Samsung Rolls Out One UI 8 Watch Update to Galaxy Watch 4 Series

Samsung rolls out One UI 8 Watch (Wear OS 6) to Galaxy Watch 4 series starting Dec 15, 2025 in Korea.

 

In a surprise move that delights long-time owners, Samsung has begun deploying the One UI 8 Watch update to the Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 4 Classic. This marks the arrival of Wear OS 6 on Samsung's first generation Wear OS smartwatches, launched back in 2021, and fulfills the company's four-year major update promise.

The rollout kicked off in South Korea on December 15, 2025, with global expansion expected in the coming days and weeks. Users in Korea are reporting firmware builds such as R870XXU1JYK4 for the standard Galaxy Watch 4 and similar variants for the Classic model. The update is substantial, often exceeding 1GB in size, so a stable Wi-Fi connection and sufficient battery are recommended.

 Why This Update Matters

The Galaxy Watch 4 series was groundbreaking as Samsung's debut Wear OS devices after transitioning from Tizen. Despite initial doubts stemming from the watches reaching the end of their promised support window in August 2025 Samsung confirmed earlier this year that One UI 8 Watch would indeed come to these models.

 

This is bittersweet news: it's widely regarded as the final major OS upgrade for the Watch 4 lineup. Future support will likely shift to security patches and minor fixes only. 

Key Features in One UI 8 Watch 

Built on Google's Wear OS 6 (based on Android 16), One UI 8 Watch brings refinements focused on performance, fluidity, and usability:

 

• Smoother animations and system optimizations: Faster app launches and improved responsiveness, thanks to core Wear OS enhancements.
• Now Bar: Quick access to ongoing activities like music playback, workouts, timers, and more similar to the feature on Galaxy phones.
• Enhanced Tiles system: More customizable and information-rich widgets for at-a-glance data.
• New watch faces and complications: Fresh designs with deeper personalization.
• Polished health and wellness integration: Refined sleep tracking, workout insights, and a more cohesive Samsung Health experience.
• Better third-party app support: Optimizations for smoother performance across the ecosystem. 

Note that some advanced features exclusive to newer hardware (like the Galaxy Watch 7 or Ultra) may not be available on the Watch 4 due to its older Exynos W920 processor. 

How to Check for the Update

To install:

1. Open the Galaxy Wearable app on your paired Android phone.
2. Go to Watch settings > Watch software update.
3. Tap Download and install if available.

If it's not showing yet, be patient the phased rollout is ongoing. 

A Fitting Send Off

The Galaxy Watch 4 helped revitalize the Wear OS platform in partnership with Google, paving the way for today's thriving Samsung wearable ecosystem. Receiving Wear OS 6 four years later is a testament to Samsung's commitment to longevity. 

If you're a Watch 4 owner, this update breathes new life into your device. For those eyeing an upgrade, the latest Galaxy Watch models offer even more advanced AI driven health tools and hardware.

Stay tuned for more coverage as the update reaches additional regions!