I just wish Samsung would unlock its Galaxy Watch lineup

Wearable devices have come a long way from simply counting steps. These days, they’re feature-rich health companions that keep us on our toes on everything from sweaty workouts to brief REM cycles. For many buyers, the idea of ​​a daily fitness center is the whole point. That’s why Samsung’s approach is feeling increasingly self-defeating. It’s now 2026, and some of the brand’s key smartwatch features still vary depending on which phone you’re using.

The Galaxy Watch lineup includes some of the most capable health wearables you can buy. Still, despite the lineup getting better and better over the years (largely thanks to Wear OS), the fine print hasn’t changed much. All the biggest limitations are related to Samsung Health Monitor, which is exclusive to Galaxy phones. This includes blood pressure tracking, ECG readings, irregular heart rhythm notifications, and sleep apnea detection. Simply put, if it runs through Samsung Health Monitor, it doesn’t work completely without a Galaxy phone. I may strap Samsung’s hardware to my wrist, but access to its best tools depends on my loyalty to the ecosystem.

This doesn’t mean that the brand’s watches are incomplete without Galaxy phones. Most of the basics are widely accessible, including heart rate monitoring, SpO2 tracking, core sleep tracking, activity and workout metrics, and body composition measurements. All of these health fitness tracking devices work on Android phones through standard Samsung Health and Wear OS support. It’s disappointing that Samsung’s most clinically meaningful features are behind the wall.

Wear OS is no longer the fragmented platform it used to be, and the expectation now is that your experience follows your hardware, not your phone’s logo. Google’s Pixel Watch line, for example, keeps its core health features widely accessible on all Android devices, not just Pixel phones. Sure, region-based limitations come with the territory of advanced health devices, but that’s a different issue (and Samsung deals with it too). As Wear OS siblings move away from brand-based restrictions, Samsung’s restrictions are on the rise.

Even outside of Wear OS, the contrast is hard to ignore. Garmin offers a platform-agnostic experience, while smart rings from companies like Ora and Ultrahuman pair essentially with any modern smartphone. Against that backdrop, Samsung’s phone-based gatekeeping seems outdated and, at this point, a bit stubborn. I don’t expect my Wear OS watches to be paired with iOS any time soon, and I’m not complaining that my Apple Watch only works with the iPhone, but I’m annoyed at losing core features for pairing the Galaxy Watch Ultra with the Pixel 10 instead of the Galaxy S26.

Looking ahead, there haven’t been too many meaningful leaks so far regarding the upcoming Galaxy Watch 9. What has been revealed points to a very specific update, featuring the familiar size, similar battery expectations and possibly a new chip, the usual round of software tweaks and an AI-powered health tweak on top. So far, there’s nothing that’s making me nervous about going to the brand’s summer Unpacked event, where the line is likely to be shorter.

It’s more likely that Samsung will improve accuracy and improve other health features. In fact, if Samsung wants the Galaxy Watch to remain a leader as a health-focused wearable, it should expand access to the features it already has. Decoupling tools like ECG, blood pressure tracking, and sleep apnea detection from Samsung phones would go much further than just another incremental spec bump. The Galaxy Watch doesn’t need more features, it just needs fewer restrictions.