Samsung’s rollout of One UI 8 Watch—the latest software update based on Wear OS 6—may officially have concluded last month, but it still appears to be taking longer than expected for some users.
While the update began rolling out to Galaxy Watch 4 and Watch 4 Classic models in late 2025, a report from SamMobile suggests that a significant number of owners are still stuck on older firmware.
The update has been widely released to Bluetooth-only models of the Android smartwatch across major regions, including Europe, India, South Korea, and the US. However, owners of LTE variants are reporting that they have yet to receive the notification to download.
This discrepancy is likely due to the additional carrier-dependent certification required for cellular models, which historically slows distribution.
The end of an era?
This delay is particularly frustrating for the Galaxy Watch 4 community, since One UI 8 represents what is likely the final major software upgrade for this hardware. Launched in 2021, the Watch 4 was the pioneer of the Samsung-Google partnership that gave birth to the modern Wear OS.
One UI 8 introduces a more refined interface, smoother animations, and a redesigned tile system. It also brings the latest health-tracking optimizations found on the newer Galaxy Watch 8 and Galaxy Watch Ultra models. For a device nearing the end of its official support window, these features are essential for maintaining performance and relevance in 2026.
The Wareable take
It is impressive to see Samsung still supporting the Galaxy Watch 4 nearly five years after its debut—a level of longevity previously unheard of in the Wear OS ecosystem.
However, the fragmentation between Bluetooth and LTE models remains a persistent thorn in the user experience.
If you’re on an LTE Watch 4, you’ll likely get the update eventually, but the wait serves as a reminder of the tax still paid by cellular wearable owners.
