Samsung has a new set of software updates for its first-generation smartwatches – the Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Watch Active.
The Galaxy Watch arrived in August 2018, which makes it over a year old. As for the Galaxy Watch Active, it’ll soon be a year old following its February 2019 launch. Still, these two have been among the busiest wearables as far as software updates are concerned.
Over the recent past, Samsung has updated the duo with features from the newer Galaxy Watch Active2 released in September 2019. The most recent to receive the update was the LTE variant of the Watch.
This update came over a month after the Wi-Fi only models picked up the OTA, but that was not to worry as long as the promised features had arrived. At the time, little did we know Samsung was lining up another huge update for the two smartwatches.
Apparently, the new update is arriving as One UI 1.5 and has software version R800XXU1DSL1. It weighs in at 117MB, which is pretty huge by smartwatch standards.
The Galaxy Watch One UI 1.5 update may also arrive in other regions as version R805FXXU1FSL4/R815FXXU1FSL4, although the changes included remain the same. Speaking of which, below is the list of changes the new Watch update brings.
- Bixby – New Bixby helps you get tasks done more easily. Start an exercise with specific goals or ask time difference between your city and the one you will be traveling.
- Watch faces: Additional Watch Face Complications added (Begin Workout, Breathing and others).
- Added new watch face ‘My Style’ which recommends a variety of watch faces that suits outfit by taking pictures of clothing
- Additional indicator feature in watch face to show background running app such as workout tracking, timer. Tapping on the indicator will take you back to the app
- Additional emoticons to provide a variety of skin tones
- Improved User Interaction for the following features: Always on Display screen is easier to read while on charging or in battery saving mode; Customizing the order of icons in quick panel is easier; Timer and Stop Watch app is now more convenient; and Watch indicates sleep mode more intuitively
- Samsung Health improvement: Lap time tracking has been improved for running and cycling activities; Daily Activity feature added which shows user’s daily activity (Move, Workout, Hourly Activity); Data sync via NFC with Technogym workout equipments has been added; Added new auto-tracking for ‘Swim’; and Added additional alert for low heart rate.
Crossing over to the Galaxy Watch Active, the new One UI 1.5 update is rolling out as version R500XXU1DSL1. We don’t have particulars of the OTA size, but since the changes it brings are also wholesale, expect a sizeable file.
Below is a summary of the changes the Galaxy Watch Active One UI 1.5 update brings:
- Touch bezel added – Allow user to mimic the experience of the rotary bezel in digital which allows for easier navigation and control of the watch
- Watch faces: Additional Watch Face Complications added (Begin Workout, Breathing and others)
- Added new watch face ‘My Style’ which recommends a variety of watch faces that suits outfit by taking pictures of clothing
- Additional indicator feature in watch face to show background running app such as workout tracking, timer. Tapping on the indicator will take you back to the app
- Additional emoticons to provide a variety of skin tones
- Improved User Interaction for following features: Always on Display screen is easier to read while on charging or in battery saving mode and Customizing the order of icons in the quick panel is easier
- Samsung Health improvement: Lap time tracking has been improved for running and cycling activities and Data sync via NFC with Technogym workout equipments has been added
Both updates are rolling out over the air, so be sure to stay patient since OTA updates take time to reach all devices.
PiunikaWeb started as purely an investigative tech journalism website with main focus on ‘breaking’ or ‘exclusive’ news. In no time, our stories got picked up by the likes of Forbes, Foxnews, Gizmodo, TechCrunch, Engadget, The Verge, Macrumors, and many others. Want to know more about us? Head here.
Hillary Keverenge
2056 Posts
Tech has been my playground for over a decade. While the Android journey began early, it truly took flight with the revolutionary Lollipop update. Since then, it's been a parade of Android devices (with a sprinkle of iOS), culminating in a mostly happy marriage with Google's smart home ecosystem. Expect insightful articles and explorations of the ever-evolving world of Android and Google products coupled with occasional rants on the Nest smart home ecosystem.
Next article View Article
