Galaxy Watch 4 Gets Surprise Update Amid One UI 8 Watch Uncertainty
Verizon rolls out March patch as support for Samsung’s OG Wear OS watches nears its end
A curious update at the edge of support
In an unexpected move, Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 and Watch 4 Classic users in the US are receiving a March 2025 security patch, even as One UI 8 Watch inches closer to release. The update is being rolled out by Verizon, raising eyebrows since it’s arriving months late and ahead of the expected support cutoff in July.
- The firmware version for the update is R865USQU1IYCD (40mm) and R875USQU1IYCD (44mm) for the standard Watch 4, and R885USQU1IYCD (42mm) and R895USQU1IYCD (46mm) for the Watch 4 Classic.
- Users can install the update via the Galaxy Wearable app by navigating to Watch settings > Software update.
One UI 8 Watch beta leaves Watch 4 behind
Samsung recently launched the One UI 8 Watch Beta Program, which is based on Wear OS 6. Notably, the Galaxy Watch 4 series is not included in the eligible list, signaling that these devices may miss out on the upcoming major OS upgrade.
- Samsung’s exclusion of the Watch 4 hints at an imminent end-of-life scenario, in line with its typical four-year update cycle.
- The Galaxy Watch 4 launched in 2021 alongside the Galaxy S21 series, making July 2025 the projected end of its update eligibility.
Final patch or a hidden transition?
While the update could be the final OTA for the Watch 4, Samsung still has a window to surprise users with One UI 8 Watch—though the odds are slim.
- If no beta or stable update arrives before July, the Watch 4 series will officially age out of major software updates.
- With One UI 8 Watch rolling out in South Korea and the US this month for Watch 5 and newer, the company might still make a last-minute inclusion—but it’s more likely this patch is the farewell gesture.
With support nearly over and no signs of inclusion in the Wear OS 6-based upgrade, the Galaxy Watch 4 update feels more like a formality than a revival. Still, Samsung fans can hold onto slim hope for a surprise move—though it’s best to prepare for closure.
