Samsung Gear S4 release date, features & specs news: New S smartwatch to get improved sleep tracking, blood pressure reader

Samsung has yet to confirm its next lineup of smartwatches and fitness trackers this year, although rumors are rife that the company will unveil the Gear S4 next.

A listing for an unnamed Samsung smartwear device, which appears to be the next entry in Samsung's Gear S series, was recently spotted online. The supposed Samsung Gear S4 is expected to boast improved health and fitness features, particularly for sleep tracking.

Interestingly, other reports suggest that the Gear S4 will include a blood pressure reader as well.

Front view of black Samsung Gear S3 smartwatch Samsung official website

The public waited for Samsung to announce the Gear S3 throughout last year, thinking that the launch of a new Gear S smartwatch was already overdue. However, the company unveiled the new Gear Sport instead, which is a different kind of fitness tracker from the Gear S.

This year, it is expected that the Samsung Gear S4 will finally be revealed, as evidenced by a product listing obtained by Sam Mobile. It appears that Samsung has already been working on the Gear S4 for quite some time, and now a new smartwatch with model number SM-R800 is on its way to the market.

Per Tech Radar, this upcoming Samsung smartwear might actually be the Gear S4, based on the model number that this particular device is using. Some people doubt if the new tech is actually a Gear S smartwear, or just a next-generation Gear Sport. Although, its model number seems to follow that of the Samsung Gear S3 Classic and Frontier editions, which come with the numbers SM-R770 and SM-R760, respectively. Meanwhile, the 2016 Samsung Gear Sport uses the model number SM-R600.

The listing further reveals that the Samsung Gear S4 will be packed with more improved health and fitness features. The highlight of the upcoming smartwatch could be a more in-depth sleep tracking technology. There are no details provided regarding the Gear S4's new sports activity tracking, although a separate report shows that the device will get a vital health monitoring feature. A recent patent leak has the new Samsung Gear S4 with a blood pressure reader. This kind of feature is quite hard to incorporate to a small wearable tech like the Samsung Gear S, so the patent suggests a special non-invasive method of measuring the blood pressure without having to add huge and heavy components to the smartwatch.

Other possible features of the Samsung Gear S4 include a bigger RAM capacity and longer battery life. In terms of the release date, it is likely that Samsung will make the announcement along with another high-end device, the Galaxy Note 9, this August.

News
Palm Sunday: the triumphal entry and its meaning for us today
Palm Sunday: the triumphal entry and its meaning for us today

Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week, the most sacred week in the Christian calendar.

The backstory to Palm Sunday most evangelicals miss
The backstory to Palm Sunday most evangelicals miss

29 March is Palm Sunday, or the sixth Sunday in Lent, which kicks off Holy Week. The events of this day echo a historical episode from Jewish history which most evangelicals miss. This is the story …

Iraqi Christians told to cancel Palm Sunday and Easter celebrations
Iraqi Christians told to cancel Palm Sunday and Easter celebrations

The Palm Sunday celebrations in Northern Iraq usually are big celebrations to commemorate Jesus entering Jerusalem.

Historic England grants £1m to renovate three churches
Historic England grants £1m to renovate three churches

Funding has also been provided by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.