Galaxy Watch 8 series was the first to land with Gemini instead of Google Assistant last year. This year, Samsung has raised the bar with the Galaxy Watch 9 and Watch Ultra 2, thanks to the extended Gemini features.

Samsung’s Gemini adoption on wearables unlocked natural conversations, quick responses, and made everyday tasks easier. Meanwhile, the extended support expands this experience with an even simpler new way to interact with Gemini.

Best new Gemini features on Galaxy Watch 9 and Ultra 2

Samsung launched a new Raise to Talk gesture on the Galaxy Watch 9 and Watch Ultra 2. It ends the requirement of a hotword or pressing and holding a physical button on your smartwatch.

You simply bring your wrist close to your mouth and start speaking. This new gesture makes accessing Gemini easier, allowing you to complete tasks with fewer interruptions.

Once Gemini is active, users can use natural language to perform multi-step actions, search for information, and interact with compatible apps right from their wrist.

What can you do with Gemini on Galaxy Watch?

Stay connected: Send messages, summarize emails, and start calls without needing to pull out your smartphone.

Get organized: Create reminders, manage tasks, and add events to your calendar.

Manage your smart home: Adjust lights, speakers, thermostats, TVs, and other compatible devices connected to SmartThings.

Navigate with confidence: Get directions, check public transit and flight schedules, and find nearby restaurants or activities.

Get info fast: Check the weather forecast, sports scores, and other useful updates throughout the day.

Enjoy music and content: Play music, podcasts, and other compatible content with a simple command.

These updates come as part of Samsung’s wider adoption of Gemini Intelligence. As Google ships the features to Wear OS, Galaxy smartwatches will be among the first to receive them.

One UI 9 Watch is the latest operating system built on Wear OS 7. It’s currently exclusive to the Watch 9 and Ultra 2, but a Beta Program is getting ready for the Galaxy Watch 8 series and more.

• Samsung One UI 9 Watch internally testing on Galaxy Watch 8, 7, 6, and 5 series

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 and Watch 8 Classic users are near receiving the One UI 9 Watch Beta update. The company may soon end the wait of its smartwatch users by bringing early access to the latest software.

Galaxy Watch 9 and Ultra 2 released with official One UI 9 Watch. The new software introduces better reliability and performance. On top of that, the new OS focuses on system stability, performance, and efficiency.

Additionally, Samsung added a handful of new AI Health features. They join the existing health tracking tools, which are also enhanced in version 9. Most of the new perks will soon be expanding to previous-gen models.

Samsung is now testing a new One UI 9 Watch Beta build on the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic. The fresh build, ending with ZZH3, replaced the older ZZH2 build.

That’s a minor change on paper, but it signals things are stabilized now. Once the firmware is verified for rollout, Samsung will open Beta Program enrollment and push the first Beta update.

One UI 9 Watch update scope

Several Galaxy Watch lineups are eligible for the major upgrade. The list includes wearables from the Galaxy Watch 5 series to the Galaxy Watch 8 series. It also includes the Watch Ultra first-gen and Fan Edition models.

Meanwhile, the Beta Program may first launch for the Galaxy Watch 8 series. Samsung is also readying a Beta update for previous generations, but users would have to wait a little longer until the expansion takes place.

If you are still using the Galaxy Watch 4 (or its Classic version), it’s time to consider upgrading. The first Wear OS-powered watches are no longer eligible for the Wear OS 7 upgrade.

Are you excited for the One UI 9 Watch Beta Program?

Samsung is rolling out a new firmware update to the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro in August 2026. This release is aimed at providing users with stability and reliability improvements.

The company rarely releases firmware updates for its hearable products. Whenever they arrive, they bring stability and reliability enhancements, rather than major changes or newly added features.

This August 2026, the new firmware update for the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro carries a PDA build version ending with AZG2, as spotted by @smasithick. It might also have arrived for the standard model, Galaxy Buds 3.

The firmware weighs 8.28 megabytes, with the changelog reading “Stability and reliability: Device behaviour has been improved.”

Expect a better and more reliable user experience while listening through the earbuds. The functional experience through the Galaxy Wearable app would be a little better than it was before the update landed.

Galaxy Buds update can be installed through the Galaxy Wearable app only. Open the app on your device and head toward Buds settings, where you will find the option to update the earbuds’ firmware.

Google is adding a new Find people feature to the Find Hub app for Wear OS smartwatches. The update allows users to see people who have shared their location with them.

Earlier, Find Hub on Wear OS was mainly used to find devices such as phones and tablets. Now, Google is also adding a separate Find People app to the watch. The new Find People feature is part of Find Hub version 1.0.429.0. The update is currently rolling out through the Google Play Store.

The new app has a green icon with a radar-like design. When users open it, they can see a list of people who can see their location. It also shows how long location sharing will continue.

However, the feature is very basic right now. When users tap on a person, the watch does not show a map or the person’s location. Instead, it says that the person – Can see your location until you turn it off. There is also a View their location on phone option.

This means users must still use their phone to see the person’s location on a map. It is not clear if this is the final design or if Google will add a map in a future update.

There is also a small problem with the Settings option. Tapping “Settings” opens Google Play services instead of showing settings directly in Find Hub.

The global wearables market didn’t have the smoothest second quarter of 2026, with overall band shipments dipping 2 percent YoY. New data from Omdia shows a battle between Samsung and Garmin under the Apple dominance.

Smartwatches actually grew 6 percent, powered by high-end sports models, while screenless fitness bands quietly built momentum of their own.

The categories getting squeezed are the ones stuck in the middle: basic bands fell 9 percent, and basic watches dropped 3 percent, with India’s earlier growth spurt failing to carry into this year.

Apple leads, Garmin closes in on Samsung

Apple remains untouchable at the top of the smartwatch race, holding 46 percent global share. Nobody’s catching that anytime soon, as the real movement is happening just below it.

Omdia reported that Garmin posted the biggest share gains of any non-Apple brand, climbing to 15 percent, and pulling level with Samsung, which is now only marginally ahead.

Garmin has spent years building its reputation around serious training data for runners, cyclists, and outdoor athletes, and its expanded Forerunner lineup is clearly paying off.

Huawei, meanwhile, continues to lead the wider wearable band market with 18 percent share, helped along by its children’s smartwatch expansion and health tracking features.

Screenless bands are having a moment

One of the more interesting trends here is the rise of screenless trackers, which now make up over 15 percent of basic band shipments. Google’s Fitbit Air and Garmin’s Cirqa are driving that growth, though Omdia notes long-term success will depend on refinement.