Samsung Announces One UI 8 Watch Beta Programme Only In These Two Countries
Samsung has unveiled details of its One UI 8 Watch beta, offering exclusive early access to select Galaxy Watch users in South Korea and the US ahead of its global release.
Samsung has officially lifted the lid on its upcoming One UI 8 Watch update, confirming that a beta programme will launch ahead of the public release. While the company has stopped short of revealing an exact release date, it has shared details on the features and availability of the new firmware.
As in previous years, Samsung will conduct a beta phase to gather feedback from users before rolling out the final version globally. However, the testing phase will remain geographically limited, with access restricted to users in South Korea and the United States.
Not every Galaxy Watch user will be eligible to participate. The beta programme will only be supported on Wear OS-powered Galaxy Watches, with older models expected to miss out. Owners of the Galaxy Watch 5 series or newer in the eligible countries will have the opportunity to experience the update firsthand.
The beta programme is scheduled to be launched later this month, though an exact start date remains unconfirmed. Once live, eligible participants in the two regions can enrol via the Samsung Members app on their paired smartphones.
One UI 8 Watch Features Include:
Outside of the fitness features, the One UI 8 Watch includes these other features:
Bedtime Guidance.
Vascular Load.
Running Coach.
Antioxidant Index.
These tools are designed to improve users’ wellness tracking and offer more personalised insights into sleep patterns and cardiovascular performance.
Although Samsung has not provided a timeline for when the beta programme will conclude, industry expectations suggest that One UI 8 Watch will debut alongside the Galaxy Watch 8 series, which is tipped to launch during next month’s Unpacked event.
The upcoming Galaxy Watch 8 range is rumoured to include a redesigned standard model featuring a squircle (square-circle) shape, along with a refreshed Classic edition that echoes the styling of the Galaxy Watch Ultra. Samsung may also unveil a revised version of the Ultra itself.
To build excitement ahead of the launch, Samsung has planned sponsored runs in New York City, a move widely seen as part of the marketing lead-up to its next flagship smartwatch announcement.
Until then, Galaxy Watch users in South Korea and the US will be the first to experience the future of Samsung’s wearable interface through the One UI 8 Watch beta.
