Like in previous years, Samsung is widely expected to launch new smartwatches alongside the latest foldables this year. The Galaxy Watch 8 and Watch 8 Classic should accompany the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 in July. These watches will run Wear OS 6-based One UI 8 Watch, introducing a host of new features and enhancements. Among the plethora of changes is a One UI 7-inspired charging animation.
One UI 8 Watch brings a new charging animation to Galaxy Watches
The folks over at Android Authority recently discovered an updated charging animation for Galaxy Watches. The new animation appeared within version 1.0.08.14 of Samsung’s Diagnostics app for One UI 8 Watch. As you can see below, it matches the visual experience of One UI 7 on Galaxy phones. This subtle change helps unify Samsung’s ecosystem, offering a consistent user experience across devices.
The revamped charging animation isn’t the only enhancement. One UI 8 Watch appears to include a new Shortcuts app, which could give users faster access to frequently used features and apps directly from their watch. Additionally, the update introduces Now Bar support — a feature aimed at surfacing relevant, real-time information on your watch face. Samsung launched Now Bar with One UI 7 on phones.
Samsung may also be doubling down on health and wellness tracking. One UI 8 Watch is expected to introduce an Antioxidant Index, a new health metric designed to offer deeper insights into the body’s oxidative stress levels. It could help Galaxy Watch users better understand their recovery and overall wellness.
As said earlier, One UI 8 Watch will debut with the Galaxy Watch 8 series. The new watches will sport a squircle-shaped frame similar to last year’s Watch Ultra — it’s a departure from the traditional round-body Galaxy Watches. With the official launch expected in the first half of July, more details about One UI 8 Watch and the Galaxy Watch 8 series should emerge in the coming weeks.
