Samsung's "Now Bar" Expanding from Phones to Galaxy Watches with One UI 8 Watch Samsung's "Now Bar," a prominent feature introduced with One UI 7 (based on Android 15) for its smartphones, is reportedly making its way to the company's Galaxy Watch lineup. This expansion is anticipated to arrive as part of the One UI 8 Watch update, promising a more integrated and glanceable experience for smartwatch users. What is the Now Bar? First seen in One UI 7 on Galaxy phones, the Now Bar is designed to provide users with easily accessible, real-time information directly on their screen, particularly on the lock screen. Its initial iteration on phones displays status updates such as: Battery levels Sports scores Morning briefs Timers Media playback While Samsung pitched it as a "smarter layer of interactivity" and a "major innovation", its initial rollout on phones has been met with mixed reactions. Some users find it lightweight, while others await more robust third-party app integrations and contextual suggestions to unlock its full potential, drawing comparisons to Apple's Live Activities on iOS. The Now Bar Arrives on Your Wrist Strong evidence, primarily from an APK teardown of a leaked SecClockWorkSysUI (version 4.0.57) file, suggests Samsung is actively working to bring the Now Bar to its Wear OS-powered smartwatches. Multiple strings and references within this pre-release software point towards the feature's integration into the Galaxy Watch ecosystem. Key expectations for the Now Bar on Galaxy Watches include: Tailored Interface: Samsung is reportedly customizing the Now Bar specifically for the smartwatch display, with various customization options. Glanceable Information: The core purpose remains to offer a smarter, more glanceable interface, allowing users to quickly see relevant information without deep interaction. Part of One UI 8 Watch: The Now Bar is expected to be a significant component of the upcoming One UI 8 Watch update. While information from APK teardowns indicates features in development, it's important to note that they may not always make it to the final public release. However, the evidence strongly suggests this is a planned enhancement. One UI 8 Watch: A Potentially Significant Update The arrival of the Now Bar is tied to the One UI 8 Watch update, which itself is generating some buzz. There are indications that Samsung might skip One UI 7 Watch entirely, moving directly from One UI 6 Watch to One UI 8 Watch [4]. This strategy would align the smartwatch software versioning more closely with that of its Galaxy smartphones, which are transitioning to One UI 7 and looking towards One UI 8. The One UI 8 Watch update is rumored to debut alongside the Galaxy Watch 8, potentially in July. This update, featuring the Now Bar, could represent a substantial user interface and experience upgrade for Galaxy Watch users. Potential and Current Perceptions The Now Bar's success on smartwatches will likely depend on its utility and interactivity. On phones, some critics have called the current version a "useless gimmick" if it doesn't become more interactive and integrate more deeply with third-party apps. However, there's also optimism that Samsung will enhance the feature. For smartwatches, where screen real estate is premium and quick glances are key, a well-implemented Now Bar could be genuinely useful. If Samsung can deliver on the promise of a "smarter layer of interactivity" with meaningful, real-time updates and useful integrations, the Now Bar could become a valued feature on both phones and smartwatches. Its expansion to Galaxy Watches signals Samsung's intent to create a more cohesive and informed user experience across its device ecosystem. The transition to One UI 8 Watch, bringing with it features like the Now Bar, will be closely watched by Galaxy Watch users eager for new functionalities and a refreshed interface.
