Samsung is preparing to roll out One UI 8 Watch alongside the upcoming Galaxy Watch8 series this July. The new update focuses heavily on health and wellness, introducing smarter tools to guide users toward better sleep, improved fitness, and enhanced overall well-being. 
While the Galaxy Watch8 will ship with the new OS, select users of older Galaxy Watch models will get early access through a beta program launching later this month.
The highlight of One UI 8 Watch is a set of four new health-centric features. First is the Bedtime Guidance system, which suggests an optimal bedtime based on your recent sleep habits. By monitoring your patterns over the past three days, it offers personalized reminders to help you stay consistent with your sleep routine.
Building on that, the Vascular Load monitor assesses how your vascular system performs during sleep, factoring in stress levels, activity, and overall wellness. It’s designed to provide insights into how rest, exercise, and stress intersect – and how to create healthier habits from that data.
Fitness enthusiasts will appreciate the updated Running Coach. After a 12-minute run, it gives you a performance score between 1 and 10, then generates a custom plan for distances ranging from 5K to full marathons. During your runs, the watch delivers real-time pacing advice to keep you safe and progressing without overexerting yourself.
Perhaps the most intriguing new addition is the Antioxidant Index. This feature uses Samsung’s BioActive optical sensor to check the level of carotenoids in your skin – antioxidants tied to healthy aging. In just five seconds, the watch provides a reading that can encourage users to reflect on their diet and make smarter nutrition choices.
Dr. Hon Pak, Samsung’s Head of Digital Health, explained, “Sleep is foundational to our physical and mental well-being. We want Galaxy Watch to deliver more than just data – we aim for insights that drive meaningful change in users’ daily lives.”
Samsung’s approach with One UI 8 Watch looks to transform its wearables into proactive wellness companions – not just trackers, but intelligent tools for long-term health improvement.