Samsung Explains One UI 8 Watch Beta Confusion — But It Only Raises More Questions

Samsung has finally responded to the growing confusion surrounding the One UI 8 Watch beta program, which launched earlier this week for the Galaxy Watch 7 and Watch Ultra. Despite meeting eligibility requirements and enrolling through the Samsung Members app, many users were left scratching their heads when the beta update failed to appear. Now, Samsung has provided an explanation — but rather than offering relief, it’s only adding to the frustration.

Samsung botched the One UI 8 beta rollout, and its explanation doesn’t help

The Galaxy Watch Ultra doesn’t come in a Bluetooth version — it’s LTE-only. However, that doesn’t mean all LTE models get the same treatment. Many users who purchased their Ultra directly from Samsung, without tying it to a carrier, found themselves locked out of the beta. As it turns out, simply enrolling in the One UI 8 Watch beta program wasn’t enough. You need to fulfil a few other complex requirements.

Samsung has now confirmed that for LTE models, an active T-Mobile plan is required on your connected smartphone to actually receive the beta OTA. That means if your watch isn’t using T-Mobile’s network (or doesn’t have a data plan activated), the beta won’t show up — even if you were able to join the program in the app. Unsurprisingly, users aren’t happy about it.

These restrictions also apply to the LTE version of the Galaxy Watch 7. However, users with Bluetooth-only Galaxy Watch 7 units remain unaffected. They don’t require a SIM or carrier activation, and eligible users should receive the beta as expected. That said, Samsung seems to have already closed beta registrations. If you didn’t manage to sign up early, you may have lost access to the One UI 8 Watch beta. Your best bet is to wait for the public release of One UI 8. The rollout may begin shortly after Galaxy Unpacked on July 9.