The Galaxy Watch8 series introduces One UI Watch 8, layered over WearOS 6. It’s the first smartwatch to feature this new version—and it brings some significant, fundamental changes to the user interface. Yes, the weather is crazy hot.
One of the biggest visual changes is the adoption of a pill-shaped design. While it might seem out of place compared to the watch’s overall aesthetic, it actually serves a practical purpose.
Traditionally, swiping to the right lets us browse through preset tiles. But now, we can also swipe vertically. That means you can add tiles not only horizontally but also stack them downwards in a vertical layout.
This update is quite welcome. It lets me organize everything in a single vertical column, making it easier to navigate through rows instead of endlessly swiping sideways. However, this also means the iconic rotating bezel becomes less relevant, as it only scrolls through horizontal tiles, not the new vertical ones.
The notification system has been improved too. Previously, when one app had multiple notifications, we had to dismiss the top one before accessing the next. Now, you can just swipe down to view them all. Simple and effective.
The new software update also brings more health tracking features too. One is the vascular load measurement, which indicates how your blood vessels are coping. If the load is high, it may suggest underlying health issues. I’m unsure of its precision, but mine shows a steady and acceptable level.
Then there’s sleep coaching. It sounded promising at first—I expected it to notify me when it’s time to sleep. But that’s not the case. Instead, it gives general suggestions for improving sleep quality. Not as helpful as I had hoped.
Lastly, there’s the antioxidant index, which estimates your carotenoid levels via your skin. Again, the accuracy is uncertain. And it’s a bit awkward since you need to remove the watch and press your thumb on the sensor to take a reading.
Credit where credit is due, the Galaxy Watch is the first-ever smartwatch to be able to read carotenoid levels on our skin.
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