Emily Martin 
Mar 12, 2024
Amid reports of Apple gearing up for a significant design revamp of the Apple Watch in anticipation of its forthcoming 10th-anniversary edition, whispers suggest that the Samsung watch is also on track to pursue a similar trajectory.
According to a recent report from SamMobile, Samsung is contemplating a return to its smartwatch origins by favouring a rectangular dial over the current round display featured in its latest Galaxy smartwatches.
"The concept is being seriously considered internally, and there's a strong possibility that the transition will take place," the report states.
However, the timeline for this design shift remains uncertain, with speculation hovering over whether it will materialise this year or the next. Nonetheless, if this design effort is indeed fresh, it poses a tight timeline for the impending Galaxy Watch 7 series, slated for release in the coming months.
While Apple has steadfastly adhered to the rectangular display format across nine generations of smartwatches, Samsung has ventured into both rectangular and round designs.
New Samsung watch design
Samsung made an audacious entrance into the smartwatch arena with the Galaxy Gear in 2013, boasting a rectangular 1.63-inch Super AMOLED display with a commendable resolution of 320 x 320 pixels. Priced at $299, the Galaxy Gear combined elegance with functionality, sporting a metallic frame and offering various strap styles, along with a 1.9-megapixel camera capable of capturing HD videos.
Despite its early promise, the Galaxy Gear was hampered by a limited selection of apps and a rudimentary user interface. However, with a decade of experience under its belt, Samsung is poised to explore new possibilities.
While a rectangular display may deviate from traditional wristwatch aesthetics, it offers practical advantages, particularly in optimising space for interacting with notification cards and UI elements. Unlike round smartwatches, which often sacrifice screen real estate to accommodate circular edges, a rectangular screen allows for more efficient use of available pixels.
As Samsung contemplates this potential shift, attention turns to addressing battery concerns, particularly for smaller models.
Nevertheless, enthusiasts eagerly waiting for the next Samsung watch, prepared to bid farewell to the classic rotating dial of the Galaxy Watch Classic series in exchange for a new era of innovation and functionality.
