According to GSM Arena, Samsung has begun updating the Galaxy Watch FE to One UI 8 Watch based on Wear OS 6. The rollout started in Korea in December 2025 with a specific firmware version, R861XXU1CYK6. This update includes the October 2025 security patch level for the watch. The Galaxy Watch FE itself was launched in 2024 as a lower-cost model, essentially a re-released Galaxy Watch4. Users in Korea can install it via the Galaxy Wearable app on their phone. If no major bugs are found, the update is expected to spread to other countries in the coming days and weeks.
The Slow Trickle of Wear OS
Here’s the thing about Wear OS updates: they’re almost always painfully slow. Samsung started pushing One UI 8 Watch back in July, and we’re now in December seeing it hit the Watch FE. That’s a five-month gap from the initial wave to this specific model. And that October 2025 security patch? It feels ancient already. But that’s just the reality of the smartwatch ecosystem. It’s a far cry from the streamlined, simultaneous updates we see in the smartphone world. Makes you wonder, doesn’t it? For a platform Google and Samsung are supposedly championing together, the update logistics still seem incredibly fragmented.
The FE Is Fundamentally a Watch4
This update news really underscores the Galaxy Watch FE’s true identity. It’s not some ground-up new device; it’s a Galaxy Watch4 with a fresh coat of paint and a new marketing name. So, getting this Wear OS 6 update was never really in doubt—it was just a matter of waiting for its turn in the slow-moving queue. From a business strategy perspective, it’s a smart, low-effort way to keep a budget model relevant. You reuse proven hardware, cut the cost, and extend its software support lifecycle. This update is basically Samsung honoring that implied promise to FE buyers that they weren’t getting a totally abandoned platform.
What This Means For Owners
For anyone who picked up the Galaxy Watch FE, this is obviously good news. You’re getting the latest Wear OS version and the feature set that comes with One UI 8 Watch. But the delayed rollout and outdated security patch from the get-go are stark reminders of the trade-offs. You get capable hardware at a friendlier price, but you’re often at the back of the line for software. It’s a classic value proposition. Now, the wait begins for everyone outside Korea. Let’s hope that “following days and weeks” timeline holds true and this doesn’t get stuck in some regional approval limbo.
