Here are some of the major updates on the Galaxy Watch 5 series that you should know about if you’re looking to buy one:
Rebranded
When the Galaxy Watch 4 series launched a year ago, we saw a rebrand of the main Galaxy Watch and Watch Active lines from the Tizen days. We’re getting a similar rebranding with the new Galaxy Watch 5 series this year; we now have the Galaxy Watch 5, which is the entry-level flagship model, and the “Galaxy Watch 5 Pro”, the more premium version. And as I mentioned earlier, the iconic physical rotating bezel has been removed.
Design
Going by the pictures we saw during the unveiling, the new Galaxy Watch 5 series indeed has a similar design to its predecessor. This new Galaxy series features a similar ‘digital ring’ on the Galaxy Watch 4 Active for quick navigation. The entry-level model (Galaxy Watch 5) comes in two sizes, 40mm and 44mm – similar to its predecessor. The Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, on the other hand, features a slightly larger design – at 45mm.
Improved Battery Life
The Galaxy Watch 5 series comes with improved battery life. You get a 284mAh battery on the 40mm Galaxy Watch 5 and a 410mAh battery on the 44mm model. And according to Samsung, that should give you about 40 hours on a single charge. The Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, on the other hand, has a slightly larger battery – it features a 590mAh battery that should give you about 80 hours on a single charge. Charging speed has also improved. Samsung says you can go from zero to 45 percent battery in just 30 minutes.
Wear OS
There has been a significant improvement in the Samsung-Google Wear OS partnership. The standout update is that the Galaxy Watch 5 series will now support Google Assitant right out of the box – a feature that wasn’t available on previous generations of the Galaxy smartwatches. Other features include built-in GPS, contactless payments, optional LTE, Bluetooth 5.2, and Wi-Fi. Both smartwatches have got IP68 dust and water resistance rating. The Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro are available for pre-order on Samsung’s official website, and shipping will begin on august 26th. The Galaxy Watch 5 will start selling at $240.99, while the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, at $370.99.
