Samsung’s Latest Health Features: Pay-to-Access Only on New Watches!

Samsung is gearing up to roll out a significant update for its smartwatches, introducing advanced health tracking features that may soon be available. However, these features might come with a cost for some users.

The upcoming One UI 8 Watch update represents a significant advancement for Galaxy watches. Currently in the testing phase, this update is set to include a range of unprecedented health functions. Some of these functions will offer detailed sleep analysis, while others are designed to assess vascular stress or measure the level of antioxidants in the body. However, recent official statements suggest that these features may not be available to all users or without specific conditions.

In an interview with CNet, Samsung has confirmed that it is considering a Samsung Health subscription service, similar to Fitbit Premium or Garmin Connect Plus. The plan would be to keep basic functions free, such as the step counter or heart rate monitor, but to offer the new advanced features through a paid subscription. Features like Bedtime Guidance, Vascular Load, and Antioxidant Index might be included in this future subscription plan. At this point, no specific prices or launch dates have been disclosed.

Samsung May Limit New Health Features to Subscribers and Latest Galaxy Watch Models

The new features introduced in the One UI 8 Watch beta require at least Samsung Health version 6.30.2. Some features are already restricted by the hardware. For instance, the Antioxidant Index depends on an optical sensor exclusive to the Galaxy Watch Ultra. Tracking Vascular Load is also limited to the Ultra models and later, while the Real-time Running Coach requires at least a Galaxy Watch 7. Samsung might therefore be planning a dual strategy: limiting certain features to newer models, and locking others behind a subscription.

This shift is part of a broader strategy by Samsung, which is exploring new paid models across its entire ecosystem. If the Samsung Health subscription becomes a reality, it could create a divide between users of recent and older models. Moreover, access to some features might depend on both the subscription and the hardware. For current users, the question is straightforward: will they soon have to pay to fully enjoy their smartwatch?