The Curious Case of Samsung's Watch Design: Why Square Might Be the Better Option

Recently, there was a curious report from SamMobile claiming that the Galaxy watch could go back to its square roots. While this is still just a rumor for now, it got me hyped up and made me think about why Samsung should consider copying the Apple watch design. As I see it, all of this is a matter of choice, and I'm not asking Samsung to switch to square designs for all of its watches. However, if they offer that as an option, yes please.

To understand where I'm coming from, let's take a trip down memory lane. The first Samsung Galaxy Gear, the Gear 2, and the gear live were all square. This was also true for many of the first Android Wear watches, which emerged around 2013-2014. At that time, we saw a mix of round and square designs from other brands like LG, Asus, and Sony. However, over the years, the square design started to disappear. It's as if Apple somehow managed to secure an exclusivity deal on the square shape, while Android watches opted for round designs in an effort to stand out.

I love what Android is all about, and one of its strengths is the emphasis on choice. With phones, tablets, TVs - you can find what you want because there are so many options available. Why not watches? If Samsung offered a square design option, I believe it would make sense. We asked our audience here on YouTube, Twitter, and Android Authority if they prefer round or square watches, and the results were striking. With over 5,000 votes cast, most people preferred round watches, but a significant 19% of respondents preferred the square design. That's not a small number, and it suggests that there is a demand for alternative designs.

For me, the square design has several advantages. One key benefit is that it allows you to fit more electronics inside the watch. Smartwatch batteries, chipsets, and sensors are all rectangular in shape, which means they don't take up unnecessary space when packed into a round watch. This results in a more efficient use of space, as well as a potentially thinner and lighter design.

Another advantage of square watches is that they ensure text doesn't get cut off on the corners. On Apple watches, this is a common issue - text will be truncated at some point if you're looking at it from an angle. With a square watch, however, the entire screen can be seen without any distortion. This makes a big difference when scrolling through menus or viewing notifications.

The last benefit I want to highlight is more of a geometrical one. A round watch is, by definition, as wide as it is tall. This means that if you want to make a round watch bigger, it has to be both wider and taller - which can result in an unwieldy design. In contrast, a square watch can simply be made larger without sacrificing proportion or balance. We've seen this with the new OnePlus Watch 2, for example. Despite its larger display size, the watch still manages to look sleek and compact.

For me, the idea of a Samsung Galaxy watch with a square design is an exciting one. It's not an Apple exclusive - Android Wear did this first, after all - but it would be a great option for those who prefer that look. Of course, ultimately, the decision comes down to personal preference. If you don't mind the sporty look of a square watch, then why not? Samsung has already made some impressive strides with their wearables, and I believe they could take this design to the next level.

So, what do our readers think? Should Samsung offer square watches as an option? Let us know in the comments. And if you're interested in staying up-to-date on all the latest news, reviews, and tests from Android Authority, be sure to follow us along the way.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enthere was a curious report this week from Sam mobile claiming that the Galaxy watch could go back to its square roots it's still a rumor for now but it got me hyped up Samsung copying the Apple watch design is a very good idea if you ask me let me be clear it's all a matter of choice for me I'm not asking Samsung to switch to square designs for all of its watches but should it offer that as an option yes please the reason is simple let's go back 10 years in time the first Samsung Galaxy Gear the Gear 2 and the gear live were all square many of the first Android Weare watches were Square two around 2013 2014 there was a good mix of round and square designs from LG Asus and Sony then over the years the square design started disappearing it's like apple got an exclusivity deal on the square shape while Android watches went round all the way to distinguish themselves but what I love about Android is that it's built on choice phones tablets TVs you can find what you want so just why not watches and I'm not alone in thinking this we asked you guys here on YouTube but also on Twitter and on androidauthority.com if you prefer drown or Square watches we got over 5,000 votes total and of course most of you liked round watches but there are 19% of you who prefer the square design one over five people is not a small number giving these people an alternative Square design just makes sense round watch looks more more like a traditional mechanical watch but if a square design is good enough for Cartier and uo then it's good enough for Samsung also for me the square design has three clear advantages one it lets you fit more Electronics inside Smartwatch batteries chipsets and sensors are all rectangular so putting them in a round watch is clearly in an efficient use of space two a square screen means the text doesn't get cut off on all four corners on the Apple watch I don't have to center a piece of text in the middle of display to read it and I don't have to Center graphs like my steps or my heart ratees to the middle of the screen to see them fully the whole display is usable that's not the case with the pixel watch or my Galaxy watch and three this is more of a geometrical one so bear with me while I explain it a round watch is as tall as it is wide by definition for Samsung to make a round watch bigger it has to make it both wider and taller so in order to cover my wrist a round watch has to be really gigantically wide too we've seen this with a new one plus Watch 2 for example we've also noticed that a larger round display doesn't always mean more text and info on the screen when Samsung moved from a 1.4 in display on the Galaxy watch 5 to 1.5 in on the watch 6 it didn't show more info in that extra .1 in it just showed more of the same amount of info but just slightly bigger by comparison a rectangular watch can go taller without getting wider and without looking all kinds of ridiculous on my wrist going taller also means more lines of text to read and more room for icons and menus and options the best analogy I can think of is this do you want to go back to phones with a 1610 display ratio like the first Galaxy Note or do you prefer seeing more content on your s24 Ultra with its 19.5 to9 display ratio I know what I'm choosing every single time and this is why I'd love to see Samsung make a squared off version of the Galaxy watch 7 and I love to see more Smartwatch brands do that too it's not an apple exclusive Android Weare did first so just give that as an option to people like me who don't mind the sportier look of a square watch what do you guys think let me know in the comments and don't forget to follow Android Authority for all the latest news reviews tests and morethere was a curious report this week from Sam mobile claiming that the Galaxy watch could go back to its square roots it's still a rumor for now but it got me hyped up Samsung copying the Apple watch design is a very good idea if you ask me let me be clear it's all a matter of choice for me I'm not asking Samsung to switch to square designs for all of its watches but should it offer that as an option yes please the reason is simple let's go back 10 years in time the first Samsung Galaxy Gear the Gear 2 and the gear live were all square many of the first Android Weare watches were Square two around 2013 2014 there was a good mix of round and square designs from LG Asus and Sony then over the years the square design started disappearing it's like apple got an exclusivity deal on the square shape while Android watches went round all the way to distinguish themselves but what I love about Android is that it's built on choice phones tablets TVs you can find what you want so just why not watches and I'm not alone in thinking this we asked you guys here on YouTube but also on Twitter and on androidauthority.com if you prefer drown or Square watches we got over 5,000 votes total and of course most of you liked round watches but there are 19% of you who prefer the square design one over five people is not a small number giving these people an alternative Square design just makes sense round watch looks more more like a traditional mechanical watch but if a square design is good enough for Cartier and uo then it's good enough for Samsung also for me the square design has three clear advantages one it lets you fit more Electronics inside Smartwatch batteries chipsets and sensors are all rectangular so putting them in a round watch is clearly in an efficient use of space two a square screen means the text doesn't get cut off on all four corners on the Apple watch I don't have to center a piece of text in the middle of display to read it and I don't have to Center graphs like my steps or my heart ratees to the middle of the screen to see them fully the whole display is usable that's not the case with the pixel watch or my Galaxy watch and three this is more of a geometrical one so bear with me while I explain it a round watch is as tall as it is wide by definition for Samsung to make a round watch bigger it has to make it both wider and taller so in order to cover my wrist a round watch has to be really gigantically wide too we've seen this with a new one plus Watch 2 for example we've also noticed that a larger round display doesn't always mean more text and info on the screen when Samsung moved from a 1.4 in display on the Galaxy watch 5 to 1.5 in on the watch 6 it didn't show more info in that extra .1 in it just showed more of the same amount of info but just slightly bigger by comparison a rectangular watch can go taller without getting wider and without looking all kinds of ridiculous on my wrist going taller also means more lines of text to read and more room for icons and menus and options the best analogy I can think of is this do you want to go back to phones with a 1610 display ratio like the first Galaxy Note or do you prefer seeing more content on your s24 Ultra with its 19.5 to9 display ratio I know what I'm choosing every single time and this is why I'd love to see Samsung make a squared off version of the Galaxy watch 7 and I love to see more Smartwatch brands do that too it's not an apple exclusive Android Weare did first so just give that as an option to people like me who don't mind the sportier look of a square watch what do you guys think let me know in the comments and don't forget to follow Android Authority for all the latest news reviews tests and more\n"