From tracking workouts and understanding sleep to managing everyday tasks from your wrist, Brits are becoming increasingly tuned into what their health data can tell them.

New research commissioned by Samsung reveals that more than six in ten Brits (62%) now track some aspect of their health or wellbeing, while 55% say they are more proactive about monitoring their health than they were five years ago^[1] .

But Galaxy Watch can do much more than keep tabs on your health. Outside of Samsung Health, the new Galaxy Watch Series is packed with features designed to make everyday life that little bit simpler – from hands-free shortcuts and staying connected on the move to accessing Google Gemini straight from your wrist.

So, which ones are actually worth knowing about? Fresh from presenting at Galaxy Unpacked in London, Samsung UK Product Specialist Lee Dinham shares some of his favourite – and lesser-known – features on the new Galaxy Watch Ultra2 and Galaxy Watch9 – including a few you might be missing out on.

Talk to Gemini without reaching for your phone

Lee’s favourite new Galaxy Watch feature is also one of the easiest to overlook.

With Raise to Talk, simply lift your Galaxy Watch towards your mouth and Google Gemini^[2] is ready to listen – no tapping through menus required.

“My favourite new feature on the Galaxy Watch Ultra2 and Watch9 is Raise to Talk to activate Google Gemini,” says Lee. “I’ve found this really useful to get quick answers to questions on the go, especially without having to reach for my smartphone.”

Google Gemini2 also allows you to use natural voice instructions, making it particularly useful when you’re on the move or have your hands full. Rather than stopping what you’re doing to navigate your Galaxy Watch, you can simply ask for what you need.

Lee’s tip: Try Raise to Talk in those moments when your hands are full or you’d normally instinctively reach for your phone.

Master the ‘knock knock’

If talking to your Galaxy Watch isn’t convenient, there’s another hands-free shortcut worth knowing about.

Gestures allow you to control certain Galaxy Watch functions using movements of your hand, meaning you can trigger an action without navigating the touchscreen. One of Lee’s favourites is the “knock knock” gesture.

“You can perform a ‘knock knock’ gesture with your fist that can be used for all sorts of actions, like activating an exercise, turning on the torch function or launching your favourite app,” Lee explains.

That means a simple movement can get you straight to a function you regularly use – particularly handy when you’re exercising, commuting or have your other hand occupied.

Lee’s tip: Set the gesture to an action you use regularly, whether that’s quickly starting a workout, switching on the torch or opening your favourite app.

Leave more to your Watch 

Sometimes, getting more from your Galaxy Watch isn’t about discovering one new feature, but realising how many everyday tasks you can already manage from your wrist.

“Our Galaxy Watches have so many features,” says Lee. “They’re also a great lifestyle companion – you can manage all of your messages and notifications, make and receive calls, make payments on the go with Samsung Wallet^[3]   and download your favourite apps like Spotify, WhatsApp and hundreds more via the Google Play Store^[4] .”

That means everything from checking a message to changing your music or paying for your morning coffee can be handled straight from your wrist.

Lee’s tip: Spend a few minutes setting up the apps and shortcuts you use most. The more you personalise your Galaxy Watch around your routine, the more you can leave your smartphone in your pocket.

And when it comes to health…

Of course, health and fitness remain at the heart of Galaxy Watch – whether you’re taking the first steps on your wellbeing journey or training towards your next big goal. Samsung research found 65% of Brits have changed their lifestyle after reviewing health data or insights about themselves, while two-thirds (66%) say they pay close attention to the quality of their sleep.

Here are three features Lee recommends exploring:

• Know when to push – and when to recover: Daily Cardio Load^[5] , can help provide a better picture of whether your current level of activity is right for you. “I think we’re all guilty of not getting enough rest and recovery time, especially when we’re training for a specific fitness goal,” says Lee. “The Daily Cardio Load feature gives a great indication of if I’m doing too much – or not enough – in the gym and will give me a nudge to take it easy every so often.”#

• Turn fitness into a friendly competition: Fitness Index^[5] , compares your metrics with other Samsung Health users in your age range. “I love to be competitive,” says Lee. “It’s a great motivator to focus on specific areas so I can improve my score. I definitely need to up my cardio!”

• Look at the bigger picture: Alongside activity and heart-rate tracking, Galaxy Watch offers features spanning body composition measurement^[6] , ECG and blood pressure monitoring^[7] , nutritional guidance and mindfulness, as well as personalised insights including Sleep and Energy Scores^[8]. “Whether you’re just getting started in your health and wellness journey, or someone who does frequent trail runs and ultra-marathons, there is something for everyone no matter what your level,” says Lee.

Whether you’re training for your next big fitness goal or simply looking for a smarter way to manage everyday life, there’s plenty more to discover on your wrist. With a few simple features and personal insights, Galaxy Watch Ultra2 and Galaxy Watch9 are designed to be more than just a way to track your stats – they’re a smart companion that can help you make the most of every day.

Discover the latest Galaxy Watch offers

Ready to put Lee’s tips to the test? Galaxy Watch Ultra2 and Galaxy Watch9 are available now, with a range of offers available for customers looking to upgrade: https://www.samsung.com/uk/watches/?product1=sm-l715fzsaeub&product2=sm-l340nzeaeub&product3=sm-l705fdaaeua

• Get £27 – £132 off when you trade in your smartwatch

Galaxy Watch owners can also make the move to Samsung’s latest smartwatches with enhanced Trade In values.

Customers purchasing a Galaxy Watch Ultra2 or Galaxy Watch9 from Samsung.com or a Samsung Experience Store can receive between £27 – £132 off when trading in a qualifying smartwatch.^[9] 

• Try Galaxy Watch Ultra2 and Watch9 for 100 days

You can also discover Samsung’s latest smartwatches with confidence through the 100-Day Buy & Try programme.

Customers who purchase any SIM-free Galaxy Watch Ultra2 or Galaxy Watch9 from a participating retailer before Sep 8, 2026 and register for the promotion can take advantage of a 100-day return window if they decide the device is not for them.^[10] 

• Save 15% on Galaxy Watch when you build your Galaxy ecosystem

Customers purchasing a Galaxy Watch Ultra2 or Galaxy Watch9 alongside any eligible smartphone, tablet, laptop or XR device from Samsung.com or a Samsung Experience Store by Aug 18, 2026 can receive 15% off their watch at checkout.^[11] 

[1] Research conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Samsung in June with 2,000 UK adults.

[2] Requires compatible Wear OS watch to be connected to a compatible device. Check responses for accuracy. Internet connection and set up may be required. Google and Gemini are trademarks of Google LLC.

[3] Samsung Wallet/Pay is available with participating payment networks, banks and merchants and is only compatible with selected cards and Samsung devices on NFC terminals.

[4] Google account required. Subscriptions sold separately.

[5] Not intended for use in detection, diagnosis, treatment of any medical condition or sleep disorder. The measurements are for your personal reference only. Please consult a medical professional for advice.

[6] Body Composition should not be used if you have an implanted pacemaker or other implanted medical devices, or if you are pregnant. The measurements are for your personal reference only. Please consult a medical professional for advice.

[7] Requires a Galaxy smartphone running Android 12 or above. Not intended for users by people under 22 years old. Users should not interpret or take clinical action based on the device output without consultation of a qualified healthcare professional.

[8]Not intended for use in detection, diagnosis, treatment of any medical condition or sleep disorder. The measurements are for your personal reference only. Please consult a medical professional for advice.

[9] Purchase from Samsung.com or Samsung Experience Stores by 18.08.26. £27 value based on any Approach Garmin Smartwatch. £132 value based on any Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra. Values can vary by model and condition of Trade In device, and on purchases of exclusive colour devices. Limited to one Trade In Watch per transaction. Charges apply if you don’t send us your Trade In device. T&Cs apply.

[10] Promoter: Samsung Electronics (UK) Limited. Purchase any SIM free Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Z Fold8, Z Flip8, Watch Ultra2 or Watch9 from a participating retailer before 08/09/2026 and register for the promotion using the link below within 30 days. If dissatisfied, Participant may claim within 45-100 days after purchase (or delivery in the case of pre-orders) and return the product in good condition to Samsung within 30 days of provisional claim approval and Samsung will pay the purchase price (capped at RRP) by bank transfer. SIM Free purchases only. Maximum one claim per product and four per household and ten per business. For full terms and more information see www.samsungoffers.claims/buyandtry2026.

[11] Purchase from Samsung.com or Samsung Experience Stores by 18.08.26. Discount applies automatically at checkout when eligible products are added to the basket. Only two discounted Galaxy Watches per full-priced product. Discount applies to the two lowest-priced items. Discounts can’t be used in combination with Trade In.

The Health Forum held at Galaxy Unpacked July 2026 also shared Samsung’s Connected Care vision for the next chapter of digital health — a future where care moves from reactive treatment toward preventive, personalised and connected experiences, supported by trusted health innovation and partnerships across the healthcare ecosystem. One technology that is helping power these new consumer experiences is the health foundation model.

Researchers from the Digital Health Team at Samsung Research America (SRA) are developing new AI technologies to continuously understand a person’s health state from biosignals, generate health insights, and offer appropriate health guidance.

Samsung researchers recently introduced two foundation models based on wearable data: xMAE (Physiology-Aware Masked Cross-Modal Reconstruction for Biosignal Representation Learning), which learns the temporal relationship between different biosignals, and HiMAE (Hierarchical Masked Autoencoder), which understands health patterns across different time scales in wearable time-series data. Both studies demonstrate advancement of health AI models that can better understand the physiological relationships and temporal structure of biosignals.

Samsung’s work on xMAE and HiMAE models was accepted to the International Conference on Machine Learning (ICML), and the International Conference on Learning Representations (ICLR), respectively, highlighting the significance of this research.

Health Foundation Models That Read the Body’s Signals: Why They Matter for Health 

A health foundation model is an AI model that uses self-supervised learning to learn meaningful features from unlabelled biosignal data. After being pretrained on large-scale health data, the models can be applied to perform a wide range of downstream health tasks, including biosignal analysis, developing new or improved biomarkers, and health issue prediction.

xMAE AI model: Continuous Cardiac Insight from Wearables

An electrocardiogram (ECG) on wearables directly measures the electrical activity of the heart and is useful for measuring heart rate and heart rate variability, identifying abnormal heart rhythms and risks for conditions such as atrial fibrillation.

ECG is highly accurate, but typically requires users to pause and take an active measurement. On the other hand, photoplethysmography (PPG) can indirectly measure cardiac function by detecting changes in blood flow and can be passively and continuously measured through sensors in wearable devices such as smartwatches.

The two signals originate from the same cardiac activity, but they appear with a certain time difference, much like thunder is heard after lightning is seen. xMAE is a biosignal pretraining framework designed to learn the temporal relationship between the two signals by reconstructing masked portions of the ECG signal using the more easily and continuously measured PPG signal. As a result, cardiovascular health-related features can be analysed more precisely using PPG without requiring separate manual ECG measurements.

The researchers pretrained xMAE using approximately 9,400 hours of ECG and PPG data. The model outperformed unimodal biosignal models and existing multimodal learning methods in 15 of 19 evaluation tasks, including cardiovascular disease prediction, abnormal test-result detection, and sleep-stage classification. The study also confirmed the potential to use the learned features across different sensor devices, body locations and data-gathering environments.

HiMAE AI model: Reading the Body at Every Time Scale on the Device

Health data measured from wearable devices can reveal different information depending on the time scale at which it is analysed. For example, short time segments can reveal rapidly changing signals such as heartbeats, while longer time segments can uncover patterns that accumulate over time, such as sleep or physical activity. This is similar to examining different information by zooming in and out of an image.

HiMAE is a self-supervised learning model that learns representation from wearable data across multiple time scales. It uses multiple encoders to analyse short and long segments separately, allowing the model to identify information required for each health task, such as heart rate analysis or sleep prediction, at the appropriate time scale. During training, the model reconstructs masked parts of the data. This enables it to learn key patterns in biosignals even when labelled data is limited.

A single pretrained HiMAE model handles classification, numerical prediction and data generation. The model achieved high performance while being smaller than existing models. It also improved computational efficiency to the point where it can produce results in less than one millisecond on a smartwatch-class central processing unit (CPU). Most importantly, HiMAE demonstrates the potential of on-device health foundation models for the first time—analysing raw health signals in real time, without relying on cloud servers.

The Next Step Toward Connected Care

Together, xMAE and HiMAE, represent an advance in AI models that precisely understand the physiological relationships and temporal structures unique to biosignals. Both models aim to deliver precise, continuous, personalised health insights and to generalise across many health tasks from a single pre-trained model. Hear more from the researchers behind this work below.

Combining refined hardware with powerful AI capabilities, the new Galaxy Z series delivers an advanced camera experience across professional-quality landscapes, dynamic video, and expressive selfies.

Fresh from Galaxy Unpacked July 2026, Samsung Newsroom took all three devices across London to put their cameras to the test.

Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra: Brilliant Detail, Day and Night

The journey began in Westminster. The Palace of Westminster, with Big Ben rising above it, sits along the River Thames, while the London Eye stands across the water on the South Bank — a view that brings together London’s past and present.

Shot with Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Big Ben and the surrounding cityscape came through in crisp detail.

▲ (From top to bottom) Photo taken with Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra and a cropped zoom of Big Ben enlarged by more than 10x

Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra’s 200MP main camera brings distant subjects into sharp focus. A new high dynamic range (HDR) capability in 200MP mode delivers richer colors and finer detail. Zooming in reveals Big Ben’s intricate stonework and even the Latin inscription beneath the clock face, demonstrating Ultra-level clarity down to the smallest details.

▲ Photo taken with the 200MP camera from the London Eye on Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra

At 135 meters tall, the London Eye is difficult to fit into a single frame from up close. The Galaxy Z Fold series’ first 50MP ultra-wide camera makes it possible to capture the towering landmark, ticket office, and nearby visitors in a single shot.

▲ (From left) Photos taken with the 1x camera and 50MP ultra-wide camera on Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra

After sunset, London took on a different character. At Tower Bridge, enhanced Nightography reduced noise in low light while preserving the illuminated bridge and texture of the flowing river in vivid detail.

▲ Tower Bridge captured with enhanced Nightography

▲ Photo taken with Nightography

Galaxy Z Fold8: Ready for Moments in Motion

Some travel moments are worth seeing from both sides of the camera. As Tower Bridge slowly lifted, Dual Recording captured the bridge in motion and the reactions of those watching in a single video.

▲ Dual Recording

Dual Recording uses the rear and front cameras simultaneously, with real-time previews on the expansive main display for easy framing. The two perspectives are combined into a single split-screen video, making the feature ideal for vlog-style content that captures both the moment and the reaction.

▲ Video recorded with Dual Recording

Away from the busy tourist hotspots, the journey continued to St. James’s Park. Filming one of the park’s resident pelicans proved challenging, as it moved quickly across the frame. For fast-moving action like this, Super Steady came in handy.

▲ Users can capture stable footage in high-motion situations.

Even as the phone moved sharply from side to side to follow the pelican, Super Steady with Horizontal Lock kept the footage level.

▲ Video recorded using Super Steady with Horizontal Lock

▲ Users can edit content on Galaxy Z Fold8’s large 7.6-inch main display.

Galaxy Z Fold8’s expansive 4:3 main display makes it easy to review clips, edit them to the desired aspect ratio, and share them with friends. From shooting to viewing and editing, the creative process flows seamlessly on one device.

Galaxy Z Flip8: Freedom From Every Shot

Galaxy Z Flip8 brings more fun and flexibility to travel photography. With Flex Mode, users can position the phone for hands-free shots from multiple angles — without help from others.

▲ Flex Mode on Galaxy Z Flip8

Galaxy Z Flip8, the thinnest and lightest Galaxy Z Flip yet, fits comfortably in one hand. FlexWindow on the cover screen provides a real-time preview, making it easier to frame selfies.

Equipped with a 50MP wide-angle camera and AI-powered ProVisual Engine, Galaxy Z Flip8 captures high-quality selfies in fine detail, down to individual strands of hair.

▲ Galaxy Z Flip8’s improved AI Bokeh feature naturally separates subjects from the background for portraits with greater depth.

The journey ended aboard one of London’s iconic double-decker buses. Folded halfway, Galaxy Z Flip8’s Camcorder Grip made the device comfortable to hold like a camcorder while recording on the move.

▲ Camcorder Grip

Zoom Rocker with Camcorder Grip provides precise control over zoom speed for smooth, natural zoom-ins.

▲ Camcorder Grip with Zoom Rocker

Exploring London with the latest Galaxy Z series revealed new ways to see — and remember — the city through each device.

With Galaxy cameras, Samsung will continue to help users capture the moments that matter and preserve those memories for years to come.

Samsung Newsroom got an early look at the new wearables during Galaxy Unpacked 2026 — from Galaxy Watch Ultra2, built for precise workout tracking and structured training in demanding environments, to Galaxy Watch9, designed for everyday health management spanning sleep, cardiovascular health, exercise and recovery.

▲ (From left) Galaxy Watch Ultra2 and Galaxy Watch9

Galaxy Watch Ultra2: Adventure Without Limits

Combining top-tier performance with exceptional durability, Galaxy Watch Ultra2 is optimised for high-intensity sports and outdoor activities.

Galaxy Watch Ultra2 is the first Galaxy Watch powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon® Wear Elite Platform,^[1] delivering fast performance and precise GPS tracking. Its 800mAh battery offers 35% more capacity than that of previous generations. The display reaches up to 5,000 nits of brightness — a first for a smartwatch — making on-screen information easy to read even under bright lighting^[2].

▲ Galaxy Watch Ultra2 is available in a 47-millimetre size.

Comfort has also improved. The cushion design seamlessly integrates the display, bezel and body. Despite its larger battery, the watch is 12% thinner than the previous generation thanks to component optimisation and an internal redesign. The band is 26% lighter with a new air pocket structure, providing a secure yet comfortable fit.

▲ A slim profile provides lasting comfort.

Trail Run^[3], a new feature exclusive to Galaxy Watch Ultra2, offers real-time insights including detailed elevation data, climbing progress and cumulative ascent and descent distance. With this information, users can gauge workout intensity and adjust their pace accordingly.

▲ Trail Run

Galaxy Watch Ultra2’s capabilities now extend beneath the surface. From the moment users enter the water, it automatically records depth, dive time and water temperature.

Backed by EN13319 certification for diving instruments, along with 10ATM water resistance and an IP69K rating for dust and water resistance, the device is engineered to support safe underwater activities^[4]. Furthermore, in collaboration with global diving equipment brand Mares, Galaxy Watch Ultra2 will support advanced diving features — including real-time ascent and descent rates as well as safety decompression time.^[5]

During workouts, users can take advantage of hydration guidance, newly added to Nutrition Alert^[6]. Based on sweat loss relative to body weight, it calculates recommended fluid intake in real time to help users stay hydrated during extended exercise sessions.

▲ Hydration guidance

Galaxy Watch9: A Companion for Everyday Health

Galaxy Watch9 is designed to be an everyday companion for continuous health management. Its slimmer body and band with a new air pocket structure fit comfortably and securely around the wrist, making it ideal for all-day wear — from workouts to sleep.

Powered by the Snapdragon Wear Elite platform, Galaxy Watch9 features a 390mAh battery^[7] with 20% more capacity than that of previous generations to support fast performance and consistent health monitoring throughout the day.

▲ (From left) Galaxy Watch9 comes in 40- and 44-millimetre sizes.

The Galaxy Watch series’ digital health experience is centred around the updated Samsung Health, an all-in-one health coach that brings together five core pillars — Activity, Mindfulness, Nutrition, Sleep and Vitals — in one place. By capturing signals from the body and presenting them at a glance, the app helps users stay ahead of their health.

▲ The five core pillars of Samsung Health

Key health metrics measured during sleep can be viewed at a glance in Vitals^[8]. Using heart rate, heart rate variability, respiratory rate, skin temperature, blood oxygen saturation, Galaxy Watch9 establishes a personalised baseline to help identify meaningful changes in health.

Heart Health Score^[9] provides an easy-to-understand snapshot of cardiovascular health by combining factors such as activity level, sleep, body composition and stress trends into a single score representing the user’s current condition.

Workout plans can also be tailored to fitness levels. Fitness Index^[10] uses body composition and workout history to assess whether a user’s current exercise volume is appropriate, helping set individualised goals. On days with more intensive workouts, Daily Cardio Load helps users assess training balance and determine how much recovery time they need.

▲ Heart Health Score

Galaxy Watch Ultra2 excels in high-intensity training, while Galaxy Watch9 supports everyday health management. Together with enhanced hardware and Samsung Health, the next-generation Galaxy Watch series delivers a smarter, more personalised health experience.

[1]Snapdragon and Snapdragon Wear Elite Platform branded products are products of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. Snapdragon is a trademark or registered trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated.

[2]Refers to the localised peak brightness achieved under high ambient light, and full-screen brightness may differ. Actual brightness may vary or be limited depending on environmental factors, device temperature, and usage conditions.

[3]Trail Run is available on Android phones (Android 13 or above) and requires the Samsung Health app (v7.0 or above). Samsung account login required. Service only available with Galaxy Watch Ultra2.

[4]According to the ISO22810 standard. The test was conducted in 5% salt water and 4ppm chlorine water. Galaxy Watch Ultra2 has obtained EN13319, for measuring water depth by the environmental pressure. Water resistance is not a permanent condition and can diminish over time. If it’s been exposed to seawater, rinse it in freshwater and dry after use.

[5]Available later this year with a separate app download required.

[6]To activate Nutrition Alert, users should go to the exercise settings and enable the Nutrition feature. Please note that the Nutrition Alert is only supported for certain specific activities.

[7]Based on the 40-millimeter Galaxy Watch9 model.

[8]Not intended for use in the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. If you have health concerns, be sure to see a medical professional. Vitals is available on Android phones (Android 11 or above) and requires the Samsung Health app (v7.0 or above). Samsung account login required.

[9] Heart health tracking features are intended for general wellness and fitness purposes only. Not intended for use in detection, diagnosis, treatment of any medical condition or sleep disorder.

[10] To use the features, at least one measurement each of BIA and VO2Max is required, along with two days of activity records and step count data.