Galaxy Watch 4 finally received One UI 8 Watch, will there be more updates?

A few months ago, Samsung said it would release the One UI 8 Watch update to at least some of its eligible Watch models before the end of 2025.

Fortunately, the oldest eligible model, i.e., the Galaxy Watch 4, has just started receiving One UI 8 Watch in Korea, with many more markets to follow soon.

The fact that the Watch 4 hasn't been pushed back to 2026 should mean that every eligible Galaxy Watch out there could be rocking the latest update before the end of 2025. And that's great news for Samsung smartwatch fans everywhere.

But as far as the Galaxy Watch 4 itself is concerned, while it is refreshing that it received One UI 8 Watch before the year ended, the news is bittersweet.

One UI 8 Watch is the final major update the Galaxy Watch 4 and Watch 4 Classic will ever receive. The 2021 watches are now over 4 years old, so they're no longer eligible for firmware updates.

The Fan Edition smartwatch sure raises some questions. The Galaxy Watch FE is a rebadged Watch 4 re-released in 2024. It already received One UI 8 Watch, and technically speaking, it should receive a few more yearly upgrades than the Watch 4 because it came to the market later.

But would the FE's hardware be able to handle future updates? And if the Galaxy Watch FE proves that its hardware can take it, should Samsung leave the Watch 4 behind or try to support it for?

It will be interesting to see how Samsung handles the situation. In any case, the Watch 4 smartwatches from 2021 have had a good run so far, especially given that they were the first to transition from Tizen OS to Wear OS.

But if you feel like One UI 8 Watch isn't the snappiest it could be, and you're considering an upgrade, now might be a good time to check out our complete Samsung wearable gift guide for 2025.

Holiday shopping and enhanced trade-in offers may allow you to get decent discounts on the latest Samsung smartwatch models. For instance, Watch 8 buyers in the USA can potentially save $125 or $150 if they trade in the Watch 4 or Watch 4 Classic.

But if you still want to get the most out of your Watch 4 and keep using it, let's hope One UI 8 Watch is a good version to end support on.