My father is notoriously difficult to shop for. He likes tech, but he likes to stick with the classics. He rarely buys the latest and greatest devices, but he at least knows about them, and he's still young enough to keep up with today's tech. He also loves Samsung (like father, like son). So, when the time came to look for a Father's Day gift, two things came to mind: Prime Day and the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic.

Of course, I'm late to Father's Day, but that's what happens when Prime Day begins days later. I'm glad I waited, though, because the Galaxy Watch 8 is currently on sale with a 33% discount, shaving $165 off the price.

• Prime Day returns June 23-26: see the full list of deals

✅Recommended if: You want a powerful smartwatch with good battery life, tons of health and fitness features, and a classic design with a rotating bezel for navigation.

❌Skip this deal if: You don't want a heavy smartwatch, you own a Pixel (get a Pixel Watch), or you want a smartwatch that lasts for more than a couple of days per charge.

Samsung has on-and-off years with the Classic series of Galaxy Watches, and last year's Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is the best one we've gotten. It has a very fast, high-performance processor, so navigation is smooth as ever. It also runs Wear OS 6 with Samsung's UI on top, and we can expect Wear OS 7 to bring even more goodies.

But I think my dad (and dads like mine) will love it because of the design. Samsung tried something new by giving it a squircle shape, but the round watch face and metal chassis still give a classic style. And the best part is that you can rotate the bezel for easy navigation (or just to fiddle with).

Our reviewer said that he liked the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic's bezel "because its ridged design is more striking than past models; the 6 Classic's bezel is easier on the fingers but almost too subtle for anyone to see, especially with my Black model. This version's bezel is rougher to the touch, but still easy to turn."

I also think it will be good for my dad to have something to monitor his health and, hopefully, motivate him to get serious about exercising, as my favorite fitness tech products have for me.

What you need to know

• Wear OS 7 is rolling out now to eligible Pixel Watch models with smarter features, stronger device integration, and improved battery life.
• Live Updates bring real-time information to your wrist, letting you track scores, deliveries, and workouts without constantly opening apps.
• Google is tightening ecosystem integration, making it easier to interact with earbuds and upcoming smart glasses directly from your watch.

People are wearing smartwatches more than ever, and Google is capitalizing with an update that aims to make them more useful throughout the day. Wear OS 7 is now available to eligible Pixel Watch models and delivers new real-time experiences, improved device integration, and battery enhancements.

One of the biggest new features is Live Updates. Similar to the live information cards Android users already see on phones, the feature now comes to the wrist. You get constant updates, meaning you don’t need to pop open apps every time you want to check the score of your game or the status of your food delivery.

Wear OS 7 also makes it easier to connect to other devices within Google’s ecosystem. The platform is designed to work more smoothly with accessories like earbuds and upcoming intelligent eyewear. For example, if you take a photo with audio glasses, you can immediately see the photo preview on your watch.

Your wrist is now the ecosystem command center

Additionally, you can control playback on headphones, speakers, and other connected devices via your wrist. A new media output switcher makes it easier to transfer audio between devices without reaching for your phone.

The update is also paving the way for Google’s next generation of AI experiences. Gemini Intelligence capabilities will be coming to select Wear OS 7 devices later this year. One such addition is Create My Widget, which allows users to create personalized watch dashboards with natural language. Gemini will also bring multi-step app automation so your watch can do things for you. These include booking your favorite bike for a spin class or ordering your usual from a favorite restaurant, Google says.

The company is also bringing its Neural Expressive design language to Wear OS alongside Personal Intelligence. The system can draw information from Google services, such as Gmail, Search, and chat history, to make more personalized suggestions.

Of course, all these new capabilities would be insignificant if battery life were compromised, which is why Google claims that Wear OS 7 includes extensive system-level optimizations. Users upgrading from Wear OS 6 can expect battery life improvements of up to 10%.

Wear OS 7 is being launched today for eligible Pixel Watch hardware, but Google's vision for the platform will not be realized all at once. The Gemini-powered features are coming later this year.

Android Central's Take

It’s encouraging to see Google putting effort into making the smartwatch a real proactive companion instead of just a smaller phone screen. Custom widgets and multi-step Gemini actions are features that could help users save time and reduce the back and forth between devices. If you’re already inside the Google ecosystem, that’s good news. But then again, Google is trying to get people excited about features that aren’t fully available on day one.

What you need to know

• Verizon's support page suggests Pixel Watch 2, 3, and 4 are getting Wear OS 7 with the June update.
• The original Pixel Watch appears to be missing from the Wear OS 7 upgrade list once again.
• Wear OS 7 brings new Wear Widgets, Live Updates, and Gemini-powered task automation features.

A new support document from Verizon may have accidentally revealed which Pixel Watch models are getting Wear OS 7.

At I/O 2026, Google quietly unveiled Wear OS 7, but the company stopped short of confirming which smartwatches would receive the update or when it would begin rolling out. Now, a newly published Verizon support document may have filled in some of those gaps (via Droid-Life).

According to the support page(s), the Pixel Watch 2, Pixel Watch 3, and Pixel Watch 4 are all set to receive the Wear OS 7 update. Verizon says the update will arrive alongside the June 2026 security patch and will include Wear OS 7 along with additional performance and stability improvements. The carrier lists the software version as CP2A.260603.001.

Unfortunately, that also appears to confirm that the original Pixel Watch won't be getting Wear OS 7. The first-generation Pixel Watch also missed out on Wear OS 6, so it's not entirely surprising. Still, it's a disappointing outcome for early Pixel Watch owners, especially since smartwatch software support has become an increasingly important selling point.

For those who don't remember, Wear OS 7 is more than just a minor update. It introduces Wear Widgets, replacing the older static Tiles system with a more flexible widget experience.

The update also brings Live Updates, allowing smartwatches to display persistent real-time information like deliveries, ride tracking, and sports scores, similar to what Android phones already offer.

Google is also bringing some Gemini Intelligence features to Wear OS 7, including task automation capabilities that will allow users to trigger certain actions directly from their smartwatch.

There's still no official rollout date from Google just yet, but since Verizon has already published the update details, it seems likely that Wear OS 7 will begin arriving sometime this month.

What you need to know

• Wear OS 7 adds Live Updates for deliveries, sports scores, and ride tracking directly on smartwatches.
• Gemini Intelligence on Wear OS 7 will let users automate tasks directly from their smartwatch.
• Wear OS 7 also brings a unified workout tracking system and promises up to 10% better battery life.

Alongside announcing a wave of Gemini-related updates and giving us our first proper look at Android XR smart glasses, Google also quietly unveiled Wear OS 7 at Google I/O. Wear OS updates over the past few years have mostly felt incremental, but Wear OS 7 is finally bringing a few genuinely useful upgrades to Android smartwatches.

One of the biggest additions is Wear Widgets. Google is moving beyond the older static Tiles system and introducing a more flexible widget experience for smartwatches. These widgets will support multiple layouts, including 2x1 and 2x2 card styles.

Another major upgrade coming with Wear OS 7 is Live Updates from Android. Similar to Android phones, these updates will surface persistent real-time information directly on your smartwatch for things like food deliveries, ride tracking, sports scores, and more. Google first introduced this concept on Android phones last year, and it's now making its way to Wear OS.

Google is also bringing some Gemini Intelligence features to Wear OS 7. This includes task automation, meaning users will be able to trigger and automate certain tasks directly from their smartwatch. Google already offers similar capabilities on Pixel phones, like ordering food through DoorDash, and those kinds of actions are now coming to Wear OS devices as well.

And if you've ever felt that workout tracking on Wear OS watches feels inconsistent between apps, Google is finally trying to fix that, too. Wear OS 7 introduces a new Workout Track experience that third-party fitness apps can adopt instead of building their own systems.

This standardized experience includes things like heart rate tracking, media controls, and workout UI elements, which should make fitness tracking feel much more consistent across apps and devices.

There are also a few smaller upgrades, including the ability to choose media output devices directly from your smartwatch, along with battery improvements. Google says users can expect around 10% better battery life on average.

Google still hasn't confirmed which smartwatches will receive Wear OS 7 first or exactly when the stable rollout will begin, but it's safe to expect Samsung Galaxy Watches and Pixel Watches to be among the first in line. We'll keep you updated once the rollout officially starts.

Android Central's Take

Wear OS updates have felt pretty minor for the past few years, but Wear OS 7 actually looks exciting. Live Updates on the wrist and Gemini Intelligence sound genuinely useful, and I can't wait for this rollout to begin.

What you need to know

• Wear OS 6.1 adds location-based time zone detection, letting watches update time without a paired phone.
• The update is based on Android 16 QPR2 and doesn't bring any major visible UI changes.
• Other new features include kids account "graduation" and improved re-authentication without factory reset.

Google today quietly announced Wear OS 6.1, bringing a small but useful location-based time feature that arguably should've arrived much earlier.

Visually, Google hasn't revealed any UI changes with Wear OS 6.1, but it has confirmed that the update is based on Android 16's Quarterly Platform Release (QPR) at API level 36.1. This isn't the latest March Android 16 QPR3 update, but rather the Android 16 QPR2 build from December 2025.

That said, Wear OS 6.1 does bring some new features. One of the key additions, as detailed in Google's Android Developers blog post, is location-based time zone detection. Google says smartwatches running Wear OS 6.1 and above can now automatically set their time zone based on their physical location.

Currently, Wear OS smartwatches rely on their paired Android phone to determine the time zone. With Wear OS 6.1, that changes, as watches can now update their time zone independently. Google notes that this helps keep time accurate when traveling between regions, even without a network connection.

Users will be able to set this feature by heading to Settings > Date & Time > Use location.

In addition, Wear OS 6.1 introduces some improvements for kids' accounts. There's a new "Kids graduation" feature, which allows supervised accounts to transition into regular accounts once the user reaches the appropriate age.

Google has also improved re-authentication support. If a user's credentials become invalid, for example, if they change their password, they can now re-verify their Google account directly on the watch or through the companion app, without needing to factory reset the device.

For now, Google hasn't rolled out Wear OS 6.1 to any smartwatches yet. It's expected to arrive first on the Pixel Watch 4 and then expand to older Pixel Watch models in a future update. Samsung is also likely to adopt Wear OS 6.1 for its Galaxy Watch lineup soon. We'll update this as and when the rollout begins.

Android Central's Take

After reading Google's post, I wondered why this wasn't already a thing on Wear OS. It feels so basic, but I'm just glad Google's finally fixing it, especially for anyone who travels frequently.

What you need to know

• Spotify has redesigned its Wear OS app to improve navigation and make features easier to access from your smartwatch.
• The new Music-First Mode adds gesture controls and puts album art front and center for a more immersive view.
• Users can now browse Home, Search, Library, and Downloads directly from their smartwatch without using a phone.

Spotify has just announced a new update for its Wear OS app that improves navigation and introduces several new features for smartwatch users.

Spotify says it has redesigned the Wear OS app to make it more discoverable and give users greater control from their wrist. Until now, the Wear OS app mainly acted as a playback control screen for music playing on your phone, but this update brings a much more feature-rich experience.

The app still opens to the familiar playback screen. However, swiping down now takes you into what Spotify calls "Music-First Mode." This view places album artwork front and center, and you can control playback using gestures. A single tap plays or pauses music, while a double tap skips to the next track.

Swiping up in the app now opens a new discovery section that gives you quick access to Home, Search, your Library, and even Downloads. You can browse and start new content directly from your smartwatch.

There is also a new button on the playback screen that lets you manage your queue, set a sleep timer, or access a more detailed context menu.

Spotify says the update is rolling out over the coming days. To access the new UI and features, you will need to update to the latest version from the Google Play Store. The company also says more improvements for Wear OS are planned in the coming months, though it has not shared specific details yet.

What you need to know

• Wear OS watches can now show earthquake alerts even when not paired with a smartphone.
• The feature removes the need for a connected Android phone to receive emergency alerts.
• The update arrives via Google Play Services v26.07 and rolls out server-side.

Google is rolling out an important update for Wear OS smartwatches that will allow them to show earthquake alerts even when they are not paired with a smartphone.

One of the best life-saving features of Android is its earthquake alert system. It uses built-in sensors like the gyroscope and accelerometer to detect seismic activity.

Based on anonymized data collected from multiple nearby devices, Android determines whether an earthquake is occurring in your area and then sends alerts to users in that region. The feature has proven useful many times, as noted by several Reddit users.

Google expanded this feature to Wear OS smartwatches last June, but it is now making it even more powerful. With the latest Google Play Services v26.07 update, as spotted by Droid-Life, Wear OS watches will be able to show earthquake alerts independently, even if they're not paired with an Android phone.

Until now, the system required the smartwatch to be connected to a smartphone to receive alerts. That dependency is now being removed.

• [Wear] With this feature, you can now get earthquake alerts on your Wear devices even if they are unpaired from the phone.

Google, however, hasn't officially detailed how this feature will work. Presumably, it'll function on cellular Wear OS watches or non-cellular models connected to Wi-Fi. There is also no clear information on how to manually enable the feature, but it's likely that Google will activate it by default through the Play Services update.

The Play Services update is already available through the Google Play Store. However, most of these features roll out through server-side updates, so you may need to wait for it to become active on your smartwatch.

What you need to know

• A bug in Wear OS 6 is causing third-party watch faces to freeze mid-transition, creating a "ghosting" effect where the active face and Always-On Display overlap.
• Pixel Watch and Galaxy Watch users are both affected, including newer models like the Galaxy Watch 8 and Watch Ultra.
• The issue specifically targets downloaded third-party faces; stock faces pre-installed by Google and Samsung appear to be immune.

Wear OS 6 was supposed to be a quiet quality-of-life upgrade, such as a more polished always-on display experience. Instead, it’s kicked off an unexpected headache for Pixel Watch and Galaxy Watch owners who rely on third-party watch faces.

Users have taken to both Google and Samsung forums to report that Always-On Display (AOD) transitions are broken on Wear OS 6 for many third-party faces, as reported by PiunikaWeb. Under normal conditions, a Wear OS watch shifts between its full, interactive watch face and a simplified AOD version smoothly when your wrist drops. On Wear OS 6, however, something in that handoff has gone sideways.

Owners report seeing a "ghosting" effect in which the active watch face and the AOD version overlap. Instead of a smooth fade from bright to dim, you get a frozen, transparent mess of overlapping numbers and hands.

This isn’t limited to one brand. Reports are coming in from both Pixel Watch and Galaxy Watch owners, including those running the latest Pixel Watch models and Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 8 and Watch Ultra. That’s important because it suggests this is a Wear OS 6 platform-level problem.

The root of the problem appears to be a change in how Wear OS 6 handles AOD rendering for third-party watch faces. Google introduced new APIs meant to improve efficiency and consistency, but those changes seem to have broken compatibility with existing watch face frameworks.

Stock faces still work fine

The system gets stuck halfway, leaving a broken, half-finished screen. This bug mostly affects third-party watch faces. If you use the watch faces that came with your device, you probably have not seen this problem because those faces work differently.

Some users have temporarily fixed the issue by switching to an official Pixel or Samsung watch face, but that’s more of a workaround than a solution.

This is not the customization you expected, but it is better than looking at a messy screen every time you check your steps. Google and Samsung seem to be aware of the problem, but since it is a system issue, we have to wait for an update to fix it.

Until the update arrives, avoid third-party watch faces and watch for the next firmware update.

I recently looked back on my 2025 predictions for Android smartwatch brands like Google, Samsung, and OnePlus. I was more right than wrong, but now I'll try to better predict how Android smartwatches will change in 2026.

It doesn't take Nostradamus to say that the Pixel Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 9 will launch in 2026. But aside from guessing what Google and Samsung have planned, I'll talk about my expectations for Gemini, Fitbit, and Samsung Health, and the Wear OS platform more broadly, which has shown some warning signs this year.

I'll also discuss what I'd like to see happen with Android smartwatches in 2026, even though some of my expectations, like a Samsung AI subscription, aren't what I'd want.

Samsung could relaunch Samsung Health with a Galaxy AI subscription

This summer, I spotted warning signs that Samsung might start charging us for Galaxy AI health features. Two weeks later, Samsung SVP Hon Pak admitted in an interview that they are "exploring" premium subscription models for "advanced coaching features," as well as helping users spot "preventable" conditions like cancer.

Galaxy AI features like Energy Score, Vascular Load, and Antioxidant Index typically have fine print saying they're free through 2025. That doesn't mean Samsung will start invoicing us on January 1. Instead, anytime from Samsung's CES 2026 "First Look" presentation to the Galaxy Watch 9 reveal next summer, it could announce an "optional" $10/month Samsung Health subscription and start cramming previously free features into it.

Samsung will want a flashy, AI-driven alternative to Fitbit Personal Health Coach; don't be surprised if they charge us for it.

Google and Samsung will escalate their health war with Apple

Almost every major smartwatch brand is in a wellness arms race to pack as many "life-saving" or doctor-replacing features into their watches as possible, from Apple's hypertension alerts and Google's Loss of Pulse detection to Huawei's blood pressure-tracking D2 watch. It should only ramp up in 2026.

Samsung has already confirmed plans to use Galaxy Watches to detect heart failure, a "World-First" feature, very soon. Google launched its six-month hypertension study with Fitbit Labs for Pixel Watch 3 owners, so in theory, it could use that data to develop its own predictive feature for high blood pressure warnings.

Google's clinical lead for cardiology told me she wants Pixel Watch users to have more access to "personalized risk" data, tying your stats and medical records to clinical studies. And Google's clinical sleep lead says he hopes smartwatches can one day detect signs of sleepwalking or Restless Leg Syndrome.

I'm not saying we'll see these in 2026, just showcasing the doctors behind these Android watch brands with ambitious goals for personalized health. Samsung clearly has the same medical aspirations, too.

Wear OS will continue to shed its "open platform" label

In 2024, Fossil stopped making smartwatches after struggling with Wear OS updates. In 2025, Mobvoi hasn't announced anything official, but it seems to have stopped selling TicWatches and pivoted to AI devices, while Tag Heuer quietly left the platform with its new Calibre E5. And OnePlus has fallen months behind its pledge to update its 2024 watches to Wear OS 5.

By my count, Wear OS has four active brands remaining: Google, Samsung, OnePlus/OPPO, and Xiaomi. I'd guess that Xiaomi or OnePlus will be the next to quietly distance itself from Wear OS, releasing more watches with proprietary software, such as the OnePlus Watch Lite running an RTOS.

Whether by design or neglect, Google's non-Samsung partners can't keep up on Wear OS version updates, falling a year behind on average, and that makes their watches seem deficient compared to Pixel and Galaxy Watches. I'm still expecting a OnePlus Watch 4 until I'm told otherwise, but we're trending toward Google and Samsung hoarding Gemini on smartwatches for themselves.

Gemini upgrades will be the Wear OS 7 highlight

Wear OS 6 was a much more dramatic, system-level update than Wear OS 5 and Wear OS 4, with Material 3 Expressive as the highlight. I'd expect Wear OS 7 to optimize this new UI rather than change it again, with improved battery efficiency and further upgrades to Watch Face Format like 3D Faces.

Instead, I think Wear OS 7 will focus on AI upgrades. Wear OS 6's on-watch smart replies — recently enhanced on Wear OS 6.1 — are the template. The idea is to shift more work away from your phone, so the AI assistant can answer questions more quickly without relying on the cloud.

I wonder if we'll get an official Gemini Live tool on Wear OS, for situations where it's not convenient to have your phone on hand. I could also see Google creating a Gemini equivalent to Apple's Workout Buddy, synced to your Fitbit training plan; it would give you real-time, personalized feedback and advice during an activity.

Next-generation hardware

One of my big hopes for 2025 was a powerful Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 SoC with RISC-V architecture, based on an interview with a Qualcomm VP where he mentioned their goal of making "AI-driven" hardware with a "week's worth of battery life" and the ability to support years of updates.

Instead, the Gen-2 chip we got was a more incremental upgrade, focused on improved efficiency and satellite connectivity. It's perfectly functional, but not especially fast, even for everyday app and menu loading. Samsung's 3nm Exynos W1000 is more advanced for everyday performance, but I wouldn't count on it for next-gen AI capabilities, either.

The sooner we get a true next-generation smartwatch chip with the neural processing for powerful on-watch AI, the happier I'll be. Maybe Google could even make a Tensor chip with stronger neural performance, as one leak suggested. I just don't expect a hardware change so soon, given how often smartwatches keep the same chipsets for years.

A more exciting Galaxy Watch Ultra 2

While the Galaxy Watch Ultra (2025) was a minor refresh, Galaxy Club claims Samsung is developing a new flagship watch for 2026. It didn't share other details, except for its internal name "Galaxy Watch 9 Ultra." Whatever it's called, Samsung needs to make the Ultra 2 much more exciting to justify the $650 price tag, now that cheaper Galaxy Watches have stolen its look.

For one, I'd demand a battery boost: The 590mAh capacity hasn't changed since the Watch 5 Pro, and the OnePlus Watch 3 lasts nearly twice as long. For another, LTE alone isn't that exciting when the Apple Watch Ultra 3 has 5G and satellite connectivity. If its MicroLED tech isn't ready for a smartwatch, Samsung still needs to give the Ultra 2 display something to stand out, like a higher PPI ratio.

Ultra watches are meant for the outdoors, but the Galaxy Watch Ultra never really delivered the training software necessary to attract athletes; anyone willing to spend $650 would spend even more on a Garmin Fenix 8. Samsung started off with a Running Coach this year, but it needs to do more to keep pace with Apple and Google/ Fitbit, instead of relying on third-party fitness tools like iFit.

Upgrade the Pixel Watch 5 to match the new Fitbit Coach

We already know the Fitbit Personal Health Coach will launch in 2026 with AI-generated coaching and health insights. But the Wear OS Fitbit app is still quite basic, unable to import most workouts (besides running) from Gemini's training plans. You have to log things like gym reps manually.

If lightweight Garmin watches can sync workout plans from the Connect app and automatically track exercise reps, I'd assume Google can do the same with more powerful Snapdragon hardware! It's just a matter of implementing Fitbit Coach's plans and insights directly in Wear OS 7.

I've also waited for years for Google to offer a Google Maps course creation tool, where you build a route, export it as a GPX file to your Pixel Watch, and then follow it during a run, hike, or bike activity. The Galaxy Watch Ultra can import GPX files from other apps; Google could one-up Samsung by actually letting you create them.

A OnePlus Watch 4 with its own software surprises

For OnePlus, 2025 was all about hardware upgrades. Compared to the Watch 2, the Watch 3 added a titanium bezel, a working crown, a denser silicone-carbon battery, a larger and brighter display, an upgraded coprocessor with better background task performance, and two new health sensors. It essentially caught up with other premium smartwatches.

Ignoring my Wear OS pessimism and assuming a OnePlus Watch 4 is coming in a couple of months, I don't need more hardware upgrades, really. I just want to see if OnePlus's spin on Wear OS 6 has a standout feature, compared to Google's Material 3 Expressive and watch face theming, or Samsung's phone-like multi-info Tiles.

This past year was a whirlwind! Every single company announced a multitude of news and products, and Android Central had an incredible year covering the technology you use daily.

We saw great strides in how companies have evolved AI, and many companies launched new products that could be the future. We took the time to reflect on the year and think about what we want 2026 to look like.

This end-of-year special is split up into three sections. For the first time this year, Android Central's staff decided to give out report cards. We looked at what we wrote at the end of 2024 and asked ourselves: Did companies meet our expectations for 2025? Were they able to fulfil some of our predictions?

We also took the time to think about 2026. What do we hope to see, what kind of launches do we want, what do we expect of the companies we cover every single day? Surprisingly, this has turned into a fun experiment. At the end of 2026, will these companies meet our expectations?

Along with this, we want to show our appreciation towards those companies that released stellar products. Our team has put a lot of effort into voting and narrowing down our winners of this past year into several categories, so we hope you enjoy it.

Congratulations to all the winners! We can't wait to see what you do next year.

Finally, thank you, our loyal readers, for being the heart of Android Central. Your trust, enthusiasm, and engagement inspire everything we do. We’re deeply grateful for your continued support and for making our content a part of your daily journey.

Here’s to another exciting year of exploring, learning, and growing together in the world of Android and beyond!

Happy reading, happy holidays, and a happy New Year! Stay safe, and be happy!

- Shruti Shekar, Editor-in-Chief

IDC-exclusives

Tech in 2025: Android Central Report Cards

Android Central's Best of 2025

Tech in 2026: Android Central's Wishlist for the year

Grade: B

As Android Central's Wearables Editor, I ended 2024 by predicting what would happen with Galaxy, Pixel, OnePlus, and other Wear OS watches in 2025. Some predictions were dead on; others were wishful thinking. Looking back, I'm grading where these companies met, exceeded, or fell short of my expectations.

In my "What we expect from Wear OS in 2025" post, I correctly predicted Google and Samsung's major health and fitness push, and (unfortunately) knew that other Wear OS brands would struggle with updates this year.

I incorrectly guessed that Samsung wouldn't "go the squircle route" and that we'd see a Moto 360 successor this year. But despite my misses, I'm generally happy with my educated guesswork.

Wear OS in 2025

This year saw the launch of the new Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 chip, and while I saw this coming, I didn't expect its incremental efficiency boost and satellite tech. I'd hoped for major power gains or for Google and Qualcomm to launch their joint RISC-V chip initiative, but alas, neither materialized in 2025.

On the other hand, Wear OS 6 brought a major health & fitness focus with Samsung adding an equivalent to training load (Vascular Load) and other health tools (Antioxidant Index), though the upcoming heart failure predictor is a pleasant surprise.

With Google, the Fitbit Personal Health Coach preview shows Google attempting to "keep up with fitness rivals," with training plans for cycling, weightlifting, and other sports besides running, as I'd hoped. Plus, the Pixel Watch 4 got a nice boost with dual-band GPS.

However, I will admit that Wear OS 6 had more substantial UI and system changes than I'd expected with the advent of Material 3 Expressive.

I had a feeling that Gemini would not only blow up on Wear OS after taking over the Google Assistant but also become the Pixel Watch 4's "killer app." It's not too surprising that Google made sure to give its smartwatch exclusive AI tricks: Raise to Talk and on-watch smart replies.

On the Galaxy Watch 8, I noted that I didn't expect Samsung to use a squircle display, that we'd see a Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, and that Samsung would keep selling the Ultra before launching an Ultra 2 next year, all of which largely came true this year. However, I didn't expect the Galaxy Watch 8 to ditch its usual rounded style for a squircle design, giving it its first major redesign in some time.

One good thing we saw this year was that Facer's claim that it was "working hard with Google" to solve its Wear OS 5 ban wasn't just corporate-speak: It partnered with Google to bring 3rd-party watch faces back to Wear OS 6, and they look great.

Unfortunately, not everyone was on board with Wear OS like I had hoped. It was wishful thinking that Motorola would return to Wear OS. We did see an HMD Global Wear OS leak this summer for two "Rubber" kids' smartwatches, but they've yet to become official, and since HMD has abandoned American Nokia smartphone sales, I'm not sure if they'll ever launch.

I also warned that Wear OS would continue to be plagued with slow updates from companies that aren't Samsung and Google, particularly that Mobvoi would struggle to implement Wear OS 5 on TicWatches; turns out, Mobvoi may have stopped selling TicWatches for good. OnePlus was also not immune to slow updates, despite having one of the best Wear OS watches on the market, and it's now months behind its promised Q3 update window for the Watch 2.

There were also no hardware updates for Fitbit watches in 2025, which is no surprise. While I knew I was "going out on a limb," I thought Google might stop selling Fitbit hardware entirely — besides the Pixel Watch — and might expand its app to more watches. Instead, Google is promising new Fitbit hardware in 2026, so I'm thrilled to be wrong.

Google in 2025: B+

Looking back on Google's year, it's largely very positive. I gave the Pixel Watch 4 a glowing review and have continued to enjoy using it months later. Both my battery test and fitness test showed significant improvements over the last generation. Wear OS 6 impressed me with its overhauled UI, and the new Fitbit app is promising — though that's more of a 2026 development.

While the main hardware launch gets an "A," I have to knock Google for a few other developments. First, the Pixel Watch 1 didn't get Wear OS 6, confirming that Galaxy Watches get at least one extra version update than Google's, if not two. This lessens Pixel Watches' long-term value.

The messy Wear OS 5.1 update in March proved that Google had some QC work to do, though later updates have been pain-free. My bigger complaint is about Google's Wear OS stewardship: Mobvoi fleeing the platform in 2025, after Fossil left in 2024, suggests the "open" platform isn't profitable enough for smaller, non-Android brands anymore.

We don't have Pixel Watch 4 sales numbers, but Omdia's chart shows how Google's wearable profits since 2022 have peaked in every fourth quarter, and we can assume the Watch 4 will hit a new high, given its excellent hardware and positive user reviews thus far.

Samsung in 2025: B

Samsung is consistently one of the top smartwatch brands worldwide, but its sales dipped dramatically in Q1 2025 and haven't fully recovered. Omnia shows Samsung wearable sales climbed this fall, but Samsung still lost 2% market share, while Counterpoint tracked a 5% market drop for Samsung smartwatches in the last quarter.

You can blame a few factors, like a lackluster Galaxy Watch 7 generation or Huawei stealing Samsung's international market share. It makes sense that Samsung took a big swing with the Watch 8 and Watch 8 Classic designs, trying to recapture consumer interest, and reversing its falling trends might be a long-term project.

My colleague Brady loves how skinny and light his Watch 8 is, and says people shouldn't dismiss the squircle design as ugly until they see it in person. I also like my Classic's rotating bezel and scale border, but I'm more lukewarm on its bulky weight and smaller display. The Ultra (2025) is barely worth mentioning, with the cheaper models stealing the Ultra's look, third button, and brighter display.

I appreciate Samsung's dogged determination to track as many health metrics as possible. On the fitness side, the Running Coach and the new iFit video workouts won't wow anyone.

I'm more enthusiastic about Samsung's spin-off of Wear OS 6, One UI 8 Watch, which offers excellent Tiles and the useful Now Bar alongside new watch faces and an efficiency boost. And with the Galaxy Watch 4 expected to receive the update before EOY, Samsung has established itself as the better option for software support over Google.

OnePlus in 2025: B-

Speaking specifically about OnePlus's Wear OS models, I'm less enthused than I was earlier in the year. Things started out strong with the OnePlus Watch 3: Its battery life is unprecedented for a true smartwatch, it fixed several flaws in the last model (such as adding a functional crown), and it has a classy titanium look.

Yes, the "Meda in China" typo delayed its launch into April, but that was a nothingburger. And OnePlus followed up by launching a Watch 3 43mm in July, and while the signature battery life has shrunk, it still lasts two days, the same as the Pixel Watch 4 45mm.

The bigger issue concerns the OnePlus Watch 2 and Watch 2R. OnePlus Watches are due to receive two OS updates, but these 2024 models are still stuck on Wear OS 4 — two versions behind the competition — delayed from OnePlus's promised Q3 2025 update window for Wear OS 5. I thought OnePlus would be better than Fossil and Mobvoi at promptly updating its watches, and I'm concerned that history is repeating itself.

Then we ended the year with the OnePlus Watch Lite, which I hoped would be a cheap Wear OS watch; instead, it'll use a proprietary OS, similar to the original OnePlus Watch. This doesn't guarantee that OnePlus will abandon Wear OS for good, but it does feel like another warning sign.

What you need to know

• Google's fun Androidify app for phones can now bring you—as an Android bot—to your watch as a new face.
• This update is rolling out today (Dec 18), providing the ability to transform your selfie into an Android bot and turn that creation into a unique Wear OS watch face.
• Google highlighted Androidify's new abilities during a major drop in September after showcasing it during I/O 2025.

Ever imagined what you'd look like as an Android bot? Now you can realize that and see it right on your smartwatch.

Google announced this morning that it's bringing its wacky Androidify feature to its Wear OS software. The Androidify app uses Gemini and Imagen to take your selfie and transform it into a green bot. Google states that users can personalize their Android bot on their phone and transfer the final product onto their watch face "in seconds."

Users can download the recently relaunched Androidify app from the Play Store to get started. After snapping a selfie and putting on the final touches, Google encourages users to follow the on-screen steps to transfer that to their watch face.

This is all a part of the "Watch Face Push," an API that the company detailed for developers in a blog post today (Dec 18). To further facilitate user engagement and customization, Google says developers can get involved with the necessary Watch Face Push resources. For the end-user, what's awaiting you is the "highly-personalized" Android bot in a place that your eyes may frequently venture throughout the day.

With its upgrades, the post states, "Androidify now has the ability to generate a watch face dynamically within the phone app" before sending it to your watch "in seconds." Users can refer to their watch after sending the new Androidify creation to their watch face and "allow" the app to make changes to apply what they made.

Android bots for all

Androidify was a part of a major drop Google announced in September. Personalization is the name of the game, as Androidify can reimagine people as superheroes, snowboarders, or anything else. Uploading an image is just one part. Users are required to enter a prompt to explain to the AI the outcome they would enjoy. In September, Google explained the process, stating that Gemini 2.5 Flash handled the prompt, while Imagen took over for the custom photo.

Veo 3 is even involved, as users can receive a short animation. This short eight-second animation was something Google ran only on Fridays throughout September.

The company also pushed its wacky creator during its I/O conference during the spring. Android Central's Brady Snyder was on deck, turning himself into a cool blue Android bot, as Google leaned into the love for its OS mascot.

What you need to know

• The Google Weather app is showing endless loading screens and download errors instead of actual forecasts.
• The bug affects more than just the app, with weather tiles like Forecast, Sun, and UV Index also failing to load or retrieve location data.
• Google has confirmed the issue, with support acknowledging it as a known problem specific to first-gen Pixel Watch hardware.

If you just checked your watch for the weather, you probably found nothing. Owners of the original Pixel Watch and older Samsung Galaxy Watch models are discovering that the Google Weather app has stopped working.

In a recent thread on Reddit, a user shared a transcript from a customer support interaction that confirms Google is aware of the outage. As first reported by 9to5Google, instead of showing the temperature or UV index, the app displays a "Loading…" screen, then a "Can't download weather data" error.

Tapping "Retry" only puts you in a never-ending loop. The problem isn’t limited to the app. The Forecast, Sun, and UV Index tiles are also blank, showing a "Couldn't retrieve your location" message.

Bad update likely to blame

Android Central can confirm that this bug also affects other smartwatches running Wear OS 3.5, not just the original Pixel Watch and Galaxy Watch. The problem is most likely due to Google’s move to newer software. In September, Google stopped offering the Weather app for devices running Wear OS 6.

The plan was to push users toward manufacturer-specific apps, such as the new Pixel Weather on the Pixel Watch 2, 3, and 4. However, Google explicitly stated that the legacy app would continue working for anyone who already had it installed.

That promise has run into trouble. The prevailing theory — at least on Reddit — is that Google pushed an update intended for Wear OS 6 that inadvertently broke compatibility with older firmware versions. Since the original Pixel Watch still uses older software, the app and the watch are not working together.

Google’s support representative said the team is aware of the issue and is working on a firmware update to fix it. However, there is no clear timeline for when the fix will arrive. This is frustrating for users, especially since these devices are failing at a basic task.

What you need to know

• Google is making it easier to see timers and stopwatches on the Pixel Watch's always-on display.
• Media controls and more Clock functions will be available on the Pixel Watch's AOD following a Google Clock app update.
• Google appears to be finally adopting the "Force Global AOD Experience" developer option added in Wear OS 5.1.

Google is upgrading the always-on display (AOD) function available on the Pixel Watch, adding support for more features in an update. The Google Pixel Watch's AOD is handled by the Google Clock app, which recently became a Pixel-exclusive on Wear OS. After receiving the update, Pixel Watch models can display timers, stopwatches, and media controls on their always-on displays.

The update is rolling out as part of Google Clock version 6.11, and it's not widely available yet (via Android Authority). A few users on the Google Pixel Watch subreddit reported gaining access to the feature after updating the Google Clock app to version 6.11. Others are seeing version 6.10 of the Google Clock app as the newest available version for their Pixel Watch, suggesting this is a limited rollout for now.

Timer now works with AOD! from r/PixelWatch

Previously, the Pixel Watch's standard behavior for the always-on display involved darkening open apps and showing a generic digital clock in front of them. When closed or timed out, the Pixel Watch's AOD would return to its saved watch face. Any app that lacks AOD support could use the "Force Global AOD Experience" developer option, which dims the display but keeps your last screen visible or active, as of Wear OS 5.1.

Unfortunately, not many developers chose to enable the "Force Global AOD Experience" option — including Google. That is, until this Google Clock app update, which allows stopwatches and timers to continue when the AOD is active. Additionally, it adds AOD support for media controls, including play/pause and next/previous, all with Material 3 Expressive flair.

There are a few limitations of the Clock app's new AOD capabilities. Some frequently-updating graphics and fields are omitted when the AOD is active. Namely, you won't see the countdown ring for timers or the number of seconds remaining. While stopwatches keep the second counter, it also loses the ring.

You can try to force the Google Clock update on your Pixel Watch by opening the Google Play Store on your smartwatch and scrolling all the way to the bottom. There, you'll find a Manage apps button. After tapping it, you can check for a Google Clock update. If available, follow the on-screen prompts to install it.

What you need to know

• One UI 8 Watch has rolled out to Galaxy Watch 8, 7, and 6 series
• Galaxy Watch 5 series expected to receive stable One UI 8 Watch update soon
• Major update includes Wear OS 6 improvements and new features like Running Coach

Samsung's eagerly awaited One UI 8 Watch update, featuring Wear OS 6 enhancements, is set to launch for the Galaxy Watch 5 series following the conclusion of its beta program on December 1, promising users innovative features and improved performance.

One UI 8 Watch debuted on the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 series, and has since arrived for the Galaxy Watch 7 and Galaxy Watch 6. Now, it looks like One UI 8 Watch will make its way to even older Samsung Galaxy Watch models in the coming days, according to a report from SamMobile.

Samsung opened a beta program in the U.S. and Korea for the Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 5 Pro a few months ago for One UI 8 Watch testing. That beta program just concluded as of Dec. 1, according to posts on Samsung's community forums. This signifies the Wear OS 6-based update is extremely close to launching for the Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 5 Pro.

For example, Galaxy Watch 6 and Galaxy Watch 6 Classic owners started getting the One UI 8 Watch update only a few hours after the beta program ended, as SamMobile's report notes. Usually, the updates roll out on a regional basis, with different release schedules for various models. One UI 8 Watch beta testers will automatically receive an update that upgrades their smartwatch to the public release channel.

If Samsung's usual release pattern holds, Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 5 Pro users can expect the stable One UI 8 Watch update to roll out in the coming days or weeks, now that the beta program has concluded.

One UI 8 Watch is a major update that brings all of Google's Wear OS 6 improvements paired with Samsung exclusive. Bedtime Guidance, Antioxidant Index, and the Now Bar are a few of the new feature highlights. Samsung's Running Coach, an AI-powered running analysis feature that first became available on newer watches, is also coming to older models.

When the update begins rolling out for your watch model, you can update it by navigating to Watch settings > Watch software update > Download and install.

What you need to know

• One UI 8 Watch debuted on the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 series, and has since arrived for the Galaxy Watch 6 and Galaxy Watch 7 lineups.
• The Galaxy Watch 5 series is next in line, as the One UI 8 Watch beta program ended Dec. 1 for those smartwatches.
• One UI 8 Watch should roll out publicly for the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 5 Pro soon.

Wear OS 6 brought a host of new features and improved efficiency to smartwatches this summer, but some older Samsung watches are still waiting for the update. One UI 8 Watch debuted on the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 series, and has since arrived for the Galaxy Watch 7 and Galaxy Watch 6. Now, it looks like One UI 8 Watch will make its way to even older Samsung Galaxy Watch models in the coming days, according to a report from SamMobile.

Samsung opened a beta program in the U.S. and Korea for the Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 5 Pro a few months ago for One UI 8 Watch testing. That beta program just concluded as of Dec. 1, according to posts on Samsung's community forums. This signifies the Wear OS 6-based update is extremely close to launching for the Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 5 Pro.

For example, Galaxy Watch 6 and Galaxy Watch 6 Classic owners started getting the One UI 8 Watch update only a few hours after the beta program ended, as SamMobile's report notes. Usually, the updates roll out on a regional basis, with different release schedules for various models. One UI 8 Watch beta testers will automatically receive an update that upgrades their smartwatch to the public release channel.

If Samsung's usual release pattern holds, Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 5 Pro users can expect the stable One UI 8 Watch update to roll out in the coming days or weeks, now that the beta program has concluded.

One UI 8 Watch is a major update that brings all of Google's Wear OS 6 improvements paired with Samsung exclusive. Bedtime Guidance, Antioxidant Index, and the Now Bar are a few of the new feature highlights. Samsung's Running Coach, an AI-powered running analysis feature that first became available on newer watches, is also coming to older models.

When the update begins rolling out for your watch model, you can update it by navigating to Watch settings > Watch software update > Download and install.

This is Android Central's News Weekly, your go-to source for a concise roundup of the week's most significant tech stories. This is where we delve into the top headlines that provide the latest developments and innovations contributing to the digital landscape.

This week, we get the first look at the OnePlus 15R and a mystery OnePlus smartwatch, Wear OS 6 finally lands on Galaxy Watch 6, Android Auto gets Gemini-ed, Google solves the file sharing issue with Apple, and Galaxy Buds Pro 4 leaks.

OnePlus 15R and a mystery smartwatch could land soon

Read more here

OnePlus 15 just launched globally last week, and OnePlus is teasing its next set of devices, the OnePlus 15R, and a mystery watch.

Although OnePlus has not yet confirmed or disclosed the specifications of its budget device, the company did tease the OnePlus 15R on its U.K. website alongside a mystery smartwatch. These images showcased the device in two available colors: olive green and black. What is certain at this point is that the OnePlus 15R will come pre-installed with the most recent OxygenOS 16, which is based on Android 16, consistent with the flagship model.

The next OnePlus Watch 4 is expected in early 2026, but a recent mysterious listing has everyone wondering if it might drop as early as December 17th. Is this the actual Watch 4 or maybe just a cheaper version?

Galaxy Watch 6 users get a surprise Wear OS 6 drop

Read more here

As promised, WearOS is finally trickling down to older Galaxy watches. This week, the stable One UI 8 Watch update, which is based on Wear OS 6, has officially started in South Korea, with firmware version CYK2, introducing a new interface.

So Galaxy Watch 6 users will see a better UI with stacked tiles that organize important information more clearly. This means that health data, media controls, timers, and other tools are now easier to find without having to swipe as much.

To update your Galaxy Watch 6 or Watch 6 Classic, open the Galaxy Wearable app, go to Watch settings, tap Watch software update, and select Download and install.

Google unleashes Gemini on Android Auto

Read more here

Android Auto is being bolstered with Gemini globally, starting this week (Nov. 20). With Gemini in your car, you'd be able to get more done on your drive to work. This means you can have lengthy conversations with it and also get more complex tasks done. For instance, Gemini can double as your tour guide and local expert, with it fully integrated in Google Maps.

Gemini will look at reviews to offer business insights, answer common questions, and help users find and navigate to local spots. If you say, "Hey Google, I need your help. I'm suddenly craving barbecue. Any good spots along my route that are open now, near my destination?"

Quick Share teams up with AirDrop

Read more here

Let's just say Google is taking the lead on bridging the gap between Android and Apple users. First, with advocating for a breakdown of the blue and green bubble divide, and now it's bringing an update for its Pixel 10 series that makes it possible for Android's file-sharing app, Quick Share, to work with Apple's AirDrop.

Once this feature is available, a Pixel 10 user tapping Quick Share to send a file should be able to detect nearby iPhones. This new functionality is also expected to work when sending files from an iPhone to a Pixel 10 as well. Talk about an industry-changing move.

The company states it has tested its "strong safeguards" with "independent security experts" to ensure that the data you're sending between devices remains protected. It's worth noting that as long as your Android device and iPhone are set to receive files from others, this Quick Share/AirDrop update will work seamlessly. Moreover, Google says it plans on expanding this to other devices in the near future.

Galaxy Buds 4 Pro shows up in a fresh leak

Read more here

The next Galaxy Buds Pro were caught in an interesting leak this week, suggesting that the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro's charging case will introduce a much-needed utility feature missing from previous models: a dedicated "Find Your Phone" button.

Hints to this were found in the One UI 8.5 firmware, which states that the button could be placed next to the USB-C port, allowing users to ping their connected smartphone via Bluetooth, making it much easier to locate a misplaced device.

Furthermore, the rumour suggests that it could have a built-in speaker grille on the case itself. This would enable the case to emit sound when lost, addressing the frustration of digging for silent earbuds between sofa cushions. Beyond these functional upgrades, the leak suggests a physical redesign: the earbuds would sit flat rather than upright, suggesting the Korean OEM is chasing a sleeker look for these buds.

More stories this week

Those are some of the biggest stories from this week. Meanwhile, here are some other stories that are worth catching up on:

• Behind Cloudflare's outage: A hidden bug causes chaos across major platforms
• Perplexity's Comet for Android is an AI browsing companion for anything online
• Nothing OS 4 arrives for the Phone 3 with exclusive features, refined Glyph Interface, and more
• Galaxy S26 display rumored to keep brightness level same as S25 series
• Google Phone app may soon make your urgent calls hard to ignore
• Meta just opened up its ultra-realistic photosphere alternative to everyone
• Nano Banana goes Pro with refined design consistency and accuracy in the Gemini app
• Meta's chief AI scientist is leaving the company after 12 years to create a startup
• Oura sues Samsung, Amazfit, as it demands royalty payments from its remaining smart ring rivals
• Samsung rolls out November 2025 patch for two Galaxy Z Flip and Fold generations

What you need to know

• Google's Wear OS Clock app is now exclusive to Pixel smartwatches only.
• Non-Pixel watches will lose access to the Clock app and updates.
• Wear OS 6 upgrades rolling out for eligible devices, enhancing user experience.

Earlier this week, Google confirmed it will withdraw its Wear OS Clock app from non-Pixel smartwatches, affecting users who relied on its features. The decision to keep things exclusive to Pixel watches supposedly stems from growing competition as brands pursue proprietary alternatives, altering the Wear OS landscape.

In a Wear OS support thread, the tech giant said it has halted support for its Clock app on all non-Pixel smartwatches. The post states, if you have a Pixel Watch, you won't be affected by this new decision. However, if you have "any other Wear OS" watch, you will see this change. To break this down, Google says that watches without the Clock app installed already will no longer find it available via the Play Store.

If you've already previously installed the Clock app, you can continue to use it, though you should know that it will no longer receive updates.

Google explains that the reason it's made this change is due to other "watch brands offering their own default clock apps on Wear OS." As a result, Google's Clock app, which you could previously download on, say, a Galaxy Watch, has been retracted. The clock is gone, as well as the included alarm, timer, and stopwatch functions within the app.

Some users on the Wear OS support thread have already voiced their displeasure with the move, but it seems that Google's decision is set in stone. The company highlights the availability of other clock apps on the Play Store for Wear OS watches, as an alternative for users looking for something different.

This is certainly a change

Wear OS 6 started moving eligible devices into its new, more expressive wristbound world this year. The Pixel Watch 4 already came with this newer software, and Google started rolling it out to its past-gen devices in October.

A few weeks ago, Pixel Watch 3 and 2 users started receiving their Wear OS 6 upgrade (things look bleak for the O.G. Pixel Watch). Originally, the OTA images started appearing for the update, and Android Central quickly confirmed that it had begun hitting the two aforementioned watches officially. Users should've seen it earlier this month, but it's likely that now, late in October, even more should have it.

The Wear OS 6 demo that Google showcased detailed a smoother scrolling experience with a fully immersive UI for its unique glass-domed Pixel Watch display.

What you need to know

• Google announced that its Wear OS Clock app will no longer be available on non-Pixel watches.
• The company states that this move is the direct result of other brands "offering their own default clock apps."
• Users with Google's version can continue to use it (just without updates), but non-Pixel watches moving forward will lose access to its Play Store availability.

Google announced late this week, stating that this is due to other watch creators simply going their own route with the Wear OS clock.

In a Wear OS support thread, Google officially announced that it has halted support for its Clock app on all non-Pixel smartwatches. The post states, if you have a Pixel Watch, you won't be affected by this new decision. However, if you have "any other Wear OS" watch, you will see this change. To break this down, Google says that watches without the Clock app installed already will no longer find it available via the Play Store.

If you've already previously installed the Clock app, you can continue to use it, though you should know that it will no longer receive updates.

Google explains that the reason it's made this change is due to other "watch brands offering their own default clock apps on Wear OS." As a result, Google's Clock app, which you could previously download on, say, a Galaxy Watch, has been retracted. The clock is gone, as well as the included alarm, timer, and stopwatch functions within the app.

Some users on the Wear OS support thread have already voiced their displeasure with the move, but it seems that Google's decision is set in stone. The company highlights the availability of other clock apps on the Play Store for Wear OS watches, as an alternative for users looking for something different.

This is certainly a change

Wear OS 6 started moving eligible devices into its new, more expressive wristbound world this year. The Pixel Watch 4 already came with this newer software, and Google started rolling it out to its past-gen devices in October.

A few weeks ago, Pixel Watch 3 and 2 users started receiving their Wear OS 6 upgrade (things look bleak for the O.G. Pixel Watch). Originally, the OTA images started appearing for the update, and Android Central quickly confirmed that it had begun hitting the two aforementioned watches officially. Users should've seen it earlier this month, but it's likely that now, late in October, even more should have it.

The Wear OS 6 demo that Google showcased detailed a smoother scrolling experience with a fully immersive UI for its unique glass-domed Pixel Watch display.

What you need to know

• Samsung has started rolling out One UI 8 Watch based on Wear OS 6 to the Galaxy Watch 7.
• The 2GB update includes the September 2025 security patch and build number BYI4.
• The update is currently live in Korea, with a wider global release expected soon.

After a long wait, Samsung has finally started rolling out One UI 8 Watch, based on the latest Wear OS 6, to the Galaxy Watch 7.

Samsung has been on a streak of updates recently. The company rolled out One UI 8, based on Android 16, to its flagship smartphones — even those released in 2022 — and now it's updating the Galaxy Watch 7 to the newest Wear OS version as well.

This rollout comes just days after Google began pushing Wear OS 6 to the Pixel Watch 3 and earlier models, which may have prompted Samsung to follow suit. The One UI 8 for Watch update for the Galaxy Watch 7 carries the build number BYI4 and is about 2GB in size. It also includes the September 2025 security patch.

For now, the update is only live in South Korea (via Tarun Vats on X). Samsung hasn't announced when it will expand to other regions like the U.S. or Europe, but based on previous rollout patterns and over two months of beta testing with no major bugs reported, the global release should arrive soon.

If you want to manually check for the update on your smartwatch, go to Watch settings > Watch software update > Download and install.

One UI 8 Watch update starts rolling out in Korea first

As for what's new, Samsung has added several health-focused features to the Galaxy Watch 7, including Bedtime Guidance, Running Coach, and Vascular Load tracking.

The Bedtime Guidance feature in the update analyzes your sleep pressure and circadian rhythm to suggest an ideal bedtime. Meanwhile, Vascular Load monitors the strain on your circulatory system during both rest and activity and will offer insights and recommendations to help improve your heart health.

The update also introduces the Now Bar that brings live activities to the smartwatch, as well as a new charging notification view. There are other features as well, like an improved notifications interface, updated app icons, and new double-pinch gestures for even more actions.

Weeks of testing the Pixel Watch 4 early have given me plenty of time to enjoy Wear OS 6, with more useful Tiles, better color theming, smoother animations, and new watch faces. And since Google wasted no time launching the new OS on the Pixel Watch 2 and 3, you can try these perks out for yourself.

Assuming we don't see any post-launch bugs or rollbacks like with Wear OS 5 and 5.1, then I'll only have one suggestion to improve Wear OS 6 — and one lingering concern about Google's long-term update plans.

But first, the positives.

Buttery smooth animations

Scrolling on Wear OS 6 is beautifully smooth. I love the effect of notifications or app drawer icons emerging outward or shrinking away to nothing. The effect is magnified with the Watch 4's domed display, but looks just as dynamic on my flatter Pixel Watch 3 display.

Animations like the Edge button emerging from the display edge don't just look cool; there's also a functional benefit to ending a menu with the most logical action, like switching the app drawer to List View if you couldn't find something, or clearing all notifications once you've scrolled through them all.

The new Tiles, too, use Edge buttons for opening full apps if the shortcuts or center info don't do what you need. And they're more useful than before because they fit more information.

Plus, the Wear OS 6 update adds subtle improvements that seem vital and obvious in retrospect, like Dialog pop-ups with ✔️ and ✖️ buttons to accept or reject an option, or a Scrollbar showing how much scrollable content is remaining.

People may focus on how much smoother and prettier Wear OS 6 is, but it's also more functional than before, closer to the usability you'd expect on a phone.

Wear OS comes alive

Wear OS 6 also adds color theming pulled from first-party watch faces or third-party watch face support via the Watch Face Push API. The best custom watch face apps don't support the Watch 4 yet, but should very soon. I've already tricked out my Watch 3 with some WFF-compliant Halloween cheer.

Google's first-party watch face selection is more limited than Samsung's, and the new Pixel Watch 4 faces haven't come to the older models yet, so I'd say Pixel Watch owners benefit from the return of third-party faces even more than Galaxy Watch fans.

Wear OS 6 will pull up to three colors from your watch face and insert them into the menu UI, notifications, and Tiles. It's a subtle thing, but I absolutely love that an impromptu face swap changes the rest of the watch to match my current mood.

It's too bad the theming tool doesn't pull from custom faces. A Facer rep told me earlier this year that they're hoping Google allows this at some point, among other WFF upgrades like 3D faces. But we'll have to wait until Wear OS 7 or later.

Google's new Tiles are great in a vacuum

Old Wear OS Tiles were too boring and generic. They usually highlighted one option or information field, with limited usability and no Edge button to push things along. They mostly looked the same, and swiping through every Tile to find what you needed was a chore.

Wear OS 6's three-slot Tile layout fits in more information, but it's also less uniform than before. Apps like Gmail or Calendar have two full-width slots to show more text, while Maps and Contacts prioritize having five button options. It's easier to differentiate between them at a glance, and they've become more useful.

Here's my problem: I think that the Galaxy Watch 8's One UI 8 Watch Tiles are even better! Called "multi-info tiles," they let you scroll down through multiple widgets in one menu and customize how much space each widget takes up. While the Pixel Watch 4 has whole, separate Tiles for heart rate and steps, you could easily fit that info and a few other health stats in one quick-scrollable Samsung Tile.

Samsung phones also let you stack widgets that show more information in one slot; maybe One UI is just better equipped to create a Tile like this than the stock Pixel OS.

Even if Google doesn't copy Samsung completely, I wouldn't mind if it unleashed Tiles in Wear OS 7 to allow scrolling to fit more information. Imagine if you could use the crown to wheel through more new emails, Keep tasks, recent podcasts, etc., than just two; maybe five or ten could be the limit!

For now, even though I prefer the Pixel Watch 4 over my Galaxy Watch 8 Classic in several ways, Samsung does have the edge in compactly sharing information.

One lingering Wear OS 6 question

Wear OS 6 came to the Pixel Watch 3 and Pixel Watch 2 with the October update, but not the Pixel Watch 1. I asked my Google rep if the Watch 1 will receive it eventually, and they had "nothing to share at this time."

Google and Samsung promise three and four years of software updates, respectively, but never specified whether that means three or four version updates. Samsung did eventually confirm that the Galaxy Watch 4, which started with Wear OS 3 and received 3.5, 4, and 5, will receive Wear OS 6 as its last update.

We have reason to hope that Google will give the Pixel Watch 1 its third and final version update at some point. But if they don't, then it'll give Samsung watches the edge for software longevity, since they'll be receiving double the version updates.

What you need to know

• Google will stop offering its Weather app on smartwatches running Wear OS 6 and newer.
• Pixel Watches on Wear OS 6 will get the new Pixel Weather app with Material 3 Expressive design.
• Smartwatches on Wear OS 5 or earlier can continue using the existing Google Weather app.

Similar to how Google offers its first-party apps like Phone and Clock on all Android smartphones, the company also provides its own Weather app for all Wear OS smartwatches. This app has been a simple but reliable way for users to check the forecast directly on their wrist. However, Google has now confirmed that "changes" are coming and that the app is going away on Wear OS 6+.

Google has announced it will no longer offer its Weather app for smartwatches that are running Wear OS 6 or newer. Instead, the company is encouraging users to rely on the Weather app provided by their smartwatch maker or download third-party apps from the Play Store for Wear OS.

Google notes that this change only applies to smartwatches running Wear OS 6 or newer. For those on Wear OS 5 or earlier, nothing is changing, and users can continue to download and use the existing Weather app.

If you have a Pixel Watch, Google says the Weather app will be replaced with the new Pixel Weather app. We first saw signs of this change last week, and Google has now confirmed it.

Google says all Pixel Watch models running Wear OS 6 or newer will automatically be upgraded to Pixel Weather. As seen before, the Pixel Weather app for Wear OS 6 brings the new Material 3 Expressive design with bolder UI elements for easier at-a-glance weather, plus updated tiles alongside watch faces.

It's also worth noting that if you upgrade your Samsung, OnePlus, or Mobvoi smartwatch to Wear OS 6 and had the Weather app installed before, you’ll still be able to continue using it after the update.

Of course, if you have a Wear OS smartwatch, you can still rely on Gemini or Google Assistant to ask for weather updates as well.

What you need to know

• Google is bringing the Pixel Weather app to the Pixel Watch starting with Pixel Watch 4.
• The app uses Material 3 Expressive design with a pill-shaped card for weather details.
• Its icon matches the phone app, showing a yellow sun on a blue background.
• Three new watch tiles show temperature, sunrise/sunset, and UV index with city info.

Google debuted a new weather app, Pixel Weather, with the Pixel 9 series last year, and while it's been exclusive to phones and the Google Pixel Tablet until now, it looks like the app is finally making its way to the Pixel Watch.

9to5Google reports that Google is bringing the Pixel Weather app from Pixel phones to the Pixel Watch. A Weather app has already been available on Pixel Watches since Wear OS 3 in 2022, but Google is now launching Pixel Weather on Pixel Watch models starting with the Pixel Watch 4.

One of the major features here is that the Pixel Weather app on Pixel Watch brings the Material 3 Expressive design to the app, even though the layout is similar to what's currently available on Wear OS. The app icon matches the phone version with the classic yellow sun on a blue background.

Pixel Weather isn't just for phones anymore

In typical Material 3 Expressive fashion, the city view shows a large pill-shaped card with the current temperature, condition with an icon, and highs and lows in the card. Above the card, you see the city name and the current time. The background also reflects the weather, just like on the phone app.

Alongside the app, Google has also updated the watch face tiles for Pixel Weather. There are now three tiles available: one with temperature, high/low, and precipitation chance; one with sunrise/sunset times; and one with UV index. In all tiles, the time and city appear above the weather info. The publication also notes that watch face complications are coming.

There's no confirmed release date yet for the Pixel Weather app on Pixel Watch, but it is expected to arrive with the Pixel Watch 4 next month. Although Google has already started putting screenshots of Pixel Weather on the Play Store for Wear OS. It's also unclear what will happen to the old Weather app once Pixel Weather rolls out.

Wear OS 6 reintroduced custom watch faces to Android watches, with apps like Facer, WatchMaker, and TIMEFLIK providing the Galaxy Watch 8 and Pixel Watch 4 with a massive selection of faces. Other Wear OS watches won't get the update for some time, and trying out dozens of custom watch faces only made it clearer how exciting an exclusive feature this is.

After restricting old, battery-guzzling watch faces in Wear OS 5 with Watch Face Format (WFF), Google worked with Facer and other apps on a solution: the Watch Face Push API.

With Wear OS 6, each watch face app gets one "slot" in your watch's favorites menu, visible by tapping and holding the display. Pick a watch face in the mobile app, and it pushes onto that slot. Your watch's storage isn't cluttered with old faces because your latest pick overwrites the old one.

You can use as many watch face apps as are compatible with Wear OS 6, but since most of them require a subscription for the best faces, you'll probably want to stick with just one. So, I looked through the options in Facer, TIMEFLIK, WatchMaker, and Pujie to see which stood out.

Facer

Facer Premium: $40/year or $5/month

Facer is crammed with unofficial faces for popular brands like Pokémon, Totoro, Zelda, and Star Wars. However, Facer also has official brand partners, including SpongeBob, Garfield, Barbie, Star Trek, and Tetris, as well as "Watchmaker" faces designed to mimic luxury watch faces. You'll find plenty of high-quality designs to tempt you, along with the more amateurish ones.

The best aspect of Facer is that each face has a "power impact" rating, which warns you if it will affect your watch's battery life. You can also tap a Sun/Moon icon to swap between the active and AOD layout, checking in advance if the latter isn't too battery-intensive.

Facer has a wide range of Wear OS 6-compatible faces, and at least 100 are free if you want to try the app out without committing to Premium; considering Samsung and Google have about 60 and 30 official faces, respectively, that's nothing to sneeze at — even if the best options are paid.

There's also the Facer Creator tool, where you can create your own custom designs; it's meant for publishing faces for people to download or buy, but you can simply save your designs to your account's "My Designs" folder and upload them to your watch.

WatchMaker

WatchMaker VIP: $20/year or $5/month

WatchMaker has hundreds of thousands of WFF faces, though only 30 free ones at any one time. They do seem to switch from day to day, so you can try different ones, but can't save them. Generally speaking, you'll want to pay for the annual sub to use this app.

Like Facer, there's a wide range of casual user-made faces, and you can make your own with the "New Watch" button in the main menu — though you'll need to pay a separate, lifetime "Premium" fee of $12 to add your own custom images and get other design tools.

What makes WatchMaker tempting is that it has a large collection of curated face collections that emphasize a "classic" or "chic" aesthetic, perfect for my Galaxy Watch 8 Classic. The Knight Watch collection, in particular, looks really impressive, with years' worth of striking designs that will keep your watch looking fresh and unique.

The app UI isn't my favorite. The main menu is full of links to other apps instead of useful info, and the confusing split between Premium and VIP feels like a way to trick me into paying twice for things. But 130,000+ WFF faces could make you overlook these annoyances.

TIMEFLIK

Flik Pass Pro: $60/year or $5/month

If you're solely interested in finding free watch faces, TIMEFLIK is where you should start. You can find hundreds (if not more) of free WFF-compatible faces with a toggle on the main Home view or the "Top Free" view in the Popular tab.

Where nearly every face is paid in Facer and WatchMaker by design, TIMEFLIK will typically have a handful of free faces for every well-known pop culture or gaming icon you could think of, as well as people's personal drawings, photos, and AI slop.

The immediate downside to TIMEFLIK is that you need to watch an ad for every watch face you send to your watch, unless you pay $2.49/month. Since only one watch face is saved at a time, that means an ad every time you switch, even if it's one you've used before.

Outside of a few faces that rip off luxury watch looks, most of TIMEFLIK's paid and recommended faces tend to be on the amateurish side. That's not a bad thing if you're snagging a few paid faces that strike your fancy, but I'm not sure what'll justify spending $60/year for TIMEFLIK (after the first $10 annual pass deal).

Pujie

Pujie Premium: $2/month or $5 one-time payment

Pujie's second watch face app is specifically designed for Wear OS 6. It feels more restrained and indie than the others, with total downloads and comments visible under each face to give a sense of what the community thinks.

I like the simplicity of the main Gallery, which breaks down faces into categories like Trending, Popular designers, Complication overload, and so on. They're curated to highlight specific styles, such as analog vs. digital, that you may prefer.

You'll find about 20 free watch faces. Otherwise, being able to pay $5 for all current and future watch faces is a pretty good deal, considering that's how much you'll pay monthly on other apps — even if Pujie has fewer faces than other apps.

Even though I found Pujie's face collection to be very community-driven, one — a nice way of saying many of them are just okay — the top curated picks are great, and the complex watch face designer will let you make your own if you're dedicated enough to try.

Samsung found its unique smartwatch direction with the Galaxy Watch 8. For better or worse, it's not trying to build thick and battery-focused smartwatches like OnePlus or Garmin. It's also not trying to go for minimalism like Google and Fitbit. Instead, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 brings a differentiated yet practical design with a thin-and-light build and excellent software.

Switching from beefy smartwatches like the Apple Watch Ultra and Garmin Enduro 3, having to charge the Galaxy Watch 8 multiple times per day was a tough adjustment. If you can get past that drawback, though, the Galaxy Watch 8 is a nearly-perfect Wear OS device. It's comfortable, provides useful and engaging health insights, and pairs nicely with the best Samsung phones.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8: Pricing and availability

Samsung first revealed the Galaxy Watch 8 at a Galaxy Unpacked event on July 9, 2025. The entire Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 lineup is generally available as of July 25.

The 40mm size of the Galaxy Watch 8 starts at $349.99 in the U.S., up by $50 compared to the Galaxy Watch 7. You can upgrade to the 44mm size for an extra $30, bringing the MSRP to $379. Both models are available with an optional LTE upgrade costing $50 extra.

For perspective, the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic starts at $499.99, and the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2025 retails for $649.99.

Various deals on the best Samsung watches can make the wearables more affordable. I only paid $130 for my 44mm Galaxy Watch 8 by taking advantage of a trade-in deal and reserve credit at Samsung.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8: What's good

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 lineup stands out thanks to its controversial design: the squircle shape from last year's Galaxy Watch Ultra is now found on all the 2025 models. The company calls this a "cushion" design — it's like the circular screen is now resting on a squircle aluminum chassis, or a cushion.

The move serves two main purposes. The Galaxy Watch 8 now has a unique design language separate from the Apple Watch and competing Wear OS watches. More importantly, the larger footprint of the Galaxy Watch 8 on the wrist spreads out the internals better, allowing for a thinner form factor. Both size options measure 8.6mm thick, down from 9.7mm on the Watch 7.

The 40mm variant weighs 30 grams, and the larger 44mm size is only four grams heavier. All told, this makes the Galaxy Watch 8 one of the thinnest and lightest Wear OS smartwatches on the market. This is crucial, because it makes the Galaxy Watch 8 more comfortable to wear while working out and sleeping. To get proper health data, you'll need consistent sleep and activity tracking, and that's why the Galaxy Watch 8's slimmer design really matters.

Specifically, the daily Energy Score is the central metric of the Samsung Health suite. It grades your energy level for each day out of 100, using data points like sleep tracking, activity tracking, and more. You need to wear the Galaxy Watch 8 to bed to get an Energy Score, but that wasn't a problem due to how comfortable the new design felt.

Compared to similar features, like Garmin's Body Battery metric, I found that Samsung overestimated my energy level yet conservatively recommended activity plans. For example, I'd get an Energy Score of 87 for the day alongside a message that I should prioritize rest.

To me, those are a bit contradictory, but I'd always rather a fitness watch push extra rest instead of the alternative, which is to encourage overreaching.

Fitness and health data was solid overall, with the Galaxy Watch 8 offering dual-band GPS and the Samsung BioActive sensor suite. I don't expect the Samsung watch to be as accurate as my Garmin in terms of heart rate or GPS tracking, but the Galaxy Watch 8 always gets close enough. We've already covered a few of the biggest Samsung Health features this year in-depth, including Antioxidant Index and Running Coach.

The entire experience is powered by One UI 8 Watch, backed by Wear OS 6 at the core. Wear OS 6 came with lofty goals, like improved efficiency and expanded third-party watch face support. I love how the operating system looks visually, and fitness data is presented in a colorful and engaging way. Still, there's work to do.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8: What's not good

The biggest problem with the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 is battery life. Even as Wear OS 6 was supposed to improve efficiency, I haven't been impressed with longevity on the Galaxy Watch 8. In order to have enough charge for sleep tracking and all-day wear, I need to make time for two 30-minute charge sessions daily — one right before bed and another in the morning.

Officially, the Galaxy Watch 8 should get 30 hours on a single charge with the always-on display enabled. As always, that figure depends heavily on how much you use it and how long GPS and fitness tracking are active. I got far fewer hours of use on days when I eclipsed 150 minutes of recorded activities. It makes sense, but it's something to consider if you live a very active lifestyle.

The smartwatch does charge fairly quickly, needing about 80 minutes to get from 0% to 100%. This makes my routine of two 30-minute charges per day possible. With that being said, I find that the more you need to charge a smartwatch, the more likely you'll forget to put it back on before going on with your day. That's why I'd recommend considering the Galaxy Watch Ultra if you need multi-day battery life or plan to track a lot of daily activities.

There were also times when I found the One UI 8 Watch operating system to be less than intuitive. Occasionally, you'll run into situations where Wear OS 6 and One UI 8 Watch clash — there will be two ways to do the same thing. For example, you can use Google's Wear OS dictation feature or the one built into Samsung Keyboard. I also found myself wishing there was a dedicated app for workouts separate from Samsung Health on my watch.

Navigation on the Galaxy Watch 8 could certainly be improved overall. The digital bezel system feels as gimmicky as ever, and the two side buttons feel underutilized. If you prefer tactile buttons, I'd strongly recommend taking a look at the Classic or Ultra models. Simply having a third Quick Button to customize on the Galaxy Watch 8 would've solved many of my navigation gripes. Unfortunately, the base model is the only one not to include it.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8: Competition

Samsung's biggest competitor is arguably the Google Pixel Watch 3, soon to be the Pixel Watch 4. Some might prefer the more dainty and minimalist style of the Pixel Watch compared to the very techy look of the Galaxy Watch 8. It'll also pair better with a Google Pixel phone, and could be a better pick for Android users that don't have a Google or Samsung device.

However, it's worth noting that the Pixel Watch 4 is rumored to measure around 14mm thick — practically in another category compared to the 8.6mm Galaxy Watch 8. The OnePlus Watch 3 gives you the best battery life in a Wear OS watch, but like the Pixel Watch 3, it's a chonker. The large size and bulky, rugged look might not be for everyone.

Outside of the Wear OS space, it's worth reviewing the best Garmin watches if you want long battery life above all else.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8: Should you buy it?

You should buy this if...

• You have a Samsung Galaxy phone and want a first-party companion
• You need a thin and light watch that will fit comfortably during workouts and sleep
• You like the mix of Gemini and Samsung Health software features available on this watch

You shouldn't buy this if...

• Multi-day battery life is a main priority for you, or if you track a lot of activity
• You need great hardware controls, like customizable buttons or a rotating bezel
• You don't like the hardware design or the One UI 8 Watch interface

With generally the same sensor suite, display offerings, and processor, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8's hardware hasn't been completely overhauled. For some reason, it feels that way regardless. The switch to the squircle design isn't something you need to settle for — it's actually good. Go with a silver case color to contrast with the black display bezel, and you've got a seriously eye-catching Wear OS smartwatch.

Whether you feel compelled to upgrade to Galaxy Watch 8 will depend on your priorities. I traded in my Galaxy Watch 6 Classic because I found it to be too bulky for daily use and running, and the Galaxy Watch 8's thin and light form factor is a breath of fresh air by comparison. On the other hand, those looking for longer battery life and faster charging will be disappointed.

Overall, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 might be the best base-model Wear OS smartwatch to date.

What you need to know

• The Facer app has become fully compatible with Wear OS 6 as of July 24.
• The update adds Watch Face Format faces with better battery efficiency and ambient AOD modes.
• Facer's "Rosetta Stone" dev tool allows creators to make a single watch face compatible with WFF and Apple Watches.
• The app is adding a social Looks section for users to show off custom watch styles.

Watch face apps like Facer have been locked off of Wear OS watches for some time, but with the launch of the Galaxy Watch 8 and Watch 8 Classic running Wear OS 6, new owners will finally be able to install custom watch faces again.

We learned at Google I/O in May that Wear OS 6 would enable third-party watch face apps, so that you could find them through dedicated storefronts intead of the Play Store individually.

Now, Facer has updated its app with full Wear OS 6 compatibility. If you select the Watch 8 as your device, you'll see WFF-compatible faces you can sync directly to your watch, all compliant with Google's rules about battery efficiency.

Each Facer watch face has a "Power Impact" rating in the description — Minimal, Low, Medium, or High — predicting how much of an effect it'll have on your smartwatch's battery life, based on factors like "power draw of pixels in ambient mode."

Most of Facer's current compatible WFF faces are paid or premium, and it's still fairly limited compared to the hundreds of thousands of faces available for older Wear OS watches.

However, Facer Creator tool now integrates WFF into its "Rosetta Stone" system, so that any watch face made is compatible with Wear OS watches, Apple Watches, and other formats. So we expect to see a wider variety of options soon.

For now, most of the available options come from well-known brands: Fallout, Star Trek, Barbie, TMNT, Smurfs, Garfield, D&D, Tetris, Call of Duty, NASA, Hot Wheels, and many other popular franchises.

Only a few non-branded WFF faces are free, but Facer is offering a "limited-time launch promo" for this Wear OS 6 update, so new Premium members can pay $14.99 for their first year or $2.99/month.

Facer is also introducing "Looks" onto its app; it's a social area where people can post photos of their watches with their favorite faces and customizations.

We're excited that Facer has brought back custom WFF options to new Galaxy Watches, and will support new Wear OS 6 watches like the Pixel Watch 4 down the line. Even though Samsung won our Wear OS watch face battle for the classiest and most varied faces, it's nice to have more options.

We'll also have to watch out for other watch face apps like WatchMaker, TIMEFLIK, Pujie, and Recreative, Google's other partners confirmed to have Wear OS 6 compatibility in the works.

What you need to know

• Android Headlines has released renders of the Moto Watch (2025), a circular watch with a crown expected to launch later this year.
• Most recent Moto Watches have had square-shaped displays and run on Moto Watch OS.
• The report suggests this new Moto 360 (2025) will also use RTOS, but could use Wear OS as well.

The Moto Watch 360, a decade-old smartwatch beloved by early Android smartwatch fans, will allegedly get relaunched later this year. But whether it resonates with fans or not will depend on what operating system it's running.

Android Headlines has leaked official renders of the Moto Watch (2025), suggesting it'll have a steel case with metal band, a fairly large display with classic-style second markings along the bezel, a rotating crown, and a second back button.

The site also shared limited info about the smartwatch itself: It'll ship in five colors, runs the same RTOS as other Moto Watches, and (as the name implies) arrives later this year, possibly around IFA 2025 in early September.

The site speculates that the Moto Watch (2025) could use Moto Watch OS and Wear OS, similar to how the OnePlus Watch 3 uses a custom RTOS for background tasks and Wear OS for demanding apps. But it has no inside information to suggest this.

The renders themselves do seem to show a fairly thick watch, like most Wear OS watches, which could indicate the presence of a Snapdragon processor and plenty of memory to power the demanding OS.

The first Moto 360 used Android Wear, as did the second-gen model in 2015. After that, Motorola licensed out the name to eBuyNow, which made the Moto 360 (2020) with Wear OS 2. Since then, CE Brands, which owned eBuyNow, has sold several squircle Moto Watches with long battery life and basic smarts.

It's unclear whether Motorola is finally returning to Wear OS, something we've wanted for some time, or if this watch will simply use classic aesthetics to make its RTOS-only watch stand out from recent models like the Moto Watch Fit (seen above).

With the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic ditching the traditional look for a squircle case, something like the Moto 360 (2025) could really appeal to people who like "classic" smartwatch aesthetics, paired with new smarts like the Gemini assistant. But again, that will only apply if it has proper Wear OS support.

This hypothetical Wear OS-powered Moto Watch (2025) would have stiff competition against the Watch 8 and Pixel Watch 4, but might stand out if it can emulate the OnePlus Watch 3 and deliver longer battery life than a typical smartwatch.

What you need to know

• A report claims that Qualcomm is in the "early testing" stage of a new Wear OS chip, codenamed "Aspen."
• This chip is reportedly "all-new" and could feature a 1+4 core setup based on a TSCMC node, and with a RAM controller upgrade to the benefit of its battery life.
• An interview between Android Central and Qualcomm spoke about its future Wear OS chip, and it seems the company wants to lean into RISC-V or Oryon cores, but more work is needed.

Ending the week are rumors about a future Snapdragon chip from Qualcomm that's looking to considerably boost Wear OS devices.

This report comes from Android Authority, who claim they've observed "credible evidence" about an all-new Wear OS-bound chip from Qualcomm. According to the post, the chip has received the codename "Aspen," it's known as "SW6100" internally for Qualcomm, and it's "testing phase." At the moment, the publication claims the chip is preparing a noticeable CPU upgrade, courtesy of a 1+4 core setup.

This core setup reportedly features one Arm Cortex-A78 alongside four Arm Cortex-A55 cores. Despite these cores being roughly a year old, speculation suggests this CPU upgrade could benefit the chip's "efficiency and performance."

Other alleged specs include the use of a TSMC node and a RAM controller upgrade. The chip will reportedly support LPDDR5X for a slight "battery life boost." There have also been whispers about a new coprocessor; however, the publication states concrete information about that hardware is still in the dark.

Rumors add that this Qualcomm chip for future Wear OS devices could debut sometime in 2026.

Take a step back into 2024

Here's where things get interesting. Android Central's Michael Hicks sat down with Qualcomm's VP & GM of Wearables, Dino Bekis, about the future of the company's Wear OS chips after previous disappointments. While Bekis stated the "next" chip would be more "feature-focused" for Wear OS devices, with AI and PC-like additions, it might need a little more time in the oven. Bekis mentions that Qualcomm was still working with Google to figure out its RISC-V cores.

Moreover, the company has thought about using its Oryon cores in this wearable chip (the same ones that power its flagship phone SoC), but there's no telling if this recently rumored chip is that chip.

These were all things talked about in 2024, and it seems we're still floating around the same bits of information. As Android Authority also speculates, this chip could be called the Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 or, perhaps, something else, when it debuts.

The last chips to come from Qualcomm for wearables were the Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 and W5 Plus Gen 1. While they generally fixed some of the issues plaguing the Wear OS market, the chips provided a ~50% battery life boost based on a 4nm process. Considering the recent rumors, perhaps we'll see this improve to a 3nm process for the next iteration.

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What you need to know

• Gemini AI comes to Pixel Watch via a Play Store update — rolling out to all users over the next few weeks.
• The integration claims to bring natural interaction, enabling tasks like creating playlists, sending messages, recalling information from emails/calendars, and navigating with Maps.
• This update brings advanced AI capabilities to the Pixel Watch sooner than expected, ahead of the anticipated release of the Pixel Watch 4.

Google has rolled out a new update through the Play Store for the Pixel Watch that brings Gemini to the smartwatch.

According to the latest Pixel Watch community post, Google is starting to roll out the update for Pixel Watch starting Wednesday (July 9), and the rollout is believed to be carried out to all in the next couple of weeks.

Google notes that the update's aim is to bring the helpfulness of AI assistant right on the wrist for those who use Pixel Watch. They can experience quick responses to their questions, personalized help, and more.

Google also indicates that users will be receiving a notification whenever Gemini is available on their connected Pixel Watch. Alternatively, they can open Gemini on their phones to manually enable it on the smartwatch. Further, the availability and features could vary depending on the device, language, country, subscription, and corporate account settings — things users have to remember while using the functionality.

After the update reaches via Play Store, users will be able to talk to Gemini naturally like they would on their Android phone and get help in managing their day. For instance, they can create a customized playlist on the go or even send a message without dictating every single word. Plus, they can recall helpful info or, interestingly, get details from their emails or calendars or even get help navigating in Maps — and the possibilities seem endless to say the least.

Your Pixel Watch with the latest Gemini integration should likely be bringing a "more natural and interactive way to use your device."

Coming ahead of Pixel Watch 4 release

Speaking of Pixel Watch, the fourth iteration of the smartwatch is likely on its way this year. While many were expecting Gemini integration to come with the Pixel Watch 4, Google's update indicates it didn't want to wait that long. Alongside Gemini, the upcoming smartwatch is expected to carry a new chipset, a bigger battery, and Google's latest Material 3 Expressive interface.

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The One UI Watch 8 beta arrives later this month with exciting health, sleep, fitness, and nutritional tools. Unfortunately, only the Galaxy Watch 5 or later can run it. Will the Galaxy Watch 4 receive the stable version eventually, or is it stuck with Wear OS 5? The answer to that question will be an important one for Wear OS as a whole.

Samsung has promised "four years of major updates" in press releases since the Galaxy Watch 4 launched back in summer 2021 with Wear OS 3. After updates to Wear OS 3.5, 4, and 5 over the last three years, we naturally assumed that Wear OS 6 would be its fourth update (and last hurrah).

But last year, the Galaxy Watch 4 took until December 2024 to get One UI 6 Watch. This December would fall outside the Galaxy Watch 4's four-year window.

Google, meanwhile, promises "at least three years" of updates for its Pixel Watches, "from when the device first became available on the Google Store," which takes the 2022 Pixel Watch to October 2025.

Google is speedier than Samsung at delivering version updates to last-gen models, so Wear OS 6 in October is very possible. But Google didn't promise years of "major" updates like Samsung did. It could run out the clock with Watch 1 security updates.

We can only extrapolate so much from a single Samsung beta software announcement. But later this year, the ambiguity will be cleared up and we'll know exactly how long Wear OS watches stay at the cutting edge of software tricks. And whether they get two, three, or four OS updates, we'll have to decide if that's enough.

Do Wear OS watches need to live up to Apple Watches for longevity?

Later this year, the 2020 Apple Watch Series 6 will get watchOS 26. That should be the final major update, though Apple may offer the occasional major security patch. So how should 2021 Galaxy Watch 4 or 2022 Pixel Watch buyers feel?

Apple's unspoken five-year commitment to watches is rare. Garmin watches are known for their longevity, but new features usually taper off after one or two years — and some fitness watches are stuck with the features advertised at launch.

As with its phones, Apple produces its watch silicon, making it easier to design features to work across generations because it controls the architecture. But since Samsung makes its own Exynos chips for Galaxy Watches, you'd think they'd get the same benefits.

Considering you can buy a Galaxy A16 5G for $100 less than a Galaxy Watch 7 and get six years of OS updates, it's not a matter of watches being too cheap to deserve support.

Even a cheap phone will have 3–4X the RAM and three or four more ARM Cortex cores than your typical smartwatch SoC. Samsung has more headroom and better thermal solutions with the A16 than a Galaxy Watch optimized for max battery life. And any new Wear OS feature added could imbalance the entire system.

Just in the past year, we've seen how Google had to roll back Wear OS 5 and then fix major bugs with Wear OS 5.1. Google wants to refresh its watches with new features at a quarterly cadence, but has trouble executing.

Maybe once Qualcomm delivers its new Snapdragon Wear chip or Pixel Watches switch to RISC-V, they'll have the capacity to last longer. Plus, cutting off the Pixel Watch's 2018 Exynos 9110 chip frees Google to get more ambitious with Wear OS 6, making new buyers happier but leaving original customers in the lurch.

Do you care how long your Wear OS watch lasts?

There's a full spectrum of Wear OS watches in terms of software support. Mobvoi watches are still on Wear OS 4 and lack Google Assistant; OnePlus promises two OS updates and three years of security, but takes a year longer than Google to deliver to last-gen watches; and then there's Google and Samsung leading the charge.

Frankly, any smartwatch from 2022 or earlier will have significant downgrades from current models in terms of display quality, health sensors, and performance speed. So should customers be expected to upgrade so that Samsung and Google can evolve past old tech, or should they expect the right to get new features for four years?

As someone who usually gets the latest watch tech every year, I'm spoiled with instant access to new features, and therefore expect them. So I'm curious how much you (the reader) care about these updates.

Would you be upset if your Galaxy Watch 4 couldn't access Vascular Load, Running Coach, Antioxidant Index, and other tools from One UI 8 Watch? Or if your Pixel Watch 1 didn't get Material 3 Expressive, third-party watch face apps, dynamic theming, and battery optimizations from Wear OS 6?

Or are you okay with the expectation that you'll need to upgrade to a new watch every 2–3 years for major UI upgrades or Gemini?

What you need to know

• The One UI 8 Watch beta offers new features like Bedtime Guidance, Vascular Load monitoring, Running Coach, and Antioxidant Index to promote healthier habits.
• Bedtime Guidance analyzes sleep patterns and circadian rhythm to recommend optimal bedtimes, while Running Coach provides personalized marathon training plans.
• The Antioxidant Index utilizes a novel sensor to measure carotenoid levels, reflecting dietary habits, and Vascular Load offers insights into cardiovascular stress during sleep.

After the Galaxy S25 series started receiving the second One UI 8 betas early this month, the company is now releasing the One UI 8 Watch through beta, and it brings in a host of new features to help smartwatch users build "healthier habits." The latest beta has new features, including Bedtime Guidance, Vascular Load, Running Coach, and Antioxidant Index.

Bedtime Guidance & Vascular Load

The Bedtime Guidance is built upon Samsung's already existing sleep-related features and now includes additional tools aiming at better sleep. It recommends optimal bedtime, which will be based on individual lifestyle and sleep patterns, next to reminders to help Galaxy Watch users stay consistent, the company notes in the announcement post.

The feature also analyzes sleep data of the user from the past three days to evaluate sleep patterns alongside circadian rhythm, to further suggest a "bedtime that maximizes alertness the next day." The aim is to help people sleep better. If their sleep is inconsistent for more than a few days, Bedtime Guidance analyzes the same and helps users get significant rest.

The Vascular Load feature, on the other hand, wants to ensure users receive insights into their vascular load and the cardiovascular stress during their sleep. Additionally, users can track other components like sleep and exercise to ensure they are on a healthier routine and build positive habits.

Running Coach

Running Coach is a feature specifically designed for Galaxy Watch users who participate in marathons to train safely. It includes optimized intensity and injury prevention routines, which should be ideal for beginners as well.

Plus, it also offers motivation, real-time guidance, and a personalized training program, per user's fitness level. Moreover, Galaxy Watch users, while wearing the smartwatch and running for 12 minutes, can immediately receive a performance analysis and a running level score. Then, a comprehensive training plan is believed to be generated further, helping users to support their preferred marathon runs.

Antioxidant Index

Lastly, the Antioxidant Index feature on Galaxy Watch will be able to measure carotenoids — "antioxidants found in green and orange fruits and vegetables — that are stored in the skin." It is said to be utilizing an industry-first feature to assess carotenoid levels in about five seconds, backed by an advanced, light-activated BioActive sensor.

All these insights supposedly reflect behavioral changes. The aim of the feature is to tackle radicals in the body caused by behavioral factors like alcohol consumption, smoking, for example. Antioxidants, on the other hand, will neutralize those free radicals in order to prevent chronic illness. Thus, the feature with the ability to measure carotenoid antioxidants helps Galaxy Watch users adopt healthier habits.

Galaxy Watch 5 series and above

These advanced features are available for Galaxy Watch users who are willing to try out the One UI 8 Watch beta. However, some features like Vascular Load are available only on the Galaxy Watch Ultra and the upcoming Galaxy Watch 8 models. The beta is currently available for users based in Korea and the U.S., and it is released for the Galaxy Watch 5 series and above.

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What you need to know

• Google's System Services patch notes for June detail the arrival of its Early Earthquake Warning alerts on Wear OS.
• The notes state users should see the same alerts as they would on an Android device with the warning system enabled.
• In 2022, Google started expanding its warning system to even more phones in "high-risk" areas.

Google is expanding a potential life-saving feature to even more devices, and it's one you might recognize.

Mishaal Rahman for Android Authority reports that Google is starting to bring its "Early Earthquake Alerts" to Wear OS devices in a small update. The feature is wrapped in Google's recent stretch of June Google System Release patches, specifically for its Play Services. The company details this as a "Safety & Emergency" update, stating Wear OS users will soon see alerts "when an earthquake is expected."

Rahman reiterates that Google's been working on this for a few months now, after a teardown surfaced a few details.

According to the post, these earthquake alerts on Wear OS devices will display the quake's "magnitude" and "estimated distance to the epicenter." Users should, of course, take this information seriously if it ever happens and take the appropriate action to ensure their safety. Moreover, it seems Google is putting a blanket over every Wear OS user, bringing this feature to more than just "high-risk" areas, as it has done before on Android.

Elsewhere, Google's Play Services update for June includes a few bug fixes related to its Wallet app and developer updates for "Account Management" in apps. Google's changelog announced this safety feature last week, but it appears to be rolling out very slowly.

Ahead of Danger

Google first launched its Earthquake Alerts System back in 2020 and expanded its access to more countries in 2021. Essentially, the system turns your phone into a portable seismometer using its accelerometer to detect changes in the planet. The information your phone detects is sent to Google's servers, which are then "crowdsourced" with other Android phones to see if a quake is truly happening.

If confirmed, Google's system will alert all Android users within the quake's range to get to safety. Your Android will also give a few key steps on how to take cover and the appropriate way to stay safe.

"High-risk" areas were in Google's sights in 2022 when it expanded its Early Earthquake Warnings to even more phones. Now, with Wear OS devices picking it up, the company can cover another range by making its alerts even more profound. Without your phone on hand, users can still be informed about potentially life-threatening quakes.

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WatchOS 26 and Wear OS 6 will arrive later this year, and it's fascinating to see how Apple, Google, and Samsung are taking different approaches to keep their watches relevant amidst this year's AI explosion.

Watching WWDC tends to trigger a zero-sum mindset for Android phone fans, pointing out the new iOS 26 features stolen from Android or how Apple Intelligence falls short of Gemini.

On the wearable front, though, feature thievery is rampant and indiscriminate. Galaxy and Pixel Watch owners eagerly await when these brands will "borrow" better fitness watch features or Apple tools like the Smart Stack.

I can point out that the Galaxy Watch 7 already has an equivalent to Apple's "new" wrist-flick gesture for dismissing notifications, or that Google Keep preempted Apple Notes on watches.

However, Apple beat Samsung and Google to the punch with fitness tools like running dynamics, custom workouts, and training load, as well as key safety features.

Checking who was "first" to a smartwatch feature isn't important (at least to me). What's more relevant is who executes a feature well, despite hurdles like battery life, weak CPUs, and tiny screens.

It's clear from Apple's watchOS 26 presentation, plus Google and Samsung's Wear OS 6 plans, that revamped UI, personalization, and AI are the priorities for smartwatches in 2025. However, only the Apple Watch 11, Galaxy Watch 8, and Pixel Watch 4 can demonstrate which brand can actually deliver in reality.

Can Apple Intelligence or Gemini anticipate your needs?

WatchOS 26 will use "prediction algorithms" based on your contextual, sensor, and routine data to create Smart Stack hints, or "actionable suggestions" that pop up as tiny icons on the main watch face.

For example, it'll show a Pilates pop-up if your GPS shows you at the studio where you usually work out. Or the Watch can pick "the best playlist for a user’s workout based on the workout type and their personal tastes."

Other key watchOS 26 tools rely on AI, such as "more precise" on-device Smart Replies and "relevant action" suggestions based on the message, like opening Apple Cash if a friend requests money.

We also know from a One UI APK teardown that Samsung (allegedly) plans to add the Now Bar tool. You'd make a double-tap gesture to pull up contextually relevant apps from the home view, such as music controls.

In both cases, Samsung and Apple claim that they know your routines so well that they know what you'll want, saving you the swipes or voice command to find it. But can Gemini or Apple Intelligence be trusted for this, or will these suggestions be too simplistic? We'll find out soon enough!

Simply from a UI perspective, I like Apple's Smart Stack because it can throw a few suggestions on top, while a Now Bar seemingly only has room for one guess. Google's new smooth-morphing Wear OS 6 UI could create an equivalent to Smart Stack, but so far, Google only uses it for notification Cards.

Workout Buddy: AI coach or another novelty?

Apple's Workout Buddy will use Apple Intelligence to point out relevant info during and after workouts, such as "You’re 18 minutes away from closing your Exercise ring," "You picked up the pace and ran that last one in 8 minutes," or that you "just crossed the 200-mile mark" for the year.

This immediately reminded me of Garmin Connect Plus, which has an AI chatbot that summarizes your recent stats in the app, or Strava's Athlete Intelligence data that judges every workout. Other chatbots exist, too, with varying levels of accuracy and usefulness.

Frankly, Apple's vision of AI coaching sounds somewhat simplistic, focusing on rings and basic trivia that can be seen on your watch. However, it may delve deeper into topics like training load and heart rate zones, and at least Apple's audio version can provide this information during workouts for motivation.

For comparison, Fitbit Premium added AI running coaching and suggested workouts last year, based on your fitness level and Cardio Load. Apple has the obvious lead in at-home video workouts with Fitness Plus, but not AI workouts. It has a new Fitness UI to emphasize Custom Workouts, but not everyone has the time to create those themselves.

Apple says that its Workout Buddy will work for running, walking, cycling, HIIT, and strength training — a broader range than Fitbit's focus on running. But will it offer anything more insightful than analyzing your duration, pace, and heart rate? That'll be the real test of its usefulness.

As for Samsung, it's reportedly working on some kind of basic Running Coach this year, but details are vague. Its bigger focus is a Samsung Health AI Coach that will let you "ask questions, get real-time insights, and receive personalized coaching," as well as offer "personalized nutrition advice" and "tailored meal plans and recipes."

A generalized Health coach for your lifestyle might have broader appeal than Apple and Fitbit, which focus so heavily on AI fitness. Or it'll be too broad or generic, making it easy for people to ignore Samsung's advice. Again, it's hard to say until we see these insights in action.

Material 3 Expressive vs. Liquid Glass

If you want me to pick a winner between Google's Material 3 Expressive and Apple's new Liquid Glass, I have bad news for you: I love them both.

Both designs turn weaknesses into strengths, accepting the limited space of a smartwatch screen and stylizing content so that it naturally fits better into small spaces while looking cool doing so.

WatchOS 26's Photos watch face hides portions of the time stylistically so that it's still visible but fits in with whatever the featured photo is. And when you open other content, the watch uses "real-time rendering" to refract key content out onto empty space. The background colors reinforce whatever your eyes are supposed to focus on.

I also appreciate how Apple plays into its square display space for the redesigned Fitness app by adding functions like custom workouts or race routes into each corner.

It's a perfect UI choice to have the main content sit in the center, surrounded by colorful empty space, with more functions along the edge that are spread apart enough to avoid mis-taps.

It's very similar to how Wear OS 6's new Tiles fit several more buttons than before, making them more useful, with set elements at the top and bottom to make the UI familiar to users.

Plus, the new design nicely hugs the round display edge, with content naturally morphing to fit whatever amount of space it has. Round displays can't match square ones for sheer space, but Wear OS can at least make content more useful when it's squeezed into a smaller portion of space.

I like how Liquid Glass samples on-display content to push unique color schemes, but Wear OS's dynamic color theming based on your watch face is cool as well, giving you more of a choice to express yourself in how things look.

Different strokes

Apple and Google have taken different paths to make software on a smartwatch look stylish, and when Samsung reveals its new UI, it'll also have a very different take.

Considering that Apple and Android watches will soon be flooded with similar AI tools trying to anticipate your needs, I find it comforting that, at the very least, these watches will all take different approaches in other areas like UI.

What you need to know

• With new personalizations on RCS Group chats, users can customize group icons and names, check friend RCS availability, and manage notifications.
• Google Photos to incorporate a redesigned editor with AI suggestions, a Reimagine feature, and an Auto frame for easier photo enhancement.
• Google Home app gains access to device-specific shortcuts and the ability to manage favorites across various Google devices.

Android 16 is finally here, and the search giant has announced six new prominent features that should make the experience even better.

RCS Group Enhancements

RCS is one of the greatest ways to connect with your favorite ones, and through group chats, it appears even better. To take things forward, the company will soon be adding some personalization to group chats in Google Messages.

Users will be able to add a custom icon for their RCS group chats and also give unique or personalized names to make them stand out. And, they can check which friends from their contact lists have RCS enabled. Notifications can also be muted on specific group chats for a duration per their preference.

New Google Photos Editor

Google Photos is also gaining a new redesigned image editor, which promises easier editing than ever. It will include new AI-powered suggestions that evidently help users elevate their photos with a single tap. Plus, there will be a new Reimagine feature that lets users describe what they want to see, further making their ideas come to life. Then there is Auto frame to help users expand the scene or crop the image per their preference.

Smarter Home Management

Google Home users will also be able to find and manage smart home products faster with new device-specific shortcuts. These are applicable for their Favorites — like the ability to pin their security cameras on their Google TV, or kitchen speaker to their Android phone, or even pinning the thermostat to their WearOS smartwatch. All such combinations can be set via the Google Home app.

Safety Check is also gaining notable improvements, like adding extra time through the Personal Safety app on your Android phone. For the unaware, Safety Check allows users to schedule a specific check-in time to ensure a user has reached home safely.

In some scenarios where users aren’t able to respond within the check-in time, their locations will be shared with emergency contacts right away. However, sometimes a user may not be able to arrive on time, and in such cases, users will be able to extend or add extra time, instead of creating a new Safety Check.

Emojis and Swift Payments

Emoji Kitchen stickers will now be even more expressive with the inclusion of new sticker combinations as part of the new update. Users will be able to remix their favorite emojis and share them with their favorite ones as stickers through Gboard.

To ensure people have smoother public transit rides, Google will be allowing payments directly from their WearOS smartwatches. They will be able to tap city transit cards even when their Google Wallet app is closed. Users, however, have to ensure that the feature is turned on if they are used to using a credit or debit card to tap.

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What you need to know

• Wear OS 6 dev preview code and an APK teardown by Android Authority have shown upcoming Pixel Watch features.
• The update should include the long-rumored Adaptive Charging tool and a renamed Water Lock mode.
• Your Pixel Watch 4 could automatically lock your phone if you leave it behind.
• Stock Wear OS 6 should arrive first on the Pixel Watch 4 in late summer.

Google publicly unveiled Wear OS 6 last month, but it appears the upcoming OS has a few hidden depths. Strings of code in the developer preview show hints at features that Google has yet to reveal, and they all sound useful to the upcoming Pixel Watch 4!

Mishaal Rahman at Android Authority spotted strings of code in the ClockworkSysUiGoogle app for adaptive charging. It would stop at a set percentage — likely 80%, as on Pixel phones — and show "Charging will be completed by X" on the display, with an option to "Override" and show "Charging to full now."

During my Wear OS 6 hands-on at I/O, I spotted the full-charge screen above, and "Ready to go!" is one of the code strings Rahman spotted. So I fully believe this feature is coming. It'll pair well with the "fully charged" notifications Google added last year.

Galaxy Watch 8 code leaks also revealed an adaptive charging tool that lets you choose a custom max percentage, so we can reasonably expect this tool across devices when Wear OS 6 arrives in late summer or early fall.

Rahman spotted another dev preview code string for a Water Lock feature on Pixel Watches, but it's unclear how different this would be from the current "Touch Lock" that prevents false inputs on the display and disables the rotating crown while you're swimming or in the shower. Perhaps it's simply a branding change for people to use the feature more often.

Most intriguingly, an APK teardown showed how your watch could help keep your phone more secure, in an inverse of the popular Watch Unlock tool.

The code string shows that your "Phone will lock when it disconnects from your watch, like when it’s far away." So if you have a Pixel 9 Pro sitting on your desk, walking away while wearing your Pixel Watch 4 will lock your phone; then, when you return, Watch Unlock will trigger by proximity.

So, if someone were to snag your Pixel phone while it's unlocked and walk away, it should lock by default once they reach a certain distance.

Wear OS 6 will bring major changes to Pixel Watches, from the new Material 3 Expressive UI and dynamic color theming to third-party watch face storefronts and revamped Tiles with more tools.

The Pixel Watch 4 will receive the update first, and the leaked Pixel Watch 4 design appears thicker than the Watch 3 — possibly to squeeze in a larger battery. So we're hoping that the new adaptive charging tool will help the Watch 4's improved capacity last much longer.

Add in the fact that Gemini should replace Assistant on Wear OS relatively soon, and this should be the biggest update to the platform since Google and Samsung first joined forces with Wear OS 3.

What you need to know

• HMD Global, Android phone OEM and former Nokia licensee, allegedly plans to make two Wear OS watches.
• The HMD Rubber 1 could have a built-in 2MP camera, 400mAh battery, tap-to-pay, and health tracking with HR and SpO2.
• The HMD Rubber 1S would have a smaller OLED display and battery with no built-in camera or NFC, but still have 5ATM protection and Qi charging.

Wear OS has had a resurgence in recent years, bringing Android OEMs like OnePlus and Xiaomi back into the fold. Now, HMD Global — which has never made a Wear OS or Android Wear watch — may have two Android smartwatches in the pipeline.

Frequent HMD Global leaker @smashx_60 (via NotebookCheck) posted last Thursday that the company would launch the HMD Rubber 1 and HMD Rubber 1S, with both watches running Wear OS.

The Rubber 1 sounds like the premium model, with a 1.85-inch OLED display, 400mAh battery capacity, Bluetooth 5.3 and WiFi support, NFC payments, HR and SpO2 sensors, and 2MP camera sensor. Given that display size, it most likely uses a squircle display, which would be a first for Wear OS.

We don't know what purpose this watch camera would serve, but given that Apple allegedly canceled its camera-embedded Watch in May, it's intriguing to see HMD take a shot at one. If it faces upward, it could support selfies, face authentication, or video calling; if it points outwards, it could take photos, though not with very good resolution quality.

We assume the HMD Rubber 1S is the budget model, with a 1.07-inch OLED display, 290mAh battery, Bluetooth 5.0, and no NFC or built-in camera. It does have an accelerometer for step counting and activities, with HR and blood oxygen data for (presumably) health and sleep tracking.

We don't have any leaked details on price, release date, or whether the HMD Rubber 1 would use the current Wear OS 5 or a different version. But the name "Rubber" implies that it may use rubber materials, possibly to make them durable enough to survive rough treatment from kids.

These HMD watches may target kids rather than adults

Notebook Check points out that Nokia partnered with Xplora, "a leading provider of smartwatches for children," last October. Their promised aim is to deliver "responsible and mindful devices for young people" and "introduce them to the world of technology in a safe and balanced way."

This is a growing focus for HMD, which also announced the HMD Fusion X1 phone for teens earlier this year. And when it comes to kids' smartwatches, many of our current favorites have either one or two cameras, most commonly a selfie cam for calling parents.

Normal smartwatches rarely need cameras. They need to sync with a phone to work, so why bulk up the watch with an inferior sensor to whatever's on your phone? But a kid may not have a phone yet, as a standalone watch is easier for parents to monitor and prevents too much screen time.

Google and Samsung announced Galaxy Watch for Kids earlier this year, adding a new version of Wear OS to the Galaxy Watch 7 LTE with dedicated "teacher-approved" kids' apps, activity monitoring via Google Family Link, and GPS-based location monitoring.

Perhaps Google will announce a more general "Wear OS for Kids," one that's designed to work with squircle displays — possibly similar to the Fitbit Ace LTE OS.

The leak didn't mention LTE calling, GPS geofencing, or other common kids' watch features, so it's not a guarantee that the Rubber 1 series targets kids. It's just the most likely possibility.

Whatever the target audience, we're just as fascinated by the idea of the first squircle Wear OS watch. Wear OS 6 shapes its content for rounded display edges; it wouldn't fit a square-shaped display. But if the HMD Rubber 1 has a 1.85-inch OLED display, that's far too large for any normal circular display, making a squircle most likely.

That would require a serious Wear OS UI redesign for Google. And if it pulls off this redesign for HMD Global, other OEMs like Samsung could use the squircle UI for their own watches, in theory.

What you need to know

• A bug affecting Google Wallet caused repeated authentication prompts for Wear OS users.
• More than a week after first acknowledging the problem, Google confirmed it has patched the bug.
• Wear OS users can now continue making Wallet payments without authenticating their purchase if it is unlocked and on their wrist.

A tweak to how Google Wallet handles contactless payments on Android phones may have resulted in a frustrating bug for Wear OS users, but it has since been resolved. In a community post Thursday, May 29, a Google employee confirmed the bug causing Wear OS devices to repeatedly ask for PIN/pattern authentication is fixed (via 9to5Google).

Now, users can continue to make Wallet transactions without needing to authenticate their purchase every single time. After unlocking the smartwatch and keeping it strapped to your wrist, you can make Google Wallet contactless payments quickly and easily without entering your PIN or pattern.

The updated community post explains that some Wear OS users were "being asked to re-enter their PIN/password on their smartwatch during in-store payments." The company acknowledged the issue on May 20, and more than a week later, the patch is available.

Initially, it was unclear whether this bug was a behavior change coinciding with an adjustment made to the way Google Wallet works on Android. For smartphones, Google Wallet now needs to be unlocked with a passcode or biometrics for the app to be opened. While the emergence of the Wear OS bug seemed to line up with this tweak, it turned out to be a mistake after all.

Not all Wear OS users were affected by the problem, so if you haven't been dealing with repeated authentication prompts, you can continue using Google Wallet as normal. However, the issue seemed fairly widespread, as over 360 users reported having the same problem on the community post — and those are just the ones we know about.

To get the fix, make sure your Google Wallet app is updated to version 25.17 on your Wear OS smartwatch. It's unclear if the patch is a server-side adjustment or if it requires an app update.

What you need to know

• Wear OS 6 will support 3rd-party watch face stores like Facer, which were blocked on Wear OS 5.
• Facer "worked closely with Google" to ensure watch faces would have "instant syncing" with Pixel Watches.
• Third-party faces must still use WFF, so many old animated and 3D watch faces still won't sync.
• Wear OS 6 is expected to start rolling out in late summer or early fall 2025.

Google's push for battery-efficient watch faces locked out watch face apps like Facer from Android smartwatches. Wear OS 6 will fix that by adding a Watch Face Push API that lets any 3rd-party app have a watch face Slot next to Google's native faces.

In an Android Developers post, the Wear OS team outlined how developers can "create their own watch face marketplaces" of XML Watch Face Format (WFF) faces. Up until now, devs had to individually post watch faces in the Play Store, making them hard to find.

Google partnered with Facer, TIMEFLIK, WatchMaker, Pujie, and Recreative, the first watch face app stores that will work on Wear OS 6 watches this fall.

With Facer, for example, you'll be able to pick between thousands of faces; selecting one in the mobile app will have it sync automatically on the future Pixel Watch 4 display.

WFF faces will also get more dynamic on Wear OS 6, starting with user-selected photos. Devs can change the color of an element based on the value, such as brighter colors for higher temperatures or UV levels. Text will auto-size to fit the space, so you can fit a wider range of values (such as higher step counts) in a single area. And faces can now "transition" from always-on to active mode, rather than instantly switching.

Still, WFF has limitations compared to old formats. It cuts Facer's 500,000+ watch face library down into the low thousands, most of which it had to transition manually.

So I spoke to Brook Eaton, Facer's new CPO and former Fossil exec, about the Facer-Google partnership and what to expect from this new watch face system.

Google was 'very understanding' of what Facer needed

Even though Wear OS 5 blocked Facer and hurt its outreach to Android users, Eaton explained that he "understood Google's logic" for why it forced the WFF move.

Old animated watch faces were "not how watch faces were intended to be displayed," Eaton said, because it was more like an always-on app that constantly pulled data from the system and sensors. And when it burned through the battery, users would contact watch hardware makers like Fossil to complain about the terrible battery life.

WFF, as it exists today, relies on recent cached sensor data to display it without that constant drain, reflecting what users want to see in a "more consolidated and platform-centric way."

Facer says that around the Wear OS 5 launch, it was "actively discussing a resolution with Google" but that the "change was unfortunately rolled out before a solution could be reached." But that didn't mean Google and Facer stopped talking; the target simply moved from OS 5 to OS 6 to fix things.

Google "wants their ecosystem to succeed," Eaton said, which means "understanding the pain points" of partners. For "decently-sized engineering teams" who do a lot of business on Google platforms, "they'll work with you" to solve a problem so long as "everyone will benefit from it," not just one specific app or partner.

So Facer (and presumably other watch face apps) convinced Google that it was in everyone's best interest for the Watch Face Push API to bring back third-party faces. It's still working on convincing Google to upgrade WFF to become more dynamic.

How Facer will work on Wear OS 6 (and in the future)

On current Wear OS 5 watches, all Facer can do is link to WFF faces in the Play Store. But it didn't want the "headache" of adding thousands of individually-managed faces to the store, so only a few of the most popular faces are available now.

Facer is still waiting for the Wear OS 6 rollout, when thousands of its "high demand" faces will all be available for free, à la carte, or through their Facer Premium subscription.

Facer had to choose which old faces were a "good match" to convert easily to WFF, and which popular faces required more of an "elegant degradation," where some features had to be cut while others transitioned to a battery-efficient version.

Eaton says they're still sending "feature requests" to Google, with 3D faces as a major one. But again, Google wants to "understand why" it's necessary before adding any feature, so it may take time — or may not happen. People hoping all their old Facer favorites will transition should temper their expectations.

For now, Eaton says, the Facer Creator tool will focus on helping developers create WFF faces so that they're ready by the time Wear OS 6 launches. And they've promised that new features and brands will come to Facer this summer, before Wear OS 6 rolls out.

Facer found out about other Wear OS 6 features along with everyone else. When we tried an early version of Wear OS 6 at I/O, the Google engineer suggested that only some watch faces would allow for dynamic theming, which might shut out Facer and other third-party stores. But Eaton says they're hopeful that Facer will sync with this cool feature at some point.

Google's Wear OS 6 announcement at I/O 2025 was buried underneath news about next-gen Gemini smarts and Android XR glasses. But on the second day of I/O, I stumbled upon a Pixel Watch 3 loaded with an early build of Wear OS 6, and I got to see Material 3 Expressive and the new Tiles in action.

Outside of the Android Village for the I/O dev sessions, I'd finished interrogating some poor Android XR devs following my Google glasses hands-on and Moohan hands-on when I spotted two Pixel Watch 3 units with a colorful AOD "fully charged" screen I hadn't seen before.

I didn't fully investigate until I spoke to Dev Relations Engineer John Zoeller at the Q&A booth; he answered my Wear OS 6 questions by bringing me back to the Village. It turns out that those watches were running a proper test version of Wear OS 6, not just the developer emulator version.

The immediate highlight was the smooth-scrolling interface that shrinks and expands content, along with the new "Edge Hugging button" that slides out from the bottom with a shape to match the Pixel Watch 3 display edge.

In person, it worked exactly as the developer blog promised, without any noticeable lag detracting from the experience. Aside from the promised 10% battery boost, Zoeller promised that this version will have better performance than Wear OS 5 in the backend, despite the UI looking more complicated.

Unfortunately, this watch only had one notification, so it was hard to see the "TransformingLazyColumn" tool in action, which scales down Cards at the display's top and bottom. However, based on this early Wear OS 6 version, I have confidence that it will work fluidly.

The most substantial change is with the Tiles. Quite simply, they're busier than OS 5 Tiles, which tend to be more understated and basic. The 45mm Watch 3 fits five buttons with clear information, while the 41mm Watch 3 reflows content for the smaller screen.

Google says Tiles will have "visual consistency" with its "3-slot tile layout," so all of them will have an app name/ icon on top and a bottom-edge button that usually opens more options when the Shortcuts don't work. Plus, they all use the same sans-serif system font.

But it's up to each developer to decide how to use the "main content slot," whether it's icons for your favorite Contacts or your most recent or important Gmail messages.

Frankly, I think I'll be more likely to scroll through my Tiles with Wear OS 6, rather than go straight to the app. The icons are more descriptive, and the tiles always have that edge button to take you to the app if you don't see the shortcut you need.

The other main Wear OS 6 highlight you'll care about is the new dynamic theming with Material 3 Expressive, pulling primary and secondary colors from your watch face and coloring the entire UI to match.

The "Match Watch Face" color theme only works with Wear OS 6 faces; they still need to make some old faces backward-compatible with the system. But when you choose the right face — or one of the default theme options like Moonstone or Ivy — you can see those colors permeate the entire UI, just like you get on Android phones.

Previous versions of Wear OS supported only one primary and one secondary color; the addition of another secondary color — and the way these colors permeate even the Quick Settings — is pretty neat to see.

This wasn't a comprehensive hands-on or anything. I'm sure I would have been tackled if I tried to detach the Wear OS 6-enabled Watch 3 from its stand for a proper test. Apps aren't optimized for Wear OS 6 yet, nor are the Watch Face Push stores available yet.

However, from a day-to-day usability perspective, the Pixel Watch 3 has become more interesting and dynamic than Wear OS 5.

Material 3 Expressive isn't just exciting and flashy. Google's engineers acknowledged the limitations of rounded displays and turned it into a feature with shrinking, smooth-scrolling content, while adding theming to align its watches more closely with the Pixel phone experience.

My only negative with Wear OS 6 is that we'll have to wait until the Pixel Watch 4 in late summer to get it, or even longer for last-gen Pixel Watches. But if you're at I/O 2025, go to the Android Village building and try it out for yourself!

Note: I previously said that the Quick Settings didn't show the dynamic theming as intended; a Wear OS rep contacted me to clarify that the Moonstone theme is difficult to see in direct sunlight, and that it was working properly. I apologize for the mistake!

What you need to know

• Wear OS 6's Material 3 Expressive brings bold new visuals and smoother animations that blend with your mood.
• UI now hugs the curved edges, and there's a cleaner 3-slot layout along with dynamic theming.
• Creative watch faces are also incoming, with photo-based designs and smoother transitions that unlock new customization.

Today at its I/O 2025 developer conference, Google introduced the latest update to Wear OS meant to carry smartwatches into a new era. Wear OS 6 brings a wave of changes, including bold designs, smoother motions, and some extra battery life to keep your watch going longer.

Wear OS 6 is coming in hot with Material 3 Expressive, a new design that blends style and smarts, as per Google's blog post. It brings dynamic theming to the table, so your watch face and apps can shift colors to match your vibe.

The round display is getting some real attention too, with UI elements that wrap around the edges and layouts that make every quick glance worth it.

Battery bonus

This update is giving your battery some love too. Wear OS 6 promises up to 10% more juice compared to Wear OS 5, so your watch keeps ticking longer without constantly hunting for a charger.

Developers can now play with new Jetpack libraries (Wear Compose Material 3 and Wear ProtoLayout Material 3) to weave these new designs into their apps.

Tiles are getting a major facelift, too. A new 3-slot layout (title, main content, and a bottom slot) keeps the interface clean, while dynamic theming ensures your tiles blend seamlessly with your watch face.

Also new is what Google calls "Edge Buttons." It hugs the sides of the screen, maximizing space on a 1.2-inch display.

Creative watch faces incoming

Wear OS 6 also unlocks new tools, like animated transitions and support for photo-based designs. Plus, a fresh API makes it easier to build watch face marketplaces, so expect even more creative options soon.

The update also introduces enhanced media controls, including fast-forward, rewind, and playlist access. And in a nod to younger users, Google is expanding its lineup with Galaxy Watch for Kids, a phone-free way for little ones to stay connected safely.

For developers, the Wear OS 6 emulator is now live in Android Studio, along with codelabs and design kits to kickstart projects. Users, meanwhile, can look forward to the full rollout later this year.

I've always been intrigued by the idea of going back to the days when I didn't need a smartwatch and could just rely on my phone or laptop for everything. Unintentionally, I performed this little experiment after my smartwatch ran out of juice and I couldn't find the charging cable.

Side note: that's a different issue entirely, and one that we've written about numerous times.

I really didn't intend for this experiment to take place; I just couldn't find the right cable at the end of the day, and just wanted to go to bed. Then, I woke up the next morning and didn't even think about the fact that I wasn't wearing a watch — at least at first. It wasn't until the day progressed that I opened my phone to find quite a few missed notifications.

Instead of trying to find the charging cable, I got sidetracked by something else, which happens more often than I'd like to admit. Fast forward to today, and it's been 10 days since my smartwatch served its most recent notification.

When the idea about going smartwatch-less first struck, I didn't think I'd be able to go for more than a day before needing to put it back on. At the same time, I was kind of hoping that not having my wrist constantly buzz at me all day and night would give me some type of peace and quiet.

Unfortunately, it's been quite the opposite.

Peaceful bliss turned anxiety-inducing

The annoyance of nonstop notifications has been replaced with dread and anxiety about what I might have missed. Not so much with things like the trivial notifications that I get throughout the day, but more so with messages from my wife, work, and one app that lets me know when my son is waking up from a nap.

Yes, all of those notifications still come through and buzz my phone, but I don't always have my phone in my pocket. Most of the time, it's sitting on my desk, with a million other devices that are buzzing or beeping as they vie for my attention. This could have also been partially remedied by using something like Phone Link, but due to ongoing issues with my desktop computer, it's not currently set up.

A lot of notifications are like junk mail that just get swiped away or ignored. However, I've come across a couple of times when an important message would buzz me, only to get buried by subsequent "junk" notifications.

Or, I would just be in the middle of working on something, only to see that my wife is calling me because she needs an answer to something, and I wasn't responding. For reference, phone calls give me instant anxiety, so people only call me if they really need something or it's an emergency.

What I've missed

There is one aspect of wearing a smartwatch that I miss, and it's being able to do things from my wrist. Sometimes that's just sending a quick reply to a message, but it's mostly controlling various smart home accessories.

I've mentioned this before, but it's rather difficult trying to turn off smart lights when you have an infant in your arms. Compounding this issue is trying to do that without just using my voice, as it's deep enough that my son will wake up from the deepest slumber. That alone is kind of crazy to think about, but that's not a topic for here.

Glanceable health tracking is convenient

The other side of everything is that I've gone 10 days without tracking my sleep or being notified if my heart rate is too high. Those matter more to me than tracking steps or workouts because, well, I don't work out unless you count chasing a little one around.

The former is because knowing how long I slept provides direct correlation for why I might be feeling like crap. So if I get five or more hours of sleep (which is better than normal) and wake up feeling off, it's an indication that I should probably keep an eye on how I'm feeling throughout the day. The latter is due to my having high blood pressure, and I don't always pay close enough attention to know when to take a break from something to get up and walk around.

(Editor's note: Keep in mind that while these metrics are helpful, your smartwatch cannot diagnose health conditions and should always consult your doctor if you are concerned with any readings from your smartwatch.)

The unintended experiment is over

It's weird and honestly a little unsettling to look in the app on my phone and see absolutely no data populated. But that's mostly thanks to how long it's been since I've gone this long without some type of smartwatch or fitness tracker on my wrist.

If it weren't for my issues revolving around notifications, I would probably just pick up a smart ring and wear a "traditional" watch when the occasion arose. As it turns out, that's just not something that's viable for me currently, so if you'll excuse me, I need to figure out where I put that dang charger.

We're only a week away from Google I/O, and it's unusual for Google to preview upcoming features before they are officially announced at the event. So this year, Google took a different approach by revealing some of the significant developments much earlier than expected.

The Android President did drop some hints on showing off Android 16's quirks before its launch, however, and several other UI leaks have also pointed at an early first look. Meanwhile, here's everything that was announced at The Android Show - I/O Edition today (May 13).

Material 3 Expressive

Google has announced one of the biggest UI changes to its ecosystem. At the upcoming I/O developer conference, Google is set to officially show off the next big chapter in Android design: The company is switching things up in a big way with Material 3 Expressive (M3).

For Material 3 Expressive, Google is modifying its UI experience to be more expressive and interactive. Google explains that M3 Expressive is all about design that feels good, makes sense, and helps you do things with ease. It leans on five key components, such as color, shape, size, motion, and containment, to steer the user's attention to the stuff that actually matters.

These UI changes will show up both on phones and wearables, with the interface sporting a brighter look. You’ll see the notification “tear away” from the rest of the notifications in the stack. Animations around the UI now bounce with a playful energy they didn’t have before. Even small elements get their spotlight, like when you adjust the volume slider or pull down the notification shade.

On the Pixel Watch front, Google says the new animations and designs “trace the curvature of the display” as you scroll and interact.

Wear OS 6 will be seeing more customization via color options and a customizable UI. Watch faces will now have the ability to change the whole color of the OS, giving the wearable a more thematic feel.

Google says the new button and notification design is made to “hug the display” as it moves, taking up as much space within the wearable as possible and making the most of the screen. There are even new stretchable buttons that are easier to tap, so you don’t have to be quite as precise with actions.

Gemini comes to more devices

Google announced during the show that it will be bringing Gemini's smarts to more devices that people use daily.

It started by replacing Google Assistant with Gemini earlier this year, and things have just taken off since then. Now, it's expanding Gemini's power to Wear OS, Google TV, Android Auto, and even Android XR.

Gemini will be integrated into Wear OS, helping users stay on top of things straight from their wrists.

"Like when your hands are covered in flour while cooking, when you’re rushing between meetings, or when you’re in the middle of a bike ride," Google explained in the press release. All users need to do is summon Gemini with their voice and give it a command. Google says it doesn't have to be a fully thought-out sentence.

Cars are also getting a Gemini-sized upgrade on Android Auto. While voice commands have been at the center of Android Auto, with Gemini, the tech giant says users can do more on the move.

Gemini, built into Android Auto, will be a more intuitive assistant that can gauge what the user wants "through natural conversations." So instead of hitting on the right response or choosing the right text to send, Gemini will let you do all of that hands-free.

Google says Gemini can find you a location that exactly fits your needs. For instance, you can give it a complex command like, "find me a charging station on the way to the post office that’s also near a park, so that I can go for a walk before your errands while your car is charging."

Gemini within Android Auto integrates with other apps to allow users to be more productive while driving. For instance, during your morning commute, you can ask Gemini to give you "the rundown of the news today (but without sports), or get a quick synopsis of the book that you didn't get around to finishing before your book club meeting," Google added.

Next, Google TV is also getting a slice of Gemini Live. From asking the TV to play age-appropriate shows or movies for the kids to answering questions about the solar system by pulling up the perfect YouTube video, Google TV is said to go beyond just showcasing entertainment.

Google is taking Gemini a step further, integrating it into the world of Extended Reality — this includes next-gen devices like XR headsets and smartglasses.

Google says that with the Samsung headset and Gemini Live collab, it "can help you do things like plan a vacation by surrounding you with videos, maps, and local tips, creating an entire itinerary in minutes while providing a more," giving a sense that they're already at their vacay spot even before getting on the plane.

Tackling scams with Gemini

While online scams continue to rise, Google is trying to be a step ahead with its AI detection system. During the show, it announced a whole slew of privacy and security tools that will show up on all Android devices with Android 16.

New warning systems will be built into Android's caller and Google Messages, which help prevent fraud by sending you pop-up messages when common scam tactics are used.

For instance, Google Messages is also getting a big security update with AI-based detection that can help stop scammers pretending to be government officials or bank employees, or even"tech support" scams, and several other new categories. These messages will be automatically flagged and filtered as spam if spam detection is enabled.

It also gave us more insight into a new Key Verifier program in Google Messages that uses public encryption keys to further verify end-to-end encrypted messages, so you can be certain that the person you're texting is the real deal and not a bad actor.

Google Play Protection will also include live threat detection that will let users know if a developer has maliciously changed or hidden their app icon. The feature will roll out to Pixel 6 and higher devices, as well as a "selection" of other phones, in the coming months.

We know Google always drops some hints at the end of its show, this time Google just showed us with a logo of its Android 16 Beta 4.1, which includes a number of bug fixes.

We expect to see the above improvements and more at this year's Google I/O, which is set for 1 PM ET on May 20 at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California.

What you need to know

• A report states Gemini is beginning to move in the Assistant's ground in Wear OS as its splash screen changes.
• When opening the Assistant, the splash screen now displays Gemini's logo; however, internally, everything is still handled by the older AI.
• Rumors of Gemini integrating with Wear OS started early this year, with Google's confirmation coming down in March.

Gemini's takeover across Google's ecosystem continues as a new report claims it's starting to hit smartwatches.

Evidence of Gemini slowly encroaching on the Assistant's space in Wear OS was highlighted by Android Police. The post cites a tipster's report that when launching the AI assistant on their Galaxy Watch 4, Gemini's logo is there to greet them before the app fully opens.

The changes are happening very slowly as, aside from Gemini's starry-diamond logo, it's still yet to make a proper appearance.

After the app opens, the Assistant is still utilized in full force by Wear OS. Its logo is present at the top and the AI's classic multi-colored scheme is still present at the bottom. The publication adds that it also spotted the small Gemini cameo on a OnePlus Watch 2, indicating Google is likely beginning to spread its model to wearables more prominently.

Lastly, the post reiterates Wear OS v1.18, which changed "Assistant" to "Digital Assistant" in the full app list. The app in the Wear OS list also displays the Gemini logo; however, as the publication suspects, the name is most likely just a placeholder.

Wear OS is next on the list

We've been expecting Gemini to make its formal appearance on Wear OS since January, when an APK teardown surfaced Google's plans. Its early code said users would be able to “easily talk back and forth to get more done with an assistant on your watch." Of course, this is backed by "reimagined Google AI," which is just code for Gemini.

In March, Google confirmed Gemini was headed to Wear OS, but more information, most recently, shows it's more than just a rebrand. Code from v1.18 of Google APKs suggested that the entire app on Wear OS would get a total upgrade. It also showed that users will surface the AI by saying "Hey Google," reminiscent of the old Assistant. Other important bits of information, like whether or not Wear OS' Gemini will interact with its extensions, remain to be seen.

It's a hope of ours, but not confirmed.

Keep in mind that Google recently teased "new possibilities" coming for Gemini during its I/O 2025 event in May. Its teaser didn't go in-depth; however, there's a chance we might see tidbits about the AI in Wear OS and other places.

• Smartwatch deals: Best Buy | Walmart | Amazon | Samsung | Dell

What you need to know

• Samsung's April update with a March security patch is now available for Galaxy Watch 6, 5, and 4 series in Korea and the U.S., following an initial release for the Watch 7 and Ultra.
• The update, around 500MB depending on the model, focuses on security and stability enhancements.
• More regions are expected to get the latest firmware in the coming weeks.

Samsung is rolling out new updates to a few of its Galaxy Watch models this week across regions, including Korea and the U.S.

In its April update, the Korean OEM seems to have snuck in a (via 9to5Google) March security patch as well. The update first started rolling out for the Galaxy Watch 7 and the Ultra model early last month; however, it now appears to be a wider rollout as it is reaching older Galaxy Watch models for regions starting with Korea and also in the U.S.

Per multiple reports, the Galaxy Watch 6, Watch 5, and Watch 4 series will be receiving this One UI 6-based update that measures around 500MB or more, depending on the watch model.

While the firmware brings the older March security patch, the changelog indicates that it also includes stability improvements next to security improvements. As the update just began the roll out, it is expected to reach more regions in the coming weeks.

In other Galaxy Watch news, a new leak has shared some information on what to expect from the next Ultra smartwatch from Samsung. Tentatively named Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, it is tipped to be launching alongside the upcoming foldables — the Galaxy Fold 7 and the Flip 7 — with the Unpacked event likely happening in July. The leak has further mentioned that there won’t be any significant changes when it comes to the Ultra watch design and pricing.

However, the leak has also indicated that some notable changes can be seen when it comes to storage space — more of it is expected on the Ultra 2, and a new interface reminiscent of One UI 7 will also likely be included. With improved storage and perhaps a more user-friendly UI, the smartwatch might sport the same squircle look as the Galaxy Watch Ultra.

• Smartwatch deals: Best Buy | Walmart | Amazon | Samsung | Dell

Wear OS (aka Android Wear) and Google Glass both went public in 2014, but they had nothing to do with one another. Now, Google should show off its new AR glasses at I/O 2025 later this month. But this time, Google would be smart to make Android watches part of its XR experience. Yes, really!

Google I/O 2025 starts on May 20, but Google and Samsung have been showing off Android XR demos for months, starting with the Samsung Moohan XR headset and most recently at an XR TED Talk with the "Project HAEAN" AR glasses that record and memorize what you see.

Google has no Wear OS panels planned for I/O, but it will hold two Android XR panels. One's focused on the Android XR SDK and AI tools, while the other centers on building AR apps by adding "3D models, stereoscopic video, and hand-tracking" to existing Android apps.

It's a reasonable bet that we'll see AR glasses tech on the I/O stage, in other words. Since I'll be attending I/O, I hope I'll finally have a chance to demo them and see how well the Gemini commands and gesture controls work.

But having watched Marques Brownlee's Android XR demo and read The Verge's AR glasses demo, I can already tell that no matter how well they work, voice and gesture controls alone aren't going to cut it for Android XR. And Android smartwatches are the obvious backup choice.

Outdoor use cases, indoor controls

I tend to use controllers when I play VR games on my Meta Quest 3, but every time I've used hand tracking on a Quest, Apple Vision Pro, Snap Spectacles, and other XR devices, my response is usually, "Wow, this almost works!"

In a room that's too dark or in direct sunlight, the inside-out camera tracking will struggle to capture your hand gestures properly. In ideal lighting, with your hand always held up in the camera's view, you can pinch to select menu options with reasonable accuracy. But I still expect missed inputs and prefer the simplicity of a controller.

Now picture using these glasses outdoors, where these deliberate, unnatural gestures might make passersby think I'm gesturing at them — or just a weirdo.

Smart glasses are meant to blend in, but this is a double-edged sword; calling attention to the fact that I'm wearing tech will only bring back the "Glasshole" problem and make people uncomfortable. (Maybe they'll be called X-aRseholes?)

Gemini voice commands are a more seamless fit. The demos I've seen show that Gemini can carry out actions reliably after a few seconds to process. In the multimodal Live mode, you simply point at or focus on something to have Gemini answer your question about it — no controller required.

But when it comes to my Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses and asking the Meta AI to take photos, I (again) only really talk to the assistant when no one's around.

Google likes the idea of people talking freely to AR glasses at any time. And sure, maybe they'll become ubiquitous so that public AI chats are socially acceptable. But if I'm on public transit, in an office, or at the grocery store, I might ask the occasional quiet question, but I'd much rather have a less disruptive, non-spoken alternative.

Maybe you're less concerned about societal norms than me. You'll still have to worry about ambient noise disrupting commands or accidentally triggering Gemini. And there's always a few seconds of waiting for Gemini to process your request, and trying again if Gemini gets it wrong, while tapping buttons feels more immediate.

When Meta designed its Orion AR glasses, it also created an sEMG neural band that recognizes finger gestures so you can subtly trigger actions, without vocalizing or keeping your hands in view. Meta knew this problem needed to be solved to make AR glasses more viable, at some point.

But in Google and Samsung's case, they already have ready-made wearables with input screens, gesture recognition, and other tools that'd mesh surprisingly well with smart and AR glasses.

Why Wear OS and Android XR should sync

We mostly use Android watches to check notifications, track workouts, and ask Assistant questions. But they can also trigger actions on other devices: Taking a photo, unlocking your phone via UWB, toggling Google TV controls, checking your Nest Doorbell feed, and so on.

Imagine if Wear OS had an Android XR mode. It could still show phone notifications, but its display (when tilted-to-wake) would mirror whichever app you have open on your glasses. Contextual actions like video playback controls, taking a photo, or pausing a Gemini Live chat would trigger immediately with a tap.

Even better, imagine if you could twist the Pixel Watch 3's crown or Galaxy Watch 8 Classic's rotating bezel like a scroll wheel in menus or browsers, specifically affecting whichever window you're looking at. That sounds much better than pinching and flicking your hand over and over!

Galaxy Watches support a few basic gestures like double taps and knocking, and I wonder if this could reinforce Android XR controls, offering a second source of information that you want to select or move something, even if the camera missed the input.

I'd generally feel more excited about AR glasses if I knew I had a tactile backup option to voice commands, even if Gemini and hand gestures are the primary, expected control schemes. The only question in my mind is whether Google can make Wear OS work as a controller.

This patent site spotted Samsung patents for using a smartwatch or smart ring for XR controls, though the article is painfully vague on details, except to say that the emphasis was more on the Galaxy Ring than the Galaxy Watch.

It's evidence, at least, that Samsung's engineers are looking for alternative XR control schemes. The Project Moohan XR headset may ship with controllers, but the eventual goal is to sell all-day smart glasses and AR glasses; those require a more subtle and consistent control scheme than gestures and commands — at least in my opinion.

I understand why Samsung's first instinct would be to use smart rings as controllers; they're seamless and don't have a separate OS to worry about. But until I hear otherwise, I'll keep arguing that Wear OS would be a better fit and more useful!

Watch faces on Wear OS are one of the best ways to let your personality shine, and I frequently swap between them based on my mood. But one thing I hadn't considered before someone asked me was which Wear OS brand had the best watch faces.

So I fired up my Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra and Google Pixel Watch 3 to look through every watch face, complication, and color variations available, and compare what style and data they bring to the table.

Then I bullied my colleagues Andrew Myrick and Nick Sutrich into looking through every watch face on their TicWatch Atlas and OnePlus Watch 3, respectively, since I wanted every Wear OS brand (besides the Eurasia-only Xiaomi) represented.

Let's dive in and compare first-party Wear OS watch faces for style, variety, customization, and quantity.

Samsung Galaxy Watch faces

The sheer diversity of watch faces in the Galaxy Wearable app is impressive. Virtually every non-gimmicky Samsung-made watch face has dozens of colors, several customizations, and more system complications than any other brand, while the downloadable third-party options have more limited variations but give you a wider range of styles.

I highly recommend using the Wearable phone app to look through and edit your watch faces; the on-watch customization options work well enough, but some "premade" variations only show up in the mobile app.

Specific to the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra, you'll find some Ultra watch faces that take advantage of the extra space to fit up to eight complications. I typically use this for my Samsung Health data, but there's a wide range of Google- and Samsung-made toggles for popular apps.

More generally, Samsung has more animated or "live" watch faces than other Wear OS brands, like Funny faces, My style, Live Wallpaper, or Friends. They're quite cool (if a bit distracting), with unique smarts like pointing out when you have unread notifications or swapping patterns with a tap.

Once the novelty wears off, I avoid animated watch faces, not only because of battery drain, but also because they rarely leave room for any non-clock data fields. The latter also applies to custom faces like Google Photos or Bitmoji.

Out of Samsung's watch face categories, I'm a fan of the Analog and Informative faces: they squeeze in tons of useful information while making that crowdedness look intentional and stylish. For something more colorful and minimalistic, the Numbers faces are great.

I'm less of a fan of the Classic and Simple faces, because they look a bit too minimalist and don't really fit the look of a Galaxy Watch 7 or Ultra; they'd be better suited to the upcoming Galaxy Watch 8 Classic.

Google Pixel Watch faces

Google made the smart choice of making every premade watch face customization visible in the main "Add watch faces" menu. So even though it has half as many official watch faces as Samsung, it looks like hundreds because each face has 5–10 premade variations.

Plus, Google lets you look at and customize faces before committing to one, while Samsung makes you add them to your watch before you can see your options.

Logistics aside, half of Google's watch faces follow the Material You aesthetic with bright colors and large clocks that run up against the edge of the rounded Pixel Watch 3 display. The rest either fall into data-heavy fitness or traditional classic/ analog faces that you see on most smartwatches.

My colleague Nick said that Pixel Watch faces "have the best style because they fit so well with the watch's aesthetic, but a lot of them are pretty useless other than to tell the time."

I'm quoting him because I couldn't put it better myself: faces like Digital Bold, Big Time, Abstract, and Vista look striking enough, but some — especially Large Scale and Prime — are a bit too simplistic with their sans-serif fonts and empty space.

Google made "Active" the default face for a reason, I think. Its rounded fonts and bright colors look Google-ish, but it leaves plenty of room for Fitbit complications or Google app shortcuts that people buy Pixel Watches for. I tend to like the busyness of the Field and Adventure faces more than the minimalist look of faces like Index and Utility.

Whichever watch face you end up with, I think Google does the best job of making its AOD-mode faces look like a stylish inverse of the active face, while other brands' AOD mode simply dims the screen or removes elements.

OnePlus Watch faces

Nick looked over each of the 19 OnePlus watch faces, but admitted that after his OnePlus Watch 3 review, he's continued to stick with the default watch face, whereas he didn't care for the main Watch 2 face.

"I feel like all of the best ones on this watch take full advantage of the 1.5-inch screen size and cram a bunch of info onto it," Nick explained, "whereas my favorite Pixel Watch faces are very minimalist because they look good on the shape."

While OnePlus has a decent amount of variety and plenty of complications, none of its alternative watch faces have tempted Nick to switch. It's been a while since I've taken out my OnePlus Watch 2R, but I also don't recall its official watch faces being particularly striking during that review stretch.

OnePlus does have a unique video watch face feature, but like Samsung's animated faces, I doubt people will stick with this battery-draining gimmick. I think a bigger priority for OnePlus is to add more stylish watch faces in general that match with its Classic titanium chic.

Mobvoi TicWatch faces

Andrew, like Nick, isn't that impressed with the watch faces on his TicWatch Atlas. Of the 15 available — including the TimeShow app — he says that he regularly switches between five of them. That's not a bad rotation, but he "doesn't have much of an opinion on the other 10 besides them just taking up space." Ouch!

His favorite, shown in the photo above, is the same sort of data-heavy, fitness-focused face that you'd expect on any fitness watch, focused on cramming in a lot of information. Compared to that, the faces that "try to look like an 'actual' watch just aren't that appealing" to Andrew.

Part of this comes down to preference, of course, but it's also fair to point out that because Mobvoi has fewer first-party watch faces than most Wear OS brands, you're less likely to find many that fit your tastes.

Thankfully, Mobvoi does at least have plenty of Google and TicWatch complications available, if not quite as many as its Wear OS rivals. You also get an ultra-basic watch face on the battery-saving secondary screen that does, at least, come in dozens of color options.

Which is the best Wear OS brand for watch faces?

Objectively, it's hard to argue against Samsung Galaxy Watches here. Whether you prefer classic, analog, minimalist, data-heavy, or gimmicky motion watch faces, Samsung gives you the most options, with different fits to match the standard, Classic, or Ultra models.

Google prioritizes style over ruggedness, and the lack of a bezel makes its faces stand out more prominently than other brands' faces. But your opinion of them will depend on what you think of Google's modern Material You theming. You get very few "classic" faces, and it's hard to differentiate between faces when every single one has a black background.

Either brand gives you plenty of customization options, but I think Samsung lets you choose one to match your personality while Google railroads you a bit to its style.

Ultimately, I'm happy with what both brands bring to the table, but I still think that Google needs to unblock Facer on Wear OS 6 so that it's easier to find third-party options outside of the messy Play Store. And I'm also curious if Google will consider letting us use Gemini to generate pretty watch face backgrounds.

What you need to know

• 9to5Google has spotted code showing how Gemini will work on Wear OS.
• You'll summon Gemini with the side button or the "Hey Google" wake word, just like Assistant.
• Gemini will have a similar Wear OS Tile and settings as Assistant, too.
• Last month, Google announced that Gemini would come soon to smartwatches and other devices.

Google will soon bring Gemini support to Wear OS watches, replacing the current Google Assistant. But so far, it's hard to say if Gemini will bring substantial new features or just add a fresh coat of paint to the same Assistant tricks.

In March, Google announced its full transition to Gemini: After replacing Assistant on Android phones, it would bring Gemini to tablets, Android Auto, headphones, Nest speakers, Google TV, and (of course) smartwatches, with more details in the "next few months."

Now, 9to5Google has decompiled Google APKs in version 1.18.x of the Assistant app, revealing how Gemini will work compared to Assistant. So far, it looks like a "straightforward app update" rather than a substantial change.

The site found code strings with the text "Gemini is now on your watch" and "Get started with Gemini: Speak naturally and get more done with a personal AI assistant on your watch."

Pulling up Gemini will be the same as using Assistant; you'll either use the "Hey Google" wake word or hold down the side button, then use your Wi-Fi connection to send your questions Google's way.

Likewise, 9to5Google's Abner Li reports that At a Glance, Location and Match Voice settings, and pinned actions in the Wear OS tile are all unchanged with Gemini on Wear OS.

Gemini will “do things like set alarms and timers, message your contacts, and more,” which are all current Assistant functions.

There is a new "Gemini can make mistakes" disclaimer, something you typically see when using Gemini on your Android phone. While Assistant usually responds to questions with "According to X" or featured snippets from Google Search, Gemini on Wear OS should use LLM-generated responses.

It'll be interesting to see if Gemini for Wear OS tries to make its LLM responses more concise to better fit on small displays or stay long-winded for the sake of accuracy and usefulness. We'll also have to see if using Gemini takes any longer to respond than Assistant because of cloud processing, and if this has an effect on battery life.

But in terms of "commands," it should be more of the same.

Gemini on Wear OS should stick to the status quo (for now)

Gemini on Wear OS should be fairly limited in terms of new on-device commands like you typically see on phones with Gemini Nano.

The Pixel 9a has a Tensor G4 flagship chip, but its on-device AI is restricted because Google "only" had 8GB of RAM to work with. Compare that to a Pixel Watch 3 with 2GB of RAM and years-old Arm Cortex cores, and it's clear why Gemini on Wear OS wouldn't magically outperform Assistant's capabilities with a name change.

It's possible that we'll see better communication between your Pixel Watch and other apps via Gemini extensions, but I don't know if we'll get true Gemini Live-style conversations on a watch anytime soon — at least not without killing the battery.

We can hope at least that we'll see better Gemini tricks on future Pixel Watch hardware, since we're fairly certain Qualcomm will make a new Wear OS chip this year with "more on-device AI capability."

But for now, Google needs to prioritize making Gemini work on current Android watches with limited hardware, before it tries to surprise us with unique AI smarts on the Pixel Watch 4 with Wear OS 6.

Google wants the leeway to roll out its Pixel Watch 3 updates over a "few weeks in phases depending on carrier and device type." But when Google can't even complete its rollout before moving on to the next one, it's a sign that things need to change.

I have two Pixel Watch 3 units, a 45mm LTE and 41mm standard. Both are on the November 2024 update, which itself was just a delayed September 2024 re-rollout. That's nearly six months of unchanged software since I first reviewed it.

As someone with a Wear OS column, I had high hopes for Wear OS 5.1 coverage, like testing the new step-count algorithm, judging the UI changes, and deciding if the force-AOD dev tool should be a regular feature.

But the original March 4 update came and went, then the March 19 update window for LTE watches. But in my case, neither Pixel Watch 3 received it, no matter how often I tapped the update screen to trigger it. I tried factory resets in case old pre-release software from my review was holding back the update. Google told me it was "looking into" my case. But nothing helped.

Imagine my frustration as I see Google's April 2025 Wear OS update community post, which notes that "For those that did not receive the original March update, we will be rolling out an update in the coming weeks, more details to come."

In other words, while people had been expecting the update to arrive any day now, Google either paused the update rollout because of bugs or had a bug preventing the rollout to some watches. Now we have more weeks to wait.

The tap-to-update system needs to go

I wanted to write this post weeks ago — explaining why I couldn't cover Wear OS 5.1 yet — but Android Authority's Rita El Khoury made a similar case first and my editor made me pivot.

Her point is pretty straightforward: right now, to check for an update, you go to Settings on your watch, tap System > System update, and then tap the screen frantically for about 30 seconds while the watch invisibly checks for an update.

It's a silly, unofficial method because your watch shouldn't say it's "up to date" if it hasn't checked yet. And if it's not available yet, you miss out on the initial enthusiasm and only get to test new features once everyone else has already moved on.

An obviously better system would be to let us tap a "Check for update" button in the Pixel Watch app, like you do with any phone update. But that only starts to fix the problem.

Better clarity on timing (or a progress bar), please

Old Pixel Watch community posts always said the update would roll out "over the next week in phases." Anyone can wait a few days. Now these updates are requiring "weeks," and Google certainly didn't clarify in its March 2025 announcement that LTE owners would have to wait two weeks or more.

I understand why Google would focus on the larger non-LTE audience first, but the people who spent $450–500 on a premium model, only to consistently wait longer than everyone else, have reason to feel a little aggrieved. And all Pixel Watch owners deserve a bit more clarity on timing, if this is the new normal.

If Google doesn't want to commit to a written-down schedule matching specific devices to dates, then at the very least, it should have some kind of update widget showing the percentage of devices that (should) have received it. That way, people know whether they should continue to be patient or if something has gone wrong.

How about a Wear OS beta program, Google?

A month ago, I wrote that Google's new quarterly Wear OS update plan made sense. Let me be clear now: that opinion was predicated on the idea that I'd actually receive the updates.

I still think the system can work, but we're seeing a rise in large, buggy updates. The September 2024 update to Wear OS 5 required a weeks-long rollback due to bugs. Now this March 2025 update has introduced delayed notifications and crashes from adding watch faces — and there's the fact that not everyone received it.

I don't have the coding background to judge anyone for buggy updates. All I can do are point out common-sense solutions.

Samsung started its One UI 6 Watch beta test in June 2024, then pushed out a stable version in late October. It had 4.5 months of Galaxy Watch superfans giving them beta feedback and pointing out bugs. When the Galaxy Watch 7 and Galaxy Watch Ultra launched with One UI 6 Watch and the older watches updates, I didn't hear of any major software issues.

With a quarterly schedule, Google has consistent, months-long windows where willing Pixel Watch owners could test out new features and catch problems ahead of schedule — preventing time-wasting rollbacks. And for power users, it gives them a chance to try some features out early and feel like they're contributing to the community.

I have to put this complaint into perspective: most Android watches only get one major update per year, and typically fall a year behind Pixel Watches. So waiting weeks for a feature or fixes isn't that big of a deal.

But if Google is going to stick with monthly or quarterly updates, then I don't think the status quo will work. It has too many models now, slowing down updates. And catching every bug without beta testing is starting to seem futile.

As is, the Pixel Watch 3's confusing, delay-heavy update schedule is only likely to annoy the people (like me) who would normally get really excited about tiny feature drops.

What you need to know

• The Scam Detection feature is now available on Pixel Watch 2 and 3 models in the U.S., and it requires a connection to a Pixel 9 series phone or later.
• Users will be able to receive real-time alerts of scam calls through Bluetooth, with options to dismiss or end calls directly from their wrist.
• The feature, however, is currently limited to the U.S. and English language, and it is not supported for direct calls over LTE on the watch.

Google introduced an AI-based Scam Detection feature for Pixel phones as part of a feature drop last month. The popular feature is now being introduced to Pixel Watch models as well, the search giant announced.

In a recent Pixel Watch community post, Google announced that it is rolling out this feature to Pixel Watch 2 and Pixel Watch 3 models for the U.S. region. It promises users protection from scammers’ calls just by glancing at their wrist, provided they are connected to a Pixel 9 series phone and above.

This Scam Detection feature identifies conversation patterns widely used by scammers, “right as they happen.” With the feature enabled, Pixel Watch owners will receive an alert mid-call of a scam, which will be received by the Bluetooth signal as the smartwatch will be paired with the aforementioned Pixel phones.

Setting up Scam Detection is also fairly simple as users need to be on the latest version of their Phone app to enable the feature. Opening the Phone app, navigating to its Settings, and turning on Scam Detection should make it up and running.

After enabling the feature, an audible beep can be heard at the start of the call, and it is an indication that the feature is currently ongoing in the background. Google further notes that if the scale of the scam call is high, users will be alerted with a notification, sound, and vibration, which can be dismissed or users can end the call right on their wrists.

Users have to bear in mind that the feature to work flawlessly on Pixel Watch Bluetooth connection is required, as mentioned. However, Scam Detection for direct calls over LTE on the watch itself is not supported. The feature has begun rolling out as noted is for the U.S. region starting this week, and it is in English language only, and it is unclear whether it expands to other regions anytime soon.

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What you need to know

• All Pixel Watch models seem to be receiving BP1A.250305.019.W7 build firmware as part of the new April Wear OS update.
• While the changelog from Google is yet to go live, the update appears to be addressing issues such as delayed notifications and battery-draining problems that arose from the March update.
• While it is an April update, it is believed to be still incorporating the March security patch.

Google is releasing fresh updates for its Pixel Watch models, which seem to be the monthly update that focuses mostly on bug fixes while maintaining the security patch from March.

As noted by 9to5Google, the search giant has started rolling out this year's April update for the Pixel Watch 3 alongside the older Pixel Watch 2 and the original Pixel Watch. It is believed to be based on the Wear OS 5.1 update, which was rolled out last month. The Android 15-based update bearing BP1A.250305.019.W7 has started appearing on the aforementioned Pixel Watch models.

The publication also points out that, unlike last month's updates, which divided the build numbers among smartwatches — with the latest one, all Pixel Watch models are said to be now running the same builds. While the changelog of the April update is yet to go live on Google's community page, the firmware for the above-mentioned Pixel Watch models is already live on the Google Developers site.

9to5 further notes that the update is primarily focused on bug fixes and users would still be staying on the March security patch. These bug fixes are likely to address the delayed notifications issue and battery draining problems, which surfaced from the March update, and the company promised to roll out a fix soon. We should be knowing more of the firmware when Google releases the full changelog this week.

Meanwhile, the Pixel Watch, Watch 2, and Watch 3 owners can either download and manually install the firmware or head over to the smartwatch's Settings> System> System Updates and wait for the OTA update to arrive.

On the other hand, after releasing monthly minor updates over the years, Google has announced that it would be bringing substantial quarterly updates from now on and it started with the Wear OS 5.1 update in March and the next one is likely geared up for this June.

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