Samsung is exploring a premium subscription model for its Samsung Health platform, a move that could introduce monthly fees for advanced features. This consideration comes as the company prepares to roll out One UI 8 Watch, which includes several new health functionalities, with the next Galaxy Watch in July.
Currently, all Samsung Health features are free. However, Dr. Hon Pak, Senior Vice President and Head of Digital Health at Samsung, indicated in an interview with CNET that the company is investigating a subscription-based approach, similar to services like Garmin Connect Plus or Fitbit Premium. While basic Samsung Health features are expected to remain free, advanced functionalities could soon require a monthly fee.
The One UI 8 Watch update, announced earlier this week, introduces Bedtime Guidance, Vascular Load, Running Coach, and Antioxidant Index to Samsung Health. It is possible that these new advanced features, or future ones, might be included free with premium devices such as new Galaxy Watches and potentially Galaxy Rings. Users with older models, however, might need to subscribe to access these enhanced capabilities.
A beta program for the new Samsung Health features is currently underway in the US and South Korea, accessible on watches as old as the Galaxy Watch5 series. However, the availability of certain features is dependent on the device’s hardware, specifically its advanced LED sensors.
For instance, the Vascular Load and Antioxidant Index features are exclusively available on the Galaxy Watch Ultra. The Running Coach feature, on the other hand, will be compatible with the Galaxy Watch7 and newer models. It’s important to note that Vascular Load and Antioxidant Index are being introduced as “Labs features,” signifying their experimental status as early previews before a stable release.
