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Samsung is reportedly considering introducing a paid tier for advanced health tools on its Galaxy Watch lineup, according to recent comments from Dr Hon Pak, head of the company’s digital health division.
The proposed subscription model would accompany the upcoming One UI 8 Watch update, due alongside the new Galaxy Watch 8 in July 2025, and may mirror existing services like Fitbit Premium and Garmin Connect Plus. Core Samsung Health features, such as basic fitness tracking, heart‑rate monitoring, and step counting, would remain free, but premium features could be gated behind a paywall.
Related: Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra review
Beta versions of One UI 8 Watch already include enhanced features like Vascular Load metrics, Bedtime Guidance, antioxidant tracking, and an AI-powered Running Coach (*cough cough* Apple’s Workout Buddy). These are currently in testing on newer devices and could form part of the premium package.
Samsung hasn’t revealed pricing or which specific watches will be affected, though speculation suggests newer models, like Galaxy Watch Ultra and Watch 8, may receive the full feature set for free, while owners of older devices may need to subscribe.
Alternative: Huawei Watch Fit 4 Pro review
Samsung previously indicated some Galaxy AI tools would remain free only until the end of 2025, hinting at a broader shift toward subscription models. The company also stressed that existing Samsung Health functionality won’t be stripped away, new features alone are under consideration for monetisation.
The timeline for launching any subscription plan remains unclear, as is the monthly cost. Samsung typically reveals such details closer to the release of major software updates, which for this rollout is expected around mid‑2025 at Unpacked.
While subscriptions are already common in the wearable space, this marks a notable pivot for Samsung Health, long praised for its free, robust feature set. It has been a major selling point for Samsung’s wearables that they remain one of the only fully subscription-free options out there so this is likely to rock the boat somewhat.
