Samsung is rolling out a software updates for older Galaxy smart watches that brings along features first found and once exclusively available on its Galaxy Watch Active.
Updated Interface
The Galaxy Watch, Gear Sport, and Gear S3 will all not only receive the new One UI interface, but they'll also get more efficient battery life plus improved health and fitness features. The Galaxy Watch Active was the first to get Samsung's One UI revamp.
More Settings And Control
In addition to the aesthetic overhaul, Galaxy Watch, Gear Sport, and Gear S3 users should now also have more control, with settings that include being able to wake the device on touch, toggling on Goodnight mode, and adjusting the frequency of Daily Briefings. A number of watch faces first seen on the Galaxy Watch Active are now also available to download.
Health And Fitness
In terms of health and fitness, users now have faster, simpler workout tracking via both the Samsung Health app and the widget. Outdoor swimming is now also trackable. Galaxy Watch, Gear S3, and Gear Sport owners will be pleased by the Apple Watch-style high heart rate alerts and more detailed sleep tracking. The former pings the user if their heart rate exceeds a set level, while the latter shows their average sleep compared with others in an age group.
There are now more vibrant animations accompanying achievements of goals too. Finally, launching Samsung Health will surface the Daily Activities screen outright for faster tracking of progress.
Battery Optimizations
As previously mentioned, battery life of older Galaxy smart watches might now last longer than before. Samsung promises improved battery efficiency, achieved through more aggressive memory management that closes background apps when not in use, and tweaks settings. For even more juice, users can fine-tune some settings themselves, including the display's brightness and screen timeout feature.
Samsung says the rollout of new update for each product will vary by region, so these new features may not be available for all users at the same time. Still, it's good to know they're coming, and, more importantly, that Samsung is still committed to providing software updates and adding new features to older smartwatches instead of abandoning them altogether, unlike some manufacturers.
Have you had your Galaxy Watch, Gear S3, or Gear Sport updated to the latest version yet? If so, how's the experience so far? As always, if you have anything to share, feel free to sound them off in the comments section below!
