Samsung’s One UI 8 Watch Beta Snubs Most LTE Users — And That’s Not Okay

Samsung has officially rolled out the One UI 8 Watch beta for the Galaxy Watch 7 and Watch Ultra. While this is a welcome move for users eager to test the latest Wear OS 6-based features, there’s a major catch for US users that’s hard to ignore: LTE models are only supported on T-Mobile. That’s right — no beta access for users on Verizon, AT&T, US Cellular, or even unlocked LTE models. And frankly, that’s unacceptable.

Samsung needs to do better with the One UI 8 Watch beta

Samsung proudly sells its LTE-enabled smartwatches as compatible with all major US carriers, including T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon, and US Cellular. Unlocked models are marketed as versatile, flexible options that should work across networks. Yet when it comes time to roll out a major software beta — the very thing that dedicated users and early adopters get excited about — Samsung delivers only to T-Mobile customers. No explanation, no workaround, and no timeline for wider LTE support for One UI 8 Watch beta.

It feels like a broken promise to customers who paid a premium for LTE versions with the expectation of full carrier support. Samsung positions itself as a global tech leader, so this kind of selective rollout is lazy, dismissive, and disconnected from its user base.

More importantly, this isn’t the first time Samsung has frustrated users with half-baked beta programs. From limiting regional access to restricting supported models, the company consistently rolls out betas with puzzling constraints. But restricting a software beta by carrier — and not supporting even unlocked LTE models — takes the confusion to another level. If unlocked models are universal, why no beta for them, Samsung?

The Korean behemoth needs to expand One UI 8 Watch beta support to all LTE users in the US, or at the very least, explain why it can’t. It also needs to make beta updates available more widely. For another year, the beta program appears limited to the US and South Korea. We will let you know if the company breaks its silence on these matters.