Samsung Electronics unveiled One UI 5 Watch,1 to be available for Galaxy Watch devices later this year. The new software is designed to bring an even more personalized and intuitive health experience and includes enhancements that support better sleep — an often neglected yet essential part of overall wellness — as well as various fitness and safety features. 

“Samsung is dedicated to delivering a comprehensive health experience and empowering users to reach their wellness goals. Now more than ever, we believe this starts with getting a good night’s sleep,” said Hon Pak, Vice President and Head of Digital Health Team, MX Business at Samsung Electronics. “The new One UI 5 Watch continues our ongoing commitment to help people improve the quality of their sleep, so they can start each day fully recharged and ready for the day.”

Better Sleep: Essential to Better Health

Samsung has focused its efforts on three key elements for better sleep: understanding personal sleep patterns, building healthy habits and establishing a sleep-friendly environment. One UI 5 Watch delivers on these elements with an even more complete sleep experience. 

The new Sleep Insights UI prominently displays the user’s sleep score to provide a clearer snapshot of the prior night’s rest, followed by related metrics like sleep phases, snoring hours and blood oxygen levels. In addition, Sleep Coaching — tailored around eight different sleep types2 — also becomes fully accessible directly on Galaxy Watch as well as a paired phone, making for a more convenient and motivational way for users to track their habits anytime, anywhere. 

Creating a comfortable environment can make all the difference in sleep quality, and even small distractions can have outsized impacts. That’s why Samsung has made it easier to connect Galaxy Watch to a wide range of devices. Once the user’s Galaxy Watch detects that they have fallen asleep, SmartThings lets the user switch off their connected devices to create a more conducive environment for rest. Sleep Mode swiftly mutes notifications and dims the user’s phone and watch screens, and One UI 5 Watch builds on this feature by now utilizing an infrared sensor rather than a green LED light to further minimize distractions.  

A Smarter Fitness Partner

Personalized Heart Rate Zone has been added to Galaxy Watch’s various tailored running tools — including real-time running analysis and a customized interval training program. This new feature analyzes individual physical capabilities3 and sets five optimal workout intensity levels (warm-up, fat burn, cardio, hard-training and max. effort). This enables users to set their own goals based on their ability, from burning fat to high-impact cardio. 

Outdoor activity enthusiasts with Galaxy Watch Pro can look forward to additional benefits, starting with an expanded Route Workout—which now supports running and walking alongside previously available hiking and cycling route options. Galaxy Watch Pro users can also search and access the GPX File Database directly via Samsung Health app, and receive recommendations on new routes based on inputs like location, time, rating or popularity.4 

Safety First, Always On

Safety is a must when it comes to health and wellness, and One UI 5 Watch also offers improved tools for greater peace of mind. Updates to the SOS feature enable direct communication to an emergency service number to relay information on the wearer’s location,5 and also allow immediate access to the wearer’s Medical Information once an SOS is activated. In addition, Fall Detection is now activated by default for users of advanced ages6 to help lower the risk of emergencies. These are just some of the examples of Samsung’s ongoing efforts to enhance user safety. 

One UI 5 Watch will be available first on the upcoming Galaxy Watch series later this year with further updates to be announced soon. Galaxy Watch5 and Galaxy Watch4 series users in the U.S. and Korea can register for the beta program starting in May via Samsung Members app.  

1 Availability of the features may vary by market, carrier, model and the paired smartphone. The features are not intended for use in the diagnosis of disease or other conditions, or in the cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of disease.
2 For sleep pattern results, user must wear watch while they sleep for at least 7 nights and complete a survey.
3 After 10 minutes of running, Galaxy Watch calculates Personalized Heart Rate Zone based on VO2max and aerobic/anoxic thresholds.
4 Available on a paired smartphone. The selected route can be viewed on their watch.
5 To notify an emergency contact, a network connection is required. GPS accuracy may be affected by obstructions to the satellite signal, such as buildings.
6 Aged 55 or older. Based on the age registered in Samsung Account.