Samsung wants to charge Galaxy Watch with solar energy via strap

Samsung has plans to run its Galaxy Watch watches on solar energy in the future. In a patent, Samsung describes how the necessary technology is built into the watch strap. Samsung may be working on it for two years.

Solar-powered Galaxy Watch

Samsung filed a technical patent in the United States in the summer of 2019. It describes a way to charge watches by means of solar energy. According to LetsGoDigital, Samsung has provided even more explanation for the patent in January 2021, and that indicates that the manufacturer is still paying attention to it. It may be developed behind the scenes.

Samsung has plans to place a solar cell in the watch strap on both sides of the watch case. These cells capture the light, after which it passes through a polymer consisting of quantum dots. The sunlight is then converted into electrical energy. The term ‘quantum dots’ may ring a bell, because Samsung uses that technology for its QLED televisions.

Pain point of Wear OS

Samsung would not be the first to charge watches using solar energy, because companies such as Garmin and Casio already have experience with this. It could mean great added value for smartwatches, because battery performance remains a pain point for Wear OS watches like the Galaxy Watch 4. Samsung watch can last up to 40 hours on a single charge.

It remains to be seen if and when we will see these solar cell watch straps for the first time. That could be with the Galaxy Watch 5, but it is also possible that Samsung needs even longer to perfect it and make it affordable for consumers. Would you like a smartwatch that works with solar energy? Let us know in the comments at the bottom of this article.