Universal gestures<\/p>\n
Even more gestures<\/p>\n
![\"Universal](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1000065720.jpg\")
\n Credit:\u00a0Bertel King \/ How-To Geek<\/p>\n
You may already know about the \u201cdouble pinch\u201d and \u201cknock knock\u201d gestures on your Galaxy Watch. Those are great to enable<\/a>, too, but Samsung actually offers a lot more in the way of \u201cuniversal gestures\u201d (Settings > Accessibility > Interaction and dexterity > Universal gestures).<\/p>\n Universal gestures essentially allow you to navigate and control the entire watch interface without touching the screen\u2014that\u2019s not an exaggeration. You can select actions from a long list and bind them to five different hand gestures. These actions are everything from emulating a swipe on the screen to opening recent apps.<\/p>\n You can\u2019t use the pattern lock security method with universal gestures enabled.<\/p>\n From the Galaxy Gear to the Galaxy Watch Ultra.<\/p>\n HistoryHardwareGalaxySoftwareDesign<\/p>\n Begin<\/p>\n In what year did Samsung release the original Galaxy Gear, its first smartwatch?<\/p>\n A2012B2013C2014D2015<\/p>\n Correct! Samsung launched the original Galaxy Gear in September 2013 alongside the Galaxy Note 3. It was one of the earliest mainstream smartwatches from a major manufacturer, beating Apple to the category by nearly two years.<\/p>\n Not quite. Samsung released the original Galaxy Gear in 2013, unveiling it at IFA Berlin alongside the Galaxy Note 3. It was a bold early entry into the smartwatch market before the category had really taken off.<\/p>\n Continue<\/p>\n What operating system did the original Samsung Galaxy Gear run when it launched in 2013?<\/p>\n ATizenBWear OSCAndroidDBada<\/p>\n Correct! The original Galaxy Gear actually ran a stripped-down version of Android, not Tizen. Samsung later transitioned many of its Gear watches to Tizen, but the very first model used Android under the hood.<\/p>\n Not quite. Surprisingly, the original Galaxy Gear ran a modified version of Android \u2014 not Tizen. Samsung switched subsequent Gear models to its in-house Tizen OS, which made the original an interesting outlier in the lineup’s history.<\/p>\n Continue<\/p>\n Which Samsung smartwatch was notable for featuring a rotating physical bezel as its primary navigation mechanism?<\/p>\n AGalaxy Gear S2BGalaxy Gear S3CGalaxy Watch ActiveDGalaxy Gear 2<\/p>\n Correct! The Galaxy Gear S2, released in 2015, introduced Samsung’s iconic rotating bezel design. It became one of the brand’s most praised smartwatch innovations, offering an intuitive, tactile way to scroll through menus and notifications.<\/p>\n Not quite. It was the Galaxy Gear S2 (2015) that debuted the beloved rotating physical bezel. This design element became a hallmark of Samsung smartwatches and was widely praised as one of the cleverest navigation solutions in wearables.<\/p>\n Continue<\/p>\n What was the significance of Samsung rebranding its smartwatch line from ‘Gear’ to ‘Galaxy Watch’ in 2018?<\/p>\n AIt signaled a switch from Tizen to Wear OSBIt aligned the wearables more closely with Samsung’s broader Galaxy ecosystem brandingCIt marked Samsung’s partnership with Google for watch hardwareDIt indicated a shift to a purely fitness-focused product line<\/p>\n Correct! The rebrand from Gear to Galaxy Watch in 2018 was a strategic move to unify Samsung’s wearables under its powerful Galaxy brand umbrella. It helped position the watches as premium companions to Galaxy smartphones rather than standalone gadgets.<\/p>\n Not quite. The ‘Gear’ to ‘Galaxy Watch’ rebrand in 2018 was primarily about brand alignment, tying the wearables more tightly to the Galaxy ecosystem that customers already knew and trusted. The watches still ran Tizen at the time of the rebrand.<\/p>\n Continue<\/p>\n Which operating system did Samsung adopt for the Galaxy Watch 4 series, marking a major platform shift in 2021?<\/p>\n ATizen 6.0BHarmonyOSCWear OSDOne UI Watch OS<\/p>\n Correct! The Galaxy Watch 4 marked Samsung’s high-profile switch from Tizen to Wear OS, developed in partnership with Google. The co-engineered platform brought Google apps like Maps and Pay to Samsung watches while Samsung contributed its One UI Watch interface on top.<\/p>\n Not quite. The Galaxy Watch 4 (2021) was the turning point where Samsung dropped Tizen in favor of Wear OS, co-developed with Google. This was a landmark moment for the Android wearables ecosystem, bringing two major players together on a single platform.<\/p>\n Continue<\/p>\n The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra, launched in 2024, drew design comparisons to which competitor’s product?<\/p>\n AGarmin FenixBApple Watch UltraCFitbit SenseDGoogle Pixel Watch<\/p>\n Correct! The Galaxy Watch Ultra’s rugged, squared-off titanium design drew widespread comparisons to Apple’s Watch Ultra. Samsung leaned into the premium, adventure-ready aesthetic with a large case, bright display, and dual-button design that echoed Apple’s approach.<\/p>\n Not quite. The Galaxy Watch Ultra released in 2024 was frequently compared to the Apple Watch Ultra due to its similar rugged titanium casing, squared design language, and premium adventure-focused positioning. Competition in the premium smartwatch tier was clearly heating up.<\/p>\n Continue<\/p>\n Which Samsung smartwatch was the first to include a built-in LTE cellular radio, allowing calls without a paired phone?<\/p>\n AGalaxy Gear 2BGalaxy Gear SCGalaxy Gear S2 ClassicDGalaxy Watch Active 2<\/p>\n Correct! The Galaxy Gear S, released in late 2014, was Samsung’s first smartwatch with a built-in LTE cellular connection. Its large, curved Super AMOLED display and standalone calling capability made it stand out, though its curved strap design was quite unconventional.<\/p>\n Not quite. The Galaxy Gear S (2014) was Samsung’s first watch with LTE cellular connectivity built in. Its bold curved design and large screen were ahead of their time, and the ability to make calls independently of a smartphone was a major selling point for the era.<\/p>\n Continue<\/p>\n Samsung’s Gear IconX, released in 2016, represented an expansion into which wearable category beyond smartwatches?<\/p>\n ASmart glassesBFitness bandsCTrue wireless earbudsDSmart rings<\/p>\n Correct! The Gear IconX were Samsung’s first true wireless earbuds, arriving in 2016 \u2014 the same year Apple released its AirPods. The IconX even included onboard storage for music, allowing workouts without a phone. They’ve since evolved into the Galaxy Buds line.<\/p>\n Not quite. The Gear IconX (2016) were Samsung’s entry into true wireless earbuds, competing directly with Apple’s AirPods which launched the same year. These eventually evolved into today’s popular Galaxy Buds lineup, showing how Samsung’s Gear brand once covered a wide range of wearables.<\/p>\n See My Score<\/p>\n Challenge CompleteYour Score<\/p>\n \/ 8<\/p>\n Thanks for playing!<\/p>\n Try Again<\/p>\n Continuous heart rate tracking<\/p>\n Never miss a beat<\/p>\n By default, Galaxy Watches are set up to record your heart rate every 10 minutes. For most people, that\u2019s probably fine, and it\u2019s easier on the battery. However, if you\u2019re serious about heart rate tracking, you probably want all the information you can get.<\/p>\n Head into the Settings and go to \u201cHealth,\u201d then select \u201cHeart rate\u201d\u2014choose \u201cMeasure continuously.\u201d You might notice a slight dip in battery life, but you\u2019ll have more heart rate information at your disposal.<\/p>\n Fall detection<\/p>\n Let your watch call for help<\/p>\n The Apple Watch introduced fall detection back in 2022, but Galaxy Watches have had it since before Samsung made the leap to Wear OS. For people with disabilities or mobility limitations, it can be a literal lifesaver. The feature can be found at Settings > Safety and emergency > Hard fall detection.<\/p>\n Fall detection uses an algorithm to detect when the watch wearer takes a \u201chard fall.\u201d If a fall is detected, and the wearer remains motionless for a few moments afterward, a variety of things can be triggered. That includes a loud alert sound, calling emergency phone numbers, and sending an SOS to contacts. In case of accidental detections, a swipe can be required before any calls are made.<\/p>\n Samsung phone only: Change your watch face with Modes<\/p>\n Automatically change your watch face for specific situations<\/p>\n One of the most underrated and powerful features of Samsung phones is the \u201cModes and Routines<\/a>\u201d app. It puts anything Google Pixel phones have to shame<\/a>, and the functionality extends to Galaxy Watches, too.<\/p>\n Think of the \u201cModes\u201d portion of \u201cModes and Routines\u201d as Do Not Disturb customized for specific situations\u2014things like \u201cWork,\u201d \u201cDriving,\u201d or \u201cExercise.\u201d These Modes can go so far as to change the wallpaper and home screen layout on your phone. When you have a Galaxy Watch connected, there\u2019s also an option to change the watch face.<\/p>\n For example, you could have the \u201cCircle Dashboard\u201d watch face with all your running metrics kick in when you start tracking a run. Or maybe a simple, minimal face when you\u2019re at home outside of work hours. To set this up, open \u201cModes and Routines\u201d on your Samsung phone, choose one of the pre-made modes or make your own, and select \u201cWatch face\u201d from the \u201cChange appearance\u201d section.<\/p>\n All the features you need<\/p>\n For better or worse, Samsung is never stingy about giving users options. It can be overwhelming on a phone, but I happen to really appreciate it on a smartwatch. Make sure you take the time to peruse the Settings on your Galaxy Watch and take advantage of the many ways you can customize it to your liking.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\tBrand \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n Samsung<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\tOperating System \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWear OS<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\tCPU \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExynos W1000 (5 Core , 3nm)<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\tRAM \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t2GB<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\tStorage \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t32GB<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\tDimensions \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t43.7 x 46.0 x 8.6t<\/p>\n Now thinner and more comfortable, the Galaxy Watch 8 adds new health-tracking features like sleep apnea detection and antioxidant readings.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\tHeart Rate Monitor \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tYes<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\tOperating System \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOne UI 6 Watch, Wear OS 5<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\tOnboard GPS \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tYes<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\tDisplay Size \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t1.3\/1.5 inches<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\tCase Material \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAluminum<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\tDisplay \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSuper AMOLED, Sapphire crystal<\/p>\n The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 is Samsung’s entry-level smartwatch for 2024. It resembles the Galaxy Watch 6 but features an enhanced Exynos W1000 chipset, promising significantly improved battery life and performance.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Samsung has never been scared to include as many options as possible in its devices. 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Quiz8 Questions \u00b7 Test Your KnowledgeHow well do you know Samsung watches?
Test your knowledge<\/p>\n![\"samsung](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1780006570_326_samsung-galaxy-watch8.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"Samsung](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1780006571_678_watch-7-product-image-1.jpg\")
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