What OS Does Galaxy Watch 8 Run?
The Galaxy Watch 8 runs Wear OS 6 with Samsung's One UI 8 Watch interface. It was the first smartwatch to launch with Google's latest wearable operating system in July 2025.
Wear OS 6 Features
Wear OS 6 brings several major improvements over previous versions.
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Google Gemini AI: Advanced AI assistant with natural language processing and contextual suggestions.
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Better Battery Management: Improved power optimization extends battery life through intelligent background processing.
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Enhanced Performance: Optimized for the 3nm
Exynos W1000processor with faster app loading and smoother animations. -
Material 3 Design: Modern visual design language with customizable color theming.
One UI 8 Watch
Samsung's custom interface layer adds features on top of Wear OS 6.
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Samsung Health Integration: Deep integration with Samsung's health ecosystem for advanced wellness features.
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Galaxy AI Features: Energy Score, sleep insights, and AI-powered health recommendations.
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Samsung Ecosystem: Seamless integration with Galaxy phones, earbuds, and smart home devices.
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Knox Security: Enterprise-grade protection for business users.
Google Services
Full access to Google's app and service ecosystem.
- Google Play Store: Thousands of WearOS apps for fitness, productivity, and entertainment
- Google Pay: Contactless NFC payments
- Google Maps: Turn-by-turn navigation with offline support
- Google Gemini: Advanced AI assistant
Update Support
The Galaxy Watch 8 is expected to receive:
- 3+ years of major OS updates
- Regular security patches
- Feature updates through Samsung and Google
First Wear OS 6 Device
The Galaxy Watch 8 was the first smartwatch to ship with Wear OS 6, giving users early access to Google's latest platform features.
See Also: Galaxy Watch 8 Operating System Guide|Galaxy Watch 8 Apps|What's New in Galaxy Watch 8