We’re just a few weeks away from Samsung’s big Unpacked event, and the leaks just keep on coming. While rumors have surfaced that the next-generation Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 series is expected to debut, we now have a first look at some of the design improvements that could be in store.
A known whistleblower About leaks recently collaborated with Smartprix to show unofficial renderings of the more expensive Galaxy Watch 7 Ultra model, and its design could inspire the Apple Watch Ultra. The Galaxy Watch 7 Ultra – intended to replace the previous Pro and Classic models – is presented with a new shape that is a cross between a square and a circle. It has the same round dial but with a more angular and square body. A circle, if you will.
At the edge of the screen of the Galaxy Watch 7 Ultra, there appears to be the same rotating bezel as that of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic. The screen is said to have a diameter of 1.5 inches, which again matches last year’s Classic model. More interestingly, an additional physical button can be spotted on the right side of the watch. Given its similarities to the Apple Watch Ultra’s action button, it could have similar functionality, allowing users to customize shortcuts for their workouts, stopwatches and other apps.
Leaked CAD images also showed larger speakers, a new health sensor, additional holes that could be more microphones to improve speaker clarity, and possible clock band changes. As Smartprix notes, Samsung seems to have integrated the bands more seamlessly into the body of the smartwatch for a cleaner look. The buttons for detaching the watchband also seem to have migrated, moving from their location on the watchband itself, as on the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic, to the top and bottom of the sensor array.
Is Samsung closing the loop? Um… a circle?
We first heard rumors in March that Samsung was considering a return to a square design for its smartwatches. The angular form factor is reminiscent of the company’s previous Galaxy Gear smartwatches, the first of which was launched in 2013 with a 1.63-inch square-shaped Super AMOLED screen, similar to other smartwatches of the time.
Of course, it’s important to take all of this with a grain of salt at the moment. Rumor has it that Samsung will hold its Unpacked event on July 10, which could be when the company plans to announce its smartwatch models. Although we could also see Samsung announce them earlier at a smaller event or even release the watches with a press release to speed up their launch.
But there’s more than just smartwatches in store. At its Unpacked event, Samsung could also announce the next generation of foldable smartphones, including the Galaxy Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6. We could also see the long-awaited Galaxy Ring, which would also generate a lot of buzz.