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

• Google Messages may soon let users copy only part of a message instead of copying the full text.
• The new feature appears in beta and adds inline text selection inside already selected messages.
• Google is also rolling out a new 'Mark as read' option for Messages notifications on Wear OS.

Google continues to upgrade the Messages app as RCS usage keeps growing, and the latest upcoming changes bring a couple of genuinely useful features.

Google Messages has come a long way, and the company has added several helpful features over the years. However, one long-standing pain point is the inability to easily select part of a message to copy.

Right now, if you want to copy part of a message, like an OTP that is not auto-detected, you have to copy the entire message first and then trim it manually. Alternatively, you can use Android's clipboard text selection tools, but the process still takes multiple steps. It, however, looks like things may change soon.

As spotted by Android Authority, the Google Messages beta version messages.android_20260212_01_RC00.phone.openbeta_dynamic adds a new interaction when you tap and hold a message.

Copying part of messages may finally get easier

You still get options like select, reply, forward, copy, and reactions, but now you can tap inside a selected message and highlight only a portion of the text. Once highlighted, you can long-press again and use Android's copy button to copy just that specific section.

The option to copy the full message still exists for those who want to use it. The feature isn't rolling out widely yet, though it could arrive soon.

In addition, another report from the publication notes that Google is rolling out a new 'Mark as read' button for the Messages app on Wear OS. The option appears directly in the notification when a message first arrives, letting you mark it as read without opening the conversation.

However, it only shows up when the notification first appears and not when revisiting it later from the notification shade. This feature already appears to be rolling out with the Play Store update.

Android Central's Take

Pretty neat. I've wanted the ability to copy only part of a message in Google Messages for years, and it finally seems to be happening. Telegram has offered this for months, and it's nice to see Google catching up.

What you need to know

• OnePlus rolled out Wear OS 5 to Watch 2 and 2R units in the last week of December 2025, though only in some territories like India.
• Users who received the update have reported serious battery drain, cutting the 3-day estimate down to 1–2 days.
• OnePlus originally promised the update in Q3 2025 before shifting its window to Q4 2025.
• OnePlus's version of Wear OS 5 mostly includes stock updates like Google app improvements and animation changes.

Like a college student emailing their assignment to the professor at 11:59 p.m., OnePlus rolled out its Wear OS 5 update to some OnePlus Watch 2 and 2R users on December 29, sneaking under their self-imposed end-of-year deadline. And as you might expect, this last-minute update has been causing problems since then.

The OnePlus Watch 2 and Watch 2R, both released in 2024 running Wear OS 4, were originally supposed to receive Wear OS 5 between July and September 2025; only after Android Authority asked about the delay in October did the company say the update would arrive "in the near future."

Now, some OnePlus Watch owners have received the update, though not everyone; my U.S.-based OnePlus Watch 2R, for example, still shows Wear OS 4 and the May 2025 security update. But this might be a blessing in disguise, given the update's effect.

This Reddit thread and several OnePlus forum posts (here, here, and here) have mentioned that the update is causing severe battery drain. The Watch 2 and 2R regularly lasted about three days in smart mode before the update; now, some users say it won't last a full day, even after trying factory resets and other fixes.

"I'm utterly heartbroken and frustrated with the drastic battery drain issue plaguing my OnePlus Watch 2 following the Wear OS 5 update," says one user. "My OnePlus Watch 2 now plummets from full charge at 1:00 PM to a critical 10% by 11:00 PM on light usage."

"Earlier I used to get 2.5 days easily with most settings on (at least 2 days)... Now barely getting 1 day," says another user. Someone responded that his drain wasn't quite as bad, but that he'd gone from 3–4 days before to "a strict 2 days" now.

Several users point to specific apps causing the drain, like the Weather app, Play Store, or "Wear OS" itself, but the variety suggests this is a system-wide issue rather than one app causing problems.

What makes this update especially frustrating to users is that stock Wear OS 5 is (A) a very subtle update with few notable changes and (B) supposed to make Wear OS run more efficiently, as it did on Pixel and Galaxy Watches. The OnePlus Watch 3 has run this version since April with no issues, making this unoptimized update on last-gen models disappointing to see.

Any brand can push a buggy update, but two weeks later, I'd have expected OnePlus to either roll it back or announce a timetable for fixes. Instead, OnePlus hasn't made any official announcement, from what we've seen. My colleague reached out to OnePlus about the update a few days ago, but we've yet to hear back.

Having recommended the OnePlus Watch 2R as my best budget Android smartwatch pick, mostly on the strength of its battery life, this update is deeply concerning to me. OnePlus needs to prove that its promise of two Wear OS updates and three years of security updates isn't just empty rhetoric, and that it'll properly support these watches.

As it is, it's notable that the recent OnePlus Watch Lite skipped Wear OS entirely, using a proprietary RTOS like the original OnePlus Watch.

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 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.

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

• All Pixel Watch 3, 2, and 1 owners will receive Wear OS 5.1 version BP1A.250305.019.W8 in the next few weeks, staggered by device and carrier.
• Google says its enhanced step count algorithm was leading to "higher than expected" step counts, and is "reverting" to the original algorithm.
• Users stuck on the November 2024 patch will receive the March and first April update features and bug fixes after a long wait.

After a messy March update rollout, Google plans to finally merge Pixel Watch owners onto one late-April Wear OS 5.1 versuib — and remove a key feature from Wear OS that isn't working as intended.

The March Pixel Watch update added several new features, including a new "enhanced step count algorithm" designed to better track steps in "challenging situations" like using a walking stick, stroller, shopping cart, or wheelchair.

Unfortunately, it also triggered several bugs on Pixel Watch 3 units like delayed notifications, battery drain, and artificially inflated step counts for some users. And many Pixel Watch owners never received it.

In early April, Google pushed an update to fix the battery and notification issues; now, this latest update, "BP1A.250305.019.W8," will fix the step-counting issue by returning to the old algorithm.

People stuck on the old November 2024 patch will receive the other March 2025 features: menstrual tracking in Fitbit, a media controls upgrade, new dev tools, some UI changes, auto bed-time mode on the Pixel Watch 2, and high-severity security fixes. Only the step count algorithm algorithm is excluded.

Google promises that you'll receive a smartwatch notification when the update becomes available. If you want to check for it now, put your Pixel Watch on a charger, go to Settings > System > System Update, and rapidly tap the screen for about 15–30 seconds to see if the update appears.

Based on past Pixel Watch update rollouts, older models or LTE models will take longer to receive this April 2025 Wear OS patch.

A disappointing Pixel Watch reversion

Ironically, I tested the enhanced step count algorithm on my Pixel Watch 3 last week. I knew Wear OS 5.1 had caused some bugs, but didn't know that people's watches were adding tens of thousands of steps or tracking movement while removed.

Despite my ignorance, I approached my test with some skepticism about whether Google's "exceptional accuracy" claim was true, and I put it through some tough tests.

My results weren't perfect, but in every scenario, my step count was below the actual step count. It was 100 steps short after 10,000 steps, 143 steps short after hiking up hills with a trekking pole, and a couple hundred steps short while walking through a store with a shopping cart.

My takeaway was that the algorithm had room to grow, but that it did a decent job of recognizing abnormal step movements, better than other brands that can only interpret natural arm swings as steps. And I appreciated that Google was trying to account for scenarios like pushing a wheelchair, stroller, or walker, not just able-bodied athletes.

That's why I find it a shame that Google has reverted to the old algorithm, which we've typically found to be less accurate for normal step tracking. I asked my Google rep about what "certain scenarios" were causing issues and why the algorithm had to be reverted rather than fixed; I'll update this post if I hear back.

Hopefully, they'll be able to re-add the enhanced algorithm in the future, resolving the source of the false-positive steps while still helping Pixel Watches to recognize unorthodox steps and movement.

Google says that its Wear OS 5.1 update makes the Pixel Watch 3 and previous models much better at handling "challenging" step count tracking, like pushing a stroller or shopping cart. I put this new system to the test.

Google's Wear OS 5.1 community post states that the "improved algorithm ensures your steps are counted with exceptional accuracy" in scenarios where you're not freely swinging your wrist with each step, such as walking with hiking poles or holding a phone. That can be a challenge for any smartwatch.

My Pixel Watch 3 didn't receive the update for a month, but after the Pixel Watch team manually added mine to their update list, I took it out for some monotonous step tests. I rolled a cart through each grocery store aisle, hiked a trail with trekking poles, and took my dad's walker around the house — all while counting every actual step to compare.

Then I closed things off by conducting a straightforward walking test using my Garmin Fenix 8, as Garmin is almost always the most accurate brand for step count. Here are the results!

How well the new Pixel Watch 3 step count algorithm works

In past checks, my Fitbit or Pixel Watch models weren't especially accurate for step count, typically falling short of the mark. So, besides "challenging" scenarios, I wanted to see if this new algorithm would catch normal steps, too.

Since many people aim to walk 10,000 steps a day, I used the Pixel Watch 3 and Garmin Fenix 8 to track 10,000 steps, tapping my simple counting app every 10 steps until I reached the 1,000 mark. I held the phone on my Garmin side to make sure the Pixel Watch 3 would swing naturally.

The Pixel Watch 3 ended at 9,896 (104 steps short), while the Garmin Fenix 8 ended at 10,050 (50 steps extra). Garmin performed better, as I expected, though frankly, it usually does a little better than that.

While the Pixel Watch 3 lost the step-count battle, my past Pixel Watch 2 and Fitbit Sense 2 tests have ranged from 200–300 steps off across 5,000 steps. Proportionally, the accuracy gap isn't as wide as it once was, which you can possibly attribute to the algorithm change.

In another test, I walked 8,000 steps while holding a trekking pole on the same side as my Pixel Watch 3. Because you take 4–6 steps for every single motion of the walking stick, it's easy for the step count to fall well short. I was curious if the algorithm could fix that.

I ended up measuring 7,857, or 143 steps short. Funnily enough, instead of the usual auto-detected walk activity, it asked me if I was using an elliptical near the end of the walk, because of the consistent rounded motion of my arm.

While the results were slightly less accurate than unimpeded walking, I did notice that I was 90 steps short after 2,000 steps, but then only lost 50 steps for the remaining 6,000. I wonder if the Watch got better at figuring out my walking pattern over time. Meanwhile, my Garmin watch inflated my step count to about 8,300, which I attribute to holding my phone in that hand. Still, not the best result!

As for walking with a shopping cart, I had a little bit of trouble keeping exact count of my steps while looking at deal prices and stepping around other customers. But what I can tell you is that the Pixel Watch 3 was either dead-on at counting my steps... or couldn't detect them.

Mime walking with a shopping cart, and you'll see the problem. If you move forward normally, your wrists won't bend, and your arms stay fixed; there's nothing for the algorithm to work with. So I'd walk 100 steps, look down, and see that both Fitbit and Garmin had only caught a couple of dozen steps, or none at all.

However, when I increased my pace, walking up and down the aisles without slowing, both watches could detect my rolling gait more easily. After 200 steps, the Watch 3 ended up with almost exactly that number added.

Ultimately, the Pixel Watch 3 and Fenix 8 measured 742 and 745 steps, respectively. My actual count was at least a couple hundred steps higher, but I just appreciated that they caught anything at all. With other brands, you may only get a few hundred steps total after spending an hour in the store.

A step in the right direction

The new Wear OS 5.1 algorithm also includes better wheelchair tracking and stroller tracking, though I couldn't test either.

My guess is that stroller and shopping cart tracking will be pretty similar: If you drift along slowly, the Watch 3 won't catch your movement, but walk fast and there'll be enough subtle vertical motion for the algorithm to catch.

As for wheelchair pushes, that's a significant and consistent motion — like walking with a trekking pole — so I'd assume the Watch 3 will catch most of them, even if it falls slightly short.

I felt awkward testing my dad's walker for more than a couple of minutes — it felt too much like I was feigning a disability — but in that time, the Watch 3 had no trouble recognizing my steps. It might not do as well if you have a shuffling gait, however.

Overall, even if I wouldn't say the Pixel Watch 3 quite lives up to the "exceptional accuracy" claim in Google's blog post, it does decently in scenarios where other smartwatches would struggle to register steps, including Garmin. And I certainly appreciate the effort!

[Update 3/26 11:17 am]: A Google spokesperson told Android Central in an email that they're aware of this issue impacting "a very small number of Pixel Watch users" who are experiencing delayed notifications after the March update. And are currently investigating the situation, "to address it as quickly as possible – we’ll share more details when a fix is ready," Google added.

What you need to know

• Wear OS 5.1 update seems to be messing up some features on the Pixel Watch 3 and Watch 2.
• Users have reported delayed notifications, inaccurate step counts, battery issues, and more.
• While Google has yet to acknowledge the bugs, restarting or factory resetting the wearable seems to temporarily fix some of the issues.

The March Wear OS update is rolling out, and it has already started causing some issues for users. The Wear OS 5.1 update seems to be delaying notifications, inaccurately showing steps, causing battery issues, and more (first spotted by Android Police).

Since Mar. 18, Google has been pushing out the Wear OS 5.1 update for the Pixel Watch 3, Pixel Watch 2, and the original Pixel Watch. The broader rollout to LTE watches happened last week, with the LTE Pixel Watch 2 and 3 seeing version BP1A.250305.019.W3 and the O.G device seeing BP1A.250305.019.W2 version of the update come in.

At the start of March, Google announced the feature rollout to wearables, with the new Loss of Pulse and menstrual health support coming to the Pixel Watch 3. Other watches received tweaks to features that improved audio controls, step count tracking, and expansion of auto bed-time mode.

But it looks like the patch brought some unexpected bugs as well to these watches. Over the weekend, those who updated their watch to the latest firmware seem to be facing all kinds of issues with their wearables. Several people took to Reddit to express their frustration about this rather messy update that has made their watches slower than usual.

Several Pixel Watch 2 and Pixel Watch 3 owners reported that notifications seemed to be delayed and were only displayed when the user manually wakes the watch, after which they are flooded by multiple notifications all at once.

Other users feel that the update has messed up their step counter — the watch seems to be counting steps and detecting floors climbed, even when the user has taken it off. It also seems to be detecting way more steps than usual, according to another user who said they only walked 5K steps, but the watch seems to have tracked about 17K.

Additionally, these bugs have supposedly started draining the watch's battery. The publication added that some users have been dealing with the watch crashing when all they did was try to change or edit a watch face's complications or colors.

For now, users on the same Reddit thread seem to have come up with a workaround to solve this issue. They said factory resetting the watch seems to be solving some of these issues, while some feel that simply restarting the watch does the job, but only temporarily.

On the other hand, some users thanked the Google gods as they didn't face any of the above issues with the new update. For now, Google hasn't officially acknowledged the issue. However, Android Central has reached out to the company and will update this article once we have more information.

Every Wear OS brand besides Samsung and Google has had such a fraught, confusing history with updates that we had no idea what to expect from OnePlus. Would the OnePlus Watch 3 launch with Wear OS 5, or an older version like some TicWatches? And how quickly would the two promised version updates arrive on the OnePlus Watch 2?

Thanks to the OnePlus Watch 3 and clarification from the OnePlus PR team, we have our answers. And I think it's set a precedent for what to expect from any Wear OS watch that doesn't have "Galaxy" or "Pixel" in the name.

My colleague Nick Sutrich got hands-on time with the OnePlus Watch 3 this past week, and he's highly positive about it so far. It's a major hardware upgrade over the OnePlus Watch 2 thanks to the active crown, fixed health tracking, eye-friendly display, smarter coprocessor, and larger battery capacity.

OnePlus promises a five-day battery life, and Nick's Watch 3 has surpassed this estimate so far. Some credit must go to the silicon-carbon battery, but we can also consider its switch to Wear OS 5: Google added some battery-saving background changes last year that'll pay off in subtle ways for OnePlus Watch 3 buyers.

We're still diving into the OnePlus Watch 3's software to try and flesh out what's new and different. But when we asked OnePlus, their answer was very illuminating:

Google app minutiae aside, that last portion is illuminating because OnePlus's rep was essentially saying to go to the "Explore Wear OS 5 features" page on Android Developers. Unlike Samsung's unique version of One UI 6 Watch or Mobvoi's specific update list for Wear OS 4, OnePlus largely put its software update in Google's hands.

This isn't to say that the OnePlus Watch 3 software is a Pixel Watch 3 clone. OnePlus has its UI quirks, video watch faces, and health features specific to the OHealth app, such as the 60-second health checkup tool.

I did note one unique feature: You can prop up your OnePlus 13 and then swipe through TikTok or YouTube Shorts videos using your watch display. I have no idea how many people would want to navigate their feeds with their phones propped up, but at least OnePlus tried something new!

But by and large, OnePlus is offering a "stock" Wear OS experience, and some of its "new" Wear OS 5 features are things that were missing from its version of Wear OS 4, like emergency SOS, camera controls, and the ability to transfer your watch to a new phone.

I'm perfectly fine with OnePlus focusing on hardware and health upgrades with the Watch 3. It seems to have paid off, and compared to other Wear OS watches that work best within their ecosystem, I think you can wear this with just about any Android phone brand without missing any features because of the "stock" Wear OS approach.

Now for the downsides: OnePlus says the Watch 3 will receive two OS updates — like the OnePlus Watch 2 — and two years of bi-monthly security updates through early 2027. OnePlus committed to three years of security updates for the Watch 2, so we're not sure why OnePlus has apparently decided to cut back one year of support.

As for the OnePlus Watch 2, the OnePlus rep said that "Watch 2 users are expected to receive their OS 5 updates in Q3 of this year." That July–September stretch is when we'd expect the Galaxy Watch 8 and Pixel Watch 4 to launch with Wear OS 6, meaning OnePlus will be a year behind them.

Up until this point, Wear OS brands like Xiaomi and Mobvoi have fallen a year behind Google and Samsung, only launching Wear OS 4 around Q3 2024. OnePlus obviously has a leg up by launching Wear OS 5 only half a year behind Samsung, but I'm not sure why the OnePlus Watch 2 — which has the same Snapdragon processor — would need another half a year or so.

At this point, I can only assume the year-long update gap between the Wear OS co-creators and third-party partners will never close. Samsung and Google had some trouble updating their watches to Wear OS 5, but nothing like what their partners have experienced.

General Wear OS trends aside, I'm not sure why the OnePlus Watch 3 will (presumably) stop receiving security updates well before it gets Wear OS 7 in late 2027. That seems a bit odd, and I'd like to think OnePlus will still provide some sporadic security support afterward, not just drop major changes and then ignore the Watch 3 entirely.

As it is, with Samsung and Google promising four and three years of support, respectively, OnePlus's two-year promise feels like the one potential blemish to an otherwise exciting OnePlus Watch 3 launch.

Whether you picked up a new Pixel Watch 3 during the recent Black Friday/ Cyber Monday hullabaloo or are simply looking for tips and tricks with your months-old watch, I'm here to help.

Based on my time reviewing the Pixel Watch 3 and other Wear OS watches, I've created this Google Pixel Watch 3 beginner's guide to run through our favorite features that Google itself doesn't fully explain during setup.

None of these features will be groundbreaking to anyone who's fluent in Wear OS watch software, but it'll hopefully prove useful to have it all listed out in one place. That way you won't forget to set up Emergency SOS, Watch Unlock, and other handy tools with your new watch!

Switch up your watch faces

As always with Wear OS, you tap and hold your main watch screen to swap between default watch face options. Tap the pencil icon to change the colors, layout, complications, and boldness of the main clock.

By default, the Pixel Watch 3 has 13 different watch faces installed. In the Pixel Watch companion app, you'll see a Watch faces option directly under the watch icon, where you'll see more options (about 25 different types in total, each with different "flavors"). My favorite is one tied to Google Photos, where you pick up to 30 photos and can tap between them by tapping the main watch face, swapping between them at your leisure.

Unfortunately, the Pixel Watch 3 can't use any watch faces without the XML Watch Face Format (WFF) — it's a Wear OS 5 restriction — which means you can't add them from Facer anymore. For the few compatible third-party options, open the Play Store on your phone, tap Search, select Watch apps under "Explore apps," select Pixel Watch 3 under "Your devices" at the top, and finally tap Watch faces. You'll see XML watch faces for you to buy and download to the Pixel Watch 3.

Filter your notifications

Nothing drives me crazier than getting an endless buzz of unimportant notifications on my wrist. One of the first things I did with my Pixel Watch 3 was open the Pixel Watch app on my phone, tap Notifications under Settings, then tap Mute notifications from phone so I'm not buzzed in two places if I'm currently using my phone. I also like to Mute phone calls while wearing my watch, since I know I'll be buzzed on my wrist anyways.

Most importantly, I tap Watch apps and disable any notifications from apps I know I don't care about seeing urgently, knowing that I can check my notification feed on my phone later.

One thing I wish Android and Wear OS offered was a way to disable multiple notifications from the same source in quick succession, like when a group Telegram chat buzzes my wrist thirty times during a run. So I found the Buzzkill Notification Manager app so I can set a cooldown on repeat notifications within a certain span. It doesn't have a Wear OS app, but its effects trickle down to the Pixel Watch 3, and it's worth the small cost if you're similarly bothered by back-to-back buzzes.

Lastly, remember every night to swipe down from the watch face and tap the Crescent Moon icon to turn on Bedtime Mode, which filters all calls and notifications except for starred callers and alarms. By default, the Pixel Watch 3 has Auto-Bedtime mode enabled based on your sleep zones and heart rate, and syncs with your Pixel phone's DND settings — though not other phone brands like Samsung, frustratingly. Either way, the display will still blind you if you move your arm in a dark room before you first fall asleep, so I turn it on manually.

Dive into the settings

This is a bit of a boring and obvious entry, but it's still worth mentioning. Swipe down from the main watch face view, tap the Cog icon, and spend five minutes running through the options, enabling or adjusting things as needed. Here are my specific Pixel Watch 3 settings recommendations:

• Display: Change the text size if you're near-sighted; make sure Adaptive brightness is turned on; change the screen timeout to 10 seconds but the Go to watch face to either 2 or 5 minutes so you don't have to navigate back to things if you're distracted and the screen turns off; and turn off always-on screen if you're trying to save battery life.
• Sound: I leave sound off for calls and notifications in favor of vibrations, but you can change the volume here if you want both.
• Vibration: Lower the force of the haptics if, for example, you want to be gently jostled awake by your alarm instead of buzzed awake.
• Battery: Change Battery Saver to trigger at a higher or lower percentage, depending on your priorities.
• Accessibility: Useful features like TalkBack, color correction, or the option to vibrate the current time are available here, for anyone with visual impairments.
• System: Aside from checking for system updates and restarting or turning off the watch, this menu has a secret method for turning on developer mode. Tap About > Versions and then tap the Build number seven times.

Under Developer options, you can enable niche tools like having your watch stay awake while charging on your desk, or to Force full GNSS measurements to improve location accuracy during workouts (theoretically). As I noted in my Galaxy Watch Ultra beginner's guide, many people use dev options specifically to reduce the animation time when swapping between or opening apps, so that you see information more quickly.

Control your Google devices

Depending on what other Google devices you own, the Pixel Watch 3 can act as a hub to control your smart home or Pixel phone, thanks to some new tricks added with Wear OS 5.

If you have a Nest Camera or Doorbell associated with your Google Home account, you'll receive notifications on your wrist when motion is detected; tapping it will send you to the live feed for that camera. Otherwise, you can tap the Camera device tile in Google Home and select a specific camera.

If you tap the triple-line icon underneath the feed, you can tap a mic icon to enable 2-way talk and speak to whoever's there, or the chat icon for Quick Responses like "We'll be right there." On the feed itself, you can double-tap the display to zoom in, then swipe left or right to pan your view.

In terms of other Google Home functions, if you have an Android TV or Google TV dongle on your account, tap and hold any tile on your Pixel Watch, press the + button, and add the TV tile to your carousel; you may need to remove a tile to make room if your carousel is full.

If necessary, select the specific Home and TV you want to control; for most people, your one Google TV device's controls will become visible by default. You'll be able to play/ pause, check how much time is left, skip forward or backward on a playlist, or change the volume. If you need to select options on screen, tap the Remote button, which has a D-pad and select button.

Otherwise, any other Google Home devices and automations like smart light routines or Nest Thermostat controls are controllable on your watch; that linked guide will walk you through building a Google Home ecosystem, if you're interested!

Download offline Google Maps

Some fitness watches can download specific GPX maps and courses to follow for workouts in areas with no signal. The Pixel Watch 3 isn't one of those watches, but Google Maps can at least store offline maps for whole areas so that you can search for directions in a pinch. It's a good idea to save whole areas like national or regional parks where the signal is poor, and to have these offline maps on your watch in case your phone dies.

To add offline maps to your Pixel Watch 3, start on the mobile Google Maps app, search for a specific place, tap the top-right ellipsis, and then download offline map. Scroll or pinch to select the right rectangular area, then Download it. It'll save to your phone.

Next, make sure your Pixel Watch 3 is connected to WiFi, then place it on its charger. Google auto-syncs your offline maps from your phone to your watch, but only when it's charging and on-network.

Set up Google Wallet and transit passes

By default, double-tapping the Pixel Watch 3 crown pulls up Google Wallet, with your default card ready to be tapped for contactless payments. Setting it up is relatively simple, but adding Google Wallet cards will require a PIN or Pattern for security reasons; you should only have to enter it every time you take off your watch for charging, but if you forget your pattern you'll have to reset the watch to factory settings.

Double-tap the crown, then create a PIN if prompted. The app will then tell you to continue on your synced phone in the Watch app; assuming you already have Google Wallet on your associated account, you will simply need to enter the CVV for the card you want to use, agree to certain terms and conditions, and wait for the bank to verify your information. Then a double crown tap will prime the default card for payment without having to select anything.

If you haven't used Wallet before, the app will use your phone camera to scan your card details, or else you can enter them manually. Plus, you can add a transit pass to Wallet if you live near Puget Sound (ORCA), the SF Bay Area (Clipper/BART), Toronto (PRESTO), or D.C. (SmarTrip/Metro) and want to tap past turnstiles with your phone in your pocket.

Sync your Pixel and Pixel Watch

Google gave the Watch 3 a few Pixel-exclusive features rewarding those who buy within its family of devices. The first is the new Recorder app: Anyone can record things on their wrist, but Pixel owners will have their recordings auto-sync to their Pixel phones, where they can copy the AI transcripts as needed.

Perhaps the most important tool is Call Screening, which is only available to U.S.-based Pixel Watch owners with a Pixel 6 phone or later. In your mobile Phone app, tap the top-right ellipsis > Settings > Caller ID & spam and make sure you auto-filter spam calls and make caller ID available by default.

If you want to prop your Pixel phone to take a remote photo, the Camera app acts as a viewfinder for your Pixel phone. With this view, you can tap the Camera or Video icon to switch the type, double-tap the main view to swap between front and rear cameras, slide the magnification up and down, and tap the triple-line icon to change settings like the Mode and Timer.

Lastly, you can use your Pixel Watch 3 to unlock your nearby Pixel phone with UWB, so long as you have a watch passcode set up — and are okay with using a little extra watch battery life. Open the mobile Watch app and tap Watch preferences > Security > Watch Unlock, then enter your phone PIN and hit Confirm on the next page.

If you enable this, your phone will unlock with any upward swipe or tapped notification on the lock screen. Your watch will get a phone-unlock notification any time you do this; tap the notification to re-lock your phone in case someone else grabbed your phone and unlocked it nearby.

Turn on Emergency SOS and fall detection

The Pixel Watch app prompts you to set up Emergency SOS and fall detection in the Watch app after setup, but I imagine plenty of people dismiss the notifications in their initial unboxing excitement and then forget about it...until an emergency makes them regret their short-sightedness.

We have step-by-step guides on setting up emergency SOS and turning on fall detection on Pixel Watches, so I won't waste space recreating those steps here.

The main thing is that you need to choose in advance which contacts will receive an emergency alert and make sure that the Personal Safety watch tool has access to your location so that emergency services know where to find you. Look in your app drawer for the Personal Safety app, where you can choose emergency contacts and set up things like Car Crash Detection or add your Medical Info for EMTs.

Another lesser-known feature you may want to try is Safety Check, which broadcasts your location to your emergency contacts if you don't check in after a certain time period. This is a useful preventative measure if, say, you're going for a nighttime run.

Plus, if you got your hands on the Pixel Watch 3 LTE, you automatically benefit from Safety Signal, which allows Emergency SOS, Fall Detection, and Safety Check to work even if your phone isn't around and you haven't added it to a carrier. The default Google Fi connection will send your crisis info where it needs to go.

Use Fitbit Run Coaching to get healthier

Google put major emphasis on improving Fitbit's running software on the Pixel Watch 3. Using your six-month free trial of Fitbit Premium, you'll get daily AI-generated run recommendations based on your current fitness level and training plan.

My how-to guide for Fitbit run coaching goes into depth, but essentially you need to open the Coach tab in the mobile Fitbit app and tap the banner about personalized workouts. You'll choose whether you're a beginner, intermediate (regularly run 5Ks), or advanced runner (run 10Ks, half marathons), then choose a plan based on whether you want to improve your Endurance, Pace, or both (Balanced).

At that point, you'll be given a daily recommendation like "tempo run" or "sprint intervals" that you can send to your watch and follow; the activity will have you stick to a specific heart rate zone, so it's less about hitting a specific pace and more about working hard for your ability level.

If you'd rather choose your own workout pace, you can easily create your own custom workouts. In the mobile Fitbit app, tap the bottom-left + symbol, then build a run and then the + sign next to Intervals. You can create a running interval based on criteria like distance, time, calories burned, or a "time trial" to finish X miles in Y minutes. You can also set a target to stay within a certain pace or HR range, with your watch buzzing your wrist if you stray outside of the target zone.

Once you're done, tap Save and start on watch, and it'll cue up the activity you just made and start connecting to GPS. If you want to create a workout but save it for later, simply exit out of the app after exporting it; it'll be saved permanently in your watch workouts. Simply start a Run activity, tap the right stack icon, then choose the workout from the list.

Build up your Fitbit Cardio Load

Fitbit Run Coaching is great, but it doesn't help non-runners build workouts and it requires a Premium subscription. Fitbit Cardio Load is a free metric that scores your activity level for any type of workout, as well as non-workout activities like lifting heavy boxes at work or walking around town that still elevate your heart rate.

You'll get Cardio Load scores by default, appearing in the main Fitbit Today tab. But to get the most out of Cardio Load, you need to wear your Pixel Watch 3 for sleep tracking for two weeks. This will help the watch figure out your health and sleep baseline to generate a Daily Readiness score, then give you a daily Target Load for the amount of cardio load you should try to hit that day, based on your past workouts and fitness level.

All of this to say, just start sleeping while wearing the Pixel Watch 3, and eventually your daily Morning Brief will show screens like the photo above with a target load score. Your AI-generated runs will take that Target Load into account, but you can also look at past workouts to see how much load you generate from a typical run or HIIT activity, and design your workout accordingly.

Buy backup watch bands

Google uses a proprietary watch band system, so most of the bands comparable with other watches won't work with it. We have a guide on the best Pixel Watch 3 bands that'll spice up your watch's look or give you a more comfortable band than the default Active band.

Unfortunately, we don't have many good third-party options because Pixel Watch sales aren't as high as Galaxy or Apple Watches. Still, we've found various rugged, woven, steel, and solo loop options that'll give you some variety and won't cost as much as Google's first-party bands, which are excellent but quite expensive (especially for leather or metal).

Whichever you choose, make sure that you buy the right size; the 41mm and 45mm Pixel Watch 3 use different band sizes, though your Pixel Watch 2 bands will carry over to the 41mm PW3.

Unpeel your Pixel Watch 3's layers

I didn't cover everything the Pixel Watch 3 can do. Fitbit Premium has other perks like Peloton workouts, meditation guides, and video coaching that may get you working out with your Watch 3. You can use Tiles to take an ECG reading or follow your Body Responses (aka stressful moments) throughout the day. And I didn't even bring up Google Assistant, which you call by holding down the back button above the crown.

Not to mention, you should open the Play Store on your phone, tap Other devices in the top menu, and look at the "top free watch apps" to see what third-party options will be helpful for you. Don't just stick to Google apps!

The Pixel Watch 3 is one of the best Android watches available today, thanks in part to its new Wear OS 5 tricks. And I have no doubt it'll get even smarter, since Google gives its watches three years of updates. Hopefully by the time Wear OS 6 arrives next fall with the Pixel Watch 4, you'll have mastered what your Pixel Watch 3 has to offer.

What you need to know

• The last stage of Samsung’s One UI 6 Watch rollout appears to be underway, with users in Korea seeing the update become available for the Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 4 Classic.
• The move comes as Samsung has updated the Galaxy Watch 6 series, Galaxy Watch 5 series, and Galaxy Watch FE to Wear OS 5 in recent days and weeks.
• The updates, beginning abroad, will eventually come to the US and North America at a later date.

Samsung is reaching the final stage of its lengthy One UI 6 Watch rollout, which brings Wear OS 5 to all the company’s Wear OS smartwatches. As of today, users in Korea started seeing the One UI 6 Watch update become available for the Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 4 Classic, according to a post on Samsung’s community forums. The update is currently available for only the Bluetooth models of the Galaxy Watch 4 series, and only in Korea — for now.

The company launched One UI 6 Watch alongside the Galaxy Watch Ultra and Galaxy Watch 7, released in July. It made its way to the Galaxy Watch 6 series late last month. Just yesterday, Dec. 3, Samsung brought the Wear OS 5 upgrade to the Galaxy Watch 5 series and the Galaxy Watch FE.

That means all of Samsung’s Wear OS watches, from the oldest Galaxy Watch 4 to the cheapest Galaxy Watch FE, are beginning to get the boost to One UI 6 Watch. As is typically the case, Bluetooth models of the Galaxy Watch will receive the upgrade in a few regions to start. Then, over the coming days and weeks, LTE-equipped models will become eligible to upgrade, and it’ll arrive in more regions. North American units are often towards the end of the line when it comes to receiving One UI 6 Watch upgrades.

A core part of the One UI 6 Watch update are health-related feature additions. Samsung is banking on the combination of Samsung Health and Galaxy AI, aiming to use it to help wearers improve their fitness and health. Energy Score is like Samsung’s rendition of Garmin’s Body Battery, and Sleep Analysis aims to let you know how well you slept. These features were exclusive to newer Galaxy Watch models at first, but are making their way to older ones now.

Samsung initially promised up to four years of software updates for the Galaxy Watch 4, which isn’t much of a concrete guarantee. However, it appears that old smartwatch may be nearing the end of its software support. Wear OS 5.1 looks like a minor update, based on Android 15, so the chances of the Galaxy Watch 4 making it to the eventual Wear OS 6 are slim.

Still, the first-generation of any product line typically receives poor software support, but that hasn’t been the case with the Galaxy Watch 4 (which is a first-gen product in the sense that it was Samsung’s first Wear OS watch). It’s had a great run with software upgrades, starting with Wear OS 3 and now supporting Wear OS 5.

What you need to know

• Samsung appears to be rolling out the One UI 6 Watch update, based on Wear OS 5, to more models.
• Multiple users in Europe have spotted the update as it became available for their Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch FE devices.
• Previously, the Galaxy Watch 7 and Galaxy Watch Ultra debuted with the update. The Galaxy Watch 6 series received the update late last month.

Samsung is continuing its gradual rollout of One UI 6 Watch, as the update is starting to reach Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch FE models. The update, based on Wear OS 5, first launched on the Galaxy Watch Ultra and Galaxy Watch 7 when they debuted this past summer. Last month, the OTA update arrived for the Galaxy Watch 6 series, and it's now coming for Samsung's older and budget smartwatches.

Multiple users on Reddit have spotted the update appearing for their Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch FE in Europe, as reported by 9to5Google. The availability of the update appears to be inconsistent, though. It may depend on your region, with one Reddit user in Malaysia reporting the update becoming available on their Galaxy Watch 5 Pro.

The update is reaching Bluetooth versions of the watches first, with LTE models receiving the update at a later date. Additionally, there are no known reports of One UI 6 Watch rolling out for Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch FE users in the US at the time of publishing.

FINALLY FOR WATCH 5 (BT; 44mm), AFTER MONTHS OF WAITING! from r/GalaxyWatch

The update includes a few key upgrades, all centered around Samsung Health and Galaxy AI. Energy Score, Sleep Analysis, and Race/Workout Routine are just a few fitness and health-oriented features bundled in the One UI 6 Watch update. It is a large download, nearly two gigabytes in size.

Being that the Galaxy Watch 6 series just received the One UI 6 Watch update last week, Samsung may be quickening its rollout pace. Looking ahead, the LTE and North American versions of the Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch FE are expected to get the update soon. It's now starting to appear for the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, too, but should become more widely available in the coming days. Additionally, the Galaxy Watch 4 series is still waiting for One UI 6 Watch.

What you need to know

• Samsung announced a wider, official rollout of One UI 6 Watch (Wear OS 5) for the Galaxy Watch 6 series to the Galaxy Watch 4 series.
• Users can expect several new features like Galaxy AI's "Suggested Replies," Energy Score, Race, Workout Routines, and more.
• Samsung is rolling this update out globally; however, the Galaxy Watch 6 and 6 Classic will receive it before other past-gen devices.

Samsung's next major Wear OS upgrade is starting to hit users with several of its past-gen watches.

Galaxy Watch owners should expect One UI 6 Watch (Wear OS 5) to start hitting their devices today (Nov 19). In a Newsroom post, Samsung states the following devices are eligible: Galaxy Watch 6, 6 Classic, Galaxy Watch 5, 5 Pro, Galaxy Watch 4, 4 Classic, and the Galaxy Watch FE. The company adds that this update will be arriving on these devices "around the world," but the times may vary.

More importantly, Samsung's year-old device, the Galaxy Watch 6 series, is the first to receive this update. The post states the update will "become available sequentially to previous generations."

However, an official rollout date for the other watches was not stated.

Samsung highlighted several new features its Galaxy Watch owners can expect, such as "Energy Score." Wrapped in its health update, Energy Score will calculate an "intuitive" score based on the wearer's sleep, physical activity, sleeping heart rate, and more. The number displayed the next morning will give you insight into whether you should push yourself or rest.

Sleep tracking also gets an update via Samsung's "advanced AI algorithm." The company paired that with new metrics like "movement during sleep," sleep latency, heart rate, and respiratory rate.

Users getting active will find new features like "Race" for running and cycling alongside "Workout Routines" for combining exercises.

During Samsung's initial One UI 6 Watch beta post, the company highlighted Galaxy AI's influence as "powerful on-device AI" was set to take the stage. The stable Wear OS 5 update for Galaxy Watches leans on its software to bring "Suggested Replies" for text messages. Users will also find an assortment of new watch faces.

One UI 6 Watch's rollout today (Nov 19) means users who weren't in the beta can get their hands on it. Samsung wrapped up its beta for the OS update in October; however, its stable variant only rolled out for previously enrolled testers. It arrived for the Galaxy Watch 6 before trickling down to other past-gen devices. It's worth remembering that the Galaxy Watch 7 launched with Wear OS 5 already, so these other devices are simply getting what's due.

Consumers should also be aware that the provided Galaxy AI features will remain free "until the end of 2025."

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

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, an immersive vibration feature was spotted on the Pixel Weather app, Google launches a Gemini app for iPhones, the Wear OS 5 update resumes on the Pixel Watch, YouTube Premium ditches grandfathered pricing for subscribers, and the RedMagic 10 Pro series is here.

Feel the rain with Pixel Weather

Read more here.

Pixel Weather launched with the Pixel 9 series, and now users are discovering an Immersive Weather Vibrations feature for the app. It's a fun little setting that brings your weather to life by adding subtle vibrations that correlate with the animations in the app. For instance, if it's raining, the phone's haptics will kick in and mimic the pitter-patter of rain falling onto the device, matching up with the animation within the app. Mishaal Rahman notes that it should also work with thunderstorms and snow, among other weather conditions.

The feature is available now on via a server side update and you can enable or disable it in the Pixel Weather settings menu. We've noticed it on our Pixel 9 models, and according to Android Authority, it's available on version 1.0.20240910.678970266.release.

Wear OS 5: Return of the update

Read more here.

After a bit of a delay, Wear OS 5 began rolling out again on the original Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2. The update, which initially started rolling out in September, includes a new app grid, the Pixel Recorder app, more camera controls, and more. However, users ran into issues with their smartwatches after installing the update, with devices stuck on a blank screen and effectively bricking their watches.

As a result of the problems, Google pulled the update as it worked to figure out what was causing the issue. Now, it looks like Google has found a solution, with the Wear OS 5 update arriving alongside the November security patch.

The Pixel Watch 3 has also received the November update, but it only brings the new security patch and bug fixes. Additionally, Google has stated that the next update for Pixel smartwatches won't arrive until March 2025, going away from what has been a relatively monthly cadence of updates.

Gemini gets the iPhone treatment

Read more here.

Until now, Gemini Live has been an Android-only affair, with iPhone users left out of the generative AI fun. Now, Google is throwing them a bone by launching the conversational AI bot within a new standalone Gemini app.

The experience is more or less what you'll get with the Gemini app on Android, with the standard Gemini experience, which is essentially a replacement for Google Assistant. However, now there's access to Gemini Live for more natural conversations, and it comes with access to Imagen 3 for high-quality image generation. Live will also appear on the Dynamic Island while in use and will connect to other Google apps, meaning you can ask it to play music, find directions, and more.

Of course, iOS users can still access the standard Gemini experience on the web or via the Google app, but Live is only available on the app. It's also possible to add it as a shortcut via the Action Button on newer devices like the iPhone 16 Pro Max.

No more early adopter pricing for YouTube Premium

Read more here.

Before YouTube Premium was a thing, there was the YouTube Music Key, which charged $7.99 for ad-free music streaming way back in 2014. Now, those early adopters who got to keep their pricing through the YouTube Premium launch are now being told they have to pay more.

Users in Europe have been receiving emails about the change, with a YouTube communications manager confirming the price change for legacy members, mostly within Europe, Central America, and South America. One user in Spain notes that the price of their YouTube Music Premium subscription is increasing to €10.99, matching current pricing for new members.

Still, legacy subscribers have a little time before the change happens and will keep their current pricing for another three months.

A powerful new gaming phone

Read more here.

Following the launch of the Snapdragon 8 Elite in October, Nubia has revealed its latest flagship devices to compete with the best gaming phones: the RedMagic 10 Pro and 10 Pro Plus. The phones are largely identical and only differ in their internal specs.

Both phones feature 6.85-inch AMOLED displays with 144Hz refresh rates, peak brightness of 2,000 nits, and a touch sampling rate of 960Hz for responsive gaming. Underneath are huge batteries, with 6,500mAh for the 10 Pro and 7,050mAh for the Pro Plus. Additionally, the Pro supports 60W wired charging while the Pro Plus supports 120W charging, which should help given the massive battery sizes.

The 10 Pro comes with 12GB of RAM and 256GB or 512GB of storage. Meanwhile, the 10 Pro Plus gets 16GB or 24GB of RAM and double the storage sizes, utilizing the UFS 4.1 standard.

On the back are 50MP triple camera systems, with 16MP under-display cameras on the front, giving users an uninterrupted gaming experience with a more than 93% screen-to-body ratio. Both phones also come with impressive thermal management and cooling systems to handle all that power.

The phones are available now in China and will launch internationally on December 3.

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:

• Gemini 2.0 may have just leaked, indicating a release could be imminent
• Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 6 might be flopping in the US, but its Special Edition is winning in Korea
• Boost Mobile is ditching the MVNO label and stepping up with its own 5G network
• OPPO's answer to the Galaxy S25 is launching globally on November 21
• Google Home tipped to integrate support for dangerous air quality sensors
• This three-year-old Pixel phone surprisingly receives one last update
• Google is reportedly prototyping the Pixel Tablet 2 with a valuable accessory
• Instagram commits to user experience by removing the annoying 'rug pull' feature
• Google's new app secures your chats with a twist
• Samsung might've clued us into the Galaxy S25 launch timeframe

What you need to know

• The Pixel Watch series had a rough month when Wear OS 5 caused major issues like bricked devices and blank screens, and Google paused the rollout.
• The November update is rolling out now, continuing Wear OS 5 for the older models, while the Pixel Watch 3 only gets a security patch.
• Google also confirmed the next big update won’t arrive until March 2025.

The Wear OS 5 update is rolling out again for Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2 users, meaning Wear OS 4 is on its way out.

The past month hasn't been easy for Google's Android smartwatches. When Wear OS 5 was pushed to the Pixel Watch 1 and 2, it caused some serious problems, like bricked devices and blank screens. Google quickly paused the update, but since then, there’s been little word on when things will get back on track for the Pixel Watch series.

Finally, the wait is over—updates are finally back for all Pixel Watch models. The November update (version AW2A.241105.012) is rolling out to the Pixel Watch 1, 2, and 3. While it marks the continuation of the Wear OS 5 update for the earlier models, it looks like the Pixel Watch 3 is just getting a regular security patch this time.

Google started rolling out Wear OS 5 to the original Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2 in September, but had to pull the update shortly after users reported serious issues.

In a recent community post, Google confirmed the November 2024 update for all Pixel Watch models and dropped an unexpected tidbit. While detailing the update for all three Pixel Watch models, it also revealed that the next major update won’t come until March 2025, meaning a lengthy three to four-month break between updates for the series.

Verizon’s Pixel Watch models are getting in on the Wear OS 5 update too. For the Pixel Watch 2, the changelog notes that it fixes an issue where watch faces wouldn’t load after a reboot.

Not only does the update fix the watch face loading issue, but it also throws in the November 2024 security patch for good measure. The original Pixel Watch changelog doesn’t bother to mention this fix, but the update's back, so it seems like Google has finally sorted it out.

Wear OS 5 is a subtle but significant improvement for Wear OS watches across brands, with the Pixel Watch 3 and Galaxy Watch 7 showcasing its strengths. But the longer the update takes to arrive on last-gen watches, the more questions it raises about the OS' future.

Google first added Wear OS 5 to the Pixel Watch 2 and 1 on September 27 before pausing the rollout after reports of users' watches crashing, with "blank screens" forcing factory resets. The Wear OS team promised a resumed rollout "later this year," adding they would "share additional updates with our community as they become available."

It's been nearly six weeks since then, with no updates on when "later" will arrive; Samsung added Wear OS 5 to the Galaxy Watch 6 in the interim, beating the stock Wear OS devs to the punch, but it, too, hasn't updated its older Galaxy Watches since spring.

Last week, I contacted a Wear OS team member for new info on the root of the problem and the delay in solving it. In response, they linked to the original September help page, saying I'd "find what [I] need" there. I didn't, obviously.

Since Google wouldn't explain the delay, I speculated with my Android Central coworkers. We're guessing the Wear OS devs probably haven't replicated the configuration issue causing these blank screens, so they're stuck waiting to avoid a repeat of crashing watches. It's not that the older watches can't run Wear OS 5, especially since the Pixel Watch 2 and Pixel Watch 3 largely share the same tech.

Unlike Samsung, which pushed out eight One UI 6 Watch betas on the Galaxy Watch 6 before the stable build arrived for those in the program, Google doesn't offer a Wear OS beta program like it does with the mobile Android OS. Perhaps this incident will convince Google that it's worth exploring for Wear OS 6 to try and catch these issues beforehand and avoid the QA headache of a rolled-back update.

Android 15 took longer than usual to arrive this year, too, but phones have the headroom to implement a ton of new features, while smartwatches use old Arm Cortex cores and settle for a few software tweaks per year.

With Wear OS 5, you get battery optimization, better content reflow optimized to fit different screen sizes, new "flavors" and goals for the Watch Face Format, and a few new features for runners. Specific to the Pixel Watch, you'll see a Nest Cam view, Google TV controls, a recorder app, and a cam viewfinder mode; older Galaxy Watches will add Energy Scores, a new Quick Panel, universal gestures, and other tweaks.

I'm not saying Wear OS 3.5 in 2022 and Wear OS 4 in 2023 were unimportant updates, but their changes definitely felt more pedestrian. Wear OS 5 helped the Pixel Watch 3 and Galaxy Watch 7 have stronger-than-expected battery life compared to the last generation while also adding some juicy exclusives.

Maybe that's a partial explanation for why customers are having to wait months later than usual for this new update (the number of substantial changes). And that raises its own questions.

Wear OS already has a messy update history

Since Google and Samsung teamed up on Wear OS updates in mid-2021, it's become clear that any OEMs besides these two would struggle to keep up.

Wear OS 3 arrived in 2021, but it took Fossil until late 2022 to add it, and then another year for Wear OS 3.5 before abandoning the platform entirely. Mobvoi took until December 2023 to add Wear OS 3, then launched Wear OS 4 in September; its newest watches still don't have Google Assistant, even though we assumed the Wear OS 4 update would make it available. Who knows when (or if) they'll get Wear OS 5!

The newest Wear OS partners are OnePlus and Xiaomi. We've yet to test the Xiaomi Watch 2 or Watch 2 Pro, but we know they only just received Wear OS 4 in September 2024, a year behind; as for the OnePlus Watch 2, it's slated to receive Wear OS 5 and 6, but we don't know when.

We hope OnePlus fans won't have to wait long, but that seems to be the track record for everyone besides Google and Samsung for relatively minor changelogs. Now that Google itself is struggling to update its watches speedily, who knows what that means for its partners trying to add Wear OS 5. Will they need a year or more?

Whether Wear OS updates get quicker (or longer) will depend on hardware

Google promises its Pixel Watches will get three Wear OS updates, while Samsung promises four version updates. Compared to the seven or eight years of updates flagship phones get these days, Android watches get short shrift. Whether that changes will depend a lot on future Wear OS hardware.

I recently wrote about Google's leaked Pixel Watch chip plans and why it may play it safe with a lesser version of Samsung's Exynos W1000 with Arm cores rather than go all on in open-source RISC-V or try a Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 with Oryon cores.

If Google chooses Exynos-inspired Tensor hardware, it'll be because Arm cores keep watches priced low, allow Google to control its software roadmap, and make it easier for third parties to stick with the same Wear OS coding that they're familiar with. At the same time, Tensor optimization would keep the status quo, with a limit on what Wear OS watches can do and other OEMs scrambling to stay a year behind Google and Samsung.

After hearing Qualcomm VP of Wearables Dino Bekis talk about future Wear OS watches with a goal of week-long battery life, more AI and compute capability, and a platform with enough "headroom" to "scale for multiple years," I'll admit that it made me hope for more. But that could come with its own update problems.

On the plus side, an optimized RISC-V chip or more powerful Snapdragon chip could make future Wear OS updates more substantive, leave room for future updates beyond three years, and give OEMs more headroom to implement their own watch software features instead of having to stay in lesser lockstep behind Google.

As a negative, more powerful smartwatch chips could make watches more expensive and make it much harder to optimize future Wear OS updates for current hardware — especially if Google chooses the RISC-V route.

I don't know what will happen with future Wear OS watch hardware, and if it'll make this year's messy update a thing of the past or a common occurrence. What I do know is that companies should have greater transparency around delays and glitches like this.

It's been three months since the August 2024 Wear OS update, and Pixel Watch 1 and 2 users being kept in radio silence after a glitchy annual update will remember this delay when choosing their next watch, whether it's the excellent Pixel Watch 3, Pixel Watch 4, or a different brand entirely.

Of course, Samsung (the most obvious alternative) has been lax when it comes to keeping its older watches updated every month. It makes me wonder why Wear OS watches are so difficult to update, both for small and major updates!

Google may not want headlines saying what went wrong, but not explaining the delay isn't any better. Watches aren't phones: People don't want to upgrade them every year, but simply for them to last a long time and for new software to keep them fresh and running smoothly as the battery life worsens and CPU gets increasingly dated.

The longer the gaps between updates, the more people will start to look for any alternative, whether it's Wear OS or something else.

Months after I first reviewed the Google Pixel Watch 3, it remains my go-to Android watch. Its enlarged, brighter display makes it much more wearable than the tiny, thick-bordered Pixel Watch 2 ever was. It's fun and stylish, comfortably fast, longer-lasting than Google's spec sheet implies, and packed with new running software that I appreciate. It's not perfect, but it's improved in the areas it needed to.

It does fall short against rival watches in key areas. Its battery falls well short of the OnePlus Watch 3. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 is more rugged and gets longer software support. And other fitness watch brands, like Garmin, don't charge a subscription for some of the insights that Fitbit Premium offers.

Still, the Pixel Watch 3 is one of the best Android watches available today.

Google Pixel Watch 3: Price and availability

The Google Pixel Watch 3 launched on September 10, 2024. The Pixel Watch 3 41mm costs $349; the 45mm costs $399. You pay $100 more for LTE support. It's more expensive than the Galaxy Watch 7, but about on par with other brands like OnePlus and TicWatch.

Both sizes have three color options: Matte Black and Polished Silver for both, Champagne Gold in the smaller size, and Matte Hazel for the larger size.

Our Pixel Watch 3 buyer's guide goes into greater depth on carrier options, trade-in deals, and availability.

Google Pixel Watch 3: Specs

Google Pixel Watch 3: Design, display, & bands

• The display jumps to 2,000 nits brightness, 60Hz refresh rate, and a new 1.43-inch size.
• The fluoroelastomer band is comfortable and sweat-wicking, if not that breathable
• The unique design turns heads but isn't very durable or classic

The default Watch 3 AMOLED measures 1.27 inches, while the 45mm upgrade gives you 1.43 inches and a resolution jump from 384x384 to 456x456. Wear OS 5 reflows and resizes content based on the screen size, so that extra space is used efficiently (as shown above).

Most of the Android Central staff prefer the 45mm size, calling the smaller option "too dainty." However, if you're accustomed to the Watch 2 size, you'll appreciate how light the Watch 3 41mm feels, weighing as little as 55g with the small Active band.

Comparatively, the 69g Watch 3 45mm with a large band falls into a middle ground, much lighter than steel or titanium rivals like the Galaxy Watch Ultra, but heavy enough to be more noticeable.

It's also less cute and dainty in this size. During my smartwatch beauty pageant, the Watch 3 45mm was the most polarizing, with some loving its look and others finding it too plain without a traditional watch bezel.

Google brought back the haptic crown for the Pixel Watch 3. Not everyone likes crowns, but I'd argue most people would choose a crown over the Galaxy Watch 7's compromise of a digital bezel. It scrolls smoothly and has a satisfying haptic feel as you scroll through apps and menus.

Whichever size you choose, the Pixel Watch 3 display is a highlight. It doubles the brightness (1,000 to 2,000 nits) and refresh rate (30Hz to 60Hz) while reducing the Pixel Watch 2's thick-bordered display by 16%, allowing it to reach the edge where the display begins to curve.

The Watch 2 display always annoyed me, hemming in content with wasted space, but the Watch 3 display has a more reasonable border (even if I hope the Watch 4 shrinks it even further). The brightness boost is vital for making content readable in sunny conditions, and the higher Hz makes scrolling smooth and seamless.

One unavoidable downside to Google's edge-to-edge design is its lack of MIL-STD-810H ruggedness. Without a metal edge, falling or bumping into a wall is riskier. I also wish the Pixel Watch 3 had used sapphire glass instead of Gorilla Glass 5, and I recommend buying a screen protector.

After months of use, however, I've yet to scratch or damage my Watch 3. Its design will turn off serious outdoorsmen or construction workers, but everyone else should be fine.

The other downside is that Google's watch face variety isn't the best. Every face has a dark background to flow seamlessly into the dark edges, making them a bit monotonous. But with Facer coming back to Wear OS 6, we should get a better variety soon.

The default Active band is made of comfortable fluoroelastomer. The snap-and-tuck design can tug at arm hair slightly, but once it's secured, there's no worry about wobbling during workouts, unlike with lug straps. The material wicks sweat and feels nice for all-day wear, though I prefer more breathable (hole-filled) bands for workouts.

The Pixel Watch 3 uses a proprietary band connector; your old Pixel Watch 2 bands will carry over if you buy the Pixel Watch 3 41mm, but you'll need new straps for the 45mm. We have a guide on the best Pixel Watch 3 bands to help you build out your collection.

Google Pixel Watch 3: Battery & charging

• The Pixel Watch 3 outperforms its 24-hour estimate, especially the 45mm model, but falls short of many Wear OS rivals.
• It charges in 60 minutes (41mm) or 80 minutes (45mm).

According to its official product tech specs, Google states that the Pixel Watch 3 lasts up to 24 hours with Always-On Display (AOD). After months of testing, it's clear Google is selling itself short. If I mainly use the Watch 3 45mm for notifications and sleep tracking, I can get it to last 48 hours with Always-On Display (AOD) active; it'll fall short with one or two GPS-tracked workouts, but still exceed the 24-hour mark.

My colleagues with Watch 3s agree. Derrek says the 45mm model "lasts longer than I expected, although still shorter than I would like." And Nick, who uses the 41mm watch, says it lasts longer than his Pixel Watch 2 did, though not as long as the larger model.

Of course, I agree with Derrek that the Pixel Watch 3 could last longer. The 3–4 day OnePlus Watch 2R (500mAh) or 4–5 day OnePlus Watch 3 (631mAh) simply have more capacity and better efficiency for background tasks. The leaked Pixel Watch 4 appears to be thicker and is expected to feature a new System-on-Chip (SoC), which should help close the battery gap.

The charging speed also received a revamp compared to the Pixel Watch 2. The smaller size takes 15 minutes less to hit 100%, while the 45mm takes only five minutes longer despite the extra capacity. Again, it's not as fast as OnePlus's speedy charging, but no longer slow.

Google Pixel Watch 3: Hardware & health sensors

• The Snapdragon chip, RAM, storage, and health sensors are unchanged from the Watch 2.
• Performance remains speedy, and connectivity has improved.
• Unique tools like the cEDA sensor and Loss of Pulse set the Watch 3 apart

If you compare the Pixel Watch 3 vs. Watch 2, you'll find the hardware isn't all that different. It utilizes the same 4nm Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 SoC from 2022, featuring four cores clocked at 1.7GHz, along with a Cortex-M33 co-processor for handling background tasks. Both watches have 2GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, 306mAh capacity (for the smaller version), 5ATM water resistance, and nearly all of the same health sensors.

Thankfully, the Watch 3 remains a speedy device in terms of Assistant commands and app loading times. When Google replaces Assistant with Gemini or updates the Watch 3 to Wear OS 6, it'll optimize them to work with this hardware. There is no long-term concern about performance yet.

Still, the Pixel Watch 4 should receive the next Wear OS chipset, featuring performance and AI enhancements, as well as potential efficiency improvements. So you may want to hold out for the next version.

Google has made some subtle quality-of-life upgrades this generation, including Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity improvements, faster Wi-Fi 5GHz connectivity, and Ultra Wideband for unlocking your Pixel phone.

However, in terms of health sensors, all the significant advancements, such as cEDA body response, skin temperature, irregular heart rhythm, and the new multi-path HR sensor, were introduced in the last generation. This isn't to say that they're bad! They've proven quite accurate in my testing. But Watch 2 owners won't see any changes aside from a better HR algorithm for workouts.

I hate wearing a smartwatch at night, but I made myself sleep with the Pixel Watch 3 enough to get a sense of its sleep-tracking accuracy. Its sleep stages and awake periods match my actual sleep patterns, as do the data on breathing rate, HRV, SpO2, and skin temperature, warning me of any abnormal readings compared to my baseline.

In particular, I appreciate that the cEDA sensor seems much more responsive to my actual stress levels than the HRV data generated by most smartwatches. And I appreciate that it passively checks for AFib issues, warns about Loss of Pulse during cardiac emergencies, and detects falls and car crashes.

Google Pixel Watch 3: Fitness test and cardio load

• The Watch 3's HR accuracy is good but not perfect for workouts, while its GPS accuracy is average at best.
• Fitbit's Wear OS 5 fitness upgrades mostly focus on runners, but Cardio Load is useful for everyone.

Google claims the Pixel Watch 3 has the "most accurate heart rate for running" compared to past Pixel Watches. Unfortunately, Google didn't add dual-band GPS to it, as Samsung did with the Galaxy Watch 7. I rigorously tested the Watch 3's accuracy across normal runs, track workouts, and long hikes.

For a normal run, the Google Pixel Watch 3 does pretty well for a wrist-based optical HR sensor. It stayed within 1 beat per minute (bpm) of my COROS arm band at most points in the graph below.

Most wrist-based sensors struggle with light artifacts and have difficulty with sudden HR changes. Google's new algorithm isn't bad, but it did fall short of my armband and my Polar Vantage V3, which became a trend.

Across my 10-mile hike, it was responsive to quick changes on hills and valleys, but the final average was 3 bpm short, which is fairly significant. On a second 6-mile hike, there was a similar gap between the armband and Pixel Watch: 135 bpm vs. 132 bpm.

Finally, my track workout was a bit of a mixed bag. Google stayed on track up to about 180 bpm, only to lag behind the COROS band by about 3–5 bpm.

Most mainstream watches I've tested struggle with anaerobic tracking, including the Galaxy Watch Ultra, so this isn't a specific Pixel Watch 3 problem. But perhaps it's a sign that the hardware itself needs an upgrade, not just the algorithm.

Google's GPS-only accuracy was unreliable. You can see in the screenshots above how Google (orange) throws my position all over the place, especially in the wild first example.

Most commonly, it's parallel to Garmin's dual-band GPS but significantly off to the side, which leads to losing or gaining distance artificially on turns. After a 10K, it lost about eight-hundredths of a mile, which is pretty standard for a GPS-only watch.

For hiking, the wobbly tracking led to massive overestimates of how far I'd hiked. The line itself wasn't that far off, but on my route, a stray line suggested I was climbing off-trail up hills or down steep cliffs. Where Garmin matched my AllTrails route, the Pixel Watch 3 added an extra 0.25 mi and 0.4 mi to my 6-mile and 10-mile hikes, respectively.

Finally, I ran 20 miles wearing four watches, including the Pixel Watch 3, and the results were predictable: the Watch 3 overestimated my mileage by about a tenth of a mile and fell 1 bpm short on average of more accurate running watches.

Overall, I'd give the Pixel Watch 3 a B for heart rate accuracy — good enough for general calorie and training load data, but not for serious athletes — and a C average for GPS data. It's a shame, because the new Fitbit running software is a fantastic pivot (if not quite "A" worthy).

Creating running workouts is very easy once you get the hang of it, with criteria like distance or calories burned. My personal favorite is the Time Trial workout where you set a distance and time to finish it, which adds a sense of urgency.

Fitbit post-run data includes running form analysis, heart rate zones, and elevation gain, but not other popular tools like running power, aerobic/anaerobic training effect, or sweat loss.

I really like the new Fitbit Cardio Load system, which gives you credit for things like carrying groceries or walking around the mall, not just tracked activities. It also considers whether you worked hard yesterday before recommending too much target load the next day.

My Daily Readiness score and Target Load felt pretty accurate to my real-life energy level.

Compared to Garmin's training load, Fitbit Cardio Load prioritizes a workout's duration over its intensity. Garmin will give a huge amount of TL for a 15-minute track workout but barely anything for hours of fast walking. Fitbit gives more credit for long, low-aerobic hikes but underestimates the effect of a hard, fast workout.

Cardio Load doesn't care what type of sport or workout you prefer. However, the Pixel Watch 3 primarily caters to runners, overlooking other athletes, despite the fact that runners may prefer watches with significantly longer battery life.

My hope is that the next Pixel Watch focuses more on other sporting tools like cycling data, tracking gym reps, or guiding hikers with offline maps.

Google Pixel Watch 3: Software

• It gets speedy, consistent (but sometimes buggy) Wear OS updates.
• The Pixel Watch 3 had many more Pixel exclusives and tie-ins to Google devices.
• Wear OS 6 and Gemini will transform the Watch 3 experience in 2025.

When my colleague reviewed the Pixel Watch 2, he praised that "Google didn't hold back certain features if you have a non-Pixel phone." However, with the Pixel Watch 3, its UWB unlock feature is only compatible with the Pixel 7, 8, and 9 Pro models. The Pixel Recorder app only uploads recordings to Pixels, and the Hold for Me call feature is also exclusive to Pixels.

Plus, the most high-profile new Wear OS 5 tools focus on Fitbit or Google devices. Most notably, you can check your Nest Doorbell feed on your watch or control your Chromecast with Google TV with Tile controls. The Watch 3 works with other Android devices, but it's really meant for Google fans. Keep that in mind!

I don't have a Nest Cam, but Android Central senior editor Nick Sutrich tested the feature for me, finding it almost as responsive as checking the livestreams on his phone (Bluetooth adds a slight delay). He loves the ease of checking who's there at any time in case his phone isn't on hand.

I don't have much of a smart home, but I do find I'm more apt to play with my smart lights now that I can access them quickly in the Google Home tile instead of pulling out my phone. As for Google TV playback, it's less convenient than simply using your remote control, but it's useful in a pinch.

Google has promised Pixel Watches will receive quarterly feature updates, but Wear OS 5.1 was a messy update with several rolled-back features, and Wear OS 5 took months to come to last-gen Pixel Watches. I'm hoping that by the time Wear OS 6 arrives, Google will prove it can get these updates right!

Having tested Wear OS 6 at Google I/O, I'm excited about this new version, featuring a stylish Material 3 Expressive UI, revamped Tiles with improved shortcut options, new third-party watch faces, and other updates. Plus, we know Gemini is coming soon, offering more natural language responses and better control over other apps for actions like summarizing your Gmail inbox.

For now, though, the Pixel Watch 3 is a very strong Wear OS option with another couple of years of regular updates.

Google Pixel Watch 3: Competition

The immediate, obvious Pixel Watch 3 competitor is the Galaxy Watch 7. We have a comprehensive Pixel Watch 3 vs. Galaxy Watch 7 guide that thoroughly covers every difference, but the key differences include the Watch 7's absence of a crown, a newer 3nm Exynos chip, dual-band GPS, advanced HR sensors, and sapphire glass protection for the displays.

If you want better battery life but still need Wear OS messaging, the OnePlus Watch 3 can last five to six days, features the same Snapdragon processor and memory, and costs the same. As for negatives, it's quite large and heavy with no smaller option, it gets fewer (and slower) Wear OS updates, and some features like LTE and ECGs aren't available in the U.S.

You could always consider the cheaper Fitbit Sense 2 for the same health sensors, cardio load, six days of battery life, and a couple of Google apps, but downgraded in terms of smarts. Otherwise, I'd recommend looking at Garmin watches for better HR and GPS accuracy and similar daily workout suggestions without requiring a subscription.

Google Pixel Watch 3: Should you buy it?

You should buy the Google Pixel Watch 3 if...

• You like your Pixel Watch 1/2 but want a better display.
• You have a Pixel phone and want the best smartwatch integration.
• You're an athlete excited by the health tracking and workout tools (but don't need weeks of battery life).

You shouldn't buy the Google Pixel Watch 3 if...

• You care more about battery life, durability, classic style, or affordability.
• You'd rather hold out a year for the Pixel Watch 4's upgrades

The first Pixel Watch arrived late with a dated CPU and a limited feature set. The Pixel Watch 2's Snapdragon chip and Fitbit sensors helped, but the display still felt like the Achilles' heel.

The Google Pixel Watch 3 is Google's strongest wearable entry yet. But it's still playing catch-up because years-old hardware like the Snapdragon W5 Plus, Fitbit sensors, and GPS-only tracking are hitting their limits while Samsung jumps ahead.

However, I still prefer the Pixel Watch 3 over the Galaxy Watch 7 for its style and crown controls, despite its limitations. If you don't want to wait for the Pixel Watch 4, this is a fine smartwatch to buy this summer.

You may not have heard of Google's XML Watch Face Format or even noticed the upgrade if you only use the default watch faces that come with your Galaxy or Pixel Watch. But it's one of the most important Wear OS upgrades in recent years, using minimal memory to stretch out your watch's battery life.

It's also taken a lot of fun out of Android watch faces, killing one of my favorite Wear OS apps (Facer) on my Galaxy Watch Ultra and Pixel Watch 3. 

I understand why Google made this move, but it's a creative and economic black hole for Wear devs, and Google's current Play Store solution isn't great.

The Watch Face Format (WFF) replaces the old AndroidX and Wearable Support watch faces. XML watch faces don't use any logic or executable code, with total memory restricted to 10MB in ambient mode or 100MB in interactive mode. These WFF faces run off your watch's coprocessor, with hardly a dent in the battery life.

Mandatory WFF faces, along with the Wear OS Hybrid Interface, make the Pixel Watch 3 more useable to me than the Pixel Watch 2 was, simply by stretching out its capacity to last two days instead of just over one day. But they're also boring. XML precludes any complex animations or features; it also discourages innovation by blocking the main third-party market for watch faces.

The Facer app syncs with Android watches and has hundreds of thousands of watch faces, including ones with truly creative animations and recognizable brands. The best faces cost money, but people found it worth it to keep their watches fresh, and you could even create your own faces or subscribe to try out the entire collection. 

Facer functions like a Play Store for watch faces organized by categories, free/paid, and general vibes. Because of discoverability, it's very easy to browse and find creators and faces you'll like, building up a cute library that would carry over to future watches.

It's a decade old, existing about as long as Wear watches have. And now Wear OS 5 is putting Facer's future in jeopardy, as well as the whole idea of "fun" watch faces.

New Galaxy Watch 7 or Pixel Watch 3 owners have lost their faces for good. You can either use the default on-watch faces and their basic "flavors" or go into the Play Store, search by device, tap "Watch Faces," scroll through a long list of WFF options, and buy whichever strikes your fancy. 

There's no organization and very little chance for developers to make their watch faces stand out and make money — meaning there's no incentive to make new XML watch faces. That's an issue for Google and (more importantly) for us.

Google needs to fix this and work with Facer

Facer created a help page explaining its thoughts on the WFF developments. It says it's "working hard with Google to bring the Facer service" to Wear OS 5 watches, but while it has been "actively discussing a resolution with Google since the Watch Face Format was announced" in 2023, the "change was unfortunately rolled out before a solution could be reached."

With the current WFF system, Facer would need to convert each of its 500,000 faces to XML, removing any aspects that the "limited" format couldn't support, and then upload them one by one to the Play Store. They aren't allowed to credit users with watch faces they bought before, so you'd have to pay again for things you "own," and they could no longer charge a subscription model.

Google has every right to reinforce its hard XML requirement for Wear OS, even if this restricts the most creative watch faces. It makes Android watches look bad when the battery dies quickly over an aesthetic choice. But the Play Store requirement seems needless and unrelated, cutting out a middleman without an adequate substitute in place. 

The resolution seems obvious to me: let people continue to install WFF faces from third-party platforms (like Facer) so that artists and developers have a place to sell them and an incentive to make them. Either that or Google could buy Facer and make the app a first-party platform for Wear OS users to discover watch faces more easily.

Whichever path Google takes, it would be better than guaranteeing that the newest Wear OS watches are stuck with boring, basic watch faces for the foreseeable future. And even if Facer struggles to convert its full library to WFF, it'll have an easier time of it if it can keep making money through its store in the meantime.

Google needs to prioritize fixing the broken Wear OS 5 update on last-gen Pixel Watches before it worries about watch faces. But this isn't just some frivolous issue; it's a chance for Google to prove it cares about long-time Wear developers and indie creators after steamrolling over their ecosystem for a battery boost.

A new Wear OS Weekly column

As Android Central's wearables editor, I've written plenty about Wear OS watches in my Sunday Runday weekly column. But I use that space to deep-dive into Android watches' hardware quality (i.e., HR and GPS accuracy tests) and fitness software; it's not the right space for discussing watches in a more general context.

That's why I'm starting this new Wear OS Weekly column, which you can look out for every Wednesday!

My initial focus was on fitness watches because I felt I had more knowledge and authority to cover them. While I've used Wear OS watches for the past couple of years, starting with the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, I'm not a native Android user, and I want to ensure I match our readers' standards when covering this topic.

Now that I've had more time with Wear OS, I felt the time was right to start this series. I plan to do deep dives on software updates, talk about the watch apps the Android Central staff loves (or thinks should be better), and generally try to improve the site's smartwatch coverage beyond simple news. 

If you have areas you'd like me to focus on, feel free to comment on this or future columns or email me with your questions and thoughts!

What you need to know

• Pixel Watch 1 and Watch 2 users will again have to wait longer for the Wear OS 5 rollout.
•  While the September update was released as part of the Wear OS 5 expansion, it caused issues with the older Pixel Watches. 
• It included the devices getting stuck on a blank screen after updating. 
• Google says it is observing the issues, and the Wear OS 5 rollout will only resume later this year.

Google's Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2 very recently received the September update as part of the Wear OS 5 expansion. While it brought some issues to the smartwatches, Google halted the update and shared more details regarding the expansion on Friday (Oct 12). 

As mentioned above, the smartwatches bearing Wear OS 3.5 and 4 were eligible for the latest OTA update, which was rolled out on September 24. However, it was quickly paused the next day because some Pixel Watch 1 and Watch 2 owners experienced issues like the device getting stuck with a blank screen right after the firmware update.

In a new Pixel Watch community post, the company announced that it is still "actively working on a resolution." This means there is no specific release date for the new update just yet. Google notes that the Wear OS 5 rollout will only begin later this year after the team mitigates "the observed issues." More updates regarding the rollout will likely be shared in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, Pixel Watch 1 and Watch 2 users experiencing the issues are guided to reset their smartwatches. The company is also providing relevant guides and steps on how to fix smartwatches with blank or frozen screens.

So, users who have installed the September update bearing AW2A.240903.005.A2 version for the Pixel Watch 1 and Pixel Watch 2 with AW2A.240903.005.A1 are likely the ones experiencing the aforementioned issues and are advised to reset their devices. 

Although Google's prompt resolution of the Pixel Watch issue is welcome, it would have been more interesting if the search giant had developed a workable solution instead of giving the owners an ambiguous time frame.

For those wondering, Wear OS 5 was first previewed at Google I/O this year. It ought to bring major upgrades to battery life, fitness, and watch faces. For example, with Wear OS 5-powered Pixel Watch, users can experience 20% less power consumption than with the smartwatch bearing Wear OS 4.

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

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, Samsung launched a new phone and some tablets, Nothing unveiled an impressive pair of open-ear earbuds, Disney Plus is cracking down on password sharing, Google launched Wear OS 5 for older Pixel Watch models only to pause the rollout, and Meta showed off its affordable new VR headset alongside its AR glasses.

The Galaxy S24 gets a new sibling

Read more here and here.

After months of rumors, Samsung has released the Fan Edition of the Galaxy S24. The new Galaxy S24 FE looks nearly identical to the other phones in the S24 family, with a flat design and triple camera system. The phone features a 6.7-inch display, which means it sits between the Galaxy S24 Plus and S24 Ultra.

Since it's a Fan Edition phone, the specs aren't as strong as its siblings. As such, the phone is powered by an Exynos 2400e, which is a low-power version of the Exynos 2400 powering certain versions of the Galaxy S24 series. There's also 8GB of RAM, up to 512GB of storage, and access to features from Samsung's Galaxy AI, such as Generative Edit, Circle to Search, and more.

On the back is a 50MP primary sensor with a 12MP ultrawide and 8MP 3x telephoto. Keeping the phone on is a 4700mAh battery with 25W wired charging. The phone is available in Blue, Graphite, Gray, Mint, and Yellow for $649 in the United States.

In addition to the Galaxy S24 FE, Samsung also launched the Galaxy Tab S10 series, consisting of the Galaxy S10 Plus and S10 Ultra. The former features a 12.4-inch display, while the latter has a 14.6-inch panel. Samsung switched things up this year, and instead of using a Snapdragon chip, both tablets are powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9300 Plus. Additionally, both models also support 5G connectivity, making them ideal to use on the go.

The Galaxy Tab S10 Plus and Ultra start at $999 and $1199, respectively, and are available for preorder now.

Lastly, Samsung launched the LTE version of the Galaxy Watch FE, which was introduced earlier this year. The watch is available in three colors and retails for $249.

Meta's affordable Quest 3S and lightweight AR glasses

Read more here.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg kicked off Meta Connect 2024 by unveiling the new Meta Quest 3S, a more affordable version of the popular Meta Quest 3 VR headset. The new model features a similar design with a different lens array up front, and it's powered by the same Snapdragon XR2 chip. Meta cut costs by using cheaper lenses with lower resolutions and a narrower field of view. It also uses a software-based depth sensor and has a smaller battery, but you should still be able to play the same games as the flagship model.

The Quest 3S starts at $299 for the 128GB model and also comes in a 256GB model. Meanwhile, the Quest 3 is now only available in a 512GB version, which now costs $499, the same as the now-discontinued 128GB model.

Meta also showed off its Orion AR glasses, which are currently in development. The glasses display holographic images over the real world, allowing you to interact with them. The glasses use AI to accurately determine what you're looking at and help you identify items. You can also do things like video chat with friends or check messages, and even play AR games with others.

The glasses are larger and thicker than the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses but much smaller than other efforts. However, they're still in development, and it's unclear when Meta will release them to the public.

Nothing's open ear earbuds are basically perfect

Read more here.

Nothing is known for making some good audio products, but its new open-ear earbuds may be its best yet. Like other open-ear earbuds, the Nothing Ear (Open) features a design that allows you to hear your music and stay aware of your surroundings at the same time.

The buds feature 14.2 mm dynamic drivers, and according to Android Central contributor Tshaka Armstrong, they have superb bass that come close to "experiencing an open design that sounds like traditional earbuds that sit in your ear canal."

The earbuds have eight hours of battery life, while the case provides 30 hours of extra charge. The buds and case are also IP54-rated, and there's ChatGPT integration for queries.

The buds are available now for preorder and cost $149.

Wear OS 5 update gets pulled from Pixel Watches

Read more here.

Wear OS 5 has been available for some time on the latest Pixel Watch 3 and Samsung's Galaxy Watch devices. Google finally started rolling out the update earlier this week to the Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2, bringing new features like an app grid, recorder app, and more. However, there have been some issues with the rollout, prompting Google to press pause on the update.

Some users have been complaining about the update bringing their devices, with one user saying their Pixel Watch 2 was unresponsive after updating, showing only a blank screen with a Bluetooth symbol. One Pixel Watch owner says the update took nearly four hours to complete but functioned just fine when it was done.

Not everyone experienced problems with the update, but the issues were enough for Google to pull the update while it works out the problems. Meanwhile, affected users can check out this support page to hopefully fix their devices.

Disney Plus gets greedy

Read more here.

Netflix started a trend with streaming services, effectively punishing users for sharing their passwords with others. Now, Disney Plus is following suit with a similar policy of its own, going live in the U.S. and other regions.

Disney says that a subscription "is meant to be used within your Household, which is a collection of devices associated with your primary personal residence that are used by the individuals who reside there." That means anyone else wishing to access Disney Plus will have to either get their own account or be added on as an extra member for $6.99 a month, at least for a Basic account. Premium members will have to pay $9.99 for an extra account outside their household. It should be noted that account holders can only have one extra member.

According to Disney, the new policy is available in the United States, Canada, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region.

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

• Meta's new open facial interface for the Quest 3 will succeed the Quest Pro
• The Amazfit Helio Ring just became a much more compelling smart ring
• Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra with Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 hits Geekbench
• One of our favorite Motorola phones could be getting a sequel soon
• OxygenOS 15 might get an Apple-like overhaul, for better or for worse
• Google's $10 HDMI cable credit for the TV Streamer should last forever
• Chrome's latest update includes a Google Calendar overview on the new tab page
• These new Google TV updates create a personal control center for entertainment
• Nothing OS 3 previewed ahead of beta launch with new customization options, AI, and more
• Google Maps expands Street View to more places and launches a time machine

What you need to know

• Google confirmed that it has shut down the roll out of Wear OS 5 to the Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2 following severe user reports.
• Users updating have had their devices bricked by the update, losing functionality of it as a result.
• Google is working on a fix but, in the meantime, there are some reboot steps users can try to relieve their devices of the problem.

Google's two past-gen Pixel Watches have encountered unsightly problems following the Wear OS 5 update. Due to this, the company has reportedly paused its major software update for the original Pixel Watch and the Pixel Watch 2. Google confirmed as much to 9to5Google today (Sept 27). According to the post, the company says the software update has bricked some users' devices.

A Google spokesperson told the publication, "...in the meantime, we have paused the WearOS 5 rollout and are actively working on a resolution."

We've heard reports of these, courtesy of members from the Android Central forums. One user, goombah88, stated, "I just got the update and it bricked my PW2. I have a black screen with a Bluetooth symbol at the bottom with a line through it." The user continued, saying they lost swiping functionality and that long-pressing the crown to reboot/shutdown didn't help.

A follow-up comment from another user states their O.G. Pixel Watch took roughly four hours to complete the Wear OS 5 update from Tuesday (Sept 24). It doesn't seem as though their device locked up following the patch, which is something 9to5 stated, as well.

Not every device suffers from this problem; however, its existence for some is enough cause for concern.

While Google toils away at a potential fix for the Wear OS 5 issue, the publication cited a Google support page for fixing a "blank or frozen" Pixel Watch. This should relieve your device from any software-based problems. If it doesn't, Google's support line is your next course of action.

This development over the past three days is unfortunate considering past-gen Pixel Watch users have been waiting for Wear OS 5 all year. Google dropped the update on September 24, which included the monthly security patch. It was a major patch for devices rocking OS 3.5 or OS 4 and fixed numerous bugs across the past-gen devices.

More importantly, Wear OS 5 was the star of the major update. Google teased that there were "new features," but it didn't specify. The post alerted us to updates to the grid-view app launcher, camera controls, and Pixel Recorder functionality.

Originally, the Wear OS 5 update was supposed to continue hitting watches over the next week. However, with what's currently plaguing devices, that's not happening anymore. We can only hope that Google figures out the issue and solves it quickly. Right now, Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2 owners attempting to update their devices will find nothing available.

What you need to know

• Google has reportedly started testing a Wear OS 5.1 update on the Pixel Watch 2 based on Android 15.
• A rumored insider stated that the build ID numbers for the software changed from "AW2A" to "AP4A," strengthening the theory.
• Google has seemingly committed to annual Wear OS update cycles as the company launched OS 4 in 2023 and has brought OS 5 this year.

Google was spotted testing a new build of Wear OS that supposedly runs off the next major Android version.

The existence of a test build was reported to Android Authority by a rumored "insider," stating Google has started developing a Wear OS 5.1 update. It was stated that the new build swapped out its initial lettering, opting for "AP4A" instead of Wear OS 5's "AW2A" number.

This new Wear OS 5.1 build is reportedly based on Android 15, a theory seemingly bolstered by the shift in build ID number. Wear OS 5, by comparison, is still on Android 14.

More importantly, the unknown insider said that Google was testing the upcoming software on the Pixel Watch 2 internally. The company's Wear OS software has always lagged behind the current Android software — and was never so consistent. Wear OS 4 debuted in August 2023 and with Wear OS 5 arriving first on the Galaxy Watch 7, it seems that Google hit its stride.

With that in mind, there's uncertainty about whether or not Google will keep the update as "Wear OS 5.1" or if it's just testing Wear OS 6 early. Mishaal Rahman writing for the publication states that the specifics of the 5.1 update are unknown. However, if Google were to update its "APIs or app-facing system behaviors," that could warrant a major number increase.

We've got a toss-up regarding when Google could launch the Pixel Watch 3 as it has yet to tease it. The company is gearing up for an earlier hardware event on August 13, so we'll see when the device will launch. Google's Pixel Watch 3 is expected to arrive sporting Wear OS 5, which was said to come "later this year" during its developer preview in May.

While we await the "stock" version of Wear OS 5, Google previously clued us into a few of its key upgrades. When running default settings, Google stated the software will utilize 20% less power when compared to last year's version.

Additionally, Android Health will deliver improved running data and goals alongside Health Connect upgrades. Another critical aspect of the base Wear OS 5 software is that it runs off last year's Android 14. With Google seemingly more committed to annual Wear OS release cycles, perhaps this 5.1 update is a testament to that. We're still waiting for the stable launch of Android 15, so maybe the company's looking to sync up these launches.

What you need to know

• Google announced new updates coming to Circle to Search and Wear OS 5 at the Galaxy Unpacked event.
• The latest Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 users can "Ask about this video" for YouTube videos via Gemini AI.
• New complex mathematical problems and barcode scanning are getting added to Circle to Search, starting with foldables.

Samsung has unleashed its new foldables right next to its latest Galaxy Watch 7 series and also a bunch of other products. Like most of its products, these new devices are Galaxy AI-powered and additionally feature the goodness of Google's AI. The search giant also participated in the event to showcase Circle to Search's new capabilities debuting with the Galaxy Z Fold 6.

Google executives like Rick Osterloh and Jenny Blackburn took the stage to demonstrate what Gemini AI can do alongside the Circle to Search feature on the latest foldables.

Users can either say "Hey, Google" or swipe from the corner of the screen to trigger the Gemini AI. For instance, imagine watching some random video on YouTube; they can seek the new "Ask about this video" suggestion.

Since the Galaxy Z Fold 6 supports a split screen view, users can watch the video on one side of the foldable screen and check the Gemini suggestion on the other side. This new feature will be available for foldable screen users in the coming months.

On the other hand, Circle to Search made its way to most Android phones early this year. It included translation capabilities and homework help for students. To help them become independent problem solvers, Circle to Search will be adding more complex topics like symbolic math, which, when asked, will give step-by-step problem-solving techniques instead of just projecting the answer.

Along with the new feature, Circle to Search will soon add features like the ability to scan barcodes and QR codes on your screens.

The premium Galaxy Z Fold 6 will further support multi-viewing for YouTube TV subscribers. It will allow users to view four different streams at the same time, like on Google TV. Users "can choose from pre-selected combinations of football, news, weather, and simultaneous sporting events," the company notes in the announcement blog post.

Samsung announced the Galaxy Watch 7 and Watch 7 Ultra at the Unpacked event. They will be the first smartwatches to ship with Google's latest Wear OS 5 operating system. In May, the search giant shared the new OS's performance gains and battery life improvements at Google I/O.

• Phone deals: Best Buy | Walmart | Samsung | Amazon | Verizon | AT&T

Along with the latest foldables, Samsung also announced the Galaxy Watch 7 and a brand new Galaxy Watch Ultra at its July 2024 Unpacked event. The Watch 7 succeeds the Watch 6, while the Watch Ultra sits in a new premium category and is by far, Samsung's most expensive wearable yet. Fans who were waiting for a new Classic model are out of luck, but the older model should still be available for a while.

Although both watches are designed for different target audiences, they do share some common features. The Galaxy Watch 6 was among the best Samsung watches, and we have no doubt the Watch 7 is next in line on that list. The Galaxy Watch Ultra is a different beast altogether that's designed for extreme activities, but I can see how some features might appeal to the average user too.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra vs. Galaxy Watch 7: Design

The most striking difference between the two watches is the design itself. The Galaxy Watch Ultra has a large, circular 1.5-inch display with a Titanium Grade 4 frame for extra ruggedness. The frame has extra metal padding in four corners, which is what makes the Ultra look square-ish. It's only available in one size of 47mm, in Titanium Gray, Titanium White, and Titanium Silver.

The Watch Ultra features a new Dynamic Lug System for attaching the watch straps. This should make it easier to swap watch bands when needed. There are also all-new watch straps specially designed to keep your wrist cool during intense activities. The Ultra is a heavy watch weighing 60.5g, which is more than even the Watch 5 Pro.

The Galaxy Watch Ultra features three buttons on the right side, which includes a newly added Quick Button. This can be used to quickly begin workouts or you can map other funtions too. It can also be used to activate an Emergency Siren, in case you find yourself in trouble.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 follows the more traditional smartwatch design, similar to the Watch 6. Just like the recently introduced Galaxy Watch FE, the Watch 7 features dual-colored accents on the watch straps. The 44mm model comes in Green and Silver, while the 40mm model is available in Green and Cream.

The 44mm Watch 7 has the same display size and resolution as the Watch Ultra, and both are protected by Sapphire Crystal. The 40mm model has a 1.3-inch display and a slightly lower resolution. Samsung has also released new band colors for the Watch 7.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra vs. Galaxy Watch 7: Hardware and specs

As different as they physically appear, the Watch 7 and Watch Ultra share many similar features. Both watches are powered by the Exynos W1000 SoC, a 3nm processor with five cores. Samsung claims it has a 3x faster CPU and 30% better power efficiency, compared to the previous model. Both watches also come with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage.

These also happen to be the first Android watches to ship with Wear OS 5, with the latest One UI 6 Watch skin. The watches will have LTE options, Bluetooth 5.3, dual-band Wi-Fi, NFC, and dual-frequency GPS (L1+L5).

The Watch 7 starts at $299.99, which is the same as the Watch 6. The Watch Ultra is priced at $649.99, which is quite steep.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra has a much larger battery than the Watch 7. The 590mAh capacity is said to deliver the longest battery life in a Samsung watch yet, up to 100 hours in Power Saving mode and 48 hours in Excersise Power Saving mode. The Ultra has dedicated watch faces for checking your stats after a workout, and it can automatically switch to Night mode for better readability in the dark.

Since it's built for extreme activities, the Watch Ultra has a 10ATM water resistant rating, compared to 5ATM on the Watch 7. However, both tout IP68 and MIL-STD-810G ingress protection ratings. Additionally, the Ultra is guaranteed to work at wider altitude ranges like 500m below sea level and up to 9,000m above.

The Watch 7 has a Sleep Apnea feature which is De Novo FDA-authorized. It allows the watch to track potential signs of moderate to severe sleep apnea. You can also track advanced glycation end products (AGEs) with the AGEs Index on the watch.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra vs. Galaxy Watch 7: Which is right for you?

For most users, the new Galaxy Watch 7 makes better sense. For starters, it is quite a bit more affordable than the Watch Ultra and it shares many of the core specs like the processor, memory, and sensors. Plus, it comes in the same sizes as the previous model, so you should be able to use older watch bands from the Watch 6 with it.

The Watch Ultra will appeal to adventure seekers looking for better weather resistance and longer battery life. The high price would be the main barrier for most people, but if you can afford it, it should offer the best Galaxy smartwatch experience of them all.

What you need to know

• Google confirmed that Wear OS 5 is coming with a developer session at Google I/O earlier this month.
• Wear OS releases, which are built in a collaboration between Google and Samsung, typically appear on Galaxy Watch devices first.
• Samsung is reportedly readying a beta for One UI 6 Watch on Galaxy Watch devices.
• The release of Wear OS 5 indicates an annual release schedule for Wear OS, but that could bring on more boring yearly updates.

The idea of Wear OS 5 debuting this year changed from being just a rumor to becoming a certainty rather quickly, with Google officially previewing the upcoming operating system at Google I/O 2024. Now that Wear OS 5 is official, we're already looking ahead to the first beta. Wear OS updates are developed as part of a joint effort between Google and Samsung, and Galaxy Watches are often the first smartwatches to get Wear OS betas first. That's why recent rumors have suggested a Wear OS 5 beta for the Galaxy Watch 6 could be imminent. 

Those rumors intensified over the last few days when one X (formerly Twitter) user spotted an official Samsung forum page for the One UI Watch 6 beta. Samsung is one version number ahead of Wear OS, so the One UI Watch 6 release will be our first glimpse of Wear OS 5 on actual hardware.

This forum page, which 9to5Google first reported on, indicates that the first Wear OS 5 beta could be just weeks away. Although this specific page doesn't provide any new information, the fact that it is live at all could mean Galaxy Watch 6 devices will receive the One UI Watch 6 beta soon. 

A new version upgrade is always exciting, and the possibility that Wear OS could be moving to a yearly release schedule could be even more exciting. But a consequence of that consistency, and the way Google releases Wear OS features, is that annual Wear OS upgrades will get more boring. They'll be more like watchOS, and that has pros and cons. 

Wear OS 5 doesn't look like a big upgrade

The idea that Wear OS updates are becoming less exciting isn't just speculation. The jump from Wear OS 3.5 to Wear OS 4 wasn't a massive one, and early indications are that Wear OS 4 to Wear OS 5 could be an even smaller one. Aside from battery life improvements and changes to the Watch Face Format, there isn't a ton new with Wear OS 5 this year, at least based on what Google has announced thus far. While those changes are appreciated — especially the battery life boost — they aren't exactly exciting. 

Google specifically notes that workout tracking will be more efficient while running Wear OS 5. During a marathon, the company says Wear OS 5 will use up to 20% less power than Wear OS 4, which targets a particular segment of smartwatch users like Android Central's Michael Hicks, who writes our Sunday Runday column. Battery life improvements will indeed be the biggest user-facing Wear OS 5 upgrade. Everything else, from the Watch Face Format changes to using Android 14 as a base, is more developer-focused. 

Wear OS is going the way of watchOS

In some ways, the fact that "boring" Wear OS upgrades may become the norm is a compliment. Previously, there was so much wrong with Wear OS that we would see and get excited about big leaps between version upgrades. Now that annual Wear OS upgrades are on the horizon, it's impossible not to make a comparison between WatchOS and WearOS. WatchOS is the operating system that Apple Watches run, and it's arguably the most successful smartwatch OS released to date. 

Apple is nearing 10 years of the Apple Watch, and WatchOS progress has slowed over the last few years. When an operating system matures, there are limits to how many improvements can be made year-over-year. Apple usually includes a big feature or two in each version of watchOS, and they're occasionally tied to new Apple Watch hardware. Wear OS upgrades will become just like WatchOS upgrades, with a feature or an improvement coming each year, but not much else. 

Again, the fact that we can even make this comparison shows just how far Samsung and Google have come in reviving the Wear OS platform. It also means we shouldn't expect massive year-over-year changes that overhaul the Wear OS experience. It's more likely that Wear OS will evolve over a longer period of time, with one or two version upgrades needed to make a noticeable difference. 

There's more to it than yearly updates

Another factor that will contribute to less exciting yearly Wear OS upgrades is the way Google releases features and changes. Unlike Apple, Google doesn't stock up on features for annual Wear OS releases. Instead, the company likes to release them throughout the year. 

A new Wear OS feature might debut as part of a quarterly release, like a feature drop. It could even appear in a monthly security update, like when Google added Vibration Watch to the Pixel Watch as part of the April 2024 update, although these tend to be Pixel-specific additions. Some users might prefer this release schedule because features are rolled out when they're ready instead of being held for a yearly upgrade.

Despite that benefit, it has the consequence of limiting the impact annual Wear OS releases can have. We'll see what exactly Wear OS 5 has in store when the beta releases in a few weeks, assuming the rumors are correct. Barring a miracle, it won't be all that exciting, and Wear OS users should get used to that. There are a handful of great things that have come with Wear OS' maturity, but that also means upgrades like Wear OS 5 just won't be as exciting.

What you need to know

• Google is cutting out the clutter by merging the account selection and biometric verification into a single, seamless screen in Android 15.
• Android 15’s Gboard will integrate passkeys directly into the Credential Manager, making app logins smoother.
• This upgrade will also pop up in Wear OS 5, making it easier to access accounts from your wrist without fussing with other apps.

AI stole the spotlight at this year's Google I/O keynote, but there's more under the surface, including some handy passkey updates coming with Android 15 and Wear OS 5.

At its "Passkeys and identity best practices" dev session, Google revealed that Android 15 will introduce a single-tap sign-in process (via 9to5Google). The Mountain View-based tech giant is combining the account selection and biometric prompt into one streamlined screen.

Previously, you had to tap "continue" to confirm your account and then authenticate using your fingerprint, face, or PIN. The upcoming Android 15 update simplifies this by putting everything on a single screen, cutting it down from two taps to just one. For those with multiple accounts, there will be a "More options" button to easily switch between accounts.

Another key takeaway from the session is that Android 15's Gboard will feature passkey options right in the Credential Manager, streamlining logins to your favorite services and apps. This enhancement will also extend to Wear OS 5, arriving in a quarterly platform update, which simplifies logging into accounts directly from your wearable device, bypassing the hassle of external apps or services.

Google has also revealed that this feature will support external password managers, such as Dashlane.

Another handy update is the addition of a "Restore" passkey feature for phones and tablets, which streamlines the process of logging into your apps when you switch to a new device. Apps will be able to store a restore key in the Credential Manager. This key gets saved on your device and, if you've got cloud backups turned on, it automatically moves over to your new device, eliminating the need to log into each app.

That said, most users won't see these updates until later in the year when Android 15 and Wear OS 15 are scheduled to launch.

Wear OS 5 is the latest software version available on Android smartwatches, but some brands remain stuck on Wear OS 4 for now. Uncertain if your watch will get Wear OS 5 or what features to expect? You're in the right place!

Our Wear OS 5 guide lists out every official feature that came to Pixel Watches on stock Wear OS and Galaxy Watches on One UI 6 Watch, which is built upon Wear OS 5. That includes Gemini, which will replace Assistant on Wear OS soon.

We also break down post-launch updates like Wear OS 5.1, when to expect future updates like Wear OS 6, and the eligible Android watches due to receive these updates!

Wear OS 5: Eligible watches

These are the current Wear OS watches that either have received Wear OS 5 or are confirmed to receive the update:

• Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 (Launched with One UI 6 Watch)
• Google Pixel Watch 3 (Launched with Wear OS 5)
• Pixel Watch 2 (Received Wear OS 5 in mid-November)
• Pixel Watch 1 (Received Wear OS 5 same day as Watch 2)
• Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 & 6 Classic (Received One UI 6 Watch in late November 2024)
• Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 & 5 Pro (Received One UI 6 Watch in December)
• Samsung Galaxy Watch FE (Received One UI 6 Watch in December)
• Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 & 4 Classic (Received One UI 6 Watch the day after the Watch 5)
• OnePlus Watch 3 (Launched with Wear OS 5 in April)
• OnePlus Watch 2 & 2R (Due to receive it in Q3 2025)

When it comes to the best Wear OS watches, most of them have either jumped to Wear OS 5 already or are due to receive it soon.

Pixel Watches are eligible for three Wear OS updates, and are the first to receive the stock version of this software. Glitches forced Google to roll back its September Wear OS 5 update on older Pixel Watches, but they eventually received OS 5 in November.

Samsung watches receive four Wear OS updates, so all post-Tizen models received Wear OS 5. One UI 6 Watch began rolling out on November 19 with the Galaxy Watch 6 series, before arriving on subsequent models over the next couple of weeks.

OnePlus says that its watches will receive two OS updates. The OnePlus Watch 3 launched with Wear OS 5, but the OnePlus Watch 2 and Watch 2R — still running Wear OS 4 — will update between July and September 2025, almost a year behind Samsung and Google.

The Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro and Watch 2 jumped from Wear OS 3.5 to Wear OS 4 in September 2024 (per Techradar). We don't know if these watches will receive Wear OS 5 or not; if it does, fall 2025 seems most likely.

The TicWatch Pro 5, TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro, and TicWatch Pro 5 Atlas all updated to Wear OS 4 as of September 2024, well behind the rest. Like Xiaomi, a Wear OS 5 update isn't guaranteed, and Mobvoi's version of the OS lacks some key features like Google Assistant / Gemini. We'd expect Wear OS 5 to arrive in fall 2025, if at all.

Any other Wear OS brands like Fossil won't ever receive Wear OS 5, as they've all largely abandoned the platform.

Wear OS 5: New features

Broken down into categories, these are all of the Wear OS 5 features — or apps introduced alongside Wear OS 5 that technically work on older versions — that you need to know about!

Screen size optimization

Previous Wear OS versions showed the same content on your watch display regardless of the size; larger displays simply made certain content appear larger. With Wear OS 5, developers can reflow content to take advantage of the extra space.

Wear OS apps will "work optimally across the range of device sizes and font scales," Google explained in its initial announcement.

The photo above of the Pixel Watch 3 41mm and 45mm shows this UI principle in practice. The smaller display can only fit three sports icons, while the larger watch can show six. This incentivizes people to pay extra for larger screens, knowing Wear OS 5 actually uses the space appropriately.

Plus, Wear OS 5 added a "grid-based app launcher" as an alternative to the app list default on past Pixel Watches. Other Wear OS skins like One UI Watch already offered a grid option before, but this makes it natively available on all watches.

Battery optimizations and WFF improvements

Google's original Wear OS 5 announcement included the promise that "performance improvements" would make certain tasks use less battery life than on Wear OS 4. For example, "running a marathon consumes up to 20% less power" with the same requirements like frequent GPS and heart rate checks.

Google's Hybrid Wear OS interface may be partially responsible for these improvements. It relegates certain tasks like health sampling to the low-powered coprocessor, requiring less battery life in standby mode.

Wear OS 5 also requires watches to use the XML Watch Face Format, which shows information without battery-guzzling executable code or animations. It helps Wear OS 5 watches last much longer with the same capacity, but it also blocks apps like Facer with more creative watch faces from third-party developers. You may lose your favorite faces after this update, even if you already paid for them.

To lessen the sting of this change, Google added many more WFF options as a default for Pixel Watches. It also made them more customizable with colorful "Flavors" for each face (see the slideshow above); plus, it added new complications such as progress towards a fitness goal (like 90% of daily steps done) or "weighted elements" with a pie-chart-like summary of different related stats.

Lastly, Google added a weather complication to WFF, letting you see either the current or upcoming forecast from the main view.

New fitness tools

If you're specifically looking at stock Pixel Watch software, Wear OS 5 added a ton of running tricks. Fitbit Cardio Load and Training Load show how hard you've worked out across the past week (or month) and how much total workout time you should have to improve your fitness. You can see your Daily Readiness in the Morning Brief, create and follow running workouts with intervals, check your post-run form insights, and see your records for distances like 10K.

While Fitbit may eventually become preinstalled on Android phones, we don't know if third-party Wear OS watches will have access. So the global Wear OS 5 fitness updates are more limited.

All Wear OS 5 watches will be able to track Ground Contact Time, Stride Length, Vertical Oscillation, and Vertical Ratio for the first time, with that running form data now shareable through Health Connect.

Also, Wear OS 5 watches support "debounced goals," which is a fancy way of saying athletes can set a workout goal like "keep my heart rate between 130–160bpm for 30 minutes" and have the watch warn them after a short delay if they fall out of range.

New apps and other features

Wear OS 5 introduced some new Google ecosystem apps and functions that connect your watch with other devices. Some are Pixel exclusive; others may be backwards-compatible with other Wear OS versions. We're simply going to include all of the new apps and tools, so you're aware of them.

Recorder: This records files locally with a tap, and has a Tile available. Pixel phone owners can sync their recordings to their phone.

Google Home/ Nest controls: If you have a Nest Doorbell, Google TV Streamer, or other Home devices, you'll now be able to control or access them on your wrist. You can check your Google security camera feed or pause a movie from the watch display.

Improved camera controls: Previous versions of Wear OS had the ability to trigger a smartphone photo remotely. Wear OS 5 lets you access your Pixel Camera app viewfinder to see what photo you're about to take, as well as switch between camera modes.

Screenshot protection: Wear OS 5 adds a "privacy-preserving screenshot detection API" that ensures greater security.

Media output choice: With Wear OS 5, you can "choose which device should play media and show information about the currently-playing media content."

One UI 6 Watch

Samsung's One UI 6 Watch is based on Wear OS 5, but it chooses which features apply to Galaxy Watches, and it has its own unique features that don't apply to other Wear OS watches.

Energy score: Like Fitbit's Daily Readiness score, Samsung Energy Score judges your "physical and mental readiness" based on your "sleep, activity, and heart rate" on previous days.

Personalized AI Wellness tips: Based on your Galaxy Watch data, Samsung will send you tips on how to improve based on your priorities like Sleep, Exercise, or losing weight. These AI tricks are guaranteed free through the end of 2025, meaning Samsung may charge for the information after that.

Suggested replies: One UI 6 Watch's other AI-powered trick is to come up with auto-generated replies to your messages, so Galaxy Watch 7 owners don't have to bother with the QWERTY keyboard or voice-to-text.

Sleep apnea detection: With FDA approval for accuracy, Galaxy Watches can detect "moderate to severe sleep apnea;" this link shows how to set it up. Samsung promises this feature will come to older Galaxy Watches but is currently exclusive to the Watch 7 and Watch Ultra.

Gestures: The new Buttons and Gestures menu lets you enable three gestures: Double pinch, shake to dismiss, or knock knock. Double pinch lets you "answer calls, dismiss alerts, launch apps, control your music, and take photos." Shake to dismiss "declines incoming calls or dismiss alerts such as alarms, timers, and reminders." Knock knock opens your favorite app.

Workout Routine and Race: With Wear OS 5, Galaxy Watch owners can now race their past times or create a custom multisport workout.

Wear OS 5.1

Google announced Wear OS 5.1 as the first of many quarterly updates, aiming to release a significant update every three months. Unfortunately, it ended up being a buggy and delayed update that eventually required an April patch to resolve.

In terms of what's new, Wear OS 5.1 added a Restore Credentials function to sync passwords from phone to watch and allowed apps to use the watch speakers for things like alarms. It also made some aesthetic changes like new accent colors and app icons on Tiles, while adding a developer tool for always-on apps, improved music controls, and better menstrual health tracking in the Fitbit app.

Plus, Loss of Pulse rolled out to U.S.-based Pixel Watch 3 owners around the 5.1 update, detecting serious heart issues and contacting emergency services automatically.

This update originally added a step count algorithm update to make the Pixel Watch better at tracking unconventional steps, such as with a stroller or walking poles. It worked pretty well in our tests, but some users reported significant step issues, and Google eventually rolled the algorithm back to the old system.

Future Wear OS updates

In its Wear OS 5.1 announcement, Google said that "our next planned update will target June 2025, and quarterly thereafter." This suggests we'll typically see Wear OS feature updates in March, June, September, and December, with September as the major version update.

Google and Samsung have promised to replace Assistant with Gemini on Wear OS watches "in the coming months." You'll be able to receive LLM responses on your wrist or use Gemini Actions to communicate with other apps like Gmail. While this may not arrive until Wear OS 6, we suspect Gemini will replace Assistant on all watches, including those stuck on Wear OS 5.

We know of other upcoming Wear OS 6 updates like the Material 3 Expressive redesign, but that link will go into greater detail on what to expect from the next version!

It's a wrap on Google I/O 2024, and our crew was on the ground experiencing the event firsthand as the tech giant announced a host of Gemini-related features. Even if you didn't make it to Mountain View or missed the live stream, here are the biggest announcements from Google I/O this year. As you may have already heard, this year's event was bolstered with all things AI. Let's dive in!

Did they just say Gemini 1.5 Flash?

Google I/O started with Sundar Pichai introducing a new and improved Gemini 1.5 Flash. As the name suggests, they've worked on bringing in a model that executes tasks more efficiently—rather in a "flash." Google states that Flash can handle "high-volume, high-frequency tasks at scale." Testing this model showed that this AI thrives on summarization, chat applications, image/video captioning, data extraction, tables, and more. Google demonstrated 1.5 Pro's multimodal capability in its AI-powered note-taking app, helping users break down complex information on the go. 

Along with Flash, Gemini Nano also got some updates. The model is taking it a step further from just text prompts. Users will soon be able to interact with Gemini using images where it will "understand the world the way people do—through image, video, and spoken language."

Google plans to implement the 1.5 Pro model into the Gemini Advanced and Workspace apps. An upgraded model will arrive for Gmail and NotebookLM in the near future and will be made available in 30 different languages.

Google also gave us a look at "Gemini Live" for Gemini Advanced subscribers. Much like ChatGPT-4o, Gemini Live will allow users to have conversations with the AI model, speak at their own pace, or interrupt mid-response with clarifying questions in real-time. 

We then got a glimpse of this when Google revealed Project Astra, a real-time multimodal AI from the Google DeepMind team that looks at your surroundings through a camera and answers questions on the go. You can see how it functions in the video above.

"We would have this universal assistant. It's multimodal; it's with you all the time." "It's that helper," said Demis Hassabis, the head of Google DeepMind, while talking about Project Astra during I/O.

Imagen 3 and Google Veo

With multimodality comes a new wave of image and video generations. According to Google, their new Imagen 3 generates high-quality images and understands the prompt's content and intent. This means that however long the prompt may be, Imagen 3 will generate "photorealistic, lifelike images" with little to no visual noise. This can help users generate more personalized messages, presentations, slides, or fun memes.

Next up is Veo, Google's new AI-powered video generation model that is said to produce 1080p resolution videos in a wide range of cinematic and visual styles that are more than a minute long. Like Imagen 3, this model understands natural language by accurately capturing a prompt's tone and producing videos that closely match the user's needs.

The model is said to understand terms like "timelapse" or "aerial shots of a landscape." Veo creates footage with minimal glitches, with animals and objects moving realistically throughout shots.

Imagen 3 and Veo are only available to select creators via ImageFX and VideoFX. In the future, Google says it will also bring some of Veo's capabilities to YouTube Shorts and other products for customers to test out. But it remains a mystery when we will be able to access this one.

Google search is getting AI-ed

At this year's I/O, Google announced that Search will be getting a number of updates with AI Overviews, which the company first introduced in January.

AI Overviews can provide summaries of complex topics right at the top of search results based on the prompt. It will help the users quickly grasp concepts and main points of a specific topic with all the information they find online. With the summary, Overviews will link to its sources so the user can manually crosscheck information if needed.

Additionally, Google says that if you don't find the answers simple enough, an option to "adjust" Overview will pop up, that will simplify information further. This is particularly useful when trying to explain tough school concepts to kids, AI will help with generating examples that they can relate to and grasp those concepts easily.Not just that, Search will use generative AI to help users brainstorm creative ideas and organize the search page better based on the prompt provided.

While much of this is text-based, Google says that with the help of Google Lens, users can start recording a video and vocally ask questions about why something is broken and how to fix it. After that, a search will give you step-by-step instructions on fixing the said object—all in real time.

AI Overviews has rolled out to everyone in the U.S. and will soon be made available to other countries, Google adds.

Android users are in for a major AI boost 

It looks like Android and AI go hand in hand, and what's Google I/O without several perks directed toward Android users? Since AI is now at the core of most Android devices and operating systems, here are some new updates discussed at this year's event—specifically catering to Android users. Here are a few of them we can expect to see rolling out in the near future. 

To start off, Google is introducing software that enables users to detect unknown phishing/spam calls in real time, alerting users to hang up the call before they give out personal details. This feature could come in handy specifically for older users or children, who might be unaware and get looped into multiple scams doing the rounds. 

Android users will soon be able to bring up Gemini on top of any app. With AI integrated into Android phones, users can get creative by generating fun AI images and dropping them into various apps like Gmail and Google messages or creating memes to add to their chats. With "Ask this video" and "Ask this PDF," users can get more information about a YouTube video they're watching or get answers about a PDF without needing to scroll through information pages.

Additionally, Circle to Search will now be able to solve complex math and physics problems by providing a step-by-step process and examples that help the user better understand concepts. 

Finally, Gemini Nano with multimodality will give the already existing TalkBack option more "powers." This means that Android phones can process text with a better understanding of sounds, sights, and even spoken language. For instance, when an image of a dress is shared, the TalkBack option will describe the dress's exact color, the length of the sleeves, and other accessories that go with it, helping the user visualize the dress effectively without looking at it.

Gemini Nano with Multimodality will be coming to Pixel phones later this year. However, it remains unclear which models will receive this. We'll have to watch for those monthly updates to see when new features start rolling out.

Welcome to the world of Wear OS 5

Google I/O's day two was more about developer previews, and it gave us a glimpse of the new Wear OS 5. This version of Wear OS will arrive "later this year" and will be based on Android 14. It is said to come with an enhanced battery life, and watch faces will get "Flavors" and exclusive Complications. 

Firstly, the new OS will add four advanced running form measurements: Ground Contact Time, Stride Length, Vertical Oscillation, and Vertical Ratio. Wear OS 5 will also have a concept called "debounced goals" for fitness workouts, which lets users start a workout where they must stay within a certain heart rate range or run faster than 10:00/mile pace. 

For users who wait for new watch faces to drop, Wear OS 5 will add "Flavors" to watch faces so users can choose between different colors, fonts, complications, and configurations in one menu. Two new WFF complications for Wear OS 5 are "Goal progress" and "Weighted elements." Users can check your percentage towards a fitness target, like step count, or see specific colored portions that add up to 100% (like a pie chart), which sounds similar to the activity rings on an Apple watch.

According to Google, the long-requested weather widget could be in the works. That is said to check current conditions, low and high temps, UV index, chance of rain, and other data set by hour or day. 

You can check out the Wear OS 5 Developer Preview at the link. 

Android 15 Beta 2 just landed

Google just dropped Android 15 Beta 2, which offers major improvements in productivity, privacy, security, app performance, and battery health.

The newest addition to this Beta is "Private Space," which lets you hide apps in fingerprint-protected space, similar to Samsung's Secure Folder. Private space uses a separate profile, so apps you hide there can't be seen by others or run in the background when locked.

Another update comes for photos, where apps prompt you to give access just to the recent photos and not the entire library, protecting your privacy. Health Connect is expanding its support to include new data types, such as skin temperature and training plans. Skin temperature tracking lets users store and share precise temperature readings from wearables or other devices. Meanwhile, training plans provide structured workout routines to help users meet their fitness goals.

Google is beefing up security in Android 15 by giving users control to prevent malicious apps from operating in the background and bringing other apps to the foreground. This update aims to block malicious apps from gaining privileges and exploiting user interactions.

The latest build is available on select Google Pixel and now on many of your favorite Android phones from brands like Honor, iQOO, Lenovo, Nothing, OnePlus, OPPO, Realme, Sharp, Tecno, Vivo, and Xiaomi.

Lastly, this year's I/O was not as exciting as we expected it to be, as there were virtually no major hardware announcements. We were expecting to see a glimpse of one of the Pixel devices—the Pixel Fold 2 or the Pixel 9. Instead, Google dropped the Pixel 8a and a Pixel Tablet without a dock right before I/O. 

We did get some major Pixel 9 leaks ahead of I/O, suggesting that we could see the devices soon. That said, perhaps Google is saving the hardware for the Made by Google event, which is expected to take place later this year in the fall.

What you need to know

• Google announced the Wear OS 5 Developer Preview launch at Google I/O 2024. 
• Wear OS 5 watch faces will get "Flavors" and exclusive Complications. 
• Android Health will add new running data and goals, plus Health Connect upgrades.
• Wear OS watches will now last 20% longer during tracked workouts. 

To no one's surprise, Wear OS 5 will arrive "later this year," Google reported at I/O 2024. Battery life enhancements are "central" to the update, which you can test today via the Developer Preview. But Google also emphasized health and fitness tracking with this future update — more unexpected and certainly welcome. 

Google announced the Wear OS Hybrid Interface and Watch Face Format (WFF) earlier this year, both of which made Wear OS 4 more efficient. Wear OS 5 piggybacks on these updates, improving watches' efficiency and adding more exciting watch face tricks. 

On the battery front, Android developers Kseniia Shumelchyk and Garan Jenkin explained in a blog post how "running a marathon consumes up to 20% less power on Wear OS 5 than on Wear OS 4" with default settings.

That's merely one example; all workouts that sample heart rate and GPS should run more efficiently. However, Android Health upgrades are a significant portion of Wear OS 5's updates. For starters, the new OS will add four advanced running form measurements: Ground Contact Time, Stride Length, Vertical Oscillation, and Vertical Ratio. 

In addition, Wear OS 5 will support "debounced goals" for fitness workouts. What does this mean? Let's say you start a workout where you must stay within a certain heart rate range or run faster than 10:00/mile pace. In Wear OS 4, the app will continuously spam your wrist with alerts the moment you fall out of range. With Wear OS 5, devs can program a short delay, preventing false positives and making alerts less obnoxious. 

Guided workouts and wrist-based running dynamics are common features on dedicated fitness watches, so this addition to Wear OS 5 should make devices like the Pixel Watch 3 more competitive. 

On the Wear OS developer end, Android Studio Koala will "make it easier to test the use of Health Services." Devs will "simulate events" like loss of heart rate data or an auto-pause mechanic, so Wear OS fitness apps become less likely to trigger unexpected bugs. 

Health Connect — the Google Fit replacement that links 3rd-party fitness apps together — will get one important upgrade. In Wear OS 4, 3rd-party apps will only share up to a month of fitness data, and only when they're open and active. With Wear OS 5, Health Connect and fitness apps will sync in the background and share all of your historical data, so long as you provide permission first. 

For everyday Wear OS 5 users, you'll most appreciate the changes to the Watch Face Format. Developers can add "Flavors" to watch faces, so users can choose between different colors, fonts, complications, and other configurations in one menu.

Two new WFF complications for Wear OS 5 are "Goal progress" and "Weighted elements." You'll be able to check your percentage towards a fitness target like step count or see specific colored portions that add up to 100% (like a pie chart). 

Adding a weather widget to WFF was a "common request," Google reports, and Wear OS 5 will make that happen. You'll be able to check current conditions, low and high temps, UV index, chance of rain, and other data, set either by hour or by day. 

Google reports that 30% of Google Play watch faces use WFF, and it's clear that they want to push more devs into this format. New Wear OS 5 complications may not work with old formats, and Google Play will restrict new watch faces to WFF starting in "early 2025," although devs can continue to update older formats. 

Lastly, Google says that there's a "wider variety of round screen sizes and resolutions" on Wear OS watches today, which means devs need "responsive UIs for different watch display sizes." Devs are receiving new testing tools to evaluate how their apps will look on different devices, so they should become better formatted regardless of the display size you prefer. 

You can check out the Wear OS 5 Developer Preview at that link. 

A step in the right direction (with one worry)

Google says that Wear OS users grew by 40% in 2023; evidently, the platform has become more popular than ever. It's important that Wear OS 5 build on that momentum, and today's announcements were (mostly) encouraging. 

Wear OS 5 should make Android watches more long-lived in daily use, widening the gap between them and Apple Watches. That's great, in theory. My concern is how Wear OS 5 consumes "20% less power" during a marathon. 

I suspect Google might rely on the hybrid interface, having watches' energy-efficient co-processors sample your health data to save on battery. That's how the OnePlus Watch 2 handled things, and it led to inaccurate workout data because of its slow, RTOS-running coprocessor. 

This is fully speculative, and perhaps a Pixel Watch 3 fully running on Wear OS 5 wouldn't have the same issues. But I'm looking forward to testing the OS myself to see whether its heart rate and GPS data can stay accurate while drawing less power. 

I originally hoped that Google would announce a universal Wear OS fitness app like Fitbit at I/O 2024. While this never happened, the Wear OS 5 update is putting more power in the hands of developers to make Wear OS watches more viable for fitness activities than they are right now. 

We didn't get major fitness features, but we can expect the Galaxy Watch 7 and Pixel Watch 3 announcements to capitalize on this fitness momentum later this year. For instance, the One UI Watch 6 update will probably include the "My Vitality score" metric that'll mirror Fitbit's Daily Readiness Score. 

On the watch face front, the new WFF is very energy efficient but lacks much of the creativity and functionality of older watch faces, which is why many turn to Facer despite the battery life hit. Wear OS 5 will hopefully put WFF on the right track towards being more widely adopted. 

Overall, I'm satisfied that Google isn't twiddling its thumbs with Wear OS. This looks to be a significant update later in 2024. I only wish that Google had spent a little time showing off Wear OS features on stage during the I/O 2024 keynote instead of relegating the news to blog posts. 

Google I/O 2024 arrives this Tuesday, and we expect a Wear OS 5 announcement. The last three I/Os gave us a massive Wear OS 3 overhaul (2021), a Pixel Watch reveal (2022), and a Wear OS 4 preview (2023). After two bombshells, last year's wearable news was more perfunctory, so I'm crossing my fingers for a bounce-back year with a long-overdue fitness fix to Wear OS. 

We know that Wear OS 5 is on the I/O schedule, with a talk on "Building for the Future of Wear OS." Google might bring up the new Hybrid Interface that gives Wear OS watches longer battery life, or perhaps it'll announce plans to bring Wear OS watches into the new Find My network. 

We might see Gemini coming to Pixel and Galaxy Watches, given I/O's likely AI focus. And perhaps we'll get a glimpse of the Pixel Watch 3, even if it won't arrive until the fall.

Those all seem like fair bets for your Google I/O bingo card. What's less likely, but still important, is that the Wear OS team announces a proper OS-wide replacement for the dying Google Fit. Maybe that's Fitbit, maybe not; it just needs to be something. 

The Google Fit API shuts down next year in favor of "Android Health," a new API with universal data categories like steps, distance, and calories. Designed to work with Health Connect, it'll seamlessly transfer data between apps, with the ability to export niche data like blood glucose or pressure once watches start tracking them.

Sounds great, in theory! In practice, it still creates a vacuum where Google Fit used to sit as an agnostic option. You can transfer data, but you still need an end destination, and most fitness apps are designed to trap you in their ecosystem and charge you a fee. Yes, the Google Fit app is still available, but the writing is on the wall for the app to get the boot now that Google has turned its attention to Fitbit. Samsung Health is the closest "universal" and unpaid alternative, though that app is only available on Samsung smartwatches.

One could argue that health and fitness apps are a key way Wear OS watches differentiate themselves from one another these days, as it seems to be the big draw for the Pixel Watch. Also, these companies sell your health and fitness data to advertisers, and a universal app might prevent smaller brands from profiting. So, with a universal fitness app experience, how would Wear OS watches stand out from each other?

When Samsung joined Wear OS, Google didn't insist that it abandon its own apps, UI, and unique approach; leaving Samsung Health as the default option is part of that. As for other brands, they might not want their apps to have to compete with Fitbit or Samsung Health. 

That doesn't change the fact that the Wear OS brand suffers from this fragmentation. Every non-Samsung/Google watch has a proprietary app that's usually stripped down compared to what dedicated fitness watches offer, such as workout recommendations and recovery times. The same goes with Apple Fitness Plus, with its popular workout videos.

Instead, we saw how OnePlus' first Wear OS offering — the OnePlus Watch 2 — had issues with health sampling, while Fossil abandoned Wear OS for good because it couldn't keep up on the software front with its woefully lackluster Wellness app. Without more support from Google, I'm not certain how many third-party brands will break out of their small niches.

What's the solution? My first plan is simple enough and would make for a splashy Google I/O announcement: Say Fitbit is coming to all Wear OS watches with Wear OS 5, either via the Play Store or as an alternative "default" option — the same way you can choose between Bixby or Google Assistant on a Galaxy Watch. 

Yes, this makes Wear OS watches more uniform. However, health data is just as vital for a good smartwatch experience as Google Assistant or apps; Samsung prefers its users to use the Galaxy Store or Bixby, but at least there are reliable Google alternatives. 

As far as how Wear OS watches would stand out, there are still other ways to differentiate between different models in their design, displays, UI, and so forth, without leaving health and fitness as this Wild West marketplace.

This move would also give the struggling Fitbit brand a bigger profile with Android users. I'd even suggest that Google compensate partners like Mobvoi or OnePlus by cutting them in on the profits for any Fitbit subscriptions bought on their watches after the trial period ends. 

My other solution would play into Google's love of renaming services that fulfill the same purpose: Just make "Android Health" an app like Google Fit. Give it some basic goals and coaching, make it free, and let people use it as a waystation between their Wear OS watch and whichever proprietary fitness app they prefer.

Eventually, I expect Google to offer something like "Gemini Coach AI," which looks at your health data and gives you recommendations on sleep, training, and recovery. But unless that's another Fitbit exclusive to sell Pixel Watches, then it will still need a uniform Wear OS fitness experience. 

We'll see if Google I/O 2024 has a fitness surprise in store for us this year, Fitbit-related or otherwise. All I know is that, at some point, Google's choice to leave its Wear OS partners to fend for themselves on health and fitness — the first priority for a lot of Android watch buyers — could backfire on them.

Leaks and hints from Samsung point to a Galaxy Watch Ultra watch arriving this summer instead of the long-rumored 7 Pro. We'll find out the truth at the next Unpacked event; the real question is, what will a Samsung "Ultra" watch look like, and how will it differentiate itself from the Apple Watch Ultra series?

Last week, I finished my Apple Watch Ultra 2 review, saying, "Your move, Samsung," because I hoped the brand would take inspiration from its premium features for the upcoming Galaxy Watch 7 Pro. Days later, by happy coincidence, Samsung said it would launch "new premium models" of Galaxy Watches with "upgrades" during its Q1 2024 earnings call. Its execs didn't elaborate, but soon after, Android Headlines claimed to have spotted "Ultra" and "Fan Edition" watch model names in its One UI beta code.

I don't care whether it's called the Galaxy Watch Ultra, 7 Ultra, or 7 Pro. What matters to me, after reviewing the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro and Galaxy Watch 6 Classic, is that Samsung gets its "premium" smartwatch right from the start, even if it has to steal tricks from Apple, OnePlus, Garmin, or other brands to do so. 

It should kick Apple's a** in battery life

The Galaxy Watch 5 Pro launched in 2022 with pretty consistent three-day battery life, but natural capacity drain and annual One UI updates cut into its battery life. My colleague Andrew Myrick, who owns the 80-hour 5 Pro and the 36-hour Apple Watch Ultra, says his Ultra lasts longer in 2024. 

A Wear OS flagship, Samsung-made or otherwise, will cost as much as a mid-range smartphone if not more. An "Ultra" watch needs the longevity to match, or Samsung's most loyal customers will feel burned. 

An April Samsung leak indicated its next flagship smartwatch would have a 578mAh capacity, on par with the Watch 5 Pro. We rarely see any watch hit above 600mAh; more capacity would make any watch too thick or heavy. So, how will Samsung make its Ultra last longer than the Pro? I can only think of one option.

The new Wear OS hybrid interface debuted with the 100-hour OnePlus Watch 2, but any watch can use it. Without diving into minutiae, Wear OS watches can assign background tasks like notifications, watch face data, and heart rate tracking to a low-power co-processor, saving the battery-guzzling tasks for the main processor. 

Almost all Android watches use a processor and co-processor, but Exynox chips appear to be the exception. The last model's Exynos W930 chip had dual Cortex-A55 cores, for instance; compare that to the Pixel Watch 2's Snapdragon W5, which has four Cortex-A53 cores and a 22nm Cortex M55 co-processor. 

Samsung watches have excellent, efficient performance speed. Transitioning to a power-saving hybrid system might be harder for Samsung and its Exynos division than its Qualcomm-reliant rivals. 

Maybe the rumored Exynos W940 could change that; it's supposed to be 50% more efficient. But Samsung could easily cancel out that efficiency with more RAM to achieve Ultra-quality speed. 

The other (unlikely) option is for Samsung to add a secondary grayscale screen that kicks in whenever the battery is low. It's the method used by the Mobvoi Ticwatch Pro 5, and it works really well! But the Samsung display leaks I've heard have revolved around squircles or micro-LED tech, so I wouldn't count on it. 

I don't know what an "Ultra" Android watch looks like

At 61g, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 falls on the edge of comfort, thanks to the light nylon strap and reasonably thin titanium case. It also has a 1.9-inch display — squircle-shaped, obviously — which makes reading notifications a breeze. 

Compare that to the 1.5-inch Galaxy Watch 6 Classic, which weighs a mere two grams less thanks to its rotating bezel and stainless steel frame. You'd assume that a Galaxy Watch Ultra would have an even larger display to live up to the name, but you'd reach a point where smaller wrists couldn't bear the weight. 

The Galaxy Watch 5 Pro kept its weight down with its capacitive bezel. When I polled my colleagues, however, they collectively insisted that any Ultra watch would need a better solution — either the rotating bezel or a crown. They'd prioritize useability over comfort. 

Samsung allegedly wants to switch to a squircle Galaxy Watch in the future, but Android watch owners see that as the purview of Apple and its imitators; they might hate the switch for its look, even if the square screen makes reading and typing easier. Still, I can't think of another way to get a bigger display without killing our wrists.

Samsung won't let the Ultra stand on its own merits

Samsung likes to make its devices interconnected, the same as Apple. It's why you need a Samsung phone to check Galaxy Watch ECG readings, or why Samsung is "working on" making the Galaxy Ring compatible with other non-Galaxy phones.

That's probably not going to change with the Galaxy Watch Ultra, even if it costs enough to be a standalone device. It'll probably have built-in cellular data for calling and all the health sensors in the world — maybe even blood sugar monitoring — but Samsung will still want you to analyze your data on its phone.

Naturally, die-hard Samsung fans with disposable income will buy a Galaxy Watch Ultra with their S24 Ultras, because they want the best possible tech at all times — the same with Apple Watch Ultra 2 buyers. The question is whether Samsung can step outside of that niche, and what kind of value it can offer besides "big battery, big screen." 

In the future, AI like Gemini will be the backbone of wearable tech, giving you a natural way to access information or send replies without being dependent on a tiny screen. However, the rough launches for the Rabbit R1 and Humane AI pin prove how far off that future is. 

Thankfully, there's another "AI" option Samsung can take. 

Samsung's Ultra path ahead is health and fitness

Aside from Apple nerds, one type of person consistently buys smartwatches in the $500–$1,000 range: athletes, gym rats, and fitness freaks. 

That's why Apple started going all-out on fitness the year the Ultra came out, focusing on runners, hikers, and cyclists. It targeted people who would normally spend a grand on premium Garmin watches like the Epix or Fenix. 

Serious athletes won't settle for any traditional smartwatch because they need weeks of battery life, not days. However, Apple still won over the weekend warrior types who want solid fitness features when they have time but better smarts and apps during the week. 

I've been harping on Samsung's lack of fitness progress over the last couple of years. To its credit, the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro did add offline GPX maps, a popular feature on fitness watches. However, it took them until last year to add heart rate zones, and Samsung still lags behind in areas like GPS accuracy and daily readiness. 

Samsung will take a stride forward for health tracking this summer with the Galaxy Ring, which will give you a daily "Vitality Score" based on your sleep quality. Samsung will call it an "AI" tool, but it's basically the same algorithm other fitness watch brands have used for the last few years. 

The next step is to incorporate workout data and your VO2 Max level to determine how long to recover after a workout or how many active workout minutes you need that day to get fitter safely. It's the key feature Garmin and Fitbit watches offer, and I've no doubt Apple is working on its own version. 

Even if some people only want the Galaxy Watch Ultra to be as RAM-packed, long-lasting, and massive as possible, Samsung can't escape the fact that plenty of people see watches as a training tool or health tracker, first and foremost. Beyond the Android super-fans, no one will buy an "Ultra" watch that doesn't go above and beyond for fitness software. 

What you need to know

• Samsung is supposedly beginning to develop its Wear OS 5 version as a new test build was spotted.
• The firmware is listed for the Galaxy Watch 6 series in the U.S.
• The timing lines up as Samsung was originally going to begin Wear OS 4 testing in May 2023 but faced a delay that pushed it into June.

It seems that Samsung has started developing its Wear OS 5 software for its line of eligible smartwatches.

The supposed test firmware was spotted by Matthew Reiter on X, which could indicate Samsung's beginning of Wear OS 5 software testing (via SamMobile). The software, bearing version number R965USQU1BXD8, was spotted in development for the Galaxy Watch 6 series several days ago.

Moreover, the software seemingly only pertains to the carrier-locked version of the smartwatch in the U.S.

While more in-depth information about the software is still unknown, Google is slated to talk about the update during I/O 2024.

Google is preparing for its annual I/O event, which is slated for May 14 this year. We're expecting a few reveals and insights from the company, one of which will be Wear OS 5, as the company revealed its preliminary schedule for developer sessions last month. The session is said to contain an early look at the software as its description reads, "Building for the future of Wear OS."

This is good news for wearables, as it seems Google is getting on top of a yearly release cadence for the major Wear OS software updates.

Samsung's apparent development of its Wear OS 5 (likely One UI 6 Watch) skin potentially appearing now makes sense. Last year, the company originally planned to begin its beta for Wear OS 4 in May but faced a delay. Testing didn't start until June, so there's a chance Samsung isn't looking to repeat last year's unsightly problems.

More importantly, rumors have suggested that the software could debut in time for the Galaxy Watch 7 series, likely later this summer. There were multiple sightings of an "unreleased Android 14 build" that could indicate the upcoming Wear OS software. Additionally, Samsung is likely jumping to a headstart to ensure that the new watch, powered by the Exynos 5535, can support the firmware properly.

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

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, the U.S. government signed a bill into law that could lead to a nationwide ban of TikTok, X plans to take on YouTube with its own smart TV app, Google revealed the I/O 2024 schedule with some news on the next major version of Wear OS, a major update to the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses brings useful AI features, and HMD revealed its first non-Nokia-branded smartphones.

The jump to Wear OS 5

Read more here.

Google I/O 2024 is set for mid-May, and with it, we will hear a lot about what the company has planned for the upcoming year in terms of hardware and software. With the schedule now out, we have a glimpse of what will be discussed at the event, including the next version of Wear OS.

Wear OS 3 marked a resurgence for Google's Wear OS, and since then, the company has continued to make efforts to improve it. With Wear OS 5 now confirmed to be present at I/O 2024, it seems Google is ready to push to the next major version. This differs from the past few years when the platform went from Wear OS 3 to 3.5 and then to Wear OS 4. Now, like Apple's WatchOS platform, Wear OS will apparently start making early version jumps, which is a good sign for the platform.

What will we see? So far, there's not much to go on, but Google has hinted at some things, like an update to the Watch Face Format, which helps developers create more battery-friendly watch faces. But we'll have to wait and see what else we get when I/O starts.

TikTok could be banned in less than a year

Read more here.

It's finally happened. After years of battling the global phenomenon of TikTok, the U.S. government has issued a bill that is set to ban the app nationwide. After passing through the Senate and House, President Biden signed the bill into law, which gives TikTok owner ByteDance 270 days to sell the app, thus cutting it from its ties to the Chinese government. If that doesn't happen, then Google and Apple will no longer be able to offer the app within their respective app stores.

TikTok CEO Shou Chew has long defended the company, saying it has spent billions of dollars to protect American data. He took to the platform after the bill was signed, calling it "unconstitutional" and indicating that TikTok plans to fight back.

There is still plenty of time before the deadline, so this could go either way, but it doesn't look good for TikTok in the U.S., especially since ByteDance has reportedly indicated that it does not plan to sell the app.

Meta's smart glasses get even smarter

Read more here.

The Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses are already pretty excellent, but Meta just dropped a huge update that brings more smarts to its glasses. The update now lets users engage in POV-style video calling via WhatsApp and Messenger, but that's not even the best part.

With the built-in camera and support for multimodal AI via Meta AI, owners of the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses can now ask their glasses questions about what they're seeing. This includes translating menus, creating recipes, learning more about specific animals or buildings, and much more. It's like Google Lens on your face, and without having to pull your phone out of your pocket.

The update is only available in the U.S. and Canada, but it makes an already great pair of smart glasses so much better, notably as we wait for Meta's next AR glasses to debut sometime in the near-ish future.

X is going after YouTube with a TV app

Read more here.

For more X randomness, the platform, formerly known as Twitter, is preparing to launch a smart TV app. Why? Why not? X CEO Linda Yaccarino posted a short video on X showing off a bit of the app, which will be centered on video content, not unlike YouTube. She said the app will be your "go-to companion for a high-quality, immersive entertainment experience on a larger screen" and that it will feature trending videos, enhanced search, and AI-powered topics to help personalize the experience.

The app will also work across devices, so you should be able to start a video on your phone and continue it on your TV, or you can just cast videos from your phone to the TV if you prefer.

The app is still in the works, but it will apparently be widely available soon. Does it have what it takes to replace YouTube on your TV? Who knows.

HMD Global does its own thing

Read more here.

Nokia is getting pushed aside as the first HMD Global-branded phones were just launched. The company's new Pulse lineup consists of three phones that are offered in vibrant colors. The top model is the HMD Pulse Pro, although it offers roughly mid-range/budget specs, likely to keep the price down. It has an HD+ display with a 50MP dual-camera setup, a 5,000mAh battery with 20W charging support, and 6GB of RAM. The phone is powered by a Unisoc chipset and runs Android 14 with a promise of two OS upgrades (we're looking at you, Motorola).

The Pulse Plus and Pulse both also sport HD+ displays, 5,000mAh batteries, and 10W charging, but the Plus gets a 50MP camera, while the Pulse settles for a 13MP shooter. They use the same Unisoc chipset but with 4GB of RAM in addition to 128GB and 64GB of expandable storage for the Plus and Pulse, respectively.

All phones only support 4G connectivity, which is a little disappointing in 2024, especially for the first HMD-branded phones. The devices also aren't available in North America at the moment, but a separate HMD Vibe is set to arrive at some point at a very affordable price.

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

• Major Google Pixel 8a leaks highlight features and software update promise
• We may know when the summer Galaxy Unpacked launch will happen
• Android 15 has a new dark mode switch with the same old problems
• The Vivo X100 series is making its global debut with impressive camera gear
• FCC votes to restore net neutrality and is set to begin regulating ISPs
• Rumored Pixel Tablet relaunch could finally bring long-awaited accessories
• Google really needs to launch a new Nest Hub Max, and it might just happen
• The Ayaneo Pocket S is incredibly powerful and incredibly expensive
• YouTube TV drops a new NFL Sunday Ticket deal to celebrate the Draft
• Galaxy Watch 7 rumor puts blood sugar monitoring back on the table