The Galaxy Watch 5 – Samsung’s rumored 2022 wearable flagship – could arrive as early as August, and according to the latest leak we could be getting a Pro model of the smartwatch with a significantly bigger battery.
That’s what the SamMobile team says (opens in new tab), based on information from internal sources and a Korean certification database. It’s the first we’ve heard of a Pro model, which we suspect will be released alongside the Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 5 Classic.
Seasoned Samsung watchers will recall that last year we were spoiled with the Galaxy Watch 4 and the larger, pricier Galaxy Watch 4 Classic. From what we think we know so far – which isn’t much – the Pro could be even bigger.
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Size matters
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro will apparently come with a 572mAh battery, says SamMobile. The Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 4 Classic both top out at 361mAh, so we’re talking about a significant capacity jump of more than 50%.
While there have been rumors that the Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 5 Classic are also set for a battery boost, the highest mentioned is 397mAh, putting the Pro model up another notch.
Of course, a larger capacity battery also means a larger physical battery size, which isn’t ideal for a thin and light wearable. We’ll have to wait and see how Samsung handles this issue when the new devices launch later in the year.
Analysis: The smartwatch battery conundrum
Even the best smartwatches on the market still struggle with battery life: If you read through our Galaxy Watch 4 Classic review, you’ll see that battery life was one of our bugbears, with the smartwatch lasting less than a day in between charges Average.
Also check out the Apple Watch 7. It might be the best smartwatch out there right now, but it only lasts a little over 24 hours based on our testing. If you forget to charge it one night, you’ll have to struggle to find an outlet.
It’s actually Garmin that impresses the most in this area. A combination of screens that are less vibrant and colorful and built-in solar charging technology means some of its smartwatches can last for several days or even weeks before needing a charge.
The problem is that consumers want smartwatches that are comfortable and easy to wear, and that also offer impressive battery life — a combination that’s hard to find. It will be interesting to see if Google can crack the problem with the Pixel Watch.
