Samsung's Galaxy Watch series has traditionally featured circular designs, but a recent report from SamMobile suggests that the tech giant may be gearing up to introduce a rectangular variant. This potential shift marks a departure from Samsung's longstanding preference for circular smartwatches.
Samsung's History with Smartwatch Design
Samsung initially ventured into the smartwatch market with rectangular designs, starting with the launch of the Galaxy Gear smartwatch in 2013, sporting a 1.6-inch rectangular display. Subsequent models like the Gear 2 and Gear Live also maintained this rectangular form factor. In contrast, the company later transitioned to round smartwatches, refining the design language over time.
The Return of Rectangular Shapes
According to the report by SamMobile, there is growing internal interest within Samsung to reintroduce rectangular shapes for its smartwatches. While the exact timing of this change remains uncertain, it is speculated that it could potentially debut in the upcoming Galaxy Watch 7 or in subsequent generations. Such a transition would necessitate considerable optimization efforts across hardware and software components.
Practical Benefits of Rectangular Displays
Despite personal design preferences for circular or rectangular shapes, a rectangular display in a smartwatch offers distinct advantages over its circular counterpart. Unlike circular screens that can crop content at the edges, a rectangular display provides more practical screen real estate. This means enhanced visibility and interaction with notifications, as well as improved navigation through various user interface elements.
While Samsung's move towards rectangular smartwatches represents a notable shift in design philosophy, it aligns with the practical benefits that such a form factor offers. As the tech industry continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how consumers respond to this potential change in Samsung's smartwatch lineup.
