Samsung lately launched the brand new Galaxy Watch FE this week, which is de facto only a 2024 “refresh” of the Galaxy Watch 4. The smartwatch options kind of the identical specs, chipset, and design because the 2021 mannequin, excluding a brand new sapphire glass over the show for higher scratch safety. Nonetheless, whereas a Galaxy Watch 4 reboot might look like a wierd transfer for Samsung, I believe it is form of genius. In actual fact, it is precisely what Put on OS wants: extra reasonably priced smartwatches.
I have been reviewing Put on OS smartwatches for a number of years, and I’ve usually winced on the costs a few of these firms cost for these gadgets. Fossil, which pulled an LG and left the smartwatch enterprise earlier this yr, used to cost $299 for the Fossil Gen 6, which did not even run Put on OS 3 at launch and had very questionable efficiency. Samsung’s Galaxy Watches now value greater than ever, with the Watch 5 Professional mannequin priced in the identical ballpark as an affordable Android telephone and even the value of the Pixel Watch 2 giving me pause (do not even get me began on the Montblanc Summit 3).
The one exception I’ve seen is the TicWatch E3, which launched just a few years again. That watch featured a comparatively low cost construct and skipped out on the most effective options discovered on dearer TicWatch fashions, just like the dual-display tech, however the worth form of made it value it. At $199, you bought a smartwatch that was less expensive than the competitors and carried out surprisingly properly with the Snapdragon Put on 4100, regardless of Put on OS 3 coming a lot later.
In actual fact, I am somewhat bummed we have not gotten a TicWatch E4 or some equal, particularly now that Put on OS 4 is right here and Put on OS 5 is on the best way, each of which doubtless require newer chips just like the Snapdragon W5 Plus Gen 1. However seeing Samsung launch the Galaxy Watch FE offers me some hope that cheaper Put on OS watches may very well be a factor once more if firms play their playing cards proper.
Anshel Sag, principal analyst at Moor Insights & Technique, agrees, saying that launching the cheaper smartwatch was a sensible transfer on Samsung’s half. “I believe the Galaxy Watch FE permits Samsung and its companions to supply a less expensive possibility that may be simply discounted or given away at no cost as a bundle merchandise and broadens the value vary of merchandise it is providing for wearables.”
I am not saying each low cost Put on OS smartwatch needs to be a rebranded model of an older mannequin, however I do suppose firms ought to have affordability in thoughts when growing upcoming fashions. At $349.99, the Pixel Watch 2 is asking for lots, and that is not even with LTE. If I did not have already got one, I’d have a tough time justifying spending that cash on it, and actually, I am nonetheless making an attempt to determine if it is value it (do not get me incorrect, it is a actually nice smartwatch). However I’d like to see a future Pixel Watch 3a that includes a toned-down Snapdragon chip and another compromises, particularly if it means spending solely $199 to be a part of the Pixel ecosystem.
Needless to say Google simply launched the Fitbit Ace LTE for $229, and Qualcomm already offers smartphone OEMs cheaper options of its chips, just like the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, so each firms might very properly make it occur. Apple already sells the extra reasonably priced Apple Watch SE, which was apparently adequate to warrant an upgraded mannequin two years later, so I’d like to see extra Android OEMs comply with go well with. Sag notes the significance of launching cheaper fashions, because it permits folks to make choices based mostly on worth “and would not worth sure folks out of the market as a result of their urge for food for spending on a smartwatch is lower than $299.”
The Galaxy Watch FE is a blueprint for a way different firms can method making cheaper Put on OS watches.
Because of this the shortage of cheaper Put on OS watches is a obvious omission for me, particularly as firms stuff extra options of their gadgets to drive the value up. Put on OS would not have the identical status as WatchOS, and whereas that is beginning to change, I am not satisfied too many individuals are clamoring to shell out Garmin or Apple Watch quantities of cash for a Put on OS smartwatch. It is good that we now have premium smartwatches that carry out properly, however Put on OS additionally must be extra financially accessible.
This additionally goes for firms corresponding to OnePlus, which is rumored to have a doubtlessly budget-friendly OnePlus Watch 2 variant launching quickly. Then there’s Motorola, which has stayed away from Put on OS on its budget-friendly smartwatches. Nonetheless, a brand new Put on OS mannequin from the corporate can be excellent, because it already makes among the greatest reasonably priced telephones in the marketplace.
That stated, Sag warns that whereas there must be extra reasonably priced Put on OS fashions, there also needs to be a contented medium and that firms must be cautious. “I do suppose it’s an issue, however I additionally imagine that for those who go too low cost, the expertise will get actually dangerous and never value making. Type of like most actually low cost smartphones.”
One of many causes Android is so nice is as a result of it caters to everybody, from these keen to spend an arm and a leg on a brand new telephone to those that simply need one thing with the fundamentals that doesn’t break the financial institution. Now that Put on OS is lastly coming into its personal with large gamers like Samsung and Google on the helm, the identical philosophy must be utilized to the wearable platform to assist it attain extra folks.
