According to SamMobile, a specific Galaxy Watch 4 variant, the SM-R870 model, received two separate software updates on the same day. The first update, version R870XXU1HWB1, was followed hours later by a second, R870XXU1HWB3. This unusual double-patch occurred in March 2024. The report notes Samsung is hoping to fix lingering issues with future updates. However, the company has also confirmed it will not release any more major One UI updates for the entire Galaxy Watch 4 series. This marks the end of major platform upgrades for the 2021 watches.
Update Chaos And Support Ends
Two updates in one day? That’s weird, even for the sometimes-bumpy world of smartwatch software. It screams “urgent fix for a broken fix.” Basically, the first update probably had a bug bad enough that they had to rush out a correction almost immediately. It happens, but it’s not a great look. And here’s the thing: this hiccup is happening right as Samsung is drawing a firm line in the sand on support. The Galaxy Watch 4, the first to run the unified Wear OS platform with Google, is now officially in maintenance mode. No more big One UI feature drops. Just stability and security patches until, presumably, they stop those too.
The Wearable Lifecycle Squeeze
This is the classic tech lifecycle playbook, accelerated for wearables. The Watch 4 launched in 2021, so it’s about three years old. In smartphone years, that’s getting long in the tooth. In smartwatch years, it’s practically ancient. Samsung’s strategy is clear: they want to move the user base forward to newer models like the Watch 5 and Watch 6. Ending major updates is the primary lever to create perceived obsolescence. Who benefits? Well, Samsung’s newer hardware sales, obviously. But also, it frees up their engineering resources to focus on current devices. For owners, it’s a mixed bag. The core experience should remain functional, but you’ll miss out on the latest software tricks, which can feel like an early forced retirement for a device that might still work perfectly fine.
A Reliability Question
So what does this double-update fumble tell us about the state of the Watch 4’s software? It suggests the platform is, frankly, a bit fragile in its final stages. When you’re just patching for security and stability, the goal is rock-solid reliability. Needing a do-over on the same day is the opposite of that. It makes you wonder about the quality control for these final updates. For a device that’s supposed to be a dependable health and notification hub, that’s not ideal. I think the real test will be if these kinds of glitches become more common as the development team’s attention shifts entirely to newer products. Let’s hope not, for the sake of everyone still wearing one.
