Posted on 30/08/2017 by

SAMSUNG is widely-tipped to launch its next-generation wearable – dubbed Samsung Gear S4 – at the IFA consumer technology tradeshow in Berlin tonight. Here’s everything you need to know about the launch.

Samsung Gear S4 is tipped to include a number of improvements over its predecessorGETTY

Samsung is expected to debut its new wearable – dubbed Samsung Gear S4 – at a media event in Berlin tonight.

The South Korean company confirmed to US news network CNBC that it plans to use the consumer technology conference to unveil the successor to the Gear S3.

DJ Koh – the president of Samsung's mobile division – would not reveal any specific details about the upcoming smartwatch in the interview with CNBC.

However, Koh did allude to health as a growing area for wearables.

"If we can put in place properly a smartwatch that can monitor everything for your health and provide the information, then the market will grow," Koh told CNBC.

Samsung has used the IFA tradeshow in Berlin to launch its Gear S devices for a number of years.

Details are still pretty sparse about the new smartwatch.

SAMSUNG has revealed it's new Gear S3 Classic and Frontier smartwatches at the IFA consumer technology show, in Berlin.

Samsung's new Gear S3 Classic and Frontier smartwatch

However, it seems pretty likely the new wearable will incorporate Samsung’s new smart assistant Bixby, which debuted in the Galaxy S8.

Bixby is Samsung’s answer to Siri and Google Now.

But unlike the aforementioned rivals, Bixby can perform a number of on-device tasks for you – like create albums for your photographs and change system settings.

Samsung announced a slew of new features for Bixby during the Galaxy Note 8 launch last week.

Elsewhere, the new Gear S4 (or whatever the company decides to brand it) will likely ship with a faster processor and better battery life.GE

The successor to the Samsung Gear S3 will be announced today, rumours suggest

Holding the announcement at IFA allows Samsung to get the word out ahead of the Apple Watch Series 3 launch, which is tipped for mid-September at the iPhone event.

However, Samsung was beaten to the punch by fitness tracking rival Fitbit.

The US brand debuted its first smartwatch, dubbed Fitbit Ionic.

It boasts a lightweight aluminium case, health and fitness features, water resistance up to 50 metres and GPS tracking.

However, unlike last year’s Fitbit Blaze – which skirted the line between smartwatch and fitness band – the Ionic will have a third-party app platform.

The Ionic runs on the brand new Fitbit OS, an operating system Fitbit have designed for smartwatches that will receive updates.

It will be compatible with a number of new apps, such as the Fitbit Coach – a personal trainer app that offers users tailored video workouts.

Fitbit Ionic - Fitbit announces first ever smartwatch

Fitbit have announced the Fitbit Ionic, their first ever smartwatch

The Fitbit ionic has a price tag of $299 in the US, and £299 in the UK. It is available for presale from the Fitbit website.

James Park, co-founder and CEO of Fitbit, said: “Ten years ago, Fitbit pioneered the wearables category with the introduction of its first health and fitness tracker. 

“Since then, we have become the leading global wearables brand, setting the pace of innovation in the category and establishing the largest social fitness network that helps millions of people around the world be healthier.

“With Ionic, we will deliver what consumers have not yet seen in a smartwatch – a health and fitness first platform that combines the power of personalisation and deeper insights with our most advanced technology to date, unlocking opportunities for unprecedented health tracking capabilities in the future.”  

Source: Express