Latest news with #smartwatches
Phone Arena
19 hours ago
- Phone Arena
Galaxy Watch 8 Classic vs Galaxy Watch 8: it's coming back, but why?
Intro In early July, we are expecting a scorching hot Samsung Unpacked event that'll reveal the next generation of foldable phones from the company. However, as is tradition, we may very much also get new Galaxy Watches. But, in a bit of an unusual manner — there will be three models this time around! A reiteration of the Galaxy Watch Ultra and a base Galaxy Watch 8 — those are a given. But the Classic is also making a return, with its mechanical rotating bezel in tow! So, yes, we expect a Galaxy Watch 8 and Galaxy Watch 8 Classic. Typically, the regular one is more sporty whereas the latter one has a bit of a... classier look. And the aforementioned bezel. But, what else will separate them? Let's see what we know so far: Stainless steel vs aluminum build Rotating bezel and new crown-shaped button on Classic One size for Classic, two sizes for base model IP68, 5ATM for both 32 GB of storage for both Same sensors, including ECG, SpO2, temp on both Table of Contents: Design and Sizes Bands Software Battery Models Specs Summary Samsung isn't done spinning the bezel just yet — quite literally. The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is supposedly bringing back that clicky, tactile bezel that is just right enough to make it feel like a "real" watch. It picks up right where the Watch 6 Classic left off and should come in a premium build with a stainless steel body, available only in a 46 mm size. Meanwhile, the standard Galaxy Watch 8 will be playing it safe — and slim. Expect a sleeker, lighter aluminum build, likely offered in two sizes (think 40 mm and 44 mm), with a digital-only bezel and a more fitness-focused design. Supposedly, it will be only 9 mm thin and should be your go-to if you are more interested in the fitness tracking capabilities of a smartwatch. Both watches should be getting the usual Home and Back buttons. Early leaks show the Classic also sporting a digital crown-looking button right between them. It'll probably not be rotatable — we expect it to be something like the Quick Button of the Galaxy Watch Ultra. But we'll see. Samsung redesigned the band locking mechanism with the Galaxy Watch 6. Surely, we are not due for another redesign. So, whatever straps you bought for the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic or your regular Galaxy Watch since model 6, they should work with the new 8 generation. Hopefully, of course, hang tight for the official announcements. Software & Features If you've tried to follow Samsung's smartwatch software story over the years… well, grab a map. First, there was Tizen. Then came the big handshake with Google, merging it all into Wear OS — specifically, the Samsung-flavored version we've had since 2021. Then, despite new Wear OS being a joint effort, Samsung still felt the need to start dressing it up — thus, the One UI Watch interface was born. This year, we're expecting One UI Watch 8 to arrive baked into both the Galaxy Watch 8 and Watch 8 Classic, running on top of Wear OS 6. Either on launch, or it should come out within months after release. Think the same familiar foundation, but with a slicker Samsung skin, plus the usual sprinkle of Galaxy-only features. AI will be front and center, supposedly offering smarter fitness tips, more intuitive workout recommendations, and — maybe — better sleep insights. We'll believe it when we see suggest Samsung may go the subscription route for advanced metrics — stuff like detailed coaching plans, pro-grade insights, or even premium AI analysis. Nothing confirmed, but with Apple and Fitbit already dipping into the fitness feature subscription pool, it wouldn't exactly be the bright side, Samsung seems to be cooking up some truly futuristic health tracking. Noninvasive blood measurements — yes, actual biomarker reads like antioxidant levels — are rumored to be in testing. Plus, a new vascular load metric might show just how hard your heart and blood vessels are working. If real, these would land on all Galaxy Watch 2025 models, not just the high-end ones. The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is rumored to have around 425 mAh, so it may give us a day and a half easy. Of course, the Exynos W1000 energy efficiency may extend that further. The Galaxy Watch 8 , with its two sizes, is supposedly going to have ~300 mAh and ~425 mAh. So, its endurance and performance should be around the same as the Classic. The smaller one does have to feed a smaller screen, after all, so that may end up almost evening out. As mentioned above, the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic will only come in 46 mm. In that case, you will have a choice between a model with cellular and one without. The prices should be around $400-$450, but we are leaving room for inflation to surprise us. The Galaxy Watch 8 should be available in 40 mm and 44 mm variants, again — with our without LTE. So, the most basic model should start at around $300, the bigger one — $320. Add $50 to the price tag if you want a cellular modem inside. Here's what we generally expect: It's kind of very clear who the Classic is meant for and who the base model is for. Going just by previous experience — the Classic variants are heavier, bulkier, and their mechanical parts click and clack. Thus, they are not very practical for workouts. But they are quite pretty — so that's the watch meant for an outfit. If you already have a fitness tracker or don't care to use one — the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic should be more up your alley. The base Galaxy Watch 8 will bridge that gap between stylish watch and fitness tracker, as its predecessors have. It is kind of big but not too big. Kind of sporty but doesn't look out of place when paired with casual wear. So, it casts a wider net, and it may just catch you in it.
Digital Trends
2 days ago
- Digital Trends
The best Android smartwatch is coming in a smaller size, with minimal compromise
The OnePlus Watch 3 is getting a new, smaller size which will be music to the ears of those wanting to experience the best Android smartwatch, but who are wary of the original's size and heft – and we now have more information on it. OnePlus previously confirmed it would be launching a smaller, 43mm Watch 3 as part of its bumper July 8 event – but it was light on details about the wearable then. Recommended Videos Now though, we've been given more insight into what the smaller watch will offer, and the good news is there appears to be minimal compromise over the larger, 47mm watch. Less weight, smaller screen, same power Our major gripe with the original OnePlus Watch 3 was the fact it was only available in a single size, when the likes of Apple, Google and Samsung all offer two size variants of their smartwatches. It left those with smaller wrists having to look elsewhere for a smartwatch, but OnePlus has now righted that wrong. Unsurprisingly, with a reduced size comes a reduced weight, and the OnePlus Watch 3 43mm tips the scales at a dainty 37.8g (without strap). That's not quite as light as the Google Pixel Watch 3 41mm (at 31g), 40mm Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 (28.8g), or the 42mm Apple Watch 10 (29.3g-34.4g, depending on configuration), but it's comfortably lighter than the 47mm OnePlus Watch 3 variant at 49.7g. To enable the smaller frame, OnePlus has reduced screen size from 1.5 inches on the 47mm model to 1.32 inches on the Watch 3 43mm. Yet OnePlus claims the reduced size doesn't mean a reduction in functionality, with the 43mm watch still delivering 'a fully-featured smartwatch experience'. That includes the health tracking features such as OnePlus' 'Mind & Body Evaluation' for a physical and psychological wellbeing overview, and a barometer for real-time mental state readings. We'll find out more come July 8, including the OnePlus Watch 3 43mm price and release date. What we know already is that it will be available in the US, as it's being advertised on the OnePlus website alongside the OnePlus Buds 4 which will also launch during the event.
GSM Arena
5 days ago
- GSM Arena
Check out these detailed renders of the Galaxy Watch8 series
We can now be almost entirely sure what the Galaxy Watch8 series will look like, thanks to this latest batch of press renders, courtesy of Evan Blass. The renders show the Galaxy Watch8 in Black, the Galaxy Watch8 Classic in White, and the Galaxy Watch8 Ultra 2 in Blue. The big thing this year is the move to a squickle design across the series - you may love it, some might loathe it, but it's here to stay. The vanilla Galaxy Watch8 has a flush glass top (most certainly sapphire), two separate buttons on the right and a loudspeaker on the left. The new-look Galaxy Watch8 Classic features a rotating bezel around its 1.5-inch screen, and a new three-button layout on the right, which looks almost identical to the one on the Galaxy Watch Ultra, with a crown button in the middle and two buttons on its flanks. Whether the button will rotate or be just a pusher like on the Galaxy Watch Ultra is unclear. Finally, the second-generation Galaxy Watch Ultra has a fixed blue-and-orange bezel, an orange middle button, and a grey titanium case. Expect all three watches to feature Samsung's existing Exynos W1000, LTE connectivity, and Wear OS 6. The new wearables are expected alongside the Galaxy Z Fold7 and Z Flip7 on July 9.
Phone Arena
5 days ago
- Phone Arena
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 vs Galaxy Watch 7: Main differences to expect
Intro It's not a colossal secret, but Samsung tends to release a new wave of smartwatches every summer, usually alongside its newest foldable phones, and this year is no different. Accompanying the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 will be not two, but three smartwatches: the Galaxy Watch 8, Watch 8 Classic, and the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2. All are shaping up to be slightly different versions of their predecessors, but as usual, we expect that the Galaxy Watch 8 will be the best-value new Samsung wearable that will quite possibly turn out to be a bestseller. Aside from the slightly newer design language, the Galaxy Watch 8 isn't shaping up to be drastically different from last year's Galaxy Watch 7. But is a new styling all there is to it, or is Samsung cooking another cool new feature? New squircle design vs circular design 32GB storage on both 435mAh vs 425mAh battery (44mm models) 10W wireless charging speeds on both Table of Contents: Design and Sizes Bands Software Battery Models Specs Summary This year, Samsung is seemingly treating all of its wearables to a new squircle-like design language, similar to what we got with last year's Galaxy Watch Ultra. This means a mostly squircle aluminum case paired with a standard circular screen. No rotating bezel here, just the standard dual buttons on the right-hand side. This change could potentially help Samsung put an ever-so-slightly bigger battery inside, unconstrained by the circular shape of the previous watch cases, and that seems to be precisely what we get here: a slightly larger battery is rumored to be making the rounds. Other than that, there doesn't seem to be any other particular reason for the redesign itself, but then again, none was needed in the first place. Galaxy Watch 8's new squircle design language That's in a fairly stark contrast with the Galaxy Watch 7 , which is a standard circular smartwatch, just like most Samsung has released in the years before it. It's the most recognizable shape for a watch that translated well for the smartwatch offshoot, too, and the South Korea-based giant knew that well. Galaxy Watch 8 as per the latest rumors" The Galaxy Watch 8 will definitely come in two size versions: 40 and 44 mm ones, just like its predecessors. Size-wise, we don't expect major changes to the formula, which possibly means that the Galaxy Watch 8 will be just as thin and compact as the Galaxy Watch 7 . For a refresher, the latter measured 9.7 mm thin, and either 40.4 or 44.4 mm in diameter, depending on the model. In terms of weight, we doubt the Galaxy Watch 8 will be much heavier than the Galaxy Watch 7 , which weighed in at either 29 or 34 gr. The Galaxy Watch 8 will certainly score IP68 water and dust resistance, as well as MIL-STD-810H shock resistance, just like the Watch 7. With the Galaxy Watch 6, Samsung introduced a new quick-release band attachment mechanism to its smartwatches. It uses a button to quickly detach the strap mechanism from the case of the watch. The system worked perfectly on both the Galaxy Watch 6 and Galaxy Watch 7 generations, and it will likely work beautifully on the Galaxy Watch 8 , as we don't expect changes in the band attachment mechanism. That said, back in December 2024, Samsung filed for a patent for a new attachment mechanism which uses a combination of mechanisms to allow for even faster band interchangeability instantly's notice. However, this one being a patent, there's no way of saying if and when it could become reality. We nevertheless expect some new types of watch bands to be announced alongside the Galaxy Watch 8 series. Software & Features The Galaxy Watch 8 will come with Wear OS as the backbone and Samsung's One UI Watch 8 running on top. Historically, this amalgamation between Google and Samsung's software is a surprisingly decent take on a smartwatch interfaces has been top-notch from a usability and feature perspective, and there's no reason to believe the Galaxy Watch 8 UX will be any different. The aesthetics will be changed, though, as Google's Wear OS is about to score a pretty big redesign with the upcoming Material 3 Expressive design language that's also bound to change Android 16's appearance as well. Samsung is also rumored to be reining it its Galaxy AI to do more on the company's smartwatches, like provide you with an AI-powered personalized recommendations, and more. In terms of new features, we could possibly get non-invasive blood glucose monitoring, which uses the BioActive sensor on board to measure the minuscule differences in blood glucose. While we are slightly pessimistic about this feature making it to this year's Galaxy Watch 8 series, there's always a chance. Last year's Galaxy Watch 7 came with a 300 mAh battery in the 40 mm version, while the larger 44 mm one came with a 425 mAh battery. Well, the rumor mill claims we should expect a slightly larger battery on the Galaxy Watch 8 . A minimal increase to 435 mAh on the 44 mm model and possibly 310 mAh on the smaller option is what we're getting here. As we expect the same 3nm Exynos W1000 chip to be making the rounds on the Galaxy Watch 8 , it's unlikely we're about to get a major increase in battery life. So about a day, a day and a half is possibly the maximum battery life we are getting. Charging-wise, we are possibly getting the same 10W wireless charging on the Galaxy Watch 8 . There will be two versions of the Galaxy Watch 8 : 40 and 44 mm ones. You will be able to get either one with LTE connectivity (great independency) or with GPS/Wi-Fi only that won't be very usable without a phone nearby. Here is how the Galaxy Watch 8 vs Galaxy Watch 7 specs will likely turn out: The Galaxy Watch 8 is shaping up to be mostly a design refresh, a gradual and logical evolution in comparison with the Galaxy Watch 7 . The most intriguing new feature could be the glucose monitoring feature, which could potentially be super useful to many people with diabetes. The fact that it will be non-invasive is an extra cherry on top. Should you upgrade from your Galaxy Watch 7 ? Given that the base specs and features of the two smartwatches are mostly the same, it doesn't seem like Galaxy Watch 7 users should feel compelled to upgrade, given the current ramblings of the rumor mill. Samsung's regular smartwatches have always been good value, so there is
Phone Arena
19-06-2025
- Phone Arena
Galaxy Z Flip 7 looks worse next to rivals – and its tiny battery isn't the worst part
A leaked render of the Galaxy Z Flip 7. | Image by AndroidHeadlines As a general rule of thumb, those who want a foldable, just go and get themselves a Galaxy Z phone: be it a clamshell (that's the Flip models) or a book style that opens into a mini-tablet (that's the Fold models).You, my dearest reader– yes, you, on the other hand, have a superior knowledge of phones. You know very well that numerous foldables available beyond the Samsung realm exist, phones that are extremely capable and Galaxy Z Flip 7 is the biggest clamshell on the horizon right now: and by "biggest" I mean "most popular" (since it's Samsung we're talking about here), certainly not "best" or "the most amazing". Samsung is expected to unveil the Galaxy Z Flip 7 (and with it – the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and some cool smartwatches as well) on July 9, possibly at a New York City event, per the latest reports. But are Samsung's remarkable marketing skills and intergalactic popularity enough to grant the Galaxy Z Flip 7 the crown in the flip phones' kingdom? I don't think so: and here's why. Teaser for the Mix Flip 2. | Image by Xiaomi Meet the same-sized opponent, wearing orange shorts: the Xiaomi Mix Flip 2. I'm not saying this one will come with an orange-colored rear panel, it's just that orange is Xiaomi's brand color. The more you know. So, both the Galaxy Z Flip 7 and the Xiaomi Mix Flip 2 are rumored to feature 6.85-inch internal displays. That's a plus for the Flip model, since the Galaxy Z Flip 6 featured a 6.7-inch display. Plus, the Samsung clamshell could get extra thin bezels and a slightly bigger 4-inch outer screen (up from the 3.4-inch one on the predecessor) for easier phone operations while folded. The Mix Flip 2 will also offer a 4-inch top display, inheriting it from the original Mix Flip. For the Far East rival, we'll get things confirmed earlier: in late June, if recent rumors hold true. That means the Xiaomi Mix Flip 2 could be officially presented a week (or two) before the Z Flip 7 – but that's an exclusive Chinese premiere we're talking about here. The Mix Flip 2 could see a global release at a later point in time. It's obvious why Xiaomi has decided to present its upcoming clamshell in late June – obviously, they want it to compete with the upcoming Flip model (a memory refresher: this one could materialize on July 9).And compete it does. Let's dive deeper, talking about three super important (for almost anybody out there_ features of any phone – the chipset, the battery and the camera. Image by AndroidHeadlines Currently, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 rumors swing both ways and claim different things when it comes to the chipset that Samsung will use: Snapdragon 8 Elite Exynos 2500 Or, you know, Samsung could go with… both. I mean, some markets could get the Z Flip 7 with Snapdragon 8 Elite inside (probably the US), while users in other countries (like in Europe) could get the same phone, but with the Exynos 2500 a move is not unlike Samsung at all, so don't act surprised come July 9. Early Geekbench 6 scores of the Galaxy Z Flip 7 were rather disappointing, with just 2,012 points in the single-core test and 7,563 in the multi-core benchmark. For reference, the Galaxy Z Flip 6 – a phone with the older Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 – scored 2,251 and 7,131 in the same tests. So the Exynos 2500 might not be the brightest star in the sky. The Snapdragon 8 Elite, on the other hand, is a superior chipset and a clear upgrade over the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 . Image by AndroidHeadlines Here, we have a clear victory for the Xiaomi Mix Flip 2, unless Samsung's Z Flip 7 doesn't come up with a sorcery of some kind in the form of severe software optimizations and heat management: Mix Flip 2: large 5,100 mAh capacity battery, 67W wired charging speeds and 50W wireless large 5,100 mAh capacity battery, 67W wired charging speeds and 50W wireless Galaxy Z Flip 7 : uninspiring 4,200 mAh capacity battery, 25W wired charging speeds and 15W wireless That's almost a thousand mAh difference – and I'm sure this will be felt right away in real life usage. When you take into account the charging speeds supremacy of Xiaomi's phone, it doesn't look good for Samsung at all. Both phones are expected to feature a dual rear camera setup, consisting of a 50-megapixel main snapper and an ultra-wide. The Xiaomi Mix Flip 2 apparently loses the dedicated telephoto camera from its predecessor, but at least the ultra-wide will use a 50MP sensor. Meanwhile, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 could use a 12MP sensor for the ultra-wide snapper. It's 2025, Samsung, what do you mean a "twelve megapixels" camera?! Not to mention that it's a premium device we're dealing with here, have some dignity! There's more to it: true, Samsung could drop some clever AI enhancements for the Z Flip 7 , but Xiaomi's Mix Flip 2 camera is apparently (once again) developed by Leica. And this matters. On a 2024 trip to Singapore, I took just an old Xiaomi 13 Ultra (well, "old" is not very flattering, but at the time, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra was already available) and I can't express how satisfied I am with those Leica colors. Samsung will have a really tough time trying to match or surpass this. The way rumors have been shaping up, it's clear that the Galaxy Z Flip 7 (and Z Fold 7 , for that matter) will not be the revolutionary foldables from Samsung – nope, not in 2025. Rather, their next-gen devices look like another minor touch-up, although cool and useful feats are expected here and best thing about the Galaxy Z Flip 7 is probably its popularity and availability. Certain Far East phones don't get to see a global release – and people across the US (and the West as a whole) are stuck with Samsung (or Apple).I guess many are afraid to get an expensive gadget from a bit more exotic brand – although Xiaomi is super popular across the world – and just stick with Samsung down the beaten path. The Galaxy Z Flip 7 doesn't look like a "bad" or "weak" phone. Nope, not at all. Just don't let it play with rivals on the playground, because it kind of loses its magic. Secure your connection now at a bargain price! We may earn a commission if you make a purchase This offer is not available in your area.
