Samsung aims to expand Galaxy Watch lineup to better compete with Garmin
Samsung says it is looking at expanding its Galaxy Watch lineup in the future to cater to those with a “passion for the outdoors.” This could mean we may see a rugged version of its watch soon, competing with the likes of Garmin.
This was revealed in a blog post by Samsung EVP and Head of Health R&D Team TaeJong Jay Yang.
“In the last few years, many people around the world have adopted new habits and interests. For many, these include a greater awareness of physical, mental and sleep health,” he writes.
“To meet this demand, Samsung is excited to continue expanding our Galaxy Watch lineup to better cater to the many unique needs of our users — especially those with a passion for the outdoors.”
The devices that are confirmed to launch at Samsung Unpacked on August 10th are Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro. We have learned quite a bit about these two devices and some high-quality renders have shown off the watches in detail.
Having said that, we have not had any leaks on any other wearables we might see on that day. But the above statement could mean additional iterations may drop in the months ahead.
How exactly Samsung intends to expand its Galaxy Watch lineup remains to be seen. The above statement would indicate that a rugged version of the device for those into outdoor adventures such as mountaneering, hiking and similar might be on the cards. Garmin has devices for this end of the market, as does Suunto, Amazfit and a few others. Even Apple is rumoured to be working on a rugged version of its smartwatch.
Beyond that, the post reveals that the South Korean tech giant intends to further develop its Health app. At the moment, the software has around 200 million active global users. Smartwatches can tap into it, as can smartphones, tablets and even smart TVs.
This may be to track a user’s health, follow a guided workout or meditation and more. You can, for example, connect your lights and air conditioner so that they automatically switch off when the Galaxy Watch indicates they have fallen asleep. The use cases are endless. In the future we will see more connected devices tapping into the health platform.
Essential reading: Top fitness trackers and health gadgets
It is clear the topic of health and fitness will be one of the main themes of Samsung Unpacked. Less than a week to go now. Tune in on August at 9:00 a.m ET to follow all the action.
Like this article? Subscribe to our monthly newsletter and never miss out!