A new Samsung smartwatch model has popped up on the FCC’s website. Identified as the SM-R382, documents identify it as a wristwatch or a “wrist device.” Based on the fact that the Samsung Gear 2 smartwatches bear SM-R38x model numbers, this is likely a new model in this line.
The documents reveal that the SM-R382 is roughly the same shape as the Gear 2 ones but slightly smaller. Whereas the Gear 2 measures 36.9 by 58.4 millimeters, this one comes in a 37 by 46 millimeters or 12 millimeters shorter.
A separate filing we found reveals that not only is the SM-R382 smaller than current models but it sports both Bluetooth 4.0 LE and 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi connectivity. Current Gear 2 models do not support Wi-Fi connectivity.
SammyToday suggests that the SM-R382 could run Android Wear rather than the Tizen operating system powering the Gear 2 devices (and making its way to the original Gear as well). A trademark submission by Samsung for the term Galaxy Wear seemed to support this as Samsung uses the Galaxy brand for its Android devices. The fact that Samsung has withdrawn this request now casts doubt on this theory.
We cannot dismiss the possibility that the SM-R382 will be an Android Wear device as Samsung was announced as one of the manufacturers to support the new Android extension. But as Samsung demonstrated when it released the new Gear 2 smartwatches mere months after launching the original Gear, it could also be that the Korean manufacturer is already readying a new Tizen-powered Gear model.
Samsung is also rumoured to be working on a standalone smartwatch called the Gear 2 Solo. It is unlikely that this is the SM-R382 as the FCC documents revealed no sign of cellular connectivity.
Sources : FCC // SammyToday