Samsung Galaxy Watch4 and Galaxy Watch4 Classic receive Galaxy Watch5 series features

Samsung has started bringing promised features to the Galaxy Watch4 and Galaxy Watch4 Classic. However, the pair's latest update does not contain all the changes that Samsung claimed earlier this month would be heading to the pair. To recap, Samsung revealed that the Galaxy Watch4 and Galaxy Watch5 series would gain improved camera control functionality when paired with certain Samsung Galaxy smartphones. Subsequently, it then stated that both series would support new smart home controls via the SmartThings app.

According to the company's changelog, only the first set of changes apply to R8xxXXU1GWA3. Specifically, this month's software update contains the following improvements:

• New Camera Controller feature added
  • Change zoom on your phone camera remotely through pinching in or out on the screen, or through rotating the bezel.
  • This feature is only supported on flagship models released after Samsung Galaxy S20 or Z Flip running at least One UI 5.1.

• Samsung Members
  • A new "Connected device diagnostics" option has been added to check the proper performance of the Galaxy Watch's battery status, touch screen function, etc. on the connected phone.
  • Please update Samsung Members and Galaxy Wearable app to the latest versions for using the 'Connected device diagnostics' feature.

• Stability and reliability
• The stability has been improved.

The new update also brings the Galaxy Watch4 and Galaxy Watch4 Classic onto the January 2023 set of Android security patches. In short, Samsung has ported the changes that it has already made for the Galaxy Watch5 series to its predecessors. Potentially, refined SmartThings functionality could arrive via an app update, but Samsung has not confirmed how it will distribute these improvements. R8xxXXU1GWA3 should be available now through the Galaxy Wearable app as a 329 MB download. 

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