Samsung reportedly pauses One UI 8 rollout for Galaxy Watch 4 series: here’s why

Samsung has reportedly paused the distribution of its One UI 8 update for the Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 4 Classic, which initially began earlier this month. The decision to halt the rollout comes in response to a wave of complaints from users experiencing various issues post-update. Users across Samsung’s forums and platforms like Reddit have raised concerns about significant problems following the update. Reported issues include rapid battery drainage, unresponsive touchscreens, malfunctioning sensors, and difficulties with the Always On Display feature. One user described their experience on Reddit, stating, "Extremely laggy on all three of my watches. Tons of wasted space. Most tiles are useless to me now. Battery drain. Sleep tracking totally worthless." Another user echoed similar frustrations, highlighting the excessive battery consumption and the confusing alarm interface, saying, "Why does each alarm require a separate bubble on the watch when the previous UI had all the alarms on one screen?" Additionally, some users have reported that the watch fails to recognize its sensors, leading to constant password prompts and complicating the use of essential features like Google Wallet and notifications. As many users have noted, they have yet to receive the One UI 8 update on their Galaxy Watch 4, which has led to speculation that Samsung may be delaying its release until the reported issues are resolved. An official statement from Samsung regarding the situation is still pending. The Galaxy Watch 4 series, which is nearing its four-year mark, is expected to be the last major update for these smartwatches. Featuring Super AMOLED displays, the Watch 4 is crafted from Armor Aluminum, while the Watch 4 Classic boasts a stainless steel design and a unique rotating bezel for enhanced navigation. Both models are powered by Samsung’s Exynos W920 processor, equipped with 1.5GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 16GB of storage, and come with an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance, alongside a MIL-STD-810G rating for shock resistance.