If Samsung sticks to the same schedule as last year, then the successor to the Galaxy Watch 5 will be with us in August – and the latest updates from the rumor mill suggest that the Galaxy Watch 6 could beat it in terms of battery life.
This is from GalaxyClub (Opens in a new tab) (via Phandroid (Opens in a new tab)), and according to certifications for future smartwatches, the Galaxy Watch 6 will carry either a 300 mAh or 425 mAh capacity battery depending on its size (40 mm or 44 mm, if it follows the lead of last year).
That’s from 284 mAh and 410 mAh respectively, so while we’re not talking about a big jump in terms of battery sizes, we’re hoping for more capacity and some additional hardware and software tweaks. meaning noticeable improvements in battery life.
Watch this space
Officially, Samsung says you can expect “up to 40 hours” between charges for the 40 mm and 44 mm Galaxy Watch 5 models, so we’re talking about a day and a half before you should start to reach your charger.
Check out our Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 review, and you’ll see that we’ve got a smartwatch that can last a day with a workout session. If you want to get more than that, you have to be careful how you use the wearable.
There is no mention in this leak of the Galaxy Watch Pro 5, which offers twice the battery life of the cheaper model, thanks to a 590 mAh battery. We will have to wait and see if Samsung will be able to improve it this year.
Analysis: wearables have battery life problems
More battery life is always better, whether we’re talking smartphones, laptops, or any other type of electronic device. With wearables though, it’s even more important: these gadgets are designed to be worn all the time, not placed on a charging stand.
With smartwatches, for example, they monitor your steps, your heart rate, your sleep patterns and more. Whenever you don’t wear them, there are gaps in the data collected, which makes these devices less useful.
However, by their very nature, these devices are small and lightweight. No one wants a chunky smartwatch that weighs down on their wrist – and that means there isn’t much room for a battery. Manufacturers are essentially in a no-win situation at the moment.
Perhaps the best approach as far as smartwatches go is the Garmin Instinct 2: it uses a monochrome screen and can last a month between charges, while the solar-powered option doesn’t need recharging if you live in a sunny place.