Wearables
Samsung Pay coming to Galaxy Watch in South Korea
As Apple Pay went official in South Korea, Samsung is reportedly considering bringing the Samsung Pay payment service to Galaxy Watch users. Starting the original Galaxy Watch, the company launched new wearable devices without NFC-based Samsung Pay service in its home ground.
According to Korean media via (SamSWUpdate), Samsung started the review phase to launch the NFC-based Samsung Pay payment feature on the Galaxy Watch models in South Korea. Since all Galaxy Watch models are packed with NFC, there will be wider availability of this feature.
Exclusive: Galaxy Watch with NFC to support Samsung Pay in South Korea, software development is underway. Thanks #ApplePay 😉
— Samsung One UI Software Updates #SamsungUnpacked (@SamSWUpdate) March 28, 2023
The company is reportedly developing a new firmware update, which will enable the Samsung Pay feature on compatible Galaxy Watch models. The Gear S3 was the last wearable launched in Korea, which was equipped with MST (magnetic secure transport) to support Samsung Pay.
It’s worth mentioning that Samsung Pay is already available in various global markets, thanks to the widespread availability of NFC-based payment terminals. Meanwhile, the number of stores that accept NFC payment is very small in South Korea.
Since NFC-powered Apple Pay just entered the Korean market, Samsung believes that the use of NFC terminals will significantly increase in the country. That is why, the company is reportedly bringing back the Samsung Pay function to Galaxy Watch models.
As Apple Pay is expected to attract Galaxy users to switch to iPhones, Samsung needs to prevent Apple Pay by promoting convenience, and a simple payment function for wearables. However, a Samsung official reportedly denied commenting on the matter, saying:
“It is difficult to officially confirm” the plan to apply Samsung Pay, and “nothing has been decided yet.”
In terms of versatility, Samsung Pay is evaluated to be superior to Apple Pay in South Korea. Apple Pay uses the internationally accepted EMV (Euro Pay Master Card Visa) NFC method, but older NFC terminals do not recognize it, making it impossible to make payments through Apple Pay.
On the other hand, Samsung Pay adopts the MST (magnetic secure transport) method, which can be used at most stores in South Korea. Notably, Samsung Pay recently gained the ability to store digital student identity cards in select high schools, read more here.
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Wearables
Samsung Galaxy Watch 4/5 June 2023 Wear OS update coming with new Keep and Spotify Tiles, Google Wallet transit cards
On June 1st, Google announced the June 2023 Wear OS update, which would bring new bells and whistles for supported smartwatches including Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 4. The June 2023 Wear OS update will rollout gradually and include new apps, tiles, and customization tools.
New Keep and Spotify Tiles
Tiles give you the information you need with just a quick glance or tap.
Three new Spotify tiles are coming soon, so you can easily play new episodes of your favorite podcasts, see what’s in your heavy rotation and jump into a curated lineup of music chosen for you by Spotify’s DJ.
You can add the new Peloton tile to track your workout streak and help you reach your fitness goals. Moreover, Google Keep is getting a single-note Tile, which allows you to pin a list to the left or right of your watch face.
Google Wallet transit cards
Google Wallet app’s Wear OS variant gains support for transit cards, starting with Clipper cards (BART) in the San Francisco Bay Area and Washington, D.C.’s SmarTrip. Select Wear OS smartwatches running Wear OS 2+ are supported for Google Wallet transit cards.
New Google app features
More Google app features are coming to your Wear OS smartwatch.
With new controls in the Google Home app, you’ll be able to check who rang your Nest doorbell right in your notifications, remotely unlock your door and more.
Besides, two Google Workspace services – Gmail and Google Calendar are coming to Wear OS later this year. You will be able to quickly respond to emails in Gmail, check your schedule, and update task statuses in Calendar.
Wear OS 4 coming too
Regular platform updates keep Wear OS watches like the Google Pixel Watch and Samsung Galaxy Watches running faster, safer and longer with stronger battery life. Wear OS 4 will bring even more updates later this year, with new and improved accessibility capabilities like a faster and more reliable text-to-speech experience.
It will also provide backup and restore support, helping you securely transfer data and settings between watches. And if you’re setting up a watch from your phone, any permissions you’ve granted on your phone will automatically carry over.
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Samsung released a new update for the Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 4 Classic in mid-May 2023. Now, the month of May is about to end and Samsung is expanding this update to more Galaxy Watch 4 series users.
May 2023 update for Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 4 Classic can be identified via the build version ending with GWDA. Users will have to download a 296.18 megabytes software package to install the latest update on their Galaxy Watch.
The new software of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 series installs a fresh version of the Samsung Health app to add skin temperature measuring features. It adds a period tracking feature that predicts your period date by taking your skin temperature. In addition, the latest Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 update improves system stability and performance.
At the moment, the South Korean tech giant is expanding the latest software to Galaxy Watch 4 users in European countries including Slovenia. We recommend you install the update to enjoy new features on your watch.
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To check and download this update, go to the Galaxy wearable app on a connected Android phone and navigate to Watch Settings >> Watch software update. On the Home tab, go to Watch software update >> Download and install.
On May 4, 2023, Samsung introduced its new Galaxy Watch OS—One UI 5 Watch—which will be rolled out to eligible smartwatches. The company confirmed that the Beta testing of the new Watch OS will go live in May, and the next-gen Galaxy watches will come pre-installed with the new version.
This means, the Galaxy Watch 6 series will launch pre-loaded with the new One UI 5 Watch OS in the second half. As of now, Samsung just has a handful of models that are eligible for the new software iteration as previous watches run Tizen OS, not Wear OS.
In 2021, Samsung teamed with Google, ditching Tizen OS the One UI Watch debuted as a new hybrid software for Galaxy smartwatches. As One UI 5 Watch is a major upgrade over version “4” and as speculated Google has also upgraded the Wear OS 4 version to Android 13.
All the amazing Galaxy watches running Wear OS are eligible for the One UI Watch’s 5th iteration. Throughout the Beta testing, which starts this month, your smartwatch may get the One UI 5 Watch upgrade sometime in August this year.
Samsung’s One UI 5 Watch features improved sleep management and fitness functions to offer users a better health management experience. In addition, all the available features in One UI Watch 4.5 linked to user safety have also been improved.
Samsung One UI 5 Watch OS Eligible Galaxy Smartwatches:
Galaxy Watch 5 Series
- Galaxy Watch 5 Pro
- Galaxy Watch 5
Galaxy Watch 4 Series
- Galaxy Watch 4 Classic
- Galaxy Watch 4