Samsung has recently rolled out the fifth beta of its One UI 6 Watch software, with a focus on minor system improvements and the highly anticipated Global Always-On Display (AOD) support. This update is now available for Galaxy Watch 6 users in the United States and South Korea, with updates for Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 5 on the horizon.
The current beta version seems to be the final iteration before a stable release, anticipated to occur before the Pixel Watch 3 hits the market on September 10. Samsung’s One UI 6 Watch continues to enhance user experience by integrating AI-enabled health and sleep tracking features into its wearable devices.
First introduced in June, One UI 6 Watch initially launched for Galaxy Watch 6 and Galaxy Watch 6 Classic. This software iteration is based on WearOS 5 and has since been gradually rolled out to older Samsung wearables. The most recent, fifth iteration focuses on system stability, battery life enhancements, and overall performance upgrades, suggesting that a stable release is imminent.
Samsung officially announced the new beta on a community post dated Monday, August 19, and made it available on Tuesday, August 20. The update allows Galaxy Watch 6 and Galaxy Watch 6 Classic users to immediately begin testing. Updates for the Galaxy Watch 4 and Watch 5 series will follow shortly. A community moderator confirmed, “For those of you who are wondering about Watch4/5 updates, it has not been released yet (But it will soon).”
Aside from minor tweaks, the only significant new feature in this beta is the Global AOD support. Though details remain sparse, a Reddit user testing the new beta shared that Global AOD displays a dimmed version of the last-used non-home screen tile with a clock overlay. This enables users to interact with the UI without waking the watch first, an option that can presumably be toggled on and off.
The primary focus of the beta is to:
- Improve system stability and performance.
- Enhance battery life by resolving consumption issues.
- Boost application execution performance.
- Address network interoperability issues.
- Implement miscellaneous other improvements.
Currently, this update is geographically limited to the US and South Korea. However, support for the Galaxy Watch 4 and Watch 5 series is expected to arrive soon. Owners of the Galaxy Watch 6 can download the latest beta from the Samsung Members app.
As the beta predominantly consists of refinements, it is expected that the stable version of One UI 6 Watch will roll out soon. With the Pixel Watch 3 launching on September 10, Samsung faces pressure to release a polished One UI 6 Watch experience before then. We hope Samsung avoids the delays experienced with One UI 7 beta.
In summary, the fifth One UI 6 Watch beta showcases minor system improvements and the notable inclusion of Global AOD. With a stable release seemingly around the corner, Samsung could once again set a high bar for the smartwatch market, provided they meet the upcoming challenges with smooth execution.