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Samsung Galaxy Watch 5: latest specs, price and release date rumours

Update: reveal date confirmed? Samsung looks set to go Pro for its fifth-gen Galaxy Watch?

UPDATE: Samsung has now announced the Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 5 Pro

Original feature continues below

Until Google has a bash with the upcoming Pixel Watch, there’s no question who rules the Android wearable roost: Samsung. The Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 4 Classic are some of the best WearOS watches around, so there was always going to excitement around their replacement.

The Galaxy Watch 5 is almost certainly on the way this year. With an expected release date fast approaching, leaks and rumours have begun to spring up about what we can expect. We’ve gathered them all here, along with what variants to expect, how much each is likely to cost, and what features could be added for the fifth-generation model.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 release date: Today’s the day

Samsung’s next Unpacked event is set to kick off later today, the 10th of August. We’re expecting the launch will see the Watch 5 debut alongside the Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Galaxy Z Fold 4 smartphones, and we might see a new pair of Galaxy Buds too.

However, a teaser trailer for the event only showed glimpses of the two smartphones, with no indication a watch reveal would be happening alongside it. We’re still betting it will, as Samsung doesn’t tend to launch its watches in isolation.

Samsung will be live-streaming Unpacked 2022 – here’s how to tune in and watch the reveal live.

This matches earlier statements by prolific leakers Jon Prosser and Evan Blass, who both said the 10th of August was planned for the reveal. Prosser, who has a reliable track record, said pre-orders are likely to open right after the watch’s reveal, and deliveries should start on the 26th of August. Blass revealed the invite before it officially went out.

Based on Samsung’s prior form with watch launches, an August falls right in line, with devices then hitting shop shelves a few weeks afterwards. Here’s when the last three Galaxy Watch versions were announced:

  • Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 release date: 11 August 2021
  • Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 release date: 5 August 2020
  • Samsung Galaxy Watch 2 release date: 5 August 2019

As with previous launches, the reveal always looked set to take place at a dedicated Samsung Unpacked event. Gone are the days when the firm would try to dominate the annual IFA tech mega show in Berlin in early September, instead preferring to get the jump on rivals with an August launch. It’s still a huge international event, though, and if the Watch 5 is already official by the time it rolls around, the show will surely give many a first chance to try one on.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 5: rumoured specs, design and new features

Galaxy Watch 4

We’re expecting Samsung to launch three versions of the Galaxy Watch 5, based on codenames from an internal Samsung database leaked by Dutch site GalaxyClub.  Known as Heart-S or SM-R90x, Heart-L or SM-R91x, and Heart-Pro or SM-R92x, the three watches are predicted to have 40mm, 44mm and 46mm screens respectively.

Regulatory filings uncovered by SamMobile suggest battery sizes could be on the rise, too. We’re expecting 276mAh in the 40mm model, up from 247mAh, and 397mAh in the 44mm version, up from 361mAh. The all-new 46mm Pro variant could have a significantly bigger 572mAh cell.

Both watches will reportedly run wearOS version 3.5, with Samsung’s own One UI Watch 4.5 sat on top.

The most recent news comes from Twitter tipster EVleaks and 91Mobiles, who claim to have official 3D turntable renders of both the Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro leaked 3D render, via 91Mobiles/EVleaks

The images seem to confirm a previous rumour that the Pro variant would remove the rotating bezel, which has become a staple of the Galaxy Watch Classic models. They show both watches from every angle, revealing the more formal Pro and regular Watch 5, which the post compares to the older Galaxy Watch Active line-up. Only the larger Watch 5 is shown, leaving it unclear if the smaller version will see any design tweaks.

Colour options are expected to be silver, pink and phantom black for the 40mm version, silver, sapphire or phantom black for the 44mm model, and silver or phantom black for the 46mm Galaxy Watch 5 Pro.

Interestingly the post refers to the watches as Watch5 Pro and Watch5, implying Samsung will tweak its naming conventions for the latest set of smartwatches.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 5: price rumours

Samsung Galaxy Watch 4: design and display

While Samsung won’t make prices official until release day, a recent leak has suggested we can expect the Galaxy Watch 5 line-up to start from €300 (roughly £250) when the 40mm Bluetooth variant goes on sale in Europe. Twitter tipster Roland Quandt claims the range will rise to €350 for the larger 44mm version, with LTE versions of each watch carrying a €50 premium. The Watch 5 Pro, meanwhile, should start at €490 (around £420) and rise to €540 (about £465) for an LTE-equipped version.

These prices don’t take local taxes into account, however, and poor exchange rates could see UK prices climb higher.

https://twitter.com/rquandt/status/1539709784940855297

We can also look at the historical launch prices of previous Galaxy Watch models for a hint of what new models might cost. The Galaxy Watch 4 arrived at £249, with prices climbing if you wanted a larger screen or built-in 4G connectivity. The Galaxy Watch 4 Classic was a pricier £349.

This doesn’t take into account the rumoured three-model line-up, though. Samsung could decide to go premium with the Watch 5 Pro, using materials like titanium or ceramic that would bump the price up much further. For reference, the Huawei Watch GT 3 Pro currently retails for £430 in Titanium and £499 in Ceramic forms.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 5: upgrades we want to see

While the Galaxy Watch 5’s feature list has likely long since been locked down, we’ve got plenty of ideas for what we’ve like to see. Here’s our wish list for Samsung’s next wearable:

Improved battery life

Both the Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 4 Classic are “all day” smartwatches. Like the Apple Watch, you may get through to the next morning without having to recharge (handy for sleep tracking) but beyond that you’ll definitely need a trip to the charging cradle. Now that rivals are finding ways to deliver significantly more uptime, we’d love to see Samsung follow suit. Would a week-long battery be too much to ask?

Properly premium materials

Both the Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 4 Classic look the part, but can’t compete with traditional watches when it comes to construction. Materials like titanium, sapphire glass and ceramic would elevate the watch body, and a wider strap selection wouldn’t hurt either. Silicon sports straps are fine and dandy, but we’d love an official metal strap. There’s every chance the rumoured Watch 5 Pro will go down this route

Wider phone support

The current crop of Galaxy Watches refuse to play nicely with iPhones, and unless you’re rocking a Samsung handset, even Android owners don’t get a full feature list. That’s something Samsung needs to address with the fifth-generation watch, although how much control it has is up for debate now it uses Google’s WearOS.

Profile image of Tom Morgan-Freelander Tom Morgan-Freelander Deputy Editor

About

A tech addict from about the age of three (seriously, he's got the VHS tapes to prove it), Tom's been writing about gadgets, games and everything in between for the past decade, with a slight diversion into the world of automotive in between. As Deputy Editor, Tom keeps the website ticking along, jam-packed with the hottest gadget news and reviews.  When he's not on the road attending launch events, you can usually find him scouring the web for the latest news, to feed Stuff readers' insatiable appetite for tech.

Areas of expertise

Smartphones/tablets/computing, cameras, home cinema, automotive, virtual reality, gaming