Samsung ​Galaxy Watch 4 update targets heart rate overhaul

Updated: better BPM tracking incoming
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Last month we reported that the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 was due a big update with some significant features being added.

The November update is now rolling out, and includes a new "improved HR measurement accuracy algorithm," according to the release notes.

In our Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 review, we did find any horrific heart rate performances – but we did find significant deviation in Max HR readings during workouts and "higher heart rate ranges and average resting heart rate."

So it looks like Samsung feels it can offer better performance with new software updates.

You can see the release notes below:

Samsung ​Galaxy Watch 4 update targets heart rate overhaul

New Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 watch faces

Watch faces have got a big revamp, with plenty of new additions with animations added to the gallery.

And now, Galaxy Watch 4 users can also choose GIFs to be used in the My Photo+ watch face – which we’re sure won’t look terrible at all.

New watch faces include Info Brick, Weather Center, Basic Dashboard and Live Wallpaper, which you can see below.

Samsung ​Galaxy Watch 4 update targets heart rate overhaul

While Live Wallpaper is just a decorative picture, the others enable you to add complications to show off data and information, right from the dial.

Next up is gesture control, which has been expanded to be able to launch favorite apps. Until now, the Galaxy Watch 4 only supported gestures for dismissing calls or alarms.

Other new updated features

The fall detection feature can now be adjusted, in case you’re receiving false positives.

And the Step Challenge feature has been given a motivational update with the addition of an animated, hoodie-wearing Bear.

And there’s also a special new deal for Galaxy Watch 4 users, who can get two months of free Strava Premium. Strava is one of the first services to jump on-board with Wear 3.0 apps, so it seems like it wants to entice new users to its platform.

The update, which is R8xxXXU1DUJA, is rolling out for Galaxy Watch 4 and Classic models in South Korea. It’s destined for the US, UK, Ireland, Germany, Italy, South Korea, Canada, Mexico, Australia, among others.

At its Unpacked event, Samsung added a new Kitsune Maison edition of its Wear OS 3.0 smartwatch, with unique strap designs and wallpaper, and a $400 price tag.

But, for most Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 fans, the new software update is likely to be more exciting.

This article was originally published on 21 Oct 2021. We updated it to include details of the heart rate features in the November update.


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James Stables

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James is the co-founder of Wareable, and he has been a technology journalist for 15 years.

He started his career at Future Publishing, James became the features editor of T3 Magazine and T3.com and was a regular contributor to TechRadar – before leaving Future Publishing to found Wareable in 2014.

James has been at the helm of Wareable since 2014 and has become one of the leading experts in wearable technologies globally. He has reviewed, tested, and covered pretty much every wearable on the market, and is passionate about the evolving industry, and wearables helping people achieve healthier and happier lives.


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