Skip to main content

The Galaxy Watch 6 may fix one of the Galaxy Watch 5’s biggest mistakes

Samsung ditched its physical rotating bezel with the Galaxy Watch 5 series, and it was a change met with much dismay. But it seems like the feature is all set to return in the next iteration. The Galaxy Watch 6 Pro is said to sport a physical rotating bezel to interact with the device.

This news is according to Korean tipster SuperRoader . It is said that the next Pro smartwatch will bring back a physical rotating bezel to interact with the software. Further, the Galaxy Watch 6 Pro will also retain the focus on offering at least two-day battery life.

Exercise menu on the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic.
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

However, the regular Galaxy Watch 6 is likely to miss out on the feature, which would make the Pro model stand out from the non-Pro variant. It could also help Samsung make a design stride in the generational upgrade, rather than making it an iterating product.

Recommended Videos

In a world where most smartwatches look identical to each other, having an original design element like the physical rotating bezel is a big deal. With the Galaxy Watch 5, Samsung made a watch that looks indistinguishable from the competition. Earlier, I speculated that, like the 3D Touch on iPhones , maybe Galaxy Watch owners didn’t know about the existence of a physical rotating bezel, which led Samsung to drop the feature. If the company is bringing it back, it needs to market it in a better way than before, so Galaxy Watch 6 Pro owners actually know the feature is there.

Digital Trends contributor Nadeem Sarwar also speculated that the merger of Tizen and Wear OS might have made things tough for the rotating bezel on the Galaxy Watch 5 series. This could have made it difficult for Samsung to create specific functionalities for each app on the Google Play Store. And instead of opting for per-app optimization, Samsung chose to omit it. But it looks like Samsung has figured out a way to keep the DNA of Galaxy Watches in the Watch 6 Pro.

The Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is one of the most long-lasting Wear OS smartwatches on the market right now. It would be interesting to see if Samsung manages to make the battery life even better with the next upgrade. Apart from the return of the rotating bezel, not much is known about the upcoming Galaxy Watch 6 Pro. But for some Samsung fans, the prospect of the bezel returning is all they’ll need to jump aboard the hype train.

Prakhar Khanna
Prakhar Khanna is an independent consumer tech journalist. He contributes to Digital Trends' Mobile section with features and…
The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is excellent with two key flaws
Galaxy Watch 8 Classic in Black on a wrist

Instant Insight

Samsung’s biannual updates to the Classic lineup are usually among my favorites, thanks to the rotating bezel, which is also present this year and remains my preferred method of controlling a smartwatch. The display is vibrant, the watch is thinner than before, and the battery lasts for two days on a single charge.

Read more
I love the Galaxy Z Fold 7, but I wish to buy this foldable phone instead
Vivo X Fold 5 is nearly as svelte as Samsung's latest, but it punches far harder where it matters.
Hinge view of Vivo X Fold 5 foldable phone

Thin. Thinner. Thinnest.

That’s been a hot trend in the smartphone industry lately. Is the race to the thinnest phone crown truly meaningful for an average user? I doubt it. But it certainly makes for nice billboard claims and cheeky social media jibes at rival brands.

Read more
I tested the Galaxy Z Fold 7 camera, it’s almost as good as S25 Ultra
Close up of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 cameras and volume keys

The new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 represents a significant upgrade over the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and previous generations. It's thinner and lighter with bigger displays and excellent performance. It's an incredible upgrade on many fronts, and as we found in our Galaxy Z Fold 7 review, it's the best folding phone for most people, despite its shortcomings.

One of these is the camera, although it's a complicated situation. In designing the Galaxy Z Fold 7, Samsung aimed to create a device that offers a similar experience to the Galaxy S25 Ultra, but with a foldable design. On the design front, they've achieved that - it's just 0.7mm thicker, although it feels thinner due to its three grams of weight reduction. However, on the camera, it's a mixed bag.

Read more