Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 4 appears to be slipping out of the software update spotlight. The company recently introduced the One UI 8 Watch beta, which is based on Wear OS 6 – but with one crucial caveat: only Galaxy Watch 5 and newer models are eligible to join this beta program.
While Samsung hasn’t outright stated that the Galaxy Watch 4 is excluded permanently, its absence from the eligibility list is telling. 
Launched in August 2021, the Watch 4 was a landmark release as Samsung’s first smartwatch to ditch Tizen in favor of Google’s Wear OS. But now, that pioneering status might not be enough to keep it on the update roster.
Historically, Samsung has offered about three years of major updates for its wearables. That unofficial policy already has the Watch 4 on borrowed time, and the lack of inclusion in the latest beta suggests that Wear OS 6 and One UI 8 might not make it to the device.
To be fair, Samsung’s three-year support promise was originally for Tizen watches, not necessarily the newer Wear OS lineup. But precedent matters – the Galaxy Watch 3, for example, stopped receiving updates in late 2023, three years post-launch. The Watch 4’s last major update came in May 2025, marking a potential endpoint.
Although minor patches or security updates might still trickle in, all signs point to the Watch 4 being left out of future major upgrades. It’s a familiar pattern in the tech world, where aging hardware can’t always keep up with evolving software.
This isn’t just a Samsung issue. Both Apple and Google operate under similar lifecycles. Apple typically offers software and repair support for five years or more – sometimes even seven – depending on when the device was last sold.
Still, Samsung’s silence on the matter is frustrating for users who expected more longevity. For now, Watch 4 owners can at least appreciate the fact that their device helped shape the modern smartwatch era – even if its time in the spotlight is coming to a close.
1 comment
at least they could’ve sent a goodbye message or something 😂