One UI Watch 4.5 based on Wear OS 3.5 launched

When the Galaxy Watch 4 series launched, the wearables came with Wear OS 3. However, it wasn’t “pure” Wear OS, because this is Samsung we’re talking about. Skinned over Wear OS was Samsung’s own software.

That was One UI Watch 4. Today, Samsung is formally launching the latest iteration of this skin to be known as One UI Watch 4.5. It is a skin for Wear OS 3.5.

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Samsung says this new software will hit the current Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 4 Classic at some point in the third quarter of this year (roughly July through September). Samsung also says it will be available on the “upcoming Galaxy Watch series.” This undoubtedly refers to the rumored Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 5 Pro. It is likely the new iteration of Wear OS 3.5 would launch pre-loaded on the Galaxy Watch 5 series, although that is just speculation at this point.

One UI Watch 4.5 features

The most notable new feature of One UI Watch 4.5 is the new typing experience. You now have access to a full QWERTY keyboard which you can use with swipe gestures. This joins the usual dictation and handwriting features Galaxy Watch 4 users are accustomed to.

The new software also supports dual-SIM functionality, which will make life easier for frequent travelers. You’ll need a dual-SIM Samsung phone for this to work, though. There are also more watch faces on offer, better ways to organize those watch faces, and more accessibility features for those with vision impairments.

Samsung isn’t stopping here, however. The company has promised more One UI Watch features will be announced between now and the wide rollout. It’s a safe bet the company is reserving some of those features to bring excitement to the Galaxy Watch 5 launch, which we expect to happen in August.