Samsung will unveil Galaxy Gear smartwatch Sept. 4

TORONTO – The smartwatch race is officially heating up.

Tech giant Samsung will unveil its long-rumored smartwatch next week during an event in Berlin, the company’s Executive Vice President of Mobile Lee Young-hee confirmed during an interview with The Korea Times Monday.

According to the report, the device – dubbed ‘Galaxy Gear’ – will feature a non-flexible display and is designed to enhance users’ mobile experience.

“We are confident that the Gear will add meaningful momentum to the mobile industry,” Lee told The Korea Times.

The report also cast doubt on the idea that Samsung would be interested in buying Canadian smartphone-maker BlackBerry, which recently announced that it was exploring “strategic alternatives” including partnerships with other tech companies, or the sale of the company.

Lee said in the report that Samsung “is not considering that opportunity.”

Read More: BlackBerry going private not a viable option, say experts

Lee also confirmed that Samsung will launch its supersized smartphone – lovingly dubbed a “phablet” due to its tablet-like size – during the Sept. 4 event, just ahead of the IFA consumer electronics fair in Berlin, Germany.

The event comes just a week before rival Apple is expected to unveil the latest generation of iPhones, though Apple’s event has yet to be confirmed.

But, Samsung beat Apple to the punch when it comes to the smartwatch; rumours surrounding an Apple-made smartwatch have been swirling for almost a year.

In July, it was revealed that the iPhone giant applied for the “iWatch” trademark in Japan and in February a report by Bloomberg suggested that the tech giant had over 100 people working on the gadget.

Google, Sony and Microsoft are all also rumoured to be developing smartwatches.