Samsung has never been scared to include as many options as possible in its devices. That includes the Galaxy Watch as well, of course, but not all of the best features are enabled fresh out of the box. Let’s make sure you haven’t overlooked some grayed-out toggles.
Mute notifications on phone
Notifications that adapt to you
Smartwatches are designed to be an extension of your phone. So, it makes sense to keep your phone on silent while wearing a watch. The only issue with this is you have to remember to switch your phone off silent mode if you decide to leave your Galaxy Watch behind—or do you?
The “Mute notifications on phone” toggle is even more useful than it sounds. Yes, it mutes your phone while you’re wearing your watch, but that also means it unmutes your phone when you aren’t wearing your watch. Set your phone to vibrate or alert, and it will revert to that mode whenever you go watch-free.
This option must be enabled from the Galaxy Wearable app on your phone. It can be found at Watch settings > Notifications.
Universal gestures
Even more gestures
You may already know about the “double pinch” and “knock knock” gestures on your Galaxy Watch. Those are great to enable, too, but Samsung actually offers a lot more in the way of “universal gestures” (Settings > Accessibility > Interaction and dexterity > Universal gestures).
Universal gestures essentially allow you to navigate and control the entire watch interface without touching the screen—that’s not an exaggeration. You can select actions from a long list and bind them to five different hand gestures. These actions are everything from emulating a swipe on the screen to opening recent apps.
You can’t use the pattern lock security method with universal gestures enabled.
QuizHow well do you know Samsung watches?
Test your knowledge
From the Galaxy Gear to the Galaxy Watch Ultra.
HistoryHardwareGalaxySoftwareDesign
In what year did Samsung release the original Galaxy Gear, its first smartwatch?
Correct! Samsung launched the original Galaxy Gear in September 2013 alongside the Galaxy Note 3. It was one of the earliest mainstream smartwatches from a major manufacturer, beating Apple to the category by nearly two years.
Not quite. Samsung released the original Galaxy Gear in 2013, unveiling it at IFA Berlin alongside the Galaxy Note 3. It was a bold early entry into the smartwatch market before the category had really taken off.
What operating system did the original Samsung Galaxy Gear run when it launched in 2013?
Correct! The original Galaxy Gear actually ran a stripped-down version of Android, not Tizen. Samsung later transitioned many of its Gear watches to Tizen, but the very first model used Android under the hood.
Not quite. Surprisingly, the original Galaxy Gear ran a modified version of Android — not Tizen. Samsung switched subsequent Gear models to its in-house Tizen OS, which made the original an interesting outlier in the lineup’s history.
Which Samsung smartwatch was notable for featuring a rotating physical bezel as its primary navigation mechanism?
Correct! The Galaxy Gear S2, released in 2015, introduced Samsung’s iconic rotating bezel design. It became one of the brand’s most praised smartwatch innovations, offering an intuitive, tactile way to scroll through menus and notifications.
Not quite. It was the Galaxy Gear S2 (2015) that debuted the beloved rotating physical bezel. This design element became a hallmark of Samsung smartwatches and was widely praised as one of the cleverest navigation solutions in wearables.
What was the significance of Samsung rebranding its smartwatch line from ‘Gear’ to ‘Galaxy Watch’ in 2018?
Correct! The rebrand from Gear to Galaxy Watch in 2018 was a strategic move to unify Samsung’s wearables under its powerful Galaxy brand umbrella. It helped position the watches as premium companions to Galaxy smartphones rather than standalone gadgets.
Not quite. The ‘Gear’ to ‘Galaxy Watch’ rebrand in 2018 was primarily about brand alignment, tying the wearables more tightly to the Galaxy ecosystem that customers already knew and trusted. The watches still ran Tizen at the time of the rebrand.
Which operating system did Samsung adopt for the Galaxy Watch 4 series, marking a major platform shift in 2021?
Correct! The Galaxy Watch 4 marked Samsung’s high-profile switch from Tizen to Wear OS, developed in partnership with Google. The co-engineered platform brought Google apps like Maps and Pay to Samsung watches while Samsung contributed its One UI Watch interface on top.
Not quite. The Galaxy Watch 4 (2021) was the turning point where Samsung dropped Tizen in favor of Wear OS, co-developed with Google. This was a landmark moment for the Android wearables ecosystem, bringing two major players together on a single platform.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra, launched in 2024, drew design comparisons to which competitor’s product?
Correct! The Galaxy Watch Ultra’s rugged, squared-off titanium design drew widespread comparisons to Apple’s Watch Ultra. Samsung leaned into the premium, adventure-ready aesthetic with a large case, bright display, and dual-button design that echoed Apple’s approach.
Not quite. The Galaxy Watch Ultra released in 2024 was frequently compared to the Apple Watch Ultra due to its similar rugged titanium casing, squared design language, and premium adventure-focused positioning. Competition in the premium smartwatch tier was clearly heating up.
Which Samsung smartwatch was the first to include a built-in LTE cellular radio, allowing calls without a paired phone?
Correct! The Galaxy Gear S, released in late 2014, was Samsung’s first smartwatch with a built-in LTE cellular connection. Its large, curved Super AMOLED display and standalone calling capability made it stand out, though its curved strap design was quite unconventional.
Not quite. The Galaxy Gear S (2014) was Samsung’s first watch with LTE cellular connectivity built in. Its bold curved design and large screen were ahead of their time, and the ability to make calls independently of a smartphone was a major selling point for the era.
Samsung’s Gear IconX, released in 2016, represented an expansion into which wearable category beyond smartwatches?
Correct! The Gear IconX were Samsung’s first true wireless earbuds, arriving in 2016 — the same year Apple released its AirPods. The IconX even included onboard storage for music, allowing workouts without a phone. They’ve since evolved into the Galaxy Buds line.
Not quite. The Gear IconX (2016) were Samsung’s entry into true wireless earbuds, competing directly with Apple’s AirPods which launched the same year. These eventually evolved into today’s popular Galaxy Buds lineup, showing how Samsung’s Gear brand once covered a wide range of wearables.
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Continuous heart rate tracking
Never miss a beat
By default, Galaxy Watches are set up to record your heart rate every 10 minutes. For most people, that’s probably fine, and it’s easier on the battery. However, if you’re serious about heart rate tracking, you probably want all the information you can get.
Head into the Settings and go to “Health,” then select “Heart rate”—choose “Measure continuously.” You might notice a slight dip in battery life, but you’ll have more heart rate information at your disposal.
Fall detection
Let your watch call for help
The Apple Watch introduced fall detection back in 2022, but Galaxy Watches have had it since before Samsung made the leap to Wear OS. For people with disabilities or mobility limitations, it can be a literal lifesaver. The feature can be found at Settings > Safety and emergency > Hard fall detection.
Fall detection uses an algorithm to detect when the watch wearer takes a “hard fall.” If a fall is detected, and the wearer remains motionless for a few moments afterward, a variety of things can be triggered. That includes a loud alert sound, calling emergency phone numbers, and sending an SOS to contacts. In case of accidental detections, a swipe can be required before any calls are made.
Samsung phone only: Change your watch face with Modes
Automatically change your watch face for specific situations
One of the most underrated and powerful features of Samsung phones is the “Modes and Routines” app. It puts anything Google Pixel phones have to shame, and the functionality extends to Galaxy Watches, too.
Think of the “Modes” portion of “Modes and Routines” as Do Not Disturb customized for specific situations—things like “Work,” “Driving,” or “Exercise.” These Modes can go so far as to change the wallpaper and home screen layout on your phone. When you have a Galaxy Watch connected, there’s also an option to change the watch face.
For example, you could have the “Circle Dashboard” watch face with all your running metrics kick in when you start tracking a run. Or maybe a simple, minimal face when you’re at home outside of work hours. To set this up, open “Modes and Routines” on your Samsung phone, choose one of the pre-made modes or make your own, and select “Watch face” from the “Change appearance” section.
All the features you need
For better or worse, Samsung is never stingy about giving users options. It can be overwhelming on a phone, but I happen to really appreciate it on a smartwatch. Make sure you take the time to peruse the Settings on your Galaxy Watch and take advantage of the many ways you can customize it to your liking.
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- Brand
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Samsung
- Operating System
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Wear OS
- CPU
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Exynos W1000 (5 Core , 3nm)
- RAM
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2GB
- Storage
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32GB
- Dimensions
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43.7 x 46.0 x 8.6t
Now thinner and more comfortable, the Galaxy Watch 8 adds new health-tracking features like sleep apnea detection and antioxidant readings.
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- Heart Rate Monitor
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Yes
- Operating System
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One UI 6 Watch, Wear OS 5
- Onboard GPS
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Yes
- Display Size
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1.3/1.5 inches
- Case Material
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Aluminum
- Display
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Super AMOLED, Sapphire crystal
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 is Samsung’s entry-level smartwatch for 2024. It resembles the Galaxy Watch 6 but features an enhanced Exynos W1000 chipset, promising significantly improved battery life and performance.
Stephan is the sports journalist for the Maple Grove Report.
