’t be expected to lead to a third physical button being incorporated into the upcoming smartwatch, like what happened with existing smartphones that support Bixby. The digital assistant will instead serve as a direct replacement for the S Voice app. Other recent rumors surrounding the upcoming gadget indicated that the Galaxy Watch will have a 470mAh battery, which is notably larger than that of its predecessor. With that capacity, the smartwatch is expected to last for roughly three days or so.