Samsung can be pretty unpredictable when it comes to both the release schedule and naming scheme of its Android and iOS-compatible smartwatches, but it's obviously safe to expect at least one such device to see daylight at some point this year.
Following in the footsteps of 2020's premium Galaxy Watch 3 and 2019's slightly sportier Watch Active and Active 2, this will either be dubbed the Galaxy Watch 4 or Galaxy Watch Active 3 and arrive at a special Unpacked 2021 event "this second half", according to the almost always reliable folks over at ETNews.
While the Korea-based publication doesn't have a lot of inside information on the specs of Samsung's next-gen Apple Watch rival, both the tentatively named Galaxy Watch 4 and Cupertino's Series 7 model are forecasted to bring a potentially game-changing new health monitoring feature to the table. We're talking about a non-invasive blood glucose measurement tool that's reportedly been in the works for at least four years now.
Samsung and Apple could start on a level playing field for once
If history is any indication, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 has a more than decent chance of beating the Apple Watch Series 7 to stores, with the two companies likely eyeing August and September 2021 commercial availability windows respectively.
In contrast, Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Watch Active 2 with a latent ECG sensor on deck around eight months later, needing another year or so to score FDA clearance and actually enable said sensor stateside on both the aforementioned 2019-released timepiece and the newer Galaxy Watch 3.
Of course, it remains to be seen if early Galaxy Watch 4 and Apple Watch Series 7 adopters in countries like the US and South Korea will be allowed to use the groundbreaking blood glucose monitoring feature by the end of the year. Something tells us Apple might be able to beat its arch-rival to the punch yet again, but who knows, maybe Samsung is finally ready to play in the thriving wearable industry's big leagues in 2021.
Would this breakthrough really be as big of a deal as it sounds?
In short, the answer to that million-dollar question is yes. In long, it's hell yeah, and the main reason why lies in the huge number of people diagnosed with diabetes right now. We're talking an estimated 463 million worldwide as of 2019, compared to "only" around 33 million people suffering from atrial fibrillation, which is the most common serious abnormal heart rhythm that the ECG monitor on the last few Apple Watch and Samsung Galaxy Watch generations can help detect.
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Diabetes, as you may already know, is characterized by a high blood sugar level over a prolonged period of time, and if Apple and Samsung can indeed develop a reliable and relatively affordable method of detecting and supervising blood glucose rates, many people could get the treatment they need earlier, which would lead to them potentially living longer and healthier lives.
This is just one example of an invasive and cumbersome blood sugar monitoring product
In case you're wondering, Apple currently sells a so-called "One Drop Chrome Blood Glucose Monitoring Kit" for $69.95. But in addition to not being very cheap, said kit is naturally much bulkier and difficult to use than a tiny sensor built into the thing that you already wear on your wrist on a daily basis to keep an eye on other aspects of your health.
Just like all other similar products on the market today, the aforementioned One Drop blood glucose monitoring kit needs to actually draw your blood to provide a relevant reading, which the Apple Watch Series 7 and Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 will reportedly do without... somehow. Let's just hope this rumor does pan out, further extending the already impressive health monitoring arsenal of the world's top-selling high-end wearable devices.
Adrian, a mobile technology enthusiast since the Nokia 3310 era, has been a dynamic presence in the tech journalism field, contributing to Android Authority, Digital Trends, and Pocketnow before joining PhoneArena in 2018. His expertise spans across various platforms, with a particular fondness for the diversity of the Android ecosystem. Despite the challenges of balancing full-time parenthood with his work, Adrian's passion for tech trends, running, and movies keeps him energized. His commitment to mid-range smartphones has led to an eclectic collection of devices, saved from personal bankruptcy by his preference for 'adequate' over 'overpriced'.
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