At today’s Galaxy Unpacked event, Samsung introduced its newest smartwatches: the Galaxy Watch 7 and the Galaxy Watch Ultra, both of which are the first devices to feature Google’s latest Wear OS 5. This update comes with several significant improvements aimed at enhancing performance and battery life.
Wear OS 5, revealed earlier this year at Google I/O 2024, builds upon its predecessor with optimizations designed to boost efficiency and extend battery life by up to 30%. Users will benefit from a new grid-based app launcher, expanded watch face options, and a revamped privacy dashboard for better control over app permissions.
The Galaxy Watch 7 and Watch Ultra not only run on Wear OS 5 but also come with One UI 6 Watch, which offers minor aesthetic updates and usability enhancements. Notable features include a new multisports tile for the Watch Ultra and a broader range of fitness metrics available through the Samsung Health app.
For those interested in the latest in smartwatch technology, the Galaxy Watch 7 is available from $300, while the Galaxy Watch Ultra starts at $650. Pre-orders are open, and early birds can enjoy up to $1,500 off and a chance to win $5,000.
As of now, Wear OS 5 will only be available on these new Samsung devices. Other smartwatches, including potential upcoming models like the Pixel Watch 3, are expected to receive the update later this year.