Samsung’s Galaxy Watch4 and Galaxy Watch4 Classic are in for a significant software upgrade as they finally get a taste of the highly anticipated One UI 5 Watch and Wear OS 4. This move comes after Samsung introduced One UI 5 Watch in early May, followed by Google’s official announcement of Wear OS 4 a week later. While Samsung’s latest Galaxy Watch6 and Galaxy Watch6 Classic models already came equipped with these cutting-edge features last month, the company has been diligently preparing updates to bring older wearables up to speed.
Today, owners of the Galaxy Watch4 and Galaxy Watch4 Classic from 2021 can rejoice as the new software update begins rolling out in the United States. This update introduces a fresh build with the code R870XXU1HWH3 for the Watch4 and R890XXU1HWH3 for the Watch4 Classic. Alongside these improvements, users will also benefit from the July 2023 security patch level.
The changelog accompanying this update is extensive, so for a detailed breakdown, please refer to the source link below. However, we will highlight some of the key enhancements. First and foremost is the much-awaited feature that allows users to seamlessly transfer their watch to a new phone without the need for a reset, or in some cases, with a reset and a full data restoration—while the specifics are somewhat unclear, this is a significant improvement over the previous process.
Furthermore, this update enhances call control capabilities, allowing users to adjust call volume, mute sound, and interact with the keypad directly from their watch. If Bixby serves as your default voice assistant, it can now read notifications aloud through headphones connected to your watch. Users will also appreciate the introduction of app folders, along with the ability to control the wearable through gestures, such as wrist shaking, making a fist, or pinching fingers, eliminating the need for direct touch interaction.
The update also brings valuable battery management features, including the ability to monitor the battery levels of the watch, phone, and Galaxy Buds. For Galaxy Buds users, there’s the option to toggle 360 audio on and off from the controller tile, and you can set an album or story as your watch face, with automatic cycling through items each time the watch screen is activated.
Samsung Health enthusiasts will benefit from enhanced sleep coaching, automatic recording of cycling workouts, personalized exercise routines, more accurate run tracking results, and personalized heart rate zones while running.
It’s important to note that software updates are typically rolled out in stages, so it may take some time before all eligible devices receive these exciting new features.
