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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Samsung’s Galaxy Watch FE, the company’s lower-cost 40mm smartwatch, received One UI 8 Watch based on Wear OS 6. Samsung lists the Bluetooth model (SM-R861) upgrade as firmware R861XXU1CYK6, released December 11, 2025. It brings useful changes to notifications, gestures, glanceable information and wellness tools—but it does not make the 2024 watch new hardware or a Galaxy Watch8.
Which Samsung watch got the update?
The watch in question is the Galaxy Watch FE, not a generic budget model. Samsung’s US announcement introduced the Bluetooth version for June 24, 2024, with an LTE version to follow. The FE has a 40mm case and launched in Black, Pink Gold and Silver. Its hardware includes an Exynos W920 processor, 1.5GB of memory, 16GB of storage, a 247mAh battery and a 1.2-inch Super AMOLED display. It originally shipped with One UI 5 Watch. Samsung’s launch announcement describes the original US availability and specifications.
One UI 8 Watch is the watch-specific interface and software update, running on Wear OS 6. It is separate from One UI 8 for Samsung phones; a phone update does not, by itself, establish that a paired watch has received the wearable update.
What One UI 8 Watch adds to the FE
Now bar for ongoing activities
The Now bar puts supported ongoing activities at the bottom of the watch face, making it quicker to check on tasks such as music playback or exercise and open related controls. Samsung also presents the Now bar as a central part of the newer Galaxy Watch8 experience, so it is an interface feature carried to the FE rather than something exclusive to this model. Samsung’s Watch8 page describes its positioning on the newer watch.
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- BioActive Sensor Technology: Advanced sensor measures heart rate, blood oxygen, and body composition for detailed wellness insights.
- Super AMOLED Display: 1.2-inch always-on display delivers sharp visuals and clear readability for notifications and fitness data.
- Wear OS Powered by Samsung: Access Google apps, Play Store, and seamless integration with compatible Android devices.
- Durable and Lightweight Design: Aluminum case with water and dust resistance designed for everyday use and active lifestyles.
- Comprehensive Fitness and Sleep Tracking: Tracks workouts, activity, sleep patterns, and provides insights to support daily wellness goals.
Double-pinch controls
Pinching the thumb and index finger together twice can control supported functions without tapping the screen. Samsung lists uses including scrolling through notifications, controlling music and taking pictures. The gesture can be assigned to actions involving the watch face, music controller, alarms, calendar alerts and reminders. It can be especially handy when the other hand is occupied, though the available action depends on the context.
More manageable notifications
Notifications from the same app can be grouped vertically, reducing the need to swipe through each one individually. Samsung also adds a choice between smart device selection—showing notifications on the phone when it is in use and on the watch when it is not—and showing notifications on both devices. Gestures can help open notification details or send a reply, but behavior can depend on the alert and paired-phone software.
Custom tiles and easier app browsing
Custom tiles can combine information from supported apps, such as weather, calendar events and reminders. The update also lets frequently used or featured apps appear near the top of the Apps screen and offers a list view with app names. These options make information and apps easier to arrange on the small display; they do not promise unlimited third-party widget design.
Rank #2
![SAMSUNG Galaxy Watch FE 40mm LTE AI Smartwatch w/Fitness Tracking, BIA Sensor, Personalized HR Zones, Heart Rate Tracker, Sleep Monitor, 2024, Black [US Version, 1Yr Manufacturer Warranty]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41vQThskvwL._SL160_.jpg)
- FITNESS TRACKING: Get performance insights on step counts, active minutes, calories burned and more; Your Watch automatically tracks everyday movements like walking and running — plus, it helps you manually track over 90 other exercises¹
- KEEP YOUR BODY IN BALANCE: Get to know your body better with the BIA sensor² ¹; Use your Watch to get data on body fat, muscle mass, water levels and more, and use these insights to work on goals like muscle growth and improved hydration
- HIT YOUR PERSONAL BEST: Work out at your preferred intensity using personalized heart rate zones³ with Galaxy AI; It tailors the data to you the more you use it so you both get better together
- SMART HEART MONITORING: Galaxy Watch FE helps you keep an eye on your heart with ECG Monitoring & periodic heart rate measurements to detect irregularities⁴; Get a step ahead of your health by sharing these personalized readings with your doctor
- A SLEEP COACH ON YOUR WRIST: Advanced Sleep Coaching with Galaxy AI⁵ helps you plan bedtime, detect snoring⁶ and understand & track your sleep stages (awake, light, deep, REM); Your sleep data & insights adapt to you the more you use it
Sleep guidance and Mindfulness
Bedtime guidance uses sleep data to recommend a suitable time to go to bed. Samsung’s launch information says some sleep-related functions require at least seven days of sleep data, including two days off, so recommendations should not be expected immediately after updating. Samsung Health also adds Mindfulness tools for tracking moods and emotions and practicing breathing exercises. These are wellness features, not medical treatment or diagnosis.
More ways to find watch faces and manage calendars
Samsung says users can search for watch faces by attributes such as style, color and displayed information, and that the collection contains more than 300 faces; the catalog can change over time. The watch’s Calendar app can also show all phone calendars or only calendars the user selects.
What the update does not change
One UI 8 Watch improves the software experience, not the FE’s physical capabilities. The processor, memory, battery capacity, display, sensors and 40mm case remain those of the original product. Samsung’s specifications identify a BioActive Sensor and health functions such as sleep and workout tracking, heart-rate alerts, ECG, body composition and irregular heart rhythm notification (IHRN), subject to compatibility and availability. The software update does not establish that the FE matches newer watches in performance, battery life, sensor capability or feature availability.
Rank #3
- Experience advanced health tracking with built-in BIA sensor and personalized heart rate zones for more accurate fitness insights.
- Advanced Sleep Coaching with Galaxy AI helps you plan bedtime, detect snoring, and track sleep stages for better rest and energy
- Enjoy all-day comfort and style with a sleek, lightweight design that fits perfectly on your wrist.
- Enjoy seamless connectivity with your Galaxy devices for calls, photos, and music directly from your wrist.
- Track your fitness progress with precise health metrics using the built-in BIA sensor and customized heart rate zones for tailored workout insights.
Health tools should be treated as monitoring or screening features, not diagnostic tests. Samsung says IHRN is intended to identify rhythms suggestive of atrial fibrillation, may not detect every episode and cannot establish that a person is free of disease. Availability can depend on region, phone, Samsung Health version and Samsung account.
How to check whether your Watch FE has it
Samsung’s update page directly verifies the One UI 8 Watch rollout for the Bluetooth Galaxy Watch FE model SM-R861. It lists firmware R861XXU1CYK6, released December 11, 2025, and a later build, R861XXS2CZE1, dated June 22, 2026, with a May 5, 2026 security patch. Samsung warns that update content can vary by model, country and service provider. That evidence should not be treated as proof that every LTE version or regional model received the same build at the same time.
Recommended Free Tools
- Confirm the model. Check the model number in the watch settings or Galaxy Wearable app; compare it with SM-R861 rather than assuming all FE variants share the same rollout.
- Check for software updates. In Galaxy Wearable, open the watch-software update section and check for an available update. Menu wording can vary by app version.
- Compare the installed build. Use Samsung’s regional SM-R861 update page to review listed firmware and release notes.
- After installation, verify the companion apps. Make sure the watch has restarted normally and check for updates to Galaxy Wearable and Samsung Health as well.
If no update is offered, that alone does not show the watch is unsupported: availability may differ by market, carrier, model and paired-phone setup. Check the page for the exact regional model rather than installing software intended for a different variant.
Rank #4
![Samsung Galaxy Watch FE 40mm LTE AI Smartwatch w/Fitness Tracking, BIA Sensor, Personalized HR Zones, Heart Rate Tracker, Sleep Monitor, 2024, Silver [US Version, 1Yr Manufacturer Warranty]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41WowO9aw-L._SL160_.jpg)
- FITNESS TRACKING: Get performance insights on step counts, active minutes, calories burned and more; Your Watch automatically tracks everyday movements like walking and running — plus, it helps you manually track over 90 other exercises¹
- KEEP YOUR BODY IN BALANCE: Get to know your body better with the BIA sensor² ¹; Use your Watch to get data on body fat, muscle mass, water levels and more, and use these insights to work on goals like muscle growth and improved hydration
- HIT YOUR PERSONAL BEST: Work out at your preferred intensity using personalized heart rate zones³ with Galaxy AI; It tailors the data to you the more you use it so you both get better together
- SMART HEART MONITORING: Galaxy Watch FE helps you keep an eye on your heart with ECG Monitoring & periodic heart rate measurements to detect irregularities⁴; Get a step ahead of your health by sharing these personalized readings with your doctor
- A SLEEP COACH ON YOUR WRIST: Advanced Sleep Coaching with Galaxy AI⁵ helps you plan bedtime, detect snoring⁶ and understand & track your sleep stages (awake, light, deep, REM); Your sleep data & insights adapt to you the more you use it
Is the Galaxy Watch FE worth buying now?
The update makes the FE more appealing by bringing practical interface improvements to an affordable watch, but the price and condition matter more than the headline. The FE’s original US positioning was $199.99 for Bluetooth and $249.99 for LTE in Samsung’s older MSRP documentation; those are historical list-price signals, not verified current selling prices. Samsung’s June 2026 US MSRP sheet no longer lists the FE, so remaining stock, refurbished units and retailer pricing may vary. Inspect warranty coverage and condition, particularly for a used or old-stock watch.
- Consider the FE if it is meaningfully cheaper than newer alternatives, you want a compact 40mm Galaxy watch for notifications, fitness and wellness tools, and you accept its older hardware.
- Favor the Watch7 if prices are close. Samsung’s June 2026 US MSRP sheet lists the Watch7 at $249.99 for 40mm Bluetooth, $299.99 for 40mm LTE, $279.99 for 44mm Bluetooth and $329.99 for 44mm LTE. These are MSRP figures, not guaranteed street prices. The Watch7 is the more sensible comparison when the FE’s discount is small.
- Choose the Watch8 for current hardware and the fullest current interface experience. Samsung’s June 2026 US MSRP sheet lists it at $349.99 for 40mm Bluetooth, $399.99 for 40mm LTE, $379.99 for 44mm Bluetooth and $429.99 for 44mm LTE. Those prices are also MSRP signals, not necessarily what retailers charge.
- Be cautious with used FE units if battery condition, warranty status or update history is unclear. A 2024 model may have wear even when its software is current.
All prices above are US figures and should not be compared as if they were live offers. The Watch FE is only a bargain when the actual price, connectivity version, condition and warranty make sense against the newer alternatives.
Quick Recap
Sources
- Samsung Galaxy Watch FE SM-R861 firmware and update notes
- Samsung Galaxy Watch FE launch announcement and specifications
- Samsung US wearables MSRP sheet, June 2026
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.
