Five years of wrist time, and that’s a wrap. Samsung has officially ended software support for the Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 4 Classic, cutting off not just major OS updates but security patches too. As reported by SamMobile, the move became clear after Samsung updated its security update scope page following the September 2026 security update rollout.
These two watches hold a pretty significant place in Samsung’s history. They were the company’s first Wear OS devices, launching in mid-2021 with Wear OS 3 under the hood. Before that, Samsung ran its own Tizen platform, and the switch to Google’s Wear OS was a big shift. So in a way, the Watch 4 and Watch 4 Classic started an entirely new chapter for Samsung wearables.
To be fair, Samsung didn’t abandon them overnight. Both watches received four major Wear OS updates over their lifetime, going from Wear OS 3.5 all the way up to Wear OS 6. That’s a solid run, and most Android watch makers don’t come close to that kind of update commitment. The August 2026 security patch was their final update.
But here’s why this matters beyond just one product going end-of-life. Security patches aren’t optional extras. Without them, your watch is sitting on software with known vulnerabilities that will never get fixed. And because these watches sync with your phone, handle health data, and connect to your accounts, that’s a real concern, not just a technicality.
This also fits into a broader pattern across the industry. Wearables have historically had shorter support windows than smartphones, but consumer expectations are changing. People spend serious money on smartwatches and expect them to last. Samsung has been getting better at this, but the Watch 4 generation hitting end-of-life still stings for anyone who bought one expecting longer longevity.
If you’re still rocking a Watch 4 or Watch 4 Classic, your options are basically:
- Keep wearing it knowing it won’t get security updates
- Upgrade to the Galaxy Watch 9 or the new Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, both running Wear OS 7 with One UI Watch 9
The Watch 9 and Watch Ultra 2 are the obvious next step, and both are genuinely great watches. Still, it’s worth thinking about how long any new purchase will actually be supported before you hand over your cash.