Samsung Galaxy Watch owners rejoice! If you have an older Samsung smartwatch strapped to your wrist, it could be in for a big free software update that aims to make it behave a little more like the very latest Galaxy Watch 7 and Galaxy Watch Ultra wearables.
That means if you have a Galaxy Watch 6, Galaxy Watch 6 Classic, Galaxy Watch 5, Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, Galaxy Watch 4, Galaxy Watch 4 Classic or Galaxy Watch FE you will be getting an upgrade very soon.
Samsung said the rollout began on 19 November first to the Watch 6 range with other models to follow soon, but gave no specific time frames. The update is One UI 6, Samsung’s latest version of smartwatch software for wearables running Google’s WearOS operating system.
“The One UI 6 Watch update offers personalised insights to even more users for a holistic and comprehensive understanding of health,” Samsung said. “With Energy Score, users can better understand their physical and mental conditions through an intuitive score calculated from various health metrics including sleep, activity, sleeping heart rate and sleeping heart rate variability. Users can also access personalised recommendations, powered by Galaxy AI, to support health improvement.”
This energy score gives you a number out of 100 each morning – the higher the better – that is calculated from all your health metrics. It tries to convey how ready you are to attack the day with exercise or stay at home and recover from the previous day’s exertions.
The tech firm says these updates will also improve sleep tracking accuracy thanks to a new AI algorithm, and the addition of more sleep measurements such as movement during sleep, sleep latency, heart rate and respiratory rate. Older Galaxy Watches will also get the sleep apnoea detection feature in countries where it has been approved, which doesn’t currently include the UK.
You’ll also be able to add workout routines, enjoy new watch faces, send suggested replies to text messages from your wrist using Galaxy AI, and take advantage of the double pinch gesture feature that lets you tap your thumb and forefinger together twice to hands-free answer calls, dismiss alarms or take photos.
Bear in mind to get all of the features you may need a Samsung phone. Though Galaxy Watches work with all Android phones, Samsung keeps some goodies, such as ECG readings, exclusive to Samsung.
If you have one of the compatible Galaxy Watches, remember to check in your settings in the next few weeks to see if you have the One UI 6 update waiting for you.