Samsung Unveils Tizen-Powered Galaxy Watch That Lasts 'Several Days' On Single Charge (venturebeat.com)

Alongside the Galaxy Note 9 and Galaxy Home Speaker, Samsung took the wraps off its new Galaxy Watch wearable at its Unpacked event in New York City. VentureBeat reports: Beyond coming in rose gold, silver, and midnight black colors, it can be had in two sizes -- the prior Gear S3 size is now called "46mm" and will start at $349.99, while a smaller-sized model is called "42mm" and will start at $329.99. Both will be available starting August 24, solely in the specific size and color configurations shown below. Samsung is also using improved glass: Gear S3 watches used Corning's Gorilla Glass SR+ and were IP68 rated for 10-foot, 30-minute water and dust resistance. The Galaxy Watch upgrades to Corning Gorilla DX+ glass and promises to keep the AMOLED screen underneath fully water-safe; it's rated for 5 ATM (165-foot/50-meter) submersion with IP68 and MIL-STD-810G certifications.

A disappointment in the new model is a reduction in its payment capabilities. The Gear S3 included both NFC and swipe-style magnetic secure transaction (MST) support to enable a wide array of Samsung Pay wireless purchases, but the Galaxy Watch drops MST support and only works with NFC. Not surprisingly, however, it does support Bluetooth 4.2 and 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi. While continuing the use of a Tizen operating system from the Gear S3, Galaxy Watch packs a more powerful dual-core Exynos 9110 processor running at 1.15GHz. As was the case with the Gear S3 Frontier, the Galaxy Watch is available in Bluetooth-only and LTE versions, now promising LTE support across over 30 carriers in more than 15 countries. On stage, Samsung promised that the Galaxy Watch can be used for "several" days between charges; a subsequent press release said that it's actually "up to 80+ hours with typical usage" on the 46mm model, which has a 472mAh battery, versus "45+ hours" from the 270mAh battery of the 42mm model. Each model promises at least twice the longevity "with low usage."

Comments

Pathetic !

[Anonymous Coward]

My old Timex from the 1970's does at least 5 years on a single tiny cell battery.

Re:Pathetic !

[cayenne8]

I see no need for an expensive watch that runs at best a few days between charges. I already have a phone that's like that.

Honestly, I was once on your train of thought....

But, last year, I had a good bit of disposable cash, and got an apple watch, just as a toy.

I'd not had a watch in a long time, and I'd actually wanted an old fashioned Mickey one, which I couldn't find that looked like the old style with the hands pointing at time, etc.....and the apple watch had that face with the tapping foot, etc.

Anyway, I've become HOOKED on the smartwatch thing. I use it ALL the time for more than a watch.

I use it regularly as my timer for cooking.

I use it at the gym to track my workouts, and also when running/walking/outdoor bicycling to track my path and progress.

It works great doing laps in the pool...I also use it to track my sleep (the app for this is so-so, hoping for a better one to come out).

It is now my main reminder for calendar events, I see my text messages on it,and often answer without having to dig my phone out of my pocket.

I got the one with cell phone coverage in it and I like it when out biking as an emergency phone, as that I can just wear it and leave my bulky phone at home.

I also pair it with BT ear buds for workouts and again, music without having to carry the bulky phone.

I have actually been amazed how much I use the thing and for me at least...it is money well spent!!

My Gear S3 already lasts several days?

[Reverant]

Sounds like marketing talk. My Gear S3 currently lasts 3-3.5 days with typical usage, so that's "several days" already. It consumes between 25-30% of the battery per day, on average. I would not bother with upgrading if the 3-3.5 days figure didn't upgrade to 5-6 days.

Eh..."up to 80+ hours"??

[sbaker]

"up to 80+ hours"...what does that even mean? "Up to" (meaning less-than-or-equal-to) "80" (a conveniently rounded number) "plus" (presumably meaning greater than or equal to) hours. So basically, anywhere between 0 and infinity hours? Or maybe 80 hours PRECISELY?

People who write this stuff really need to stop covering their asses because what they say has ZERO meaning. All I get out of this is "It has a battery that runs it for some completely unknown amount of time".