Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 Archives

Breaking: Samsung is limiting access to new features within its One UI 8 Watch update based on Galaxy Watch model, sparking debate among users about software support longevity.

SamsungS rollout of One UI 8 Watch introduces a tiered system for feature availability, reserving advanced health and fitness tracking capabilities for its latest wearables. This means older Galaxy Watch models will not receive all the benefits of the update, even if they share similar hardware components.

Specifically, the new antioxidant index and vascular age measurement features will be exclusive to the Galaxy Watch 8, Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, and Galaxy Watch Ultra. Despite potentially sharing the same processor and sensors as the Galaxy Watch 7, that model will not gain access to these health metrics. This decision highlights Samsung’s strategy of incentivizing purchases of its newest devices with exclusive software features.

Samsung One UI 8 Watch: Limited Features for Older Galaxy Watches — The Samsung Galaxy watch 8 Classic // Source : Robin Wycke – Frandroid

The new “running coach” functionality, designed to enhance running workouts, will also be unavailable on the Galaxy Watch 4, Galaxy Watch 5, and Galaxy Watch 6. These models will receive the updated graphical interface and bedtime tips as part of the One UI 8 Watch update, but will miss out on the more advanced features.

To go further
One UI 8 Watch: Samsung is launching its update for the Galaxy Watch, here are all the new features

Notably, Samsung is decoupling the Gemini AI assistant from the One UI 8 Watch update. Gemini, replacing Google Assistant, is being deployed via a separate update through the Google Play Store and will be accessible on a wider range of Wear OS devices, even those not updated to One UI 8 Watch. This allows users on older Galaxy Watch models to benefit from the improved voice assistant functionality independently of the broader software update.

Ryan Haines / Android Authority

Galaxy Watch 7 users can now load watch faces originally designed for the Galaxy Watch Ultra, a advancement that has been met with enthusiasm for its potential to enhance software parity across Samsung’s wearable lineup. This move allows users to access premium watch face designs without needing to adapt hardware like bands, which are specific to the Ultra model.

The process of sideloading these watch faces, which involves pairing the watch to a phone via ADB and transferring APK files, can present initial challenges. Early attempts may involve difficulty in locating the correct pairing methods and identifying the necessary APKs. However, once these initial hurdles are overcome, the procedure becomes more straightforward.

Sideloading to a Galaxy Watch takes a little learning, but I’d do it over and over again.

with experience in sideloading watch faces, Galaxy Watch 7 owners may find themselves motivated to explore a wider variety of designs. This includes seeking out unofficial watch face clones or unique interpretations of existing Samsung designs from sources like APKMirror.The ability to customize the watch with these new faces offers a significant upgrade in personalization.

Users considering sideloading are advised to exercise caution, ensuring that downloaded APKs are from trusted sources. It is indeed also recommended to discontinue the use of any APK that causes performance issues or instability on the watch. The widespread adoption of sideloading by users coudl potentially encourage Samsung to officially expand its watch face library to include designs from its premium models in the future.

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Samsung Galaxy Watch 7

Samsung One UI 8 Watch: Limited Features for Older Galaxy Watches

Samsung’s Galaxy Watch Ultra faces look great on my Watch 7