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Samsung was reported to be rolling out minor firmware updates for the first-generation Galaxy Watch Ultra, Galaxy Watch 7, Galaxy Watch 6 Classic and Galaxy Watch 6 on January 15, 2025. The listed changes were general stability and reliability improvements—not a major feature release. This is a historical rollout report, not confirmation of a new August 2026 update.
Models and reported firmware builds
The January 2025 report listed these builds. Treat them as reported identifiers, not universal version numbers: firmware can vary by region, carrier, and Bluetooth or LTE model.
| Watch | Reported firmware |
|---|---|
| Galaxy Watch Ultra (first generation) | L705NKOU1AXL6 |
| Galaxy Watch 7 | L310XXU1AXL1 |
| Galaxy Watch 6 Classic | R960XXU1BXL2 |
| Galaxy Watch 6 | R940XXU1BXL2 |
Droid Life’s January 15, 2025 report is the source for the rollout date, models, builds and changelog summary. Samsung’s support material explains the update process but does not independently confirm these exact builds.
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What changed—and what did not
The reported changelog was limited to improved stability and reliability. It did not describe new health tools, watch faces, a major interface redesign or a Wear OS version upgrade. The coverage also said it did not appear to include a new security-patch level; that is a reading of the reported changelog, not a Samsung security bulletin.
#1 Best Overall
- 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.)
This release should not be confused with the earlier One UI 6 Watch beta. In July 2024, the Galaxy Watch 6 received a beta build in the United States and South Korea as part of testing for the Wear OS 5-based software. That was a separate beta rollout with its own fixes and reported issues, not this January 2025 maintenance update. Android Authority’s beta coverage provides that context.
How to check for an update
On a paired Android phone, open Galaxy Wearable → Watch settings → Watch software update → Download and install. Depending on the watch and software version, the option may instead appear under About watch or as Update watch software.
Rank #2
- 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
You can also check on the watch: open Settings → Software update. Samsung’s update instructions note that menus can vary by model and software version. Galaxy Watch models running Wear OS require setup with a compatible Android phone.
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- Charge the watch first; Samsung says some models may require at least 30% battery.
- For an update through Galaxy Wearable, keep the watch near the phone and connected over Bluetooth.
- Use a reliable network connection. The watch may disconnect temporarily during installation.
- Let the installation finish, including any reboot. Do not interrupt it while a progress indicator or reboot screen is displayed.
Samsung says the watch may show a percentage, rotating animation or exclamation mark during the process. Those indicators alone do not mean the update has failed.
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.)
If the update does not appear or download
A missing update does not by itself mean your model is excluded. Rollouts can be staged, and timing or build numbers may differ by country, carrier, model code and LTE or Bluetooth variant. Your watch may also already have the same or newer software. The January report does not establish that every owner received the listed build.
- Restart both the watch and phone.
- Update Galaxy Wearable from Google Play; if connection problems continue, check for an update to the watch’s device plugin as well.
- Confirm the watch is paired and connected to the phone over Bluetooth.
- Check again in Galaxy Wearable → Watch settings → Watch software update.
- Try Settings → Software update directly on the watch.
A network connection is required for the standard update process. If the watch is unresponsive, Samsung’s frozen-watch guidance says to hold the Home/Power and Back buttons together until “Rebooting…” appears. If a progress display is still moving, give the update time before trying a restart. Avoid a factory reset as an early troubleshooting step.
Rank #4
- 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.
If the watch acts up afterward
Start with a normal restart, then update Galaxy Wearable and the watch’s apps. If crashes or repeated restarts began after installing a third-party app, remove that app if you can. Back up important data before considering a reset; a reset can erase data and should be a last resort. Samsung warns that an LTE watch activated by QR code may need a new code from the carrier after a reset. If the watch remains stuck or appears damaged, contact Samsung wearable support rather than repeatedly resetting it. See Samsung’s watch troubleshooting guidance for connection and reset steps.
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