Samsung might be secretly developing a cheap Galaxy Watch that skips Wear OS

Aug 5, 2026 — 9:24 AM ET

  • Samsung is reportedly developing another affordable wearable alongside the rumored Galaxy Fit 4.
  • The device, codenamed Galaxy Aero, appears to run RTOS instead of Wear OS.
  • It could slot between the Galaxy Fit 4 and Galaxy Watch FE if it launches.

While recent chatter suggests a Galaxy Fit 4 is already in development, Samsung might have another trick up its sleeve. A new leak hints at a second affordable Galaxy wearable on the horizon, and it could bridge the gap between basic fitness bands and full-blown smartwatches.

According to SamMobile, references hidden inside Samsung’s Galaxy Wearable app point to an unreleased device codenamed “Galaxy Aero.” The codebase tags the device as “galaxy_rtos_watch.” This means that instead of Google’s power-hungry Wear OS found on the Galaxy Watch series, the Aero looks set to run the same lightweight Real-Time Operating System (RTOS) powering the Galaxy Fit lineup.

This OS choice usually guarantees two key perks: a lower price tag and stellar battery life. We can likely expect at least a week of uptime on a single charge, along with standard smartwatch sensors like heart rate monitoring and accelerometers. Early positioning places the Aero right between the upcoming Galaxy Fit 4 and the budget Galaxy Watch FE.

The reported positioning is what makes the Galaxy Aero particularly interesting. Rather than replacing the Galaxy Fit line, it could offer a more affordable smartwatch experience by pairing a Watch FE-like form factor with RTOS and less demanding hardware. The “watch” wording makes it unlikely to be a screenless Fitbit Air competitor, so don’t get your hopes up.

Samsung hasn’t launched a dedicated fitness tracker since the Galaxy Fit 3 arrived in 2024, and reports of a Galaxy Fit 4 have only recently begun to gather pace. If Galaxy Aero eventually lands, it could fill a gap that has largely gone unaddressed in Samsung’s wearable portfolio.

Of course, we need to treat these early details with a grain of salt. Galaxy Aero might just be an internal codename, and Samsung has yet to officially confirm the device.