Tag: watch

One UI 8 Watch Beta brings more design changes

The One UI 8 Watch Beta update for the Galaxy Watch 7 and Watch Ultra, which is based on Wear OS 6, was released by Samsung a few hours ago. According to the changelog, the firm wants to improve the Galaxy Watch experience by adding smarter controls, new health features, simpler notification management, and other significant updates. Early previews of the major new upgrade, featuring the revised user interface, are now available.

A first look at key changes in One UI 8 Watch

People will notice a cleaner, more polished interface as soon as they install One UI 8 Watch. The system’s user interface has been completely revamped by Samsung. The screen seems smoother and more layered thanks to a blurred backdrop effect, and the battery icon now resembles the one seen on Galaxy phones running One UI 7. Additionally, a stylish new charging animation has been included, which gives even the act of plugging in your watch a more contemporary vibe.

Now Bar is also included to Samsung’s watch platform with this upgrade. The Now Bar, which provides instant access to ongoing tasks and important information, is located at the bottom of the watch face, just like on Galaxy phones (thanks, @DalgleishGX!). Its style can be altered to better fit your requirements.

One UI 8 Watch significantly improves tile usability. To cut down on screen clutter, you can now group related tiles into one. You can also make custom tiles that show the information you care about most, like the weather, upcoming events, or reminders, all in one location. Although it’s a little adjustment, it greatly streamlines daily use.

Additionally, Samsung updated the Apps screen, enabling users to alternate between list view and grid view. You may now choose whether you want a traditional scrolling list or a condensed overview of your apps on the screen. Notifications have also been changed; they are now simpler to view and use, with clearer formatting that highlights alerts without being obtrusive.

A more organized Settings menu

Finding what you need is now faster thanks to a redesigned and more structured Settings menu. Additionally, Samsung is adding Routines to its portfolio of Galaxy Watches. For users who prefer their devices to anticipate their requirements, this automation function allows you to set rules such as turning off notifications when you go to bed or changing modes based on time or activity.

Last but not least, the Double Pinch gesture is new to the One UI 8 Watch. You can start apps, control music, activate the Now Bar, and scroll through notifications by just pinching your thumb and index finger together twice. Particularly for accessibility and fast interactions without touching the screen, it’s a potent addition. As we discover more intriguing improvements in the initial One UI 8 Watch beta, we’ll keep you informed.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
1.5″ Super AMOLED, 480x480px ~327ppi, 425mAh Battery, Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi, MIL-STD-810H compliant, 50m/5ATM water resistant (IP68), ECG certified, Sleep Coach, Heart Monitor
~~$269.99~~ $199.99Get It Now

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July 5, 2025
Real-world photos of the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic were leaked once more.

We are looking at a real-life photograph of the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, which has leaked once more. Days before its anticipated release, leaker Setsuna Digital, also known as Instant Digital, posted the image on Weibo, giving us a better glimpse of what might be Samsung’s upcoming wristwatch.

The Galaxy Watch 8 series has been the subject of more leaks lately. The Classic model recently surfaced in an eBay sale, suggesting that testing or retail units may already be in circulation, in addition to CAD-based renders for the full Watch 8 series. The mounting body of evidence is further strengthened by this new image.

Galaxy Watch 8 Classic squircled design

The picture displays a black leather band on a metal watch body. Along with what appears to be a real spinning bezel, the watch has two side buttons. The “squircle” form that debuted with the Galaxy Watch Ultra and has unquestionably come to be associated with it is one obvious departure from Samsung’s earlier Classic watch offerings. With all of its watches, Samsung seems to be moving in the direction of this new design.

Also, the screen might be larger and the bezel seems a little smaller than in previous versions, however Samsung has not verified any of these claims. There have also been rumors that the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic would have a more durable design and a brighter display.

Although Samsung has not yet made the Galaxy Watch 8 series official, it is anticipated that the firm will do so during its Unpacked event on July 9th, along with its upcoming line of foldable gadgets. The Galaxy Z Fold 7, Galaxy Z Flip 7, and other new wearables are anticipated to be the main attractions of the event.

The likelihood that the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic will soon have this upgraded appearance is growing as more leaks support the same design. The return of the spinning bezel and its new brand identity may help it stand out in Samsung’s growing watch selection, though it is unclear if it will be able to draw attention over the well-liked Ultra model.Real-world photos of the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic were leaked once more.

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Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 (44mm)
1.5″ Super AMOLED, 480x480px ~327ppi, 425mAh Battery, Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi, MIL-STD-810H compliant, 50m/5ATM water resistant (IP68), ECG certified, Sleep Coach, Heart Monitor
~~$269.99~~$186.99Get It Now

July 1, 2025
Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 7 vs Watch 8 – any significant differences?

It should come as no surprise that Samsung releases a new generation of smartwatches every summer, generally in tandem with its most recent foldable phones. This year is no exception. Three smartwatches—the Galaxy Watch 8, the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, and the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2—will be available to go along with the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7.

All of them appear to be slightly different from their predecessors, but as is customary, we anticipate that the Galaxy Watch 8 will be the most affordable new Samsung wearable, and it may even become a bestseller.

The Galaxy Watch 8 doesn’t appear to be anything that different from the Galaxy Watch 7 from the previous year, except from the somewhat updated design language. But is it just a new look, or is Samsung working on another exciting new feature?

Design

Similar to the Galaxy Watch Ultra from the last year, Samsung appears to be using a new squircle-like design language to all of its wearables this year. This entails a typical circular screen and an aluminum shell that is primarily squircle. This device only has the typical two buttons on the right side, not a rotating bezel.

Unrestricted by the round shape of the prior watch covers, this modification would allow Samsung to fit a slightly larger battery inside. This is exactly what appears to be happening here, as a slightly larger battery is reportedly making the rounds. There doesn’t appear to be any other specific justification for the redesign itself aside from that, since none was required in the first place.

The Galaxy Watch 7, which is a typical circular smartwatch like the majority of Samsung’s devices from previous years, stands in quite sharp contrast to that. The South Korean corporation was well aware that it was the most identifiable watch shape, which also worked well for the smartwatch spinoff.

Like its predecessors, the Galaxy Watch 8 will undoubtedly be available in two sizes: 40 and 44 mm.

We don’t anticipate any changes to the formula in terms of size, which could indicate that the Galaxy Watch 8 will be as thin and small as the Galaxy Watch 7. To refresh your memory, the latter was 9.7 mm thin and, depending on the model, either 40.4 or 44.4 mm in diameter. We don’t think the Galaxy Watch 8 will weigh significantly more than the Galaxy Watch 7, which weighed between 29 and 34 grams.

Like the Watch 7, the Galaxy Watch 8 will undoubtedly include MIL-STD-810H shock resistance and IP68 water and dust protection.

Samsung debuted a new quick-release band connection system for its smartwatches with the Galaxy Watch 6. It rapidly separates the strap mechanism from the watch casing by pressing a button. Since the band attachment technique isn’t expected to change, the system is expected to function flawlessly on the Galaxy Watch 8 as it did on the Galaxy Watch 6 and 7 generations.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
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Having said that, Samsung submitted a patent application in December 2024 for a novel attachment system that combines multiple technologies to provide even quicker band interchangeability at a glance. But since it’s a patent, it’s impossible to predict whether or not it will come to pass.

However, we anticipate that the Galaxy Watch 8 series will be accompanied by the announcement of a few new watch band styles.

Software & Features

Samsung’s One UI Watch 8 will run on top of Wear OS, which will serve as the foundation for the Galaxy Watch 8. From a usability and functionality standpoint, the combination of Google and Samsung’s software has historically produced a surprisingly good smartwatch experience, and there’s no reason to think the Galaxy Watch 8 UX would be any different.

However, Google’s Wear OS is set to undergo a significant revamp with the next Material 3 Expressive design language, which will also undoubtedly alter the look of Android 16.

Additionally, it is rumored that Samsung is expanding the capabilities of its Galaxy AI to include personalized recommendations driven by AI and other features on the company’s smartwatches.

One potential new function is non-invasive blood glucose monitoring, which measures the minute variations in blood glucose using the BioActive sensor built into the device. Although we have some doubts that this feature will be included in the Galaxy Watch 8 series this year, there is always a chance.

Battery

The 40 mm model of last year’s Galaxy Watch 7 had a 300 mAh battery, but the larger 44 mm model has a 425 mAh battery.

According to rumors, the Galaxy Watch 8 will likely have a somewhat bigger battery. What we’re getting here is a slight bump to 435 mAh on the 44 mm size and perhaps 310 mAh on the smaller choice.

The Galaxy Watch 8 is anticipated to use the same 3nm Exynos W1000 chip, therefore a significant improvement in battery life seems unlikely. Therefore, the maximum battery life we are receiving may be around a day or a day and a half.

It’s possible that the Galaxy Watch 8 will support the same 10W wireless charging.

Specs

The specs for the Galaxy Watch 8 vs. Galaxy Watch 7 are anticipated to be as follows:

Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
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Final thought

Compared to the Galaxy Watch 7, the Galaxy Watch 8 appears to be just a design update, a slow and sensible development.

The glucose monitoring feature, which may prove to be extremely helpful for many diabetics, is perhaps the most exciting new feature. The icing on the cake is that it will be non-invasive.

Is it time to replace your Galaxy Watch 7? Considering that the two smartwatches’ basic specifications and functionalities are essentially the identical, users of the Galaxy Watch 7 shouldn’t feel pressured to upgrade, despite the rumors that are currently circulating.

June 27, 2025
OnePlus Watch 3 43mm will be announced on July 8

For several months now, there have been rumors that OnePlus will be releasing a smaller smartwatch. Naturally, when OPPO unveiled its Watch X2 Mini on April 10, those rumors intensified. And this morning, OnePlus officially announced the arrival of a smaller watch with the name OnePlus Watch 3 43mm.

Exclusive CAD renders of the OnePlus Watch 3 43mm have now been made available to us by Onleaks, and they reveal some design modifications from the larger OnePlus Watch 3. However, as anticipated, it still has the same appearance as the OPPO Watch X2 Mini.

In terms of specifications, the OnePlus Watch 3 43mm ought to have a 1.32-inch AMOLED 2.5D screen with 466 x 466 resolution. The 43mm body, which is significantly smaller than the 47mm Watch 3, will house that. Surprisingly, though, it is only somewhat smaller than the “bigger” sizes of the Pixel Watch 3 and Galaxy Watch 7.

Wear OS and RTOS will continue to be the two operating systems that the OnePlus Watch 3 43mm will support, as anticipated. Additionally, it will share the Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 processor with its bigger sibling. containing 32GB of storage and 2GB of RAM. Additionally, it will come in two colors: black and white.

Shorter battery life for OnePlus Watch 3 43mm

The battery life will be one of the drawbacks of this smaller smartwatch form. The 345mAh battery that OnePlus has included this time around is supposed to last up to 72 hours. In contrast, it can be used for 100 hours, or slightly more than five days. With RTOS, you could probably extend it to about a week, even though this figure probably refers to Wear OS usage.

OnePlus did preserve a lot of the other specs from the bigger broather, such 5 ATM water resistance, IP68 sensors and tracking, WiFi, and Bluetooth 5.2. A variety of sensors are also included, such as a barometer, gyroscope, accelerometer, geomagnetic sensor, optical pulse oximeter, gyroscope, ambient light sensor, and optical heart rate sensor.

June 24, 2025
New #leak with Galaxy Watch 8 and Galaxy Watch Ultra design and colors

Next month, Samsung will be launching new smartwatches at its Unpacked presentation. We already know that the business will release a new version of the Galaxy Watch Ultra, the Galaxy Watch 8, and the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic.

The design of these smartwatches and the new color options that the firm will provide are revealed in new renders that were posted online today by Android Headlines. In 2025, Samsung has decided to use a squircle design for their complete portfolio.

Samsung’s new high-end goods feature blue as their hero color.

The next Samsung Galaxy Watch models won’t be completely square or round like earlier models, as we’ve seen in other leaks as well. The term “squircle” refers to the design’s intermediate position between a circle and a square.

Additionally, it is believed that this year will see the reintroduction of the Classic model, which features a distinctive physical bezel. Neither the new Galaxy Watch Ultra nor the standard Galaxy Watch 8 will have a physical bezel. The Quick button will also be available on the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, according to these renders.

The new blue color option for the 2025 Galaxy Watch Ultra is an intriguing development. Previously available exclusively in orange and dark gray, the Galaxy Watch Ultra is a colorful new addition. Given that the next Galaxy Z Fold 7 will also be offered in a striking shade of blue, blue is probably Samsung’s hero color for new devices.

Although Samsung has not officially confirmed any information regarding the upcoming devices, we should anticipate more leaks in the days ahead. With the new products arriving on store shelves before the end of the month, the event itself is probably scheduled for mid-July.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
Looking for a great way to bring out your personal best every day? Challenge yourself to excel on your next run or bike ride using tracking with Galaxy AI that lets you compare your current performance to your last one
~~$299.99~~$199.99Amazon

June 16, 2025
#dealalert – Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 is $100 off on Amazon

Price trackers report that the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 (44mm Bluetooth) is now available for $229.99, the lowest price to date. It was previously available for $329.99.

Its seamless performance and health tracking are the main reasons for PCMag’s Excellent rating. This offer is worth taking into consideration if you’re already an Android user and want a wristwatch that prioritizes fitness and looks good on your wrist. Be aware up front that daily charging is a standard procedure for many smartwatches.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 44mm Bluetooth
Looking for a great way to bring out your personal best every day? Challenge yourself to excel on your next run or bike ride using tracking with Galaxy AI that lets you compare your current performance to your last one
~~$329.99~~$229.99Amazon

The Watch 7 is designed to withstand more than just everyday use. It is 5ATM water-resistant, has an IP68 rating, and has undergone durability testing in accordance with military specifications. Outside, the 1.5-inch Super AMOLED screen is clear and easy to read. Samsung promised improved performance and efficiency over the previous generation with the Exynos W1000 processor update. With Samsung’s One UI 6 preinstalled on top of Wear OS 5, it offers minor enhancements including improved photo editing and widget controls. Along with 32GB of storage and 2GB of RAM, it has a dual-frequency GPS that maintains a strong signal even in urban areas and beneath trees.

Health tracking is where it truly makes an effort to differentiate itself. Body composition analysis, FDA-approved sleep apnea diagnosis, and a new Galaxy AI Energy Score that condenses all of your exercise and sleep data into a single, convenient figure are all available. Standard features like blood oxygen monitoring, heart rate monitoring, ECG, and automated workout detection are still available. However, you’ll need a Samsung phone close by if you want the entire experience, including snoring detection and some of the AI wellness insights.

Here, battery life is the primary trade-off. Depending on settings, moderate use will take between 22 and 27 hours, thus overnight charging will be an option. The Galaxy Watch 7 offers a plethora of fitness and health functions in a stylish, long-lasting design, especially at this new low price, if you can live with that and already own an Android mobile (preferably a Samsung).

Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 44mm Bluetooth
Looking for a great way to bring out your personal best every day? Challenge yourself to excel on your next run or bike ride using tracking with Galaxy AI that lets you compare your current performance to your last one
~~$329.99~~$229.99Amazon

June 11, 2025
Samsung pushes an new update for the latest Galaxy watches models
A new software update is coming out for some Galaxy Watch models, so you might want to check your settings if you use one.

Samsung usually only releases a few upgrades for the Galaxy Watch annually, but at least one significant one. One of the company’s less significant updates is currently being released for a few Galaxy Watch models.

The May 2025 security update is being released by the firm for the most recent models of the Galaxy Watch 7 and Galaxy Watch Ultra. This covers Verizon variants as well, although we’re seeing a very short changelog for basic phones that displays the March 2025 security patch:
- The usability of device operations has been improved.
In the meantime, the March 2025 security patch is being applied to the Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 5 Pro. However, this most recent upgrade is the first one for these devices to be made generally available in 2025. A few weeks ago, some customers received an April update, but it omitted many regions and variants.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 40mm
~~$299.99~~$199.99Amazon

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra
~~$399.00~~$346.99Amazon

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June 8, 2025
Samsung offers great deals today.
Is a Samsung watch required during their Discover sale? They are giving you a discount on all of their remaining Galaxy Watch models, whether or not you have a trade-in. While the Galaxy Watch Ultra is up to 50% off, even the previous Galaxy Watch 6 Classic, which features a rotating bezel, is up to $225 off.

Great deals for all Galaxy watches

Samsung didn’t go all out for this Discover week, but they still have good offers on almost everything, including the Galaxy Watch. With the right trade-in, a Galaxy Watch Ultra is almost 50% off, making it $325—a fantastic deal. However, you may just simply cut $200 off without making any trades. The Galaxy Watch 7 is also discounted by $175 with trades or $100 without. I was unaware that Samsung was still offering the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic, but it’s available for as little as $279 if you don’t trade in anything.
- Galaxy Watch Ultra: $200 off with no trades, $325 off with | Buy
- Galaxy Watch 7: $100 off with no trades, $175 off with | Buy
- Galaxy Watch 6 Classic: $120 off with no trades, $225 off with | Buy
- Galaxy Watch FE: $50 off with no trades, $50 off with | Buy
With incredible discounts on their 75-inch Neo QLED 4K TV (nearly $2,000 off), their Bespoke Jet Bot Combo Robot Mop (here) for $550 off, and their incredibly cool Odyssey OLED G9 curved monitor (here) for $900 off, Samsung’s Discover sale is still going strong.

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June 7, 2025
Amazfit Balance 2 XT – Amazfit to launch a titanium smartwatch

The Amazfit Balance 2 XT, which was recently leaked, is reportedly a titanium version of the Balance 2 smartwatch, which was released in May 2025. Some information regarding this future watch, model number A2430, is revealed by a recent article and FCC filings. Additionally, it has been proposed that an NFC feature might exist.

There are rumors that the Amazfit Balance 2 smartwatch will soon be available in titanium. This appears to be the Amazfit Balance 2 XT smartwatch that was leaked and was just discovered on a Zepp Health website. In May 2025, the ordinary Balance 2 wearable—a replacement for the original Balance watch—was introduced in China.

More information about the Amazfit Balance 2 XT smartwatch, model number A2430, appears to have been revealed by an AndroidTR report. It is anticipated that titanium components will take the place of the conventional Balance 2 wearable’s aluminum and fiber-reinforced polymer housing. It’s unknown if the Sapphire crystal glass cover and 1.5-inch AMOLED display will be available.

Amazfit Balance 2 XT – the big brother

According to FCC filings, the model A2430 is 49 x 49 x 13 mm (~1.92 x 1.92 x 0.51 inches) larger than the standard Balance 2, which is 47.4 x 47.4 x 12.3 mm (~1.87 x 1.87 x 0.48 inches). Additionally, it shows that the watch will have two bands, just like the Amazfit Active 2 Premium wristwatch (which retails for $129.99 on Amazon) and the normal Balance 2. The two bands’ composition and color are yet unknown, though.
Rephrase

Like its predecessor, the Balance 2 XT or Balance 2 Titanium is probably going to run Zepp OS 5.0. We don’t yet know if it will have any other features. Although the source of this rumor is unknown, AndroidTR claims that a version of this watch with an NFC contactless payment feature may exist.

Uncertainty surrounds the Amazfit Balance 2 XT smartwatch’s release date. According to a recent leak, it might show out in June 2025. Pricing-wise, it is probably going to cost more than the Balance 2 smartwatch, which sells for CNY 1,999 (about $277) in China.

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June 5, 2025
Wear OS 6 will allow AOD controls

Due to limits in its actual “always-on” functioning, the always-on display (AOD) mode on Android smartwatches hasn’t always been the smoothest feature. This seems to be fixed in Wear OS 6, which would allow for more usage even when the watch’s display is off.

Wear OS’s always-on display mode hasn’t changed much. At the moment, the majority of apps only show the clock; only Spotify and Maps completely adjust to the mode. This is a major reduction in productivity, particularly when you want to control or modify something on your watch without waking the screen completely.

Control more from directly from AOD in Wear OS 6

In Wear OS 5.1, Google is already developing a feature dubbed “Force Global AOD” that, as the name implies, attempts to compel active app displays to switch to an always-on display state. Although it is presently undergoing developer testing, the firm has started to share updates regarding the feature, so we can now anticipate its arrival with Wear OS 6.

Google claims to be offering a complete solution with seamless cross-device integration of this capability as part of Wear OS 6. Google gave an example of the existing music control interface, which will change to a black-and-white user interface in AOD mode when utilizing the Material 3 Expressive design. Importantly, the rich and whimsical shapes of many elements, including text and navigational buttons, will be preserved in this AOD version.

How this will seem in other apps that eventually make use of Google’s Material 3 Expressive’s “glanceable UI” is yet unknown. For apps that don’t support always-on display natively, there might be a default screen.

Google Pixel Watches and Samsung Galaxy Watches stand to gain the most from this improved always-on display, which will significantly improve Wear OS user experience. With this enhancement, Wear OS smartwatches may even surpass Apple’s watchOS, which does not yet have a real always-on display mode.

Later this year, Wear OS 6 is anticipated to be made available to compatible Android smartwatches. Improved battery life and performance are two of the improvements in the upcoming main Android wristwatch OS, in addition to the actual AOD. In keeping with Google’s long-term strategy, Gemini will also become more deeply integrated into the system.

Google Pixel Watch 3
The Google Pixel Watch 3 is designed for performance, with advanced fitness from Fitbit[1,2]; the 41mm screen is twice as bright and 10% larger than before, making it easier to see your stats and info
~~$349.99~~$299.99Amazon

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June 3, 2025