Samsung's One UI 8 Watch rollout feels like a disaster

Samsung deserves credit for how efficiently it rolled out One UI 8 for its smartphones and tablets. The update went out in record time, reaching even mid-range and budget Galaxy devices faster than any previous major new version of One UI.

However, the same is not true for the One UI 8 Watch update. While the phones got their new software fast, this particular update for Galaxy smartwatches is moving very slowly.

One UI 8 Watch first appeared on the Galaxy Watch 8 and Watch 8 Classic. But months later, it is taking an extremely long time to reach older models. Even the Galaxy Watch 7, which is barely a year old and has parts similar to the Watch Ultra, had to wait a long time for its update.

In contrast, the Galaxy Watch Ultra, which launched with the Watch 7, got the update immediately. This difference is hard to miss. Since both watches have almost the same hardware, the delay doesn't appear to be a technical problem. It seems like a planned choice to put the most expensive smartwatch first. Perhaps this is to make the premium price of the Ultra feel justified and exclusive.

And that’s disappointing. Samsung’s phones have proven that the company can deliver updates quickly and consistently across device tiers. The Galaxy Watch lineup deserves the same treatment, especially when the hardware differences between models are minimal.

The One UI 8 and One UI 8 Watch rollouts reveal two very different approaches. For phones, it’s efficient, clear, and includes everyone. For watches, it’s strangely slow this year, and in general, it's also quite selective.

A good example of that selectiveness is that the beta versions of the One UI Watch updates have always been limited to only two countries (the U.S. and South Korea), while the phone beta programs are offered in at least seven countries for Samsung's top-tier models.

It’s too late for things to change now, because even if Samsung releases the update for all eligible watches tomorrow, the delay has already done its damage. But here’s hoping this isn’t something the company repeats next year, or with any future One UI Watch update.