Good news, Galaxy Watch users! Samsung has just announced the first details of the upcoming One UI 5 Watch update, which will be coming later this year to select Galaxy Watches – the Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 5, both of which run Wear OS 3 right now.
One UI 5 Watch will likely be released alongside Wear OS 4, and in terms of upgrades and new features, Samsung says it focused on bettering three main aspects of the user experience. Those three major categories are sleep, smarter fitness tools, and improved safety features.
Helping Galaxy Watch users sleep better
Through the One UI 5 Watch update, Samsung hopes to make it even easier for Galaxy Watch users to get a good night's rest. And to achieve this, it focused its efforts on three key elements:
- Understanding personal sleep patterns through a new Sleep Insights UI that displays the user's sleep score and a clearer snapshot of the previous night's rest, complete with metrics on snoring hours, blood oxygen levels, and sleep phases.
- Building healthy habits through Sleep Coaching. With One UI 5 Watch, Galaxy smartwatch users will be able to access Sleep Coaching directly on their wrists, without having to turn to their connected phones.
- Establishing a sleep-friendly environment through better connectivity between Galaxy Watches and SmartThings-compatible devices. This will allow more smart home devices to react to the user's Sleep Mode parameters.
Improved fitness capabilities and coaching
The second big upgrade to Wear OS smartwatches introduced by One UI 5 Watch has to do with fitness activities. Samsung intends to make Galaxy Watches better fitness partners through a new personalized Heart Rate Zone that will offer tailored running tools, such as real-time running analysis and a customized interval training program.
The Heart Rate Zone can analyze individual physical capabilities and set five optimal workout intensity levels to allow users to set their goals based on their ability. The five intensity levels are warm-up, fat burn, cardio, hard training, and max.
Furthermore, One UI 5 Watch brings an expanded Route Workout with the addition of running and walking activities. And Watch 5 Pro users will be able to access GPX Files through the Samsung Health app.
One UI 5 Watch improves user safety
And last but not least, the upcoming One UI 5 Watch update will aim to give users greater peace of mind through improved safety.
Among the new features is an updated SOS system that enables direct communication to an emergency phone number and relays information regarding the wearer's location and medical information. And to make Galaxy Watches safer, One UI 5 Watch will enable Fall Detection by default for users aged 55 or older.
Galaxy Watch 4 and Watch 5 users will get to beta test One UI 5 Watch
One UI 5 Watch will be available for beta testing for Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 5 users through the Samsung Members app, similar to the beta programs the company runs for new versions of Android. However, Samsung hasn't yet revealed where the beta program will be available, so if you're hoping to take One UI 5 Watch for a spin before its official release in the second half of 2023, stay tuned to SamMobile for more information in the coming days and weeks.
