Unlike smartphones, wearable devices do not require annual upgrades in processing power. This is because the demand for a typical smartwatch is much more limited than for a smartphone.

Therefore, Samsung tends to upgrade processors after two or more generations: the Galaxy Watch, Galaxy Watch Active 2, and Galaxy Watch 3 all use the Exynos 9110, while the Galaxy Watch 4 and 5 use the Exynos W 920. Last year, the Galaxy Watch 6 was upgraded to the Exynos W930, and we fully expected the upcoming Galaxy Watch 7 to feature the same processor.

According to WinFuture's trusted informant Roland Quandt, that does not appear to be the case; on X, Quandt posted that the Galaxy Watch 7 will be "Exynos 5535-based" and we expect it will eventually be sold as the Exynos W940

Unfortunately, the Galaxy Watch 7 is not based on the Exynos 5535.

Unfortunately, this is all we have so far, but there are a few things we can infer from the presence of the new chipset. It is likely to have a bit more power for smoother operation in everyday use. Even more exciting, the new chipset could mean improved energy efficiency.

In other words, battery life may be improved. This is a good thing, since the current model only lasts less than two days with the always-on display disabled. With the always-on display on, it will last 30 hours, so anything Samsung can do to make it last longer than that would be welcome.

While this is the first rumor we've heard about the Galaxy Watch 7, we widely expect many of the same iterative updates that Samsung has offered in recent years. Once again, we expect to see a regular version and a "classic" edition with a rotating bezel for non-touch operation (Samsung discontinued this with the Galaxy Watch 5, but brought it back last year).

Speaking of revival, it will be interesting to see if Samsung brings back the Pro model this year. So far, there has only been one top-end smartwatch with a high-capacity battery, outdoor-oriented features, and premium price point, the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, released in 2022. It was not updated last year, but is still prominently on sale on Samsung's website.

We probably won't find out until later this year. Samsung typically refreshes its wearable product line in mid to late summer.