Samsung has officially announced that the next generation Galaxy smartwatch  – Watch 8 series will launch with pre-installed One UI 8 Watch (Wear OS 6) operating system.

The company made this announcement after revealing One UI 8 Watch features, which improve sleep, cardiovascular health, exercise, and diet for users. This update will include the four new additions:

• Bedtime recommendation based on user lifestyle and usage patterns
• Overall health insights through vascular stress analysis during sleep
• Personalized running coach at your wrist
• Antioxidant index to measure the level of carotenoids in the skin within 5 seconds

Source – Samsung

Now bar, double-pinch access, and new watch faces are likely to land with the 8th-generation Galaxy smartwatches.

Other than these, Samsung is likely to carry some new Wear OS 6 features, including Gemini AI integration. This will replace the Google Assistant, similar to the Galaxy S25 series and other Galaxy smartphones. Gemini Actions will also debut with this watch, along with on-device AI.

The Galaxy Watch 8 series is expected to come in two sizes – 40 and 44mm, consisting of Wi-Fi and LTE variants. This year, Samsung could upgrade the Watch 8’s look.

Render suggests that the Galaxy Watch 8 will bring a square frame design, identical to the Watch Ultra. However, the display will remain circular thanks to that internal design optimization. The hardware is said to include a rotating bezel, a quick button, and two function keys on the right side.

In terms of performance, the watch will equip an Exynos W1000 3nm chipset coupled with 3GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. The 44mm will get a larger battery for extended power backup.

Samsung also announced that the One UI 8 Watch OS powered Galaxy Watch 8 series will launch in the second half of this year. This is likely to happen at the Unpacked event in July or August. However, a specific launch date is yet to be announced.

Samsung has launched the One UI 8 Watch software update for Galaxy smartwatches, bringing new health features and improvements to sleep, heart health, fitness, and wellness segments for users. The list of new One UI 8 Watch features includes:

• Bedtime Guidance
• Vascular Load
• Running Coach
• Antioxidant Index

Bedtime Guidance

This feature is helpful for users recovering from irregular sleep and other related issues. It recommends an optimal bedtime after adapting to the user’s lifestyle and sleep patterns.

To recommend bedtime, Bedtime Guidance analyzes sleep data from the past three days, including sleep pressure and circadian rhythm. One enabled, the watch will show you notifications and recommend a bedtime window.

Source – Samsung

Vascular Load

This feature helps to measure vascular load, the amount of stress on the vascular system during sleep. The vascular system circulates blood through the body to deliver oxygen and nutrients, while removing waste.

During sleep, the Galaxy Watch records details about vascular load and stress placed on the user’s vascular system. These data provide important information about sleep, exercise, and stress for maximum health and wellness.

Source – Samsung

Running Coach

Samsung has this amazing addition for those who like to run and track. Running Coach helps users to train safely for long-distance sessions like marathons with intensity optimizations, which prevents risks of injury.

With real-time guidance, the Running Coach can create a personalized training program based on the runner’s fitness level. Users have to wear the watch and take a 12-minute session. One UI 8 Watch will collect the running data and create a performance analysis, including a rating from 1 to 10.

This data is used to create a training plan for a 5k, 10k, half marathon, or full marathon. This program has a gradual progress mechanism and unlocks new level after completing the current.

Source – Samsung

Antioxidant Index

The current generation of Galaxy Watch can measure carotenoids, antioxidants in green and orange fruits and vegetables, stored in the skin. Using light-activated BioActive sensors, the Antioxidant Index feature can assess carotenoid levels in five seconds.

This feature can bring healthy habits, for example, drinking orange juice can lead to a measurable change in the index, which can motivate the user to drink similar juice to improve health vitals.

Source – Samsung

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Marketing plays a huge role in how people see and choose smartphones. It’s not just about making great products, but it’s also about presenting them to customers in a way that they can use. Even if a company has amazing technology, it won’t matter if people don’t understand it or get excited about it. There’s a big difference between Samsung and Apple in marketing their innovative and unique features.

Samsung is known for bringing many new and innovative features, but Apple’s marketing is quite stronger and more effective. That’s why Apple often gets more attention, even when Samsung has provided them better or first to users.

Samsung is one of the leading global brands. It is famous for its advanced technology and innovative ideas. Samsung introduced foldable phones, high-quality camera phones, bright and smooth displays, and smart AI features long before many competitors.

For example, Samsung offers the Object Eraser feature to Galaxy devices. This tool allows users to easily remove unwanted things from photos, like people or objects, to make pictures look perfect with just a few taps. Features like this show how Samsung is always pushing the limits to make phones better and more useful.

Image via Samsung community

Back in 2021, Samsung first introduced this Object Eraser with the Galaxy S21 series. Over time, it has been improved with updates. But here’s the thing that even though it is a great feature, it didn’t get the attention it deserved.

Later, Google added a similar tool called Magic Eraser in its Pixel 6 phones. And in 2024, Apple added a similar Clean Up feature to the iPhone. Even though Apple added it much later, it became very popular. This is because Apple is very good at marketing.

Apple doesn’t just list tech specs in its ads but also shows how a feature can improve your everyday life. Apple’s ads feel quite easy to understand, and that’s what makes people pay attention. Even after releasing a simple feature, it’s ready to focus on presenting it very well to consumers through ads.

Not only this, Samsung recently released a huge One UI 7 update for Galaxy devices with a bundle of new features and a revamped design. With iOS 26, Apple copied several features and the design of the latest One UI. There are several features that Samsung introduced first, and other brands copied them and gained attention due to better marketing.

Also Read: Samsung trolls Apple over iOS 26 features that look familiar

It is worth noting that Samsung released the AI-powered Sketch to Image feature with One UI 6.1.1. It allows you to turn your rough sketches into stunning works of art. But due to marketing strategy lags, it didn’t get quite popular. Samsung should learn to promote even tiny changes as ground-breaking innovations from Apple.

It’s not just Apple and Samsung in this race. Some Chinese brands like Xiaomi, Oppo, and OnePlus are also catching up fast. They’re now creating fun, catchy ads focusing on what customers really want. Their marketing strategy is also helping them grow quickly in many markets.

Samsung is a leader in technology, but it needs to focus on marketing. If Samsung enhanced its marketing strategy, more people would notice and appreciate its amazing features. Advanced marketing means increased overall sales as well as staying on top in the market.

Until then, Apple’s marketing edge will keep overshadowing Samsung’s amazing innovations, even when Samsung’s technology leads the way.

Battle of Quick Panel: One UI 7, iOS 26, or Android 16 Expressive – What’s your favorite?

Samsung’s track record is packed with moments that made us go, “Wow!” Be it exceptional sAMOLED displays that changed the game or futuristic foldables. But lately, it feels like the spark has dimmed a bit as Samsung smartphones focus more on cameras.

Recently, Samsung and others have been excessively focusing on bigger cameras rather than bringing an overall upgrade to their smartphones. With every new smartphone launch, makers put a dedicated slot to discuss the camera.

Silicon-carbon batteries, real fast charging, and durable build are right there for the taking. Samsung’s history of bringing groundbreaking tech is unmatched, but the past few years feel like it’s losing that edge.

Let’s dig into why cameras are stealing the spotlight!

Bigger cameras

No doubt that the camera quality is a priority for phone makers, and Samsung is no exception. Users love capturing high-quality photos and recording videos, and smartphone makers have responded to this demand hard.

The latest S25 Ultra comes with a 200MP ISOCELL HP2 camera and supports 100x Space Zoom. Way back in 2016, Samsung’s Galaxy S7 wowed us with dual-pixel tech, derived from DSLR, which offers stunning low-light shots.

These upgrades are shiny, easy to show off in ads, and something you notice right away. No wonder Samsung and others keep doubling down on them. However, the recent two flagships relied heavily on AI for all-segmental marketing.

Source – Samsung Mobile Press

While cameras get all the attention, other aspects like durability, battery, and charging speed are left with incremental tweaks. It’s frustrating to see Samsung narrow its focus when it could be revolutionizing the entire device.

Durability, design, and display

I want a phone that can survive drops and wear without needing a bulky case. I know Samsung has the engineering solutions to make it happen across the board, but it isn’t in hand, as of now.

The Galaxy Z Fold6’s sleeker look, sharper corners, and a larger external screen are steps forward, but Samsung’s flagships like the Galaxy S25 series feel stuck in a track, with minimal “real” changes from the Galaxy S24 series.

The Galaxy S25’s display is brighter and smoother, but it’s not a game-changer. Samsung is reserving the full screen and UPC tech we’ve been dreaming of. The company could literally lead here, but it feels like it’s coasting.

Battery, charging

Battery life remains the biggest pain point in mobile devices, yet upgrades are slow. The S25 Ultra’s 5000mAh battery is decent, but it’s not a leap forward, with Samsung retaining the same capacity from the last five Galaxy S generations.

I want Samsung to push the envelope with next-generation technology like new silicon-carbon batteries, which promise higher energy density, or all-solid-state batteries, which could last longer and charge faster than legacy solutions.

Silicon-carbon is being tested, but there’s no clear timeline for the S26 or later. All-solid-state batteries are still prototypes, held back by manufacturing hurdles. These could be Samsung’s chance to amaze us again, but it’s not moving fast enough.

Source – Samsung

Samsung’s also lazy in terms of Galaxy charging speed, both wired and wireless. The competition in smartphone battery and charging has ramped up significantly, but Galaxy devices miss out on the opportunity to lead the market.

Galaxy S25 Ultra is Samsung’s most premium flagship phone, which supports just 45W wired charging. This year’s flagships brought a meaningful Qi2 charging upgrade, but they require compatible cases to support the phones.

AI Overload

Samsung’s growing obsession with AI, like Bixby and the Galaxy AI, feels like a misstep. It’s 2025, and Bixby never matched Google Assistant’s usefulness. Galaxy AI is at Samsung’s forefront for marketing, but that too requires modern hardware.

A portion of Samsung smartphone users don’t want excessive AI gimmicks. They want a smartphone that is great out of the box, like Samsung used to deliver. The backlash is real, and it’s because fans like me know they can do better.

Samsung’s cameras are still top-tier, no doubt about it. As someone who’s rooted for their big swings in the past, I’m bummed that toughness, battery life, charging speed, and clever features aren’t getting the same love.

It’s time for Samsung to ease up on cameras and AI and go all-out on the whole phone.

Samsung has partnered with the Van Gogh Museum to unveil an audio tour. You can see people using the phones to check out Van Gogh’s artwork in the pics, but something feels a bit odd – the Galaxy S25 Plus lacks a selfie camera.

Since Samsung unveiled these Galaxy S25 Plus images, speculations spread online that this model could have ditched the selfie camera. The appearance also indicates that the phone is held upside down, as the port can be observed.

Well, even if the phone is held upside down, the camera cutout on display isn’t visible on the opposite side either. It indicates that either Samsung is selling the S25 to its partner without a selfie camera, or it boasts UDC technology.

Samsung hasn’t said anything about tweaking the S25+ design for this project. Galaxy phones usually have a small camera hole on the display. Maybe the museum’s variant is lacking a selfie snapper to unlock a full-view display, but that leaves us wondering.

Galaxy S25 Plus might have used under-panel camera tech, just like Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold3 and later models do on the inner panel. That’s a neat idea, but the company hasn’t confirmed it, so it’s all just guesswork for now.

Image – Samsung Galaxy S25+ Van Gogh Museum Edition

The special edition phone’s board may still have a front camera, but the client may have asked Samsung to make it hidden by applying a display without a punch hole. Through software, the front camera accessibility may have been barred.

The focus of this Van Gogh Museum collab seems to be on the S25+’s awesome display and sound, not the camera. That makes me think the camera’s probably there but hidden; still, without clear info, people keep chatting about it.