Samsung Halts One UI 8 Update for Galaxy Watch 4

Samsung has temporarily halted the rollout of its One UI 8 Watch software update for the Galaxy Watch 4 and Watch 4 Classic after users reported significant performance issues, including rapid battery drain and malfunctioning sensors.

The update, based on Google's Wear OS 6, began reaching compatible devices in early December. Designed as the final major software upgrade for the 2021 smartwatches, it promised new watch faces, improved health and fitness tracking, smoother animations, and other enhancements to extend the devices' usability. However, complaints from owners quickly emerged on forums like Samsung's community site and Reddit, prompting the company to pause distribution in several regions, according to user observations and reports from tech sites.

Multiple users described severe battery degradation following the installation. Previously capable of lasting around 24 hours on a charge, the watches now drain in as little as 12 to 15 hours for some, with others experiencing even faster depletion. Clearing the device's cache has provided partial relief for a few, but the fix has proven inconsistent and ineffective for many. In addition, the Always-On Display feature has...