The Galaxy Note 9 launch is just a month away, but Samsung’s next smartwatch could turn out being its most intriguing product of the autumn release season.
According to new reports the watch, which could be called the Gear S4 or the Galaxy Watch, will arrive at the IFA tech show in Berlin, which kicks off on August 31.
Word from the Yonhap news agency in Samsung’s Korean homeland and follows Samsung registering the name Galaxy Watch in that country’s IP office last month (via PhoneArena).
Why all the intrigue for Samsung watches after years of them flattering to deceive? Well this one could change the entire complexion of the smartphone market.
Rumours Samsung is planning a watch running Google’s WearOS (nee Android Wear) have been resurrected in recent weeks. That would tie in with the Galaxy Watch name, given Samsung markets most of its Android products under this brand.
Also Read: Samsung may be working on a Galaxy J6+
Should Samsung follow through and defect from its own Tizen OS it could give Android-based smartwatches a boost in the fight against the Apple Watch. Some observers think the future of the WearOS is under threat, without one truly great exponent to take the fight to Apple’s watchOS, which will improve once again this September with the forthcoming update.
For Samsung, it would also give its loyal fans access to a much wider selection of apps available through the Google Play Store than are available in the Tizen store.
IFA could also see the launch of new WearOS smartwatches from LG, so wearables are likely to be a key focus of the German tech show this year.
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