Samsung to release Android watch and Tizen phones this year

Samsung has revealed that it is working on at least two Tizen phones and an Android based smartwatch due for release this year .

Yoon Han-kil, senior vice president of Samsung's product strategy team, told Reuters that the company plans to release a top-end Tizen phone alongside a more affordable version around June. He also said an Android smartwatch will be released later this year.

READ: Hands-on: Samsung Gear 2 review

Samsung's watches have been confusing to say the least. First we had the Galaxy Gear with a modified Android OS, then there were the Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo with Tizen OS, and we've also had the Gear Fit with its own custom software. Now Samsung's fifth watch device will be coming with Android, again – suggesting an Android Wear device.

Samsung's attempts to release a popular Tizen phone in the past have not done well. Yoon says Samsung will try again with Tizen in "a few countries where we can do well". This would suggest only developing markets will see these new handsets as he said Android "still needs to be our main business", with Tizen or Windows used for markets that Android could not address.

Expect to see Samsung's high-end Tizen phone by June and its Android Wear watch "later this year".

READ: Google Android Wear pushes Android to your wrist, LG and Fossil already on board

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