Samsung and Google have opened a new era in Wear OS by presenting the third version of the system based on Android; It was exactly what users wanted, an “Android on the wrist” compatible with applications like WhatsApp and advanced functions. Since then, each new version has been better than the last, and Wear OS 5, which will debut with the upcoming Galaxy Watch 7, will improve battery life like never before.
Unfortunately, this announcement three years ago not only marked the beginning of a new era, but also the end of another. We are talking about Tizen, one of the pioneers in the smart watch sector and which was formerly used by Samsung in all of its smart devices (except smartphones).
We could say that the end of Tizen in smart watches has been seen from afar, knowing that since making the jump to Wear OS with the Galaxy Watch 4, Samsung has no longer launched a watch with the system; something striking given that it is its main developer, along with the Linux Foundation. Tizen was the system used, among other things, on the first Galaxy Watcha device that showed that there were real alternatives to the Apple Watch.
Tizen’s watchmaking journey will end without big announcement, but little by little. Some Reddit users have noticed that the Galaxy Store now displays a warning if trying to access it from a Tizen watch; The message informs of Samsung’s plans to remove application platform from Tizen watches.
As of September 30, 2024, Galaxy Store will stop selling paid content for Tizen Watches, including apps, watch faces and more; Therefore, if we are interested in any of the applications offered in the store, we must purchase it before this date.
The next step will be taken on May 31, 2025, when will also be Downloading free content for Tizen will be blocked; Therefore, from this date you will no longer be able to download applications or spheres of any kind, neither free nor paid.
Finally, on September 30, 2025, the last step will be taken, the Complete removal of downloads for Tizen watches. This means that we will no longer be able to download our applications, even if we have paid for them or have already downloaded them.
The Galaxy Watch Active 2 is among those affected
In addition to the Galaxy Store, Samsung warns that “Essential services” will stop operating from May 2025; Although it is not clear what services these are, it is expected that basic functions requiring an Internet connection will no longer work from this date.
In connection with these changes, Samsung also confirmed that Tizen watches They can no longer sync with modern Galaxy phones, who have Android 14 or higher. All this gives users between 12 and 16 months to find an alternative to their smartwatch; Samsung justified this measure by its commitment to Wear OS, as it avoids maintaining two different platforms at the same time.
The watches affected by this measure are as follows:
- All Galaxy Gear brand watches.
- Galaxy Watch
- Galaxy Watch 3
- Active Galaxy Watch
- Galaxy Watch Active 2
This news does not mean the complete end of Tizen. After all, Samsung still uses this system on its smart TVs, as it has chosen not to move to Android TV or Google TV at this time.
