Yes—most owners of the first-generation (2024) Galaxy Watch Ultra should install One UI 8 Watch. Samsung’s Wear OS 6 update adds useful health and fitness tools, faster ways to handle notifications, gesture controls and a more informative watch face. In 2026, install the newest firmware offered for your exact model and region, not just the original 2025 release. Back up and sync first, update the phone-side apps, and avoid installing immediately before a race, trip or important night of sleep tracking.
What One UI 8 Watch is—and what it is not
One UI 8 Watch is Samsung’s wearable interface and feature layer built on Wear OS 6, not the phone edition of One UI 8. Samsung’s firmware page identifies the SM-L705F Ultra platform as AndroidWear 6.0/Wear OS 6: Samsung’s SM-L705F update history. The 2024 Ultra remains compatible because it uses Samsung’s flagship Exynos W1000 platform.
Samsung announced the rollout on July 22, 2025, and the SM-L705F page lists its initial release on July 24, 2025. That page later lists maintenance builds, including L705FXXS3BZF4 released July 14, 2026 with the July 5, 2026 security patch. Your model, country, carrier and paired phone may receive different builds or dates.
The software brings selected Watch8-generation features to existing hardware. It does not give the Ultra a thinner Watch8 body, brighter Watch8 display or larger Watch8 storage.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
#1 Best Overall
- WHY GALAXY WATCH ULTRA: Longest-lasting battery yet.¹* Advanced health and sleep tracking features.* Personalized Running Coach.* Durable titanium casing.* 10ATM Water Resistance.⁹* Dual-frequency GPS.* Personal AI assistant for hands free help.⁶*
- A BATTERY BUILT FOR ENDURANCE: Have the confidence to adventure off-grid with a battery that can keep up with you. Galaxy Watch Ultra features our longest-lasting battery yet,¹ so you can go to the extreme for days on end without needing to recharge.
- YOUR ADVENTURE STARTS THE NIGHT BEFORE: Fuel tomorrow’s performance with a great night’s sleep, thanks to Advanced Sleep Coaching² - now improved with even more ways to help you sleep smarter.
- BUILT FOR THE LONG RUN: Whether you’re on a trail or a track, unleash the winning runner within using Running Coach³ on Galaxy Watch Ultra. It analyzes factors⁴ such as your age, weight, oxygen levels and heart rate to guide you through your run.
- UPDATES THAT GIVE YOU THE EDGE: Navigate the wild more easily with Now Bar⁵ and an improved user experience. Now Bar conveniently puts the info you use the most - like weather, timers, directions and more - right on your main Watch screen.
The changes you will notice most
Now Bar
Supported ongoing activities—such as workouts, music, timers and calls—appear at the bottom of the watch face, reducing the need to open the launcher.
Double-pinch controls
Pinch your thumb and index finger together twice to perform supported actions such as scrolling notifications, controlling music, taking pictures, responding to alerts or dismissing them. Available actions and customization depend on the context.
Rank #2
- 47mm - 1.5" Super AMOLED, 480x480px, 590mAh Battery, MIL-STD 810H certified, IP68/10ATM 100m water resistant, ECG certified
- 64GB, 2GB RAM, Exynos W1000 (3nm), Penta-core, Mali-G68 GPU, Android Wear OS 5, One UI Watch 8 with AI Assistant
- Unlock your full potential with Galaxy AI: Track and improve your fitness performance, monitor heart health with precision, get personalized wellness tips, optimize your sleep for better health, stay connected with smart replies, and enjoy music or podcasts on the go—all from your Galaxy Watch.
- Compatible with Android devices Only. Supports Google Pay. 3G: 850/900/1700/2100/1900/2100MHz, 4G LTE: 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/18/19/20/25/26/28/40/66/71 - eSIM.
- International Model - No Warranty. 100% Unlocked but Most US carriers may not allow International models. Will still work as Bluetooth Watch. Works outside US with all carriers. (Country selection may not be available during setup. Select Any, as Country will updated later after Connecting to WIFI in Settings.)
Notifications, tiles and apps
- Notifications from the same app stack vertically.
- Display behavior can offer choices such as Smart device selection or Always show on both, depending on the phone and software configuration.
- Multi-Info Tiles combine information from several apps.
- Frequently used apps can be surfaced near the top, and the app screen can be shown as a named list instead of icons only.
Charging information
The charging screen gives a clearer battery percentage and estimated remaining time, with refreshed animations. Samsung documents these interface changes in the SM-L705F firmware notes.
Health and fitness features—and their requirements
| Feature | What it does | What you must do first |
|---|---|---|
| Running Coach | Builds a running program from a running-level assessment. | Complete an outdoor GPS assessment of at least 12 minutes; use a compatible Galaxy phone, Samsung Health 6.30 or later and a Samsung account. Details: Samsung U.S. announcement. |
| Bedtime Guidance | Recommends a target sleep window from sleep and circadian-pattern history. | Wear the watch for three consecutive nights, then open Samsung Health → Sleep → menu → Bedtime guidance. Instructions: Samsung support. |
| Vascular Load | Estimates changes in stress placed on blood vessels over time. | Wear it while sleeping for three nights within a recent 14-day period; Samsung Health 6.30 or later and a Samsung account are required. It is a wellness/Labs feature, not a blood-pressure reading or diagnosis: Samsung Canada. |
| Antioxidant Index | Estimates skin carotenoid levels using the rear sensor. | Place a thumb on the rear sensor for about five seconds. Samsung Health 6.27 or later, Android 10 or later and a Samsung account are required. It does not measure antioxidant intake: Samsung Canada. |
| Mindfulness | Provides mood check-ins, optional reasons, breathing exercises and reminders. | On the watch, open Samsung Health → Mindfulness → Check in or Start. Configure reminders from the Mindfulness tile in the phone app: Samsung support. |
| High Stress Alert | Alerts when continuously monitored stress is high. | In the Stress tile, enable Measure continuously and then High stress alert. A manual measurement alone cannot trigger it: Samsung support. |
Running Coach is a wellness and training aid, not an injury-prevention guarantee. Samsung’s health features are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, mitigate or prevent disease.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Rank #3
- 47mm - 1.5" Super AMOLED, 480x480px, 590mAh Battery, MIL-STD 810H certified, IP68/10ATM 100m water resistant, ECG certified
- 64GB, 2GB RAM, Exynos W1000 (3nm), Penta-core, Mali-G68 GPU, Android Wear OS 5, One UI Watch 8 with AI Assistant
- Unlock your full potential with Galaxy AI: Track and improve your fitness performance, monitor heart health with precision, get personalized wellness tips, optimize your sleep for better health, stay connected with smart replies, and enjoy music or podcasts on the go—all from your Galaxy Watch.
- Compatible with Android devices Only. Supports Google Pay. 3G: 850/900/1700/2100/1900/2100MHz, 4G LTE: 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/18/19/20/25/26/28/40/66/71 - eSIM.
- International Model - No Warranty. 100% Unlocked but Most US carriers may not allow International models. Will still work as Bluetooth Watch. Works outside US with all carriers. (Country selection may not be available during setup. Select Any, as Country will updated later after Connecting to WIFI in Settings.)
Battery, compatibility and regional limits
Do not assume longer battery life
Samsung’s official Ultra update notes do not establish a universal battery-life improvement for the 2024 model. After a major update, resynchronization, indexing, app updates and usage-pattern learning can temporarily alter battery behavior. Judge it after several normal charge cycles, not during the first day.
Availability is not universal
Country, model, LTE carrier, paired-phone software, Samsung account and Samsung Health version can affect when an update or feature appears. A feature may be delayed, absent or still labeled Labs. One UI 8 Watch also does not automatically bring every phone feature, Galaxy AI function or phone-specific Now Brief behavior to the watch.
Rank #4
- Rugged Outdoor Design: Built for durability with a strong case suited for extreme environments and outdoor adventures.
Install it safely
Prepare first
- Charge the watch, preferably above 50%, and keep it near the paired phone.
- Connect the phone to Wi-Fi.
- Update Galaxy Wearable, Samsung Health and watch apps through the Play Store or Galaxy Store.
- Confirm the phone and watch use supported software and that important health data has synchronized.
- Record current battery behavior if you want a before-and-after comparison.
- Do not begin immediately before a long hike, race, flight or night when uninterrupted sleep data matters.
Start the update
- Open Galaxy Wearable.
- Tap Watch settings.
- Select Watch software update.
- Tap Download and install.
- Leave the watch connected and follow any charger prompt while it restarts.
Menu names vary by Galaxy Wearable version and phone model. A major package can take considerably longer than a security patch; Android Central described one initial download as close to 2GB, but package size varies by model and update state: Android Central. Do not force a shutdown during installation.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.If something goes wrong
The update is missing
- Check the exact model number and region.
- Update Galaxy Wearable and Samsung Health.
- Restart both phone and watch, confirm Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, and try again.
- Check Settings → Software update on the watch if available.
- Review the matching Samsung firmware page and retry later; rollouts are staged.
A feature is missing
Check Samsung Health version, Samsung-account sign-in, phone Android version, country availability and whether initial data collection is complete. Bedtime Guidance needs three consecutive nights; Vascular Load needs three nights in 14 days; Running Coach needs its GPS assessment; High Stress Alert needs continuous monitoring.
Best Value
- YOUR TRAIL GUIDE ON YOUR WRIST: Navigate challenging trails on your run with path, elevation and pace guidance on your Galaxy Watch Ultra2¹. The smart watch gives you personalized hydration alerts² along the way so you can run and feel your best.
- ONE PERSONALIZED SCORE TO KNOW YOUR HEART BETTER: Get an easy-to-understand view of your overall heart health³ with a single personalized score⁴ and guidance, so you can avoid the guesswork.
- INSTANT AI ASSISTANCE. NO SLOWING DOWN: Every second can be crucial when you're outdoors. With Galaxy Watch Ultra2, you can just raise your wrist, start talking naturally and get instant AI assistance⁵—no wake phrase needed, no slowing down.
- GREAT DURABILITY FOR THE GREAT OUTDOORS: From rugged trails to under water, take this fitness watch anywhere as your dependable adventure partner. IP69K and 10ATM rated, it’s dust-tight⁶ and water resistant⁷ up to 100m so you can take on any challenge.
- YOUR BODY SPEAKS. LISTEN WITH VITALS: Understand your body better with Vitals⁹–it’s built to track 5 different health metrics while you sleep, catch shifts from your usual patterns, and also provide tailored guidance based on the insights.⁸
Battery drain, heat or crashes
- Allow several charge cycles and restart the watch.
- Install all pending watch-app updates.
- Check GPS, LTE, always-on display, continuous heart-rate monitoring and recently installed third-party apps.
- Temporarily disable new alerts or measurements to isolate the cause, and use Power saving mode if necessary.
- Remove recently added watch faces or apps if the watch is lagging or crashing.
- Document the build number and symptoms before contacting Samsung.
A factory reset erases local settings and data and should be a last resort after synchronization and backup. Samsung’s normal consumer update process has no simple rollback; use Samsung support rather than unofficial firmware flashing for a serious fault.
Who should update now—and who can wait?
Update promptly if you:
- Want current security maintenance and Samsung Health compatibility.
- Run outdoors, track sleep or want Running Coach, Bedtime Guidance or Vascular Load.
- Use the watch one-handed and would benefit from Now Bar or double-pinch controls.
- Want better notification navigation, custom tiles or app organization.
A short delay is reasonable if you:
- Have a race, expedition, flight or critical sleep-tracking night in the next day or two.
- Depend on uninterrupted LTE, payments, notifications or Bluetooth accessories.
- Have not yet updated the phone-side Samsung apps.
- Prefer to wait briefly for reports from owners of your exact model and region.
That is timing and risk management, not a strong reason to skip indefinitely. Owners who use the Ultra only as a watch and notification screen may notice fewer benefits, especially with a non-Samsung Android phone.
Bottom line for 2024 Galaxy Watch Ultra owners
Install the latest One UI 8 Watch firmware offered for your model after preparing the phone, apps and watch. The update’s practical gains—Running Coach, sleep guidance, new wellness measurements, Now Bar, double-pinch controls and improved notifications—are substantial enough to justify moving beyond the pre-update software. Keep expectations realistic: availability varies, health tools are wellness estimates, battery improvement is unproven, and there is no easy rollback.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors
