Historical update: In December 2022, Verizon began rolling out minor firmware updates to U.S. LTE versions of the Galaxy Watch 5, Watch 5 Pro, Watch 4 and Watch 4 Classic. Samsung’s reported changelog promised “performance improvements and enhancements,” but did not identify specific fixes, new features, measurable speed gains or a security-patch level. This is not a current-update notice; later Galaxy Watch releases use different firmware.
Which watches received the December 2022 update?
Reports dated December 8 and 9, 2022, covered a U.S. rollout focused on Verizon-connected LTE models. The families included the Galaxy Watch 5, Watch 5 Pro, Watch 4 and Watch 4 Classic. Similar firmware for Wi-Fi/Bluetooth versions was expected to follow, but availability depended on the model and rollout. The report does not establish that every variant, carrier or country received the update at the same time.
These are the U.S. firmware identifiers reported for that Verizon rollout:
| Watch model | Reported firmware |
|---|---|
| Galaxy Watch 5, 40 mm | R905USQU1AVK6 |
| Galaxy Watch 5, 44 mm | R915USQU1AVK6 |
| Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, 45 mm | R925USQU1AVK6 |
| Galaxy Watch 4, 40 mm | R865USQU1GVK6 |
| Galaxy Watch 4, 44 mm | R875USQU1GVK6 |
| Galaxy Watch 4 Classic, 42 mm | R885USQU1GVK6 |
| Galaxy Watch 4 Classic, 46 mm | R895USQU1GVK6 |
The codes are not universal version numbers: LTE versus Bluetooth/Wi-Fi hardware, carrier and region can change which build a watch receives. See the December 2022 rollout report for the models and builds covered.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →#1 Best Overall
- ADVANCED SLEEP COACHING: Manage your overall sleep quality with an advanced sleep tracker that detects and analyzes sleep stages while you rest; Plus, Advanced Sleep Coaching helps you develop better sleep habits by analyzing your sleep patterns
- BODY COMPOSITION ANALYSIS (BIA) : Galaxy Watch5 provides body composition data right on your wrist; On your own schedule, you can now get readings on body fat, skeletal muscle, body water, basal metabolic rate and Body Mass Index (BMI)
- IMPROVED SENSOR ACCURACY: Stay up to date on your wellness; Get an accurate heart rate thanks to an improved, curved Samsung BioActive Sensor that gets closer to your skin
- AUTO WORKOUT TRACKING: Make the most of every adventure with Auto Workout Tracking — from running to rowing to swimming — automatically in just minutes, and manually tracking more than 90 exercises, including complex activities like HIIT
- IMPROVED BATTERY & GALAXY CONNECTED EXPERIENCE: Meet the watch that goes as long as you do; Galaxy Watch5’s improved battery keeps up with your busiest day Do more with synced Galaxy devices that work in perfect harmony
What did Samsung change?
The reported changelog says “performance improvements and enhancements.” That broad wording suggests routine maintenance, but it does not identify what was changed or how a wearer might notice it. The reports did not document a specific fix for GPS, heart-rate tracking, notifications, app loading or battery drain.
- No new feature or major Wear OS version was specified.
- No measurable speed increase or longer battery life was promised.
- No security-patch level was disclosed for this release.
Accordingly, “performance” is Samsung’s general description, not evidence of a particular benchmark result or a guaranteed improvement. The release is best understood as a minor maintenance update, not a feature overhaul.
Rank #2
- Rugged Titanium Case: Durable titanium design built for outdoor activities and demanding environments.
How to check for and install the update
Samsung’s general instructions for these Galaxy Watch generations provide two ways to check. Menu wording may vary slightly by device or app version.
From the Galaxy Wearable app
- Open Galaxy Wearable on the paired phone.
- Tap Watch settings, then Watch software update.
- Tap Download and install and follow the prompts.
- Keep the watch near the phone while the update installs.
From the watch
- Open Settings on the watch.
- Tap Software update.
- Select Download and install and follow the prompts.
Samsung recommends at least 30% battery before updating, along with a stable network connection. Its Galaxy Watch update guidance also discusses common download and installation problems.
Rank #3
- ADVANCED SLEEP COACHING: Manage your overall sleep quality with an advanced sleep tracker that detects and analyzes sleep stages while you rest; Plus, Advanced Sleep Coaching helps you develop better sleep habits by analyzing your sleep patterns.Supported Application:Fitness Tracker,Blood Pressure Monitor,Multisport Tracker,Time Display,GPS. Connectivity technology:Bluetooth. Wireless comm standard:Bluetooth,802_11_AGNAC
- BODY COMPOSITION ANALYSIS (BIA): Galaxy Watch5 provides body composition data right on your wrist; On your own schedule, you can now get readings on body fat, skeletal muscle, body water, basal metabolic rate and Body Mass Index (BMI)
- IMPROVED SENSOR ACCURACY: Stay up to date on your wellness; Get an accurate heart rate thanks to an improved, curved Samsung BioActive Sensor that gets closer to your skin
- AUTO WORKOUT TRACKING: Make the most of every adventure with Auto Workout Tracking - from running to rowing to swimming - automatically in just minutes, and manually tracking more than 90 exercises, including complex activities like HIIT
- IMPROVED BATTERY & GALAXY CONNECTED EXPERIENCE: Meet the watch that goes as long as you do; Galaxy Watch5’s improved battery keeps up with your busiest day Do more with synced Galaxy devices that work in perfect harmony
If no update appears or installation fails
A missing update does not necessarily mean something is wrong. Firmware can be staged, and carrier, region, connection type and exact model can all affect availability.
- Check the exact model under the watch’s About watch section; do not compare a different size or family as if it used the same build.
- Confirm whether the watch is LTE or Bluetooth/Wi-Fi and whether it is a U.S. Verizon model. The reported codes do not establish availability for other carriers or markets.
- Check battery charge, network stability and available storage. Low battery, weak connectivity and insufficient storage can prevent an update.
- Restart the phone and watch, update Galaxy Wearable, then try the watch’s own Settings → Software update menu.
- If the app does not recognize the watch correctly, reconnect it using Samsung’s guidance. If an LTE watch remains stuck on an old carrier build, contact Samsung or the carrier.
Do not manually install firmware for another size, carrier or region. A matching-looking update name is not enough to establish compatibility.
Rank #4
- Rugged Titanium Case: Durable titanium design built for outdoor activities and demanding environments.
Should you install it—and how does it fit with later updates?
If this official update is offered for your exact watch, installing it is generally sensible: maintenance releases can improve stability, and the official update path supplies firmware for the connected device. But the vague changelog is not a reason to expect a dramatic change. A watch may behave differently or use more battery temporarily after an update while background work completes; that alone does not show that this particular release improved or damaged battery life.
The December 2022 build is separate from later One UI Watch upgrades and security releases. For example, Samsung-focused reporting described a May 2026 security update reaching eligible Watch 4 and Watch 5 models in South Korea before broader regional distribution, with different firmware identifiers. That update was not a continuation of the December 2022 build. Check the watch’s own update screen for availability applicable to your device and region; a historical firmware list cannot identify the latest build in every market. See the May 2026 update report for that later rollout.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- ADVANCED SLEEP COACHING: Manage your overall sleep quality with an advanced sleep tracker that detects and analyzes sleep stages while you rest; Plus, Advanced Sleep Coaching helps you develop better sleep habits by analyzing your sleep patterns.Supported Application:Fitness Tracker,Blood Pressure Monitor,Multisport Tracker,Time Display,GPS. Connectivity technology:Bluetooth. Wireless comm standard:Bluetooth,802_11_AGNAC
- BODY COMPOSITION ANALYSIS (BIA): Galaxy Watch5 provides body composition data right on your wrist; On your own schedule, you can now get readings on body fat, skeletal muscle, body water, basal metabolic rate and Body Mass Index (BMI)
- IMPROVED SENSOR ACCURACY: Stay up to date on your wellness; Get an accurate heart rate thanks to an improved, curved Samsung BioActive Sensor that gets closer to your skin
- AUTO WORKOUT TRACKING: Make the most of every adventure with Auto Workout Tracking - from running to rowing to swimming - automatically in just minutes, and manually tracking more than 90 exercises, including complex activities like HIIT
- IMPROVED BATTERY & GALAXY CONNECTED EXPERIENCE: Meet the watch that goes as long as you do; Galaxy Watch5’s improved battery keeps up with your busiest day Do more with synced Galaxy devices that work in perfect harmony
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.
