Samsung Galaxy Watch 4, Watch Active 4 look even more likely to run Wear OS

Tizen towards the horizon

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WhileSamsung’s past smartwatches have run Tizen OS, the company’s own wearable interface, it’s sounding increasingly like theGalaxy Watch 4andWatch Active 4might ditch it.

We’ve heard thisloads before, but now South Korean siteMoney Todayhas backed up this claim. Apparently insider sources spoke to the outlet, confirming the upcoming Galaxy watches will run Wear OS instead of Tizen.

The reason cited is Tizen’s lack of third-party apps, particularly when it comes to messaging apps and different health platforms. Wear OS watches let you download new apps from an app store onto your watch, as do watches from top competitorApple. It seems that in Korea, Samsung’s homeland, some of the most popular apps aren’t available on Samsung watches, which is damaging their appeal.

Another reason cited - though it’s not clear if this is more insider information or simply speculation from the website - is that Samsung adopting Wear OS will be beneficial toGoogle’s wearable platform.

This is likely true - Wear OS users criticize Google for rarely updating the platform, but with a giant like Samsung supporting it again, there’s more incentive for Google to keep the pace.

But missing health features

There’s some more information provided by the website about the Galaxy Watch 4 and Watch Active 4.

Apparently the smartwatches will look quite different to each other, which is why Samsung will release both at once, instead of staggering them as it has done previously.

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The website also thinks the Watch Active 4 will come in 40mm and 42mm sizes, while the Watch 4 will come in 42mm or 46mm, and thisbacks up rumors we’d already heard.

Earlier in the year a leak suggested theGalaxy Watch 4 could get blood glucose monitoring, but Money Today thinks that’s not to be. Sorry.

Finally, the website suggests the two smartwatches will launch at a Galaxy Unpacked event in August alongside theGalaxy Z Flip 3and/orGalaxy Z Fold 3- there’s no mention of theS21 FE, which we were also expecting to see, though.

We’ve got a few months, then, to see if this leak is correct, or for more leaks and rumors to pop up.

Tom Bedford was deputy phones editor on TechRadar until late 2022, having worked his way up from staff writer. Though he specialized in phones and tablets, he also took on other tech like electric scooters, smartwatches, fitness, mobile gaming and more. He is based in London, UK and now works for the entertainment site What To Watch.

He graduated in American Literature and Creative Writing from the University of East Anglia. Prior to working on TechRadar, he freelanced in tech, gaming and entertainment, and also spent many years working as a mixologist.

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