Samsung is said to surprise with watches without Wear OS. What do we know about the mysterious Galaxy Aero?

There’s quite a large gap in Samsung’s lineup between inexpensive fitness bands and full-fledged Wear OS smartwatches. A model that SamMobile editors found directly in the Galaxy Wearable app code could fit right into this gap. If the leak is confirmed, these will be smartwatches without Google that can last a whole week.

What do we know about Galaxy Aero so far?

The source code of the Galaxy Wearable app led the SamMobile website’s editorial team to the new device, as it contained references to a yet-unannounced wearable. Samsung lists it there under the internal designation “galaxy_rtos_watch”. The acronym RTOS stands for Real-Time Operating System – a lightweight software that typically powers inexpensive bands rather than full-fledged smartwatches. This is why it is expected that Galaxy Aero will not run on Google’s Wear OS, but on a simpler system similar to that of the Galaxy Fit series.

Samsung is said to surprise with watches without Wear OS. What do we know about the mysterious Galaxy Aero? Adam Kurfürst News Adam Kurfürst News

Že by ale šlo jen o další fitness náramek, nevypadá. V kódu je zařízení vedené jako „watch”, tedy hodinky, a mělo by mít displej. Jaký tvar bude mít – kulatý, obdélníkový, nebo čtvercový –, se ze zatím nalezených řetězců vyčíst nedá. Samsung tak nejspíš míří na něco, co se navenek bude tvářit jako běžné Galaxy Watch, ale uvnitř poběží mnohem úsporněji.

Long battery life as the main draw

Naturally, no one has officially confirmed the exact specifications. However, if the new device is priced above the Galaxy Fit 4 band, it should offer the usual set of sensors – accelerometer, gyroscope, and heart rate sensor. The main advantage of RTOS devices is battery life: they typically last at least a week on a single charge.

Samsung is said to surprise with watches without Wear OS. What do we know about the mysterious Galaxy Aero? Adam Kurfürst News Adam Kurfürst News

This is a noticeable difference compared to Wear OS watches – Samsung’s offerings don’t even come close to a week. However, compared to classic Galaxy Watch models, the new model would almost certainly not offer access to such a rich collection of applications and services, making it more suitable for people who want to save money and primarily measure sports activity and health rather than replying to emails or communicating with Gemini.

Galaxy Aero as a cheaper smartwatch

In terms of price, the model is intended to fill a gap in the lineup: more expensive than the Galaxy Fit 4 band, but cheaper than the most affordable Galaxy Watch FE smartwatches. For Samsung, it would be a cheaper entry into the world of watches – aimed at people who find Wear OS and its battery demands unnecessary.

However, keep in mind that “Galaxy Aero” is likely just an internal codename. No one has yet said what name the device will eventually appear under in stores – or if it will appear at all. It’s also unclear when Samsung might unveil it.

Would smartwatches without Wear OS appeal to you if they offered a week of battery life in return?

Sources: SamMobile, Android Authority, Notebookcheck