Samsung has announced the closure of its One UI Watch 4.5 beta program for the Galaxy Watch 4 series that started about three months ago. The closure of the beta program, which is coming over a week after the last build was released, suggests that testing had been going hassle-free and public release is around the corner as the One UI 4.5 is rolling out on Galaxy Watch 4
The One UI Watch 4.5 is based on Wear OS 3.5 and was created to power Samsung’s latest smartwatches – the Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 5 Pro. However, the South Korean firm decided to backport the software to its Galaxy Watch 4 series, allowing it to bring several new features to the older smartwatches.
One UI 4.5 Add New Features to Galaxy Watch 4
One of the noteworthy features of the One UI Watch 4.5 to the Galaxy Watch 4 series is the introduction of a QWERTY keyboard, a major upgrade from the T-9 keyboard it originally shipped with. Although the keys on the keyboard are quite small, as one would expect from a small screen device, it offers other typing support such as swipe to type, dictation and handwriting. The best part is that it allows you to switch between all these input methods seamlessly, ensuring you get the best typing experience possible.
Another interesting feature this update brings is the dual SIM support for the cellular Watch 4 model. People using the Galaxy Watch 4 with a cellular option can sync the SIM on their Galaxy smartphone while also being able to view the current SIM on the watch. This makes it possible for them to select their preferred SIM when making phone calls from the watch.
While Samsung announcing the end of the beta testing suggests that the update would soon be made available to the general public, it didn’t specify exactly when it would be available to everyone. However, some users have started receiving the stable One UI Watch 4.5, which comes with firmware version GVH2 and requires about 95MB to download. If you are among the beta testers, your Galaxy Watch 4 should receive the stable build automatically.
There is a likelihood that Samsung will push the One UI Watch 4.5 incrementally within the next few days. If you haven’t received the update on your Galaxy Watch 4 or Galaxy Watch 4 Classic, you might need to wait a little while or check for it manually on the settings page. The company announced earlier that the update would be released by Q3 2022. Since it has kept to its timeline lately, there is no reason for it to stop now or delay the update.
Once you receive the update, you can start enjoying the improved watch face customization feature that comes with it. The One UI Watch 4.5 allows you to create multiple instances of the same watch face with different backgrounds, colors, and widgets. After creating these instances, you can save them in your favorites list for quick and easy access.
Other features on the One UI 4.5 worth mentioning are the new accessibility features, including the ability to adjust the font size, hue, and contrast for better readability. Additionally, users are granted access to new sound balance settings, which can help hard-of-hearing users adjust left/right audio balance for connected wireless audio devices.