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Samsung Galaxy Watch users might soon need to open their wallets wider to access the health features they've grown accustomed to. Samsung senior vice president Dr. Hon Pak said the company is "exploring" a premium subscription model, according to an interview with Lifehacker sister site CNET. While nothing has been officially launched yet, the writing is on the wall for existing Galaxy Watch owners who have enjoyed comprehensive health tracking without additional fees. Here's what we know so far.
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—think "AI coaching" or "personalized insights."
According to the CNET interview, it looks like new Galaxy Watch purchasers would receive all advanced coaching tools already unlocked with their device. However, existing users—those who bought their watches under the assumption that health features were included—could face the prospect of paying extra to maintain access to tools they previously used for free.
What subscription models Samsung might follow
To make an educated guess at Samsung's subscription strategy, let's take a look at how other major players handle health features and premium services.
Apple Watch offers a Fitness+ subscription for $9.99 per month. Apple Fitness+ mostly focuses on workout classes and guided fitness content, rather than paywalling the most coveted health data collection. Apple Watch wearers still get the basics like step count, heart rate, and all your core 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 insights, personalized guidance, and detailed health metrics require Fitbit Premium ($9.99 per month). However, Fitbit has been transparent about this tiered approach since the service launched.
Garmin is an interesting case, since the company actually adjusted its model in the face of intense user backlash when they announced Connect+ and its $6.99 per month price tag. Garmin clarified that “all existing features and data in Garmin Connect will remain free,” but still—it felt like the end of an era for the company. Now, it's rare to find any sort of wearable where you don't have to pay for features in addition to the hardware itself.
For current Galaxy Watch owners, this is a reminder that what seems like a one-time purchase increasingly involves ongoing costs and changing terms of service. It seems like the new norm is simply to factor in potential future subscription requirements down the line. What begins as a "premium feature or two" eventually expands into a broader pattern where previously free functionality becomes subscription-gated. The bottom line is Galaxy Watch owners should prepare for their health tracking to soon come with an additional price tag.
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