Samsung Galaxy Watch May Soon Get Paid Subscription for Premium Health Services
Samsung Galaxy Watch users may soon have to open their wallets wider to access the health features they’ve grown accustomed to. Samsung Senior Vice President Dr. Hong Park said the company is “exploring” a premium subscription model, according to an interview with Lifehacker sister site CNET . While nothing has officially launched yet, for existing Galaxy Watch owners who’ve enjoyed comprehensive health tracking without the extra fees, the writing is on the wall. Here’s what we know so far.
What this news means for Galaxy Watch owners
Samsung says it’s exploring a premium subscription model similar to Fitbit Premium or Garmin’s Connect+ . In other words, the company is openly considering a monthly subscription to unlock advanced health features like “AI coaching” or “personalized insights.”
According to an interview with CNET, it appears that new Galaxy Watch buyers will get all of the advanced coaching tools already unlocked with their device. However, existing users — those who bought their watch assuming the health features were included — may face the prospect of paying extra to retain access to the tools they previously used for free.
What subscription models can Samsung use?
To make an educated guess about Samsung’s subscription strategy, let’s look at how other major players are implementing healthcare features and premium services.
Apple Watch offers a Fitness+ subscription for $9.99 per month. Apple Fitness+ focuses primarily on workout classes and fitness content rather than on collecting the most coveted health data for a fee. Apple Watch owners still get basic data like steps, heart rate, and all the basic health data for free.
Fitbit (owned by Google) has more of a mixed model. Basic activity tracking, sleep monitoring, and exercise logging are free, but advanced analytics, personalized recommendations, and detailed health metrics require Fitbit Premium ($9.99 per month). However, Fitbit has been open about this tiered approach since the service launched.
Garmin is an interesting case, as the company actually adjusted its model in the face of intense user backlash when it announced Connect+ and its $6.99 per month price. Garmin clarified that “all existing features and data in Garmin Connect will remain free,” but it still felt like the end of an era for the company. It’s rare to find any wearables these days where you don’t have to pay for features in addition to the hardware itself.
For current Galaxy Watch owners, it’s a reminder that what seems like a one-time purchase increasingly comes with ongoing costs and changing terms of service. It seems like the new norm is simply to consider potential future subscription requirements down the road. What starts out as “a premium feature or two” eventually expands to a broader model where previously free features become available via subscription. The bottom line is that Galaxy Watch owners should be prepared for their health tracking to soon come with an added price tag.