Samsung lately launched the brand new Galaxy Watch FE this week, which is basically only a 2024 “refresh” of the Galaxy Watch 4. The smartwatch options kind of the identical specs, chipset, and design because the 2021 mannequin, aside from a brand new sapphire glass over the show for higher scratch safety. Nonetheless, whereas a Galaxy Watch 4 reboot could look like an odd transfer for Samsung, I believe it is type of genius. In actual fact, it is precisely what Put on OS wants: extra inexpensive 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 corporations cost for these gadgets. Fossil, which pulled an LG and left the smartwatch enterprise earlier this 12 months, 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 inexpensive 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 a couple of years again. That watch featured a comparatively low cost construct and skipped out on the perfect options discovered on dearer TicWatch fashions, just like the dual-display tech, however the value type of made it price it. At $199, you bought a smartwatch that was less expensive than the competitors and carried out surprisingly nicely with the Snapdragon Put on 4100, regardless of Put on OS 3 coming a lot later.
In actual fact, I am somewhat bummed we’ve 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 probably 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 might be a factor once more if corporations 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 corporations 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 price it (do not get me unsuitable, it is a actually nice smartwatch). However I’d like to see a future Pixel Watch 3a that contains a toned-down Snapdragon chip and another compromises, particularly if it means spending solely $199 to be a part of the Pixel ecosystem.
Remember that 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 corporations may very nicely make it occur. Apple already sells the extra inexpensive Apple Watch SE, which was apparently ok to warrant an upgraded mannequin two years later, so I’d like to see extra Android OEMs comply with swimsuit. Sag notes the significance of launching cheaper fashions, because it permits folks to make selections primarily based on value “and would not value 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 the way different corporations can strategy making cheaper Put on OS watches.
For this reason the shortage of cheaper Put on OS watches is a evident omission for me, particularly as corporations stuff extra options of their gadgets to drive the value up. Put on OS would not have the identical popularity 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 nicely, however Put on OS additionally must be extra financially accessible.
This additionally goes for corporations reminiscent of OnePlus, which is rumored to have a probably 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 could be good, because it already makes a number of the finest inexpensive telephones in the marketplace.
That mentioned, Sag warns that whereas there must be extra inexpensive Put on OS fashions, there also needs to be a cheerful medium and that corporations must be cautious. “I do suppose it’s an issue, however I additionally consider that when you go too low cost, the expertise will get actually unhealthy and never price 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 prepared 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 massive gamers like Samsung and Google on the helm, the identical philosophy must be utilized to the wearable platform to assist it attain extra folks.