I just want Samsung to launch their own Galaxy Watch series

Wearables have gone way beyond just counting steps. These days, they’re feature-packed health companions that follow us from sweaty workouts to shortened REM cycles. For many buyers, the idea of ​​a daily wellness center is the whole point. This is precisely why Samsung’s approach is increasingly self-defeating. Now it’s 2026 and some titles from the brand smart watch features still depend on the phone you are using.

The Galaxy Watch lineup includes some of the best health wearables you can buy. However, while the lineup has gotten better and better over the past few years (thanks in large part to Wear OS), the fine print hasn’t changed much. The biggest limitations are all related to Samsung Health Monitor, which remains exclusive to Galaxy phones. This includes blood pressure monitoring, EKG readings, irregular heart rhythm notifications and sleep apnea detection. Simply put, if it works through Samsung Health Monitor, it doesn’t fully work without a Galaxy phone. I can wear Samsung’s hardware on my wrist, but access to its best tools depends on my commitment to the ecosystem.

This is not to say that the brand’s watches are a brick without a Galaxy phone. Most of the basics remain widely available, incl heart rate monitoring, SpO2 tracking, basic sleep trackingmeasures of activity and exercise and measures of body composition. All these health and fitness trackers work on Android phones through standard Samsung Health and Wear OS support. It’s just disappointing that Samsung’s most clinically meaningful features are behind the wall.

Wear OS isn’t the fragmented platform it used to be, and the expectation now is that your experience follows your hardware, not the logo on your phone. For example, Google’s Pixel Watch line keeps key health features widely available on Android devices, not just Pixel phones. Of course, region-based restrictions come with the territory for advanced health tools, but that’s a separate issue (and one Samsung is dealing with). As its Wear OS siblings move away from brand-based restrictions, Samsung’s restrictions are increasingly out of step.

Even outside of Wear OS, the contrast is hard to ignore. Garmin offers a platform-agnostic experience, while smart rings from companies like Oura and Ultrahuman pair with any modern smartphone. Against this background, Samsung’s phone-based door protection seems outdated and a bit stubborn at this point. I don’t expect my Wear OS watches to ever pair with iOS, and I’m not complaining that the Apple Watch only works with the iPhone, but I’m unhappy about losing key features to pair the Galaxy Watch Ultra with the Pixel 10 instead of the Galaxy S26.

Looking ahead, there hasn’t been much in the way of significant leaks regarding the upcoming Galaxy Watch 9 so far. The leaks point to a pretty typical update, including familiar dimensions, similar battery expectations, and possibly a new chip, topped off with regular software and AI-driven health tweaks. So far, there’s nothing that makes me want to go to the brand’s summer Unpacked event, where the line is expected to drop.

It is likely that Samsung will improve accuracy improvements and other health features. In reality, if Samsung wants the Galaxy Watch to continue its lead as a health-focused wearable, it needs to expand access to the features it already has. Excluding tools like ECG, blood pressure monitoring and sleep apnea detection from Samsung phones could go further than another incremental specification. The Galaxy Watch doesn’t need more features, it just needs fewer restrictions.