Samsung Galaxy Aero leak hints at a lightweight RTOS smartwatch to fix Watch FE missteps

According to Gadgets & Wearables, an investigation of the Samsung Health and Galaxy Wearable apps uncovered references suggesting the upcoming device will be called the Galaxy Aero. Earlier reporting from SamMobile had found hints pointing to the use of RTOS, or real-time operating system, with software containing both 'Galaxy Aero' and 'galaxy_rtos_watch' strings, implying they refer to the same product.

RTOS is the platform used by Samsung's Galaxy Fit line and is significantly lighter than Wear OS. If the Galaxy Aero runs on RTOS, it would sit at the lower end of Samsung's wearable range. Gadgets & Wearables further found that several Samsung apps and services are apparently being adapted to handle RTOS devices, which could pave the way for the Galaxy Aero.

One of the main criticisms of the Galaxy Watch FE was its awkward market placement: at launch, it delivered worse performance than the Galaxy Watch 6 while being priced similarly or higher. The Galaxy Aero could remedy that issue, as SamMobile suggests it may be priced below the Watch FE, making it a more sensible budget option.

Using RTOS instead of Wear OS could also reduce battery consumption, addressing another common complaint about the Watch FE. The trade-off would be limited access to the Google Play Store and third-party apps, but if the price is low enough, that may be acceptable to many users. Such a move would put Samsung alongside rivals like Amazfit and Huawei in offering affordable fitness trackers that do not rely on Wear OS.

Whether the Galaxy Aero can truly right the wrongs of the Galaxy Watch FE remains to be seen, as the device has yet to be officially announced. The leaks point to a strategic shift for Samsung's budget wearables, but concrete details on pricing, availability, and final specifications are still unconfirmed.