Samsung teases One UI 5 Watch and upcoming Galaxy Watch series release

Samsung has announced a major update for its One UI Watch platform, which it has re-branded to One UI x Watch. Presented a week before Google is expected to showcase Wear OS 4, One UI 5 Watch will be available for all smartwatches currently running a version of One UI Watch, Galaxy Watch4 and Galaxy Watch4 Classic included. While Samsung has not confirmed all changes from One UI Watch 4 yet, it has provided an overview of a few changes that will be One UI 5 Watch exclusives.

Specifically, Samsung hopes to improve sleep tracking, albeit with functionality that resembles that which Google already offers via its Fitbit integration. Also, One UI 5 Watch will support heart rate zone-based training programs, which have been a feature of other smartwatches for several generations at this point. Likewise, Samsung will integrate fall detection, SOS calls and the storing of key medical information directly on a Galaxy Watch. Samsung has not confirmed which version of Wear OS underpins One UI 5 Watch, though. Theoretically, One UI Watch would jump to a new version of Wear OS, although none of the features revealed so far suggest that this is the case.    

Currently, it remains unclear when Samsung will deliver stable One UI 5 Watch builds. Instead, the company's press release implies that One UI 5 Watch will not reach the Galaxy Watch4 and Galaxy Watch5 series until after it debuts with the Galaxy Watch6 series. Based on leaks, Samsung will release the Galaxy Watch6 series in July or August alongside the Galaxy Z Flip5 and Galaxy Z Fold5. The Galaxy Watch6 series is expected to return to the physical rotating bezel of the Galaxy Watch4 Classic too, among other changes. In the meantime, One UI 5 Watch will be available in beta form later this month via the Samsung Members app for Galaxy Watch owners based in South Korea or the US.

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