Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 5 series of smartwatches lacks the iconic bezel controls of its predecessor, but the rotating bezel may return with the Galaxy Watch 6.
The Galaxy Watch ring was a ring that rotated around the face, allowing users to control the device. In our Galaxy Watch 4 Classic review, we called it an “intuitive” control method, and in our Galaxy Watch 3 review, we said the bezel makes scrolling through menus a “real joy.”
Unfortunately, the regular Galaxy Watch 4 did not have a bezel, and things got worse for bezel lovers with the release of the Galaxy Watch 5 line as every model lacked this feature. The Galaxy 5s featured digital bezels – something we highlighted in our Galaxy Watch 5 review – but for many uses, the virtual replacement lacks the satisfying tactile nature of a proper click ring.
Is the return of the bezel too good to be true?
Now the bezel may return with a South Korean tech leak Super Roader (opens in a new tab) claiming that the Galaxy Watch 6 Pro could once again adopt the iconic controls (via suitable for storage (opens in a new tab)).
As with all leaks, Super Roader claims should be taken with a grain of salt. While he reportedly has a decent track record and is apparently a former Samsung employee, there’s no guarantee this latest leak is accurate. We won’t know for sure what the Galaxy Watch 6 will look like until it launches, which we expect later this year.
That said, the return of the rotating bezel is certainly not the weirdest Galaxy Watch rumor we’ve heard. Aside from reports that the Galaxy Watch 6 should get increased battery life, a future Galaxy Watch model is rumored to feature a secret built-in projector – and while we’ve argued that smartwatches embrace their weird side, we can’t help but feel like the projector would go a little further too far.