{"id":245006,"date":"2025-07-07T10:21:13","date_gmt":"2025-07-07T10:21:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/245006\/"},"modified":"2025-07-07T10:21:13","modified_gmt":"2025-07-07T10:21:13","slug":"the-samsung-galaxy-watch-series-biggest-flaw-is-something-apple-nailed-years-ago","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/245006\/","title":{"rendered":"The Samsung Galaxy Watch series&#8217; biggest flaw is something Apple nailed years ago"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>It&#8217;s almost time for a refresh of <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/tag\/samsung\" data-auto-tag-linker=\"true\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/tag\/samsung\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Samsung<\/a>&#8216;s smartwatch range \u2013 check our <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/health-fitness\/smartwatches\/samsung-galaxy-watch-7-review\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/health-fitness\/smartwatches\/samsung-galaxy-watch-7-review\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Galaxy Watch 7 review<\/a> and <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/health-fitness\/smartwatches\/samsung-galaxy-watch-ultra-review\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/health-fitness\/smartwatches\/samsung-galaxy-watch-ultra-review\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Galaxy Watch Ultra review<\/a> for details of last year \u2013 and thanks to a succession of leaks, we think we&#8217;ve got a pretty good idea of what&#8217;s coming.<\/p>\n<p>Samsung seems likely to change up its approach to smartwatch launches again for 2025, and we&#8217;re probably not going to get just the <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/health-fitness\/smartwatches\/samsung-galaxy-watch-8-latest-rumors-updates-and-what-we-want-to-see\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/health-fitness\/smartwatches\/samsung-galaxy-watch-8-latest-rumors-updates-and-what-we-want-to-see\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Galaxy Watch 8<\/a> and the <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/health-fitness\/smartwatches\/samsung-galaxy-watch-ultra-2\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/health-fitness\/smartwatches\/samsung-galaxy-watch-ultra-2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Galaxy Watch Ultra 2<\/a>, as you might expect \u2013 and that&#8217;s something of a problem for Samsung and Wear OS fans making plans to upgrade this year.<\/p>\n<p>Indeed, as you might have noticed, Samsung tends to change up its wearables strategy every year, which seems needlessly confusing. I think <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/tag\/apple\" data-auto-tag-linker=\"true\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/tag\/apple\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Apple<\/a>&#8216;s approach in this category makes far more sense, and I&#8217;ll explain why.<\/p>\n<p>You may like<\/p>\n<p>Clear: the Apple approach<\/p>\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:56.25%;\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/dV8aRLqTt2BPVK9wXq4y6e.jpg\" alt=\"Apple Watch Series 10 being held in a hand\"   loading=\"lazy\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/dV8aRLqTt2BPVK9wXq4y6e.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/dV8aRLqTt2BPVK9wXq4y6e.jpg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>The Apple Watch Series 10 (Image credit: Apple)<\/p>\n<p>The first <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/tag\/apple-watch\" data-auto-tag-linker=\"true\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/tag\/apple-watch\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Apple Watch<\/a> was announced in September 2014, and went on sale in April 2015. We then got the Series 1 and the Series 2 (actually more like the Apple Watch 2 and the Apple Watch Ultra) in September 2015. Admittedly that&#8217;s a bit of a messy start, but since then there&#8217;s been much clarity to the Apple Watch schedule.<\/p>\n<p>Specifically: a next-generation Apple Watch each and every September. You can (if you&#8217;ll forgive the pun) set your watch by the cadence of these wearable launches. It would be a huge surprise if we didn&#8217;t get the <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/health-fitness\/smartwatches\/apple-watch-series-11\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/health-fitness\/smartwatches\/apple-watch-series-11\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Apple Watch Series 11<\/a> this coming September, alongside the new iPhone 17 series.<\/p>\n<p>Now admittedly, Apple has muddied the waters a bit with different variations \u2013 most recently the <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/reviews\/apple-watch-se-2\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/reviews\/apple-watch-se-2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Apple Watch SE 2<\/a> (launched in September 2022 and still awaiting a follow-up), and the <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/health-fitness\/smartwatches\/apple-watch-ultra-2-review\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/health-fitness\/smartwatches\/apple-watch-ultra-2-review\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Apple Watch Ultra 2<\/a> (launched in September 2023 and still awaiting a follow-up, though we got a new color last year).<\/p>\n<p>Even better, we know exactly where we stand with the software updates as well: watchOS gets an update every September as well, alongside the new hardware.<\/p>\n<p class=\"newsletter-form__strapline\">Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more.<\/p>\n<p>The numbering system may have changed, so it&#8217;s now <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/health-fitness\/smartwatches\/watchos-26-these-are-the-6-big-updates-coming-to-your-apple-watch-soon-including-an-ai-workout-buddy-and-a-notes-app\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/health-fitness\/smartwatches\/watchos-26-these-are-the-6-big-updates-coming-to-your-apple-watch-soon-including-an-ai-workout-buddy-and-a-notes-app\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">watchOS 26<\/a> that&#8217;s due later in 2025, but we know when these new software versions are coming, and Apple always previews them a few months before at <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/tag\/wwdc\" data-auto-tag-linker=\"true\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/tag\/wwdc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">WWDC<\/a> 2025. It&#8217;s consistent, clear, and easy to follow.<\/p>\n<p>Confusing: the Samsung approach<\/p>\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:56.27%;\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/6mcR7DYRi3u94VhAExrmih.jpg\" alt=\"Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra\"   loading=\"lazy\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/6mcR7DYRi3u94VhAExrmih.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/6mcR7DYRi3u94VhAExrmih.jpg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra (Image credit: Future \/ Matt Evans)<\/p>\n<p>Let&#8217;s contrast the Apple approach with the way Samsung launches smartwatches: it changes its line-up year after year, apparently unsure about what products it wants to launch or what its users are actually after. We&#8217;ve had Galaxy Watches since 2018, and the launch pattern has been rather patchy since then.<\/p>\n<p>Last year we got the Galaxy Watch 7 and the Galaxy Watch Ultra, and the year before that we were treated to the Galaxy Watch 6 and the <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/health-fitness\/smartwatches\/samsung-galaxy-watch-6-classic-review\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/health-fitness\/smartwatches\/samsung-galaxy-watch-6-classic-review\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Galaxy Watch 6 Classic<\/a>. The year before that, 2022, was different again: Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Watch 5 and the <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/reviews\/samsung-galaxy-watch-5-pro\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/reviews\/samsung-galaxy-watch-5-pro\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Galaxy Watch 5 Pro<\/a> (oh, and launched them in August rather than July).<\/p>\n<p>It seems we&#8217;re back on a &#8216;Classic&#8217; year for 2025, because the leaks to date have been pointing towards the arrival of <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/health-fitness\/smartwatches\/the-samsung-galaxy-watch-8-seems-set-to-bring-back-the-classic-and-it-might-even-make-me-switch-from-my-garmin\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/health-fitness\/smartwatches\/the-samsung-galaxy-watch-8-seems-set-to-bring-back-the-classic-and-it-might-even-make-me-switch-from-my-garmin\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic<\/a>. At the same time there&#8217;s also been chatter around the imminent launch of both a standard Galaxy Watch 8 <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/health-fitness\/smartwatches\/galaxy-watch-ultra-2-could-debut-at-galaxy-z-fold-7-event-and-with-no-price-increase\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/health-fitness\/smartwatches\/galaxy-watch-ultra-2-could-debut-at-galaxy-z-fold-7-event-and-with-no-price-increase\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">and a Galaxy Watch Ultra 2<\/a>. All we&#8217;re missing is a Pro model and we&#8217;d have a full set (and that&#8217;s without mentioning the FE or older Active models).<\/p>\n<p>Not only does this make it difficult for anyone planning to upgrade year on year, it also makes it harder to figure out exactly what you&#8217;re going to get \u2013 does a Classic beat a Pro? Are Pros and Ultras the same? Which one has the rotating bezel again? Some Apple-like clarity from Samsung wouldn&#8217;t go amiss.<\/p>\n<p>We&#8217;ll be covering the Samsung Unpacked event live on Wednesday, July 9, and <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/phones\/samsung-galaxy-phones\/how-to-watch-samsung-galaxy-unpacked-on-july-9-get-ready-for-new-foldable-phones-and-more\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/phones\/samsung-galaxy-phones\/how-to-watch-samsung-galaxy-unpacked-on-july-9-get-ready-for-new-foldable-phones-and-more\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">you can watch along online as well<\/a>. Whatever Samsung decides to unveil this time around, we&#8217;ll explain everything you need to know about how the models compare to each other, and what&#8217;s new from last year.<\/p>\n<p>You might also like<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"It&#8217;s almost time for a refresh of Samsung&#8216;s smartwatch range \u2013 check our Galaxy Watch 7 review and&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":245007,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3160],"tags":[1685,53,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-245006","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-gadgets","8":"tag-gadgets","9":"tag-technology","10":"tag-uk","11":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114811455755287400","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/245006","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=245006"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/245006\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/245007"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=245006"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=245006"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=245006"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}