GoKawiilPaul Jones / Android Authority
TL;DR Samsung has launched the Wear OS 7-based One UI 9 Watch beta program for the Galaxy Watch 8 and Watch 8 Classic in South Korea.
New features include a revamped UI design, richer watch face customization, new safety tools, and enhanced Samsung Health tracking for aerobic load and sleep vitals.
We expect Samsung to expand the beta program to other regions, such as the US and the UK, in the coming days, though the company hasn’t announced as much.
Samsung has officially kicked off the One UI 9 Watch beta program for the Galaxy Watch 8 and Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, extending its Wear OS 7-based experience beyond its current-generation Galaxy Watch 9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2.
Tipster Tarun Vats notes on X that the One UI 9 Watch beta is currently live for Galaxy Watch 8 series users in South Korea. The update carries firmware version ZZH3 and weighs in at a hefty 2,010.76MB, bundled with the August 5, 2026, security patch level.
The notice shared via the Samsung Members app details an overhauled onboarding process. Samsung has simplified beta enrollment by requiring users to agree to the general beta terms once. This enables easier, seamless participation across different beta tests without needing to re-accept the agreements per smartwatch model.
We don’t see the full changelog in the screenshot, but based on the update description, the Wear OS 7-based update introduces a revamped visual design, richer watch face customization options, and new safety tools. Samsung Health also sees substantial upgrades, adding deeper insights into aerobic load, sleep vital signs, and heart health tracking.
For now, the One UI 9 Watch beta remains exclusive to Bluetooth and LTE variants in South Korea. However, Samsung traditionally expands its beta program to regions such as the US, the UK, India, Poland, and Germany shortly after the domestic release in South Korea. Older models, including the Galaxy Watch 7 and Watch 6 series, are also expected to see beta access in subsequent waves as Samsung continues testing One UI 9 Watch across its lineup.
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