Latest news with #GalaxyWatch4
Android Authority
2 days ago
- Android Authority
Galaxy Watch 4's dreaded red screen of death may be getting worse
TL;DR Samsung's aging Galaxy Watch 4 is vulnerable to a display failure where the screen turns solid red. The only solution for affected hardware seems to be a screen replacement. While failures have been happening for years, it's hard to ignore a recent surge in reports. It's sure looking like we could only be just a few more weeks away from getting our formal introduction to Samsung's next-gen smartwatches, the Galaxy Watch 8 series. And while we're excited to check out the new design this year, we're also happy to see Samsung keeping up its support for its older wearables, preparing its One UI 8 Watch update for them now. Inevitably, though, the very oldest will one day be left behind, and it's looking like we're getting to that point for the Galaxy Watch 4. And maybe that's why the recent string of device failures we've been hearing about feels all the more frustrating. Electronics break, and with mobile devices especially, the threats can be nearly constant — it's a small miracle that we're not constantly smashing smartwatches on doorknobs. And when it comes to Samsung's Galaxy Watch 4, one failure mode we've known about seems to manifest as an orange/red screen that's otherwise non-responsive. Users have been running into this occasionally for years, as we see in this 2023 Reddit post from rrrocky777, or this 2024 post from SoaibMostafa on Samsung's own support forums. None of that's great, but sporadic failures are one thing. Now, this is hardly a proper statistical analysis of these incidents, but in our recent efforts looking through posts in Reddit's Galaxy Watch sub, we've noticed what feels like a pronounced uptick in reports of this specific failure mode. Just this past week alone, we see posts from users Current_Context_9513, Chckn_Nugget, and cokeplantcp all complaining about the same 'red screen of death.' With that latter report we get a little extra insight into how the failure may be manifesting on affected watches, initially appearing as an overwhelming red tint but still showing the watch face, before fading into nothingness over the course of about 20 minutes — you can see the pics they shared up top. At this point in 2025, you're pretty much guaranteed to have a Galaxy Watch 4 that's out of warranty, and if this happens to you, your only recourse may be paying Samsung for a screen replacement. That said, the Watch 4 has had a good run, and upsetting as it may be to see a beloved wearable give up the ghost, perhaps it's high time for an upgrade? Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
This Samsung Galaxy Watch may not get the latest One UI 8 Watch update
Samsung may soon end the software updates for its popular Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 series. As reported by 9to5Google, Samsung has signalled that the 2021 launched Galaxy Watch 4 may soon stop receiving major software updates, as the company prepares to roll out One UI 8 Watch, based on Wear OS 6 , exclusively for newer models. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Launched in 2021, the Galaxy Watch 4 series was Samsung's first to run on Wear OS, marking a shift away from its Tizen-based wearables. While Samsung had previously committed to 'at least' three years of updates for its smartwatches, the Watch 4's last major update arrived in May 2025, and the company's latest move suggests that the device may not receive further feature upgrades. Although Samsung has not officially confirmed the end of support, the exclusion from the beta program and the approaching three-year support window strongly indicate that the Watch 4 is nearing the end of its update cycle. Security patches may still continue for a limited time, but if Samsung follows the precedent set with the Galaxy Watch 3, which stopped receiving updates in late 2023, the Watch 4 series could soon be phased out entirely. For comparison, the Galaxy Watch 3, released in 2020, received its last major update in late 2023, aligning with the three-year support window. The Galaxy Watch 4 last received an update in May 2025, which included security patches but no new features.
Android Authority
3 days ago
- Android Authority
Spotted: Google Maps on Wear OS is testing an Expressive new UI
Rita El Khoury / Android Authority TL;DR Google Maps is testing a Material 3 Expressive-style redesign on Wear OS 5. The new UI features larger icons and an improved layout. The changes have only been rolled out to select users so far. Google Maps is getting a fresh look on smartwatches, and it's not waiting for Wear OS 6 to do it. The app is now testing a redesigned interface with some users on Wear OS 5, introducing a bolder, more modern layout in line with Google's Material 3 Expressive design. Screenshots and video shared with us by Telegram user Hardik show several UI changes. Captured on a Galaxy Watch 4 running Maps version 25.23.01.766241648.W, the new look features larger icons and layout choices that better suit small circular screens. Frequently used actions like 'Home,' 'Work,' and 'Recents' now appear as colorful modules, while navigation modes are presented as compact pills with clearer icons. Here's a video of the wearable in use with the new design elements: It's a noticeable departure from the old UI, which leaned heavily on minimalist icons and black menus. Where previous versions often buried options in stacked lists, the updated layout brings everything to the surface with bigger touch targets, echoing similar changes seen recently in redesigned Wear OS versions of Gmail and Keep. Check out these screenshots of the new UI: While the Maps redesign doesn't include the full theming found in the Wear OS 6 developer preview, it still reflects Google's broader push toward consistency and accessibility across its smartwatch apps. Compare the images above to how the interface currently looks for most Wear OS Google Maps users, as shown below: Google hasn't officially acknowledged the rollout, and not all users are seeing the new layout yet during this testing phase. However, with more core apps starting to follow suit, it's another sign that Google is laying the groundwork for a more unified visual experience. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
Phone Arena
4 days ago
- Phone Arena
This new software update may have left this particular Galaxy Watch model behind
The Galaxy Watch 4 may be nearing the end of its software journey. Samsung has just launched the One UI 8 Watch beta based on Wear OS 6, but this latest update comes with a small catch that might mean a lot for owners of its older smartwatches. In a beta rollout notice shared on Samsung's official forums, the company notes that only users with the Galaxy Watch 5 or newer models are eligible to join the program. While Samsung didn't come out and say that the Watch 4 won't get the new One UI 8 Watch software, the absence of the 2021 model from the list speaks volumes. The Galaxy Watch 4 was Samsung's first smartwatch to switch from Tizen to the revamped Wear OS platform, launching in August 2021. It helped mark a major turning point for Android-based wearables. But that same August date now seems to work against it. Samsung's unofficial update policy for smartwatches has typically included about three years of major support. That puts the Watch 4 on a tight deadline before it ages out — and Wear OS 6 may not arrive in time. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Series went on sale nationwide in August 2021. | Image credit — Samsung To be clear, Samsung's official three-year promise originally applied to its older Tizen-based wearables, not necessarily to newer Wear OS models. That gives the company some wiggle room, though history suggests the clock is ticking. The Galaxy Watch 3, for example, received its final update in late 2023, just three years after launch. The Watch 4 last received an update in May 2025. As for what this means in practice, there's still a chance that smaller updates or security patches could arrive later. But based on the way the One UI 8 Watch rollout is being handled, it seems unlikely that major updates are still planned for the Galaxy Watch 4. It's not exactly unexpected. Devices with limited hardware typically fall off the update roadmap once new features outgrow the older chipsets. Samsung isn't alone in this — both Google's and Apple's smartwatches also follow similar lifespans. Apple generally supports its Apple Watches with software updates and hardware repairs for a minimum of five years from when the product was last sold, which can sometimes bring the support window up to seven years. That said, it would have been nice to see Samsung officially confirm its plans, especially for customers who bought the Watch 4 expecting long-term support. On the flip side, those still using the device can take some comfort in knowing it had a strong run, and the wearable space continues to evolve quickly.
Phone Arena
11-06-2025
- Phone Arena
Four years later, Samsung's most pivotal smartwatch may be approaching its final update
Samsung is preparing to launch One UI 8 Watch — its next major smartwatch software update — alongside Wear OS 6, and it may be the final upgrade for one of its most important wearables: the Galaxy Watch 4 series. The Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 4 Classic were great Android smartwatches, but it might be time to retire them. | Image credit — PhoneArena Launched back in 2021, the Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 4 Classic were the first smartwatches to adopt Samsung's revamped Wear OS, co-developed with Google. At the time, Samsung promised four years of software updates for these models. That timeline puts them on track to lose official support by August upcoming One UI 8 Watch update, expected to debut in July with the Galaxy Watch 8 lineup, could arrive just in time to be the Watch 4's final farewell—assuming it receives the update at all. While Samsung hasn't officially confirmed the full list of supported devices, the Galaxy Watch 4 is now at the back of the queue. The company is known for strictly honoring its update commitments, so it's unclear whether Samsung will extend support slightly to ensure the Watch 4 receives Wear OS 6, or leave it behind altogether. Google already introduced Wear OS 6 last month. | Image credit — Google The upcoming Galaxy Watch 8 series will receive the One UI 8 Watch update, which operates on Google's Wear OS 6 platform. The update includes several quality-of-life enhancements together with software updates which include: Gemini will function as the new voice assistant for supported watches through Google's upcoming AI technology. The new antioxidant index measurement might be added to Samsung Health, although specific details about this feature remain unclear. The "Now Bar" UI element from Galaxy AI interface will possibly appear in some watch faces, according to leaks. The One UI 8 Watch update delivers refined features and AI capabilities instead of substantial design transformations, which matches Samsung's One UI 8 approach for mobile and tablet you're still rocking a Galaxy Watch 4, you may want to temper your expectations. Even if the watch does get updated to One UI 8 Watch, it's almost certain this will be the final major firmware release before support ends. With the rollout potentially stretching into late summer or early fall, there's also a real possibility that the Galaxy Watch 4 could miss out hasn't commented on whether the Galaxy Watch 4 will make the cut, but given the timing, its fate may hinge on how quickly the company can bring the update to older Galaxy Watch 4 helped Samsung reestablish itself in the smartwatch space, but four years later, its journey is almost complete. Whether or not it gets Wear OS 6, owners should begin thinking about what comes next, especially as Samsung gears up to launch the Galaxy Watch 8 and possibly a new Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 model next month.
