Samsung‘s FE line has been successful with their Galaxy S smartphones, and rumors suggest they might extend it to foldable phones. The FE treatment might not be limited to just phones, either. There are reports that Samsung is planning a smartwatch addition to the FE lineup – the Galaxy Watch FE. Now, Android Headlines has spotted the latest firmware builds of Galaxy Watch FE on Samsung’s OTA servers. The watch carries the model number SM-R861, which according to the report, is a WiFi-version.
The software version
R861XXU0AXE5/R8610XM0AXE5 for the wearable includes the letter “A,” suggesting
the first One UI build for the device, and “XE” signifying a May 2024 release
of the firmware. Additionally, the
report states the publication has spotted five test builds on the server,
suggesting Samsung is actively working on the Watch FE. These test builds also
reveal the Wi-Fi variants of the Watch FE will be available in Korea, Europe,
and Turkey.
Looking closer at the model number, the
Watch FE (SM-R861) closely resembles the Galaxy Watch4 (SM-R860). There are
rumors suggesting that the Watch FE will share specs with the Galaxy Watch 4,
and this leak further supports this speculation.
Moreover, the smartwatch was previously
spotted with model numbers SM-R866F, SM-R866U, and SM-R866N in the IMEI
database. This report by Android Headlines suggests those are the LTE variant
of the Watch FE. Historically, FE
devices retain the core features of premium counterparts while sacrificing
non-essential aspects to bring down costs. The upcoming Galaxy Watch FE will
likely follow the trend.
