Samsung has officially announced the upcoming One UI 8 Watch update for its Galaxy smartwatches, powered by Wear OS 6.0. While the stable version will debut next month alongside the new Galaxy Watch 8 series, eager users can get an early look through a limited beta program starting very soon.
One UI 8 Beta Program Release Date and Supported Countries:
The One UI 8 Watch Beta Program is confirmed to begin before the end of this month. However, access will be geographically restricted initially. Only Galaxy Watch owners residing in South Korea and the United States will be able to participate in this first testing phase.
Which Galaxy Watches Can Join the One UI 8 Watch Beta Program?
Not all recent Galaxy Watches will be eligible for the beta test. Samsung has specified that participation is open to the following models:
- Galaxy Watch 5 & Galaxy Watch 5 Pro
- Galaxy Watch 6 & Galaxy Watch 6 Classic
- Galaxy Watch 7 series and Galaxy Watch Ultra
No One UI 8 Watch for Galaxy Watch 4 and Watch 4 Classic?
A significant point of discussion is the exclusion of the Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 4 Classic (released in 2021) from the beta program. This has raised concerns about whether these older models will receive the One UI 8 Watch update at all. Samsung previously committed to “up to four years of updates” for the Watch 4 series. If the final public release of One UI 8 Watch occurs after August 2025, the Watch 4 series could potentially miss its update window. While beta exclusion doesn’t guarantee the public update will be skipped, it’s seen as a worrying sign for owners of these 2021 devices.
How to Sign Up for One UI 8 Watch Beta (If Eligible):
For users in the USA or South Korea with a compatible Watch 5, Watch 6, Watch FE, or newer model:
- Ensure your watch is paired to your Samsung Galaxy phone.
- Open the Samsung Members app on that phone.
- Log in with the same Samsung Account used on your watch.
- Look for the One UI 8 Watch Beta Program banner on the app’s homepage.
- Tap the banner and follow the instructions to enroll.
Once enrolled and the beta software is available, install it via the Galaxy Wearable app (Watch settings > Watch software update > Download and install).
