What Samsung actually did
Samsung removed the Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 4 Classic from its Mobile Security update schedule. The August 2026 security patch was the last one either model will receive. There was no announcement, the models simply stopped appearing on the list.
Both launched in August 2021 as Samsung's first Wear OS watches, the pair that pulled the platform back from irrelevance. They got five years of support and four major OS upgrades: Wear OS 3.5, then 4, then 5, then 6.
That last number matters more than the ending does. These watches finish their supported life on Wear OS 6, running One UI 8 Watch, which is the current version. They are not being abandoned on old software. They are being left on today's software, permanently.
Your watch does not stop working
Nothing switches off. End of support means no new features and no further security patches, not a device that stops functioning.
Your Galaxy Watch 4 will keep tracking workouts, keep showing notifications, keep taking calls, keep syncing health data. Every app already installed keeps running. The hardware is unchanged and the software you have today is the software you keep.
What you lose is forward motion. No new Wear OS features will arrive. Apps that eventually require a newer platform version will stop being compatible, though that is a slow drift rather than a cliff, and the watch is on Wear OS 6, so that drift starts from a recent baseline.
Does it still connect to an iPhone?
Yes, and this is the part that doesn't change at all.
Lynio needs Wear OS 3.0 or later. The Galaxy Watch 4 and Watch 4 Classic end on Wear OS 6, three major versions clear of that floor. Samsung ending updates has no bearing on whether the watch can pair with an iPhone, because the pairing depends on the software already on the watch, not on future updates to it.
Setup is unchanged too. Samsung Galaxy Watch is the one family that never needs an Android phone at any point, whether the watch is brand new or already in use, so a Watch 4 sitting in a drawer can still be brought onto an iPhone without borrowing an Android device.
When Lynio ships updates for new Wear OS versions, that gets posted publicly on Featurely at featurely.carpediemcreations.io, where you can see what's shipped and what's being worked on.
The one real risk
Be clear-eyed about the security side, because it's the one genuine downside.
No further patches means any vulnerability discovered from now on stays open on these watches. For most functions that's a low, slow-burning risk. The exception is payments. If you use your watch for contactless payment, an unpatched wearable holding payment credentials is a different risk profile from an unpatched watch that just shows notifications.
That's a judgement call rather than an emergency. If you tap to pay with your Watch 4 daily, it's a reason to think about replacing it sooner. If you don't, the practical impact of this announcement in the next year is close to zero.
Which watch is next
The Watch 4 is the first Wear OS Galaxy Watch to reach end of support, not the last. Several others are inside their final year:
| Watch | Support ends |
|---|---|
| Galaxy Watch 4 and Watch 4 Classic | Already ended, August 2026 |
| Apple Watch Series 6, 7, 8, SE 2nd gen, Ultra 1st gen | Mid-September 2026, with watchOS 27 |
| Pixel Watch 2 | 1 October 2026 |
| Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro | 31 December 2026 |
Worth noting for anyone weighing a switch: several Apple Watch models are ageing out on almost exactly the same timeline. If your Apple Watch is one of them and you'd rather not stay inside one ecosystem to replace it, a Wear OS watch paired to your iPhone through Lynio is a route that doesn't exist by default.
References
Quick Answers
Will my Galaxy Watch 4 stop working now?
No. End of support means no further updates, not a shutdown. Workouts, notifications, calls, health tracking and every app already on the watch carry on exactly as before.
Does my Galaxy Watch 4 still connect to my iPhone?
Yes. Lynio requires Wear OS 3.0 or later, and the Watch 4 finishes on Wear OS 6, so it's comfortably supported. Samsung ending updates doesn't affect pairing.
Do I need an Android phone to set it up with my iPhone?
No. Samsung Galaxy Watch never needs one, whether the watch is brand new or has been in use for years.
Is it still safe to use?
For everyday use, yes. The exception is contactless payment: with no further security patches, an unpatched watch holding payment credentials carries more risk than one used only for notifications and fitness.
Should I replace it?
Not urgently, unless you rely on it for payments. It runs current software, it still connects to your phone, and the practical impact over the next year is small. The stronger reason to upgrade is wanting new features, not fear of this announcement.
What about my Galaxy Watch 5?
Its Wear OS upgrade support runs to 31 December 2026. The same reasoning will apply then: the watch keeps working and keeps connecting.