Before the advent of smartwatches, there was only one reason anyone would look at a watch. Now, telling the time is just one of the countless functions of a smart watch. People use them to check the time, to track important health data, to communicate with friends, to choose watch faces for the day, but also to watch all sorts of content from their wrist.
We’ve explored the evolution of the Galaxy Watch over the past decade, as the wearable has transcended its traditional role and redefined what it means to be a watch.
Thinking “outside the box”: A new era of smart watches begins
Introduced in September 2013, the revolutionary Galaxy Gear enabled users to experience the functions of iconic Galaxy devices at every moment of their day. This wearable device was equipped with a 41.4 millimeter display that allowed you to make phone calls, schedule events, set alarms and check the weather using your voice. Thanks to the 1.9 megapixel camera attached to the strap and the ingenious Memographer function, it was possible to take photos and short videos without the use of smartphones. The Galaxy Gear was more than just a wristwatch and paved the way for a new era of smartwatches.
Samsung launched the second generation of the Samsung Gear2 watch in February 2014. This device was lighter and thinner than its predecessor, equipped with a longer battery life and offered more functions that could be used without a smartphone. Users could track their heart rate and their physical activities in real time thanks to the heart rate sensor, or turn the watch into a stand-alone music player with built-in file storage. At the same time, the Samsung Gear2 Neo watch was introduced, offering similar features to the Samsung Gear2 except for the camera.
Launched in 2014, the Samsung Gear S was Samsung’s first smartwatch with a large curved Super AMOLED display that wrapped around the user’s wrist and supported 3G and Wi-Fi without the need to connect to a smartphone. The Samsung Gear S2, its successor from 2015, was Samsung’s first smartwatch with a circular display and the rotating bezel that is now a hallmark of the Galaxy Watch Classic series.
In 2016, Samsung launched the Samsung Gear S3 watch, which featured an elegant design inspired by traditional watches and innovative features that improved everyday life. The Always On Display feature continuously displayed the time on users’ wrists on a Super AMOLED display that supported 16 million colors. Thanks to the built-in speaker and microphone, the device allowed you to receive calls on a hands-free basis without the need to connect headphones via Bluetooth. Meanwhile, GPS helped users record exercise history or check routes on maps without a smartphone.
Samsung Gear Sport, the latest model in the Samsung Gear series, offered a sporty design for those who led an active lifestyle. The watch boasted 5 ATM water resistance, so it could also be worn while swimming. Among the improved water resistance features was the Water lock mode, which prevented unwanted activation of the touchscreen in strong currents.
Galaxy Watch: A new partner for a balanced lifestyle
In August 2018, the Galaxy Watch series was born. This rebranding reflected the diverse and ever-expanding functions of smartwatches in today’s world – health tracking, personal assistant, fashion accessory and much more. To enhance the user experience and highlight Samsung’s smartwatch identity, the wearable device retains the signature circular bezel from previous models, but for the first time adds an hourly alarm and second hand ticking sound. Available in three colors and sizes of 42 and 46 millimeters, this multi-functional device offered stress management and sleep tracking features that improved users’ health and well-being. Users could also record workouts from 39 different types of exercise, which was more than any other watch on the market at the time.
In February 2019, Samsung launched a new series of Galaxy Watch Active smart watches, which were specially designed for users leading an active lifestyle. Boasting a 28.1mm Super AMOLED display, this watch has retained the signature circular shape, but the bezel has been removed and aluminum has been used, reducing the weight by 25 grams. A twenty-millimeter strap made of flexible fluoroelastomer offered fashion-conscious wearers a range of ways to express their individuality. Health-conscious users, on the other hand, could track their exercise, sleep, stress levels and blood pressure in real time – they could even check how long they were in REM sleep compared to the other three sleep stages.
In August 2019, the Galaxy Watch Active2 took personalized health and wellness management to the next level. In addition to the rotating bezel and other user experience improvements, My Style has provided users with more stylish, customized watch faces. The wearable was the perfect partner to help you adopt a healthier and more balanced lifestyle with improved stress management and sleep tracking features, as well as a workout feature that could track over 39 different types of workouts. In addition, the improved Galaxy ecosystem has improved connectivity and everyday convenience.
A new era: Integrated healthcare is here
After two years, Samsung brought the Galaxy Watch3 in August 2020. While retaining the circular stainless steel frame, users could choose between a larger display of 41 or 45 millimeters and a lighter and thinner body. For the first time in the history of Galaxy watches, Samsung has added an even lighter, stronger and more premium titanium model. The device provided integrated healthcare from the wrist with health tracking, fitness, sleep management and blood pressure monitoring features. In addition, Samsung added electrocardiogram (EKG) recording and real-time blood oxygen saturation monitoring.
In August 2021, the Galaxy Watch4 series redefined the smartwatch experience – with two models, the modern and minimalistic Galaxy Watch4 and the more traditional Galaxy Watch4 Classic with its signature rotating bezel. Introduced for the first time, the BioActive sensor measured various health indicators such as blood pressure, EKG and blood oxygen saturation levels more accurately than previous watches. Users who wanted more comprehensive information about their health could measure their body composition by simply placing two fingers on the smartwatch and learn how to reach their health goals. The wearable was equipped with the new operating system Wear OS, developed together with Google, so users could access more applications. Meanwhile, the new One UI Watch update has greatly improved the user experience by seamlessly connecting the watch to Samsung smartphones, wireless headphones and other devices.
On the wrist: A partner for better self-knowledge
In August 2022, Samsung opened the next chapter of smart watches with the Galaxy Watch5 series. The Galaxy Watch5 Pro, optimal for outdoor sports, was newly introduced in this series. The more advanced Samsung BioActive sensor has improved the accuracy of measuring body composition, heart rate and ECG monitoring. Of note is the newly equipped temperature sensor in the Galaxy Watch5, which provided predictions based on skin temperature and helped women conveniently track their menstrual cycle.
Samsung once again supported users who care about their health and in July 2023 introduced the Galaxy Watch6 series. This wearable device offers holistic health features that provide a more personalized and innovative solution for users who want to take better care of their health. The display, complete with a thinner frame, is approximately 20% larger than previous models, so that more information can be seen at a glance. The Galaxy Watch6 has a distinctive circular design, while the Galaxy Watch6 Classic has a rotating bezel reminiscent of an analog watch. The spring construction has been replaced by a new button that allows you to easily change watch straps with a single click.
The artificial intelligence-based Galaxy Health experience and next-generation watch
Samsung introduced the One UI 6 Watch in May 2024. With this move, it successfully turned the Galaxy Watch into a complete digital health assistant that measures data such as heart rate, sleep patterns and more. Health reports are more comprehensive and detailed than ever before, and users now receive personalized AI-powered messages that motivate them to achieve their health goals. In addition, the upcoming Galaxy Watch series, which will be launched in the second half of this year, will measure advanced glycation end products (AGEs) using the innovative BioActive sensor, which is equipped with multi-colored light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and newly designed photodiodes.
Samsung is constantly expanding its horizons and will continue to do so. Each new wearable device offers not only the basic functions of a watch, but also the services that younger generations expect. In an effort to become the closest partner to appreciate every interesting and precious moment in every user’s life, Samsung has been pushing the boundaries of smartwatches for over a decade – and the best is yet to come.
Source: www.nextech.sk
