If Samsung sticks to the same schedule as last year, then the Galaxy Watch 5 successor could be with us in August – and the latest updates from the rumor mill suggest the Galaxy Watch 6 could beat it in terms of battery life.
This is from GalaxyClub (opens in new tab) (via Phandroid (opens in new tab)), and according to certifications for upcoming smartwatches, the Galaxy Watch 6 will carry either a 300mAh or 425mAh capacity battery, depending on size (40mm or 44mm if it follows last year’s lead).
That’s an increase from 284mAh and 410mAh, respectively. So we’re not talking about a massive jump in battery size, but we’re hoping that the extra capacity and a few additional hardware and software tweaks will result in noticeable improvements in battery life.
Watch this room
Officially, Samsung says you can expect “up to 40 hours” between charges for the 40mm and 44mm models of the Galaxy Watch 5. So we’re talking a day and a half before you have to reach for your charger again.
Check out our Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 review and you’ll see that we managed to get the smartwatch to last a day, including a workout session. If you want to get more than that, you’ll have to be careful how you use the wearable.
This leak doesn’t mention the Galaxy Watch Pro 5, which offers about twice the battery life of the cheaper model thanks to a 590mAh battery. We’ll have to wait and see whether Samsung can make improvements this year.
Analysis: Wearables have a battery life issue
Of course, longer battery life is always better, whether it’s smartphones, laptops, or any other electronic device. But it’s particularly important with wearables: these devices are designed to be worn at all times, rather than standing on a charging station.
With smartwatches, for example, they keep track of your steps, heart rate, sleep patterns, and more. If you don’t wear them, there are gaps in the data collected, making these devices less useful.
By their very nature, however, these wearables are small and light. Nobody wants a chunky smartwatch to weigh down their wrist – and that means there’s not much room for a battery. The manufacturers are currently essentially in a no-win situation.
Perhaps the best approach to smartwatches is the Garmin Instinct 2: it uses a monochrome screen and can last a month between charges, while the solar-powered option might never need to be charged if you live in a sunny place.
