Samsung Gear S4 Smartwatch Coming? Company Asks SmartLab Users For Feature Suggestions

Samsung is reportedly working on a new smartwatch, Gear S4, that would have the features of a fitness band. Some speculations suggest the new smartwatch, a successor to Gear S3, would have the features of both Gear Fit and Gear S3.

Chances are the company might be consolidating its smartwatch portfolio, since smartwatch sales are going down. However, the upcoming wearable device could be Gear Fit 3, according to some reports.

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The details about the upcoming wearable device were revealed in an e-mail survey sent to the members of Samsung’s SmartLab Plus program, a consumer engagement program where the company seeks consumers' comments about its upcoming products. “The new product concept takes the best bits from Gear S3 and Gear Fit 2 in the form of a smartwatch (rather than an activity tracker),” the company said in the e-mail.

The new smartwatch would provide better comfort than the company’s existing smartwatch line-up with thinner straps, according to the e-mail. The watch straps would be replaceable to help customers personalize their look. Rivals such as Fitbit already offer the option of replaceable straps.

The new device is also expected to be waterproof giving the users the option to use it while swimming. The feature may give an edge to the upcoming device as the rival smartwatches that have a display — such as Fitbit Charge 2 —are not swim-proof, while the ones that are swim-proof, like Moov, do not have a display.

To see their workout results, swimmers have to wait for a smartwatch, such as Moov, to sync with their smartphones. This makes it inconvenient for them to gauge their performance levels during workouts. If Samsung offers the swimmers to see such results directly on the smartwatch, it might become a unique selling point for the device.

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With the launch of the product, the company also endeavours to provide “all around fitness”.

It goes without saying people are heavily dependent on their smartphones that offer myriad features and help the users perform tasks related to their daily routines. However, smartwatches and tablets are limited in their usability.

In a bid to ensure better usability in smartwatches, the companies seem to have changed their strategy by targeting the niche users by offering features such as swimming tracking. Companies such as Samsung and Apple have focused on such niche features in the upcoming smartwatches such as Apple Watch 3 and Samsung Gear S4.

It is yet to be seen if the niche features would boost the popularity of smartwatches.