Galaxy Watch: Samsung is testing brand new One UI 9 for 2 older models

Samsung is apparently preparing a comprehensive software update for several of its older smartwatches. Internal testing suggests that One UI 9 will soon be available not only for new models, but also for previous models such as the Galaxy Watch 7 and 8.

Early testing for older smartwatches

Just in time for today’s “Galaxy Unpacked” event 2026, at which Samsung will present its new foldable smartphones and smartwatches with One UI 9, it is becoming apparent that the company is already extensively testing the new version of the wearable user interface for older models. In the future, the operating system based on Wear OS 7 will not only run on the very latest Galaxy Watches, but also on previous models.

The first internal beta versions for the Galaxy Watch 7 and 8 have now been discovered on the manufacturer’s servers. The update probably brings with it technical innovations that Google previously integrated into the core Wear OS 7 system. These include more interactive Android-style widgets and the ability to stream audio content to multiple devices simultaneously via Google Cast and Bluetooth. In addition, improved energy management should extend battery life by up to ten percent.

Wear OS originally started under the name Android Wear and has developed significantly since the renewed cooperation between Samsung and Google. Before switching to the Google platform, Samsung used its own Tizen operating system for its watches for years. At the time, this gave the devices smooth operation, but suffered from a very limited selection of apps. Like leakers Tarun Vats on X shows, specific One UI 9 build numbers have now appeared for the older watches. For the Galaxy Watch 7 the designations are L300XXU2CZG4 and L300OXM2CZG4, while the Galaxy Watch 8 is tested under the version L320XXU2BZG2. This suggests that a public beta program for users could start soon.

AI features and update plans

A central component of the update is likely to be the new Gemini API. The interface allows third-party applications to integrate the AI ​​assistant more deeply. This means that in the future more functions of the watch will be able to be controlled directly via voice command. However, a disadvantage could be increased resource consumption, which could put the battery of older devices to the test. In addition to the Galaxy Watch 7 and 8, the models from the Watch 6 and Watch 5 series are also considered candidates for the One UI 9 upgrade. The Galaxy Watch 4, which came onto the market in 2021, also already uses Wear OS and is therefore theoretically eligible for an upgrade.

However, after many years of updates, support for this generation is gradually coming to an end, making it unlikely that the 4 Series will also receive the new user interface. The upcoming flagships like the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 will have One UI 9 Watch installed out of the box. The previous model, the first Galaxy Watch Ultra, will receive the update as part of regular distribution. However, a precise schedule for the final rollout of the new software for older devices is still pending.