Unlike smartphones, Android isn't the dominant OS for smartwatches. According to Statista, Apple sells the most smartwatches out of any vendor, but Samsung has a respectable market share with their Tizen OS-based smartwatches. Their latest model, the Samsung Galaxy Watch, was launched in the middle of 2018. Since then, we've heard rumors that Samsung is preparing to refresh their 2017 Samsung Gear Sport smartwatch. In fact, press renders for a device thought to be the "Samsung Galaxy Sport" leaked online, as shown in the feature image above. Thanks to a tip from XDA Recognized Developer deadman96385, we now know that the device will really be called the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active. Finally, thanks to the Galaxy Watch Active's firmware files, we have most of its specifications and features too.
Logos for the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active
The firmware files are for a Tizen 4.0.0.3-based smartwatch code-named "pulse" with the model name SM-R500. We're not sure why the model name is SM-R500 when the Samsung Gear Sport's model name is SM-R600, but the existence of a device with the model name SM-R500 and code-name "pulse" has been in rumors for several months so we're fairly certain the device is a new smartwatch. Compared to the Gear Sport, the Galaxy Watch Active has a slightly larger display (by only 0.1-inches), an upgraded processor (Exynos 7270 in the Gear Sport versus Exynos 9110 in the Galaxy Watch Active), a speaker, and an LTE model. deadman96385 says he found evidence for a dual eSIM model, but we couldn't confirm that ourselves.
Surprisingly, the new device has a slightly smaller battery capacity than its predecessor (230mAh in the Galaxy Watch Active versus 300mAh in the Gear Sport). This could be due to the firmware files belonging to a smaller watch version, though. For example, the 42mm Galaxy Watch has a 270mAh battery while the 46mm Galaxy Watch has a 472mAh battery.
Like the 2018 Samsung Galaxy Watch, the 2019 Samsung Galaxy Watch Active does not have MST support, though it does have NFC for Samsung Pay. The new Galaxy Watch Active has a heart rate monitor, but we haven't seen any evidence for the rumored blood pressure monitor in the firmware files.
Samsung Gear Sport (2017) versus Samsung Galaxy Watch Active (2019) Specifications
|
Specification |
Samsung Gear Sport (2017)* |
Samsung Galaxy Watch Active (2019) |
|---|---|---|
|
Model Name |
SM-R600 |
SM-R500 |
|
Software Version |
Tizen 3.0 (upgradeable to Tizen 4.0.0.2) |
Tizen 4.0.0.3 |
|
Processor |
Exynos 7270 |
Exynos 9110 |
|
Display |
1.2-inch circular display, 360x360 resolution, Super AMOLED Full-color AOD, Gorilla Glass3 |
1.3-inch circular display, 318DPI, 360x360 resolution |
|
Battery Capacity |
300mAh |
230mAh |
|
Charging |
DC 5v/700mAh |
DC 5V/1.0A |
|
GPS |
Yes |
Yes (BCM47755) |
|
NFC |
Yes |
Yes, with secure element (PN553 and PN80T) |
|
Heart Rate Monitor |
Yes |
Yes (Green LED, no IR/Red LED) |
|
Microphone |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Speaker |
No |
Yes |
|
LTE model |
No |
Yes |
|
Other sensors |
Accelerometer, Ambient Light, Barometer, Gyroscope Sensor, Pedometer, Sleep monitor, Wrist-up sensor |
Accelerometer with linear acceleration, Ambient Light, Barometer, Gravity sensor, Gyroscope, Pedometer, Sleep monitor, Stress monitor, Wrist-up sensor |
|
Other connectivity |
Wi-Fi/Bluetooth 4.2 |
BCM43012 (Wi-Fi/Bluetooth 4.2 combination chip) |
|
Buttons |
Back and Home |
Back and Menu |
|
Features |
Always on Display, Glove Mode, Haptic feedback, Samsung Health, Samsung Pay, Waterlock Mode |
Always on Display, Bixby, Glove Mode, Haptic feedback, Samsung Health, Samsung Pay, Waterlock Mode |
*Thanks to GetHypoxic for confirming many of the Gear Sport's specifications.
Feature image via TigerMobiles.