Google has officially launched the latest major version of Wear OS, known as Wear OS 5. This release is notable as it is one of the few times Wear OS has undergone a significant update within a single year. Wear OS 5 was available in developer preview prior to the introduction of the Galaxy Watch 7 and Pixel Watch 3, and it is now being rolled out to additional Wear OS devices.
Wear OS 5: New Features
Wear OS 5 upgrades the Android version from Android 13 to Android 14. Reports indicate that Google is already developing Wear OS 5.1, which will run on Android 15. The surprise rollout of Wear OS 5 for older Pixel Watches was unexpected, especially since many anticipated its launch alongside Android 15 in October.
As far as features go, Wear OS 5 doesn’t introduce an abundance of new options initially. However, a key highlight is the Watch Face Format, which was announced last year in collaboration with Samsung. This new format simplifies the process for designers creating watch faces for Wear OS by utilizing XML instead of executable files. Additionally, there are enhanced ways to design watch faces and implement complications along with improvements in battery life and performance.
While Wear OS 5 makes a notable change with its new watch faces, the overall offerings feel somewhat limited. It includes a new Voice Recorder app, enhancements to the Pixel Camera app, and a grid layout for the launcher, but most of these features are exclusive to Pixel Watches. The actual new features available in Wear OS 5 seem rather minimal, suggesting it is more of an incremental update.
Wear OS 5: Supported Watches
The recently unveiled Pixel Watch 3 and Galaxy Watch 7/Ultra were the first devices equipped with Wear OS 5. The Pixel Watch 2 and the original Pixel Watch are also among the latest devices to receive this update.
For Samsung users, One UI 6 Watch is currently undergoing beta testing for the Galaxy Watch 4 and newer models, and it is anticipated to be available by the end of the year. There has been no timeline released by OnePlus regarding the Wear OS 5 update for the OnePlus Watch 2 and 2R. Below is a comprehensive list of wearables expected to receive the update:
- Google Pixel Watch 2 (Available now)
- Google Pixel Watch (Available now)
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 series (Coming soon)
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 series (Coming soon)
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 series (Coming soon)
- OnePlus Watch 2, 2R (Coming soon)
Features I Miss on Wear OS 5
Beyond the few Android 14-specific features and battery life enhancements, Wear OS 5 falls short in several areas. Here are some features that I wish had been included:
- Gemini on the wrist: Currently, Wear OS allows users to activate Google Assistant with the Side button. Imagining the integration of Gemini on your wrist would be a groundbreaking leap for Wear OS, potentially surpassing Apple’s watchOS.
- More Apple Watch-like gestures: A feature popularized by Apple and later adopted by Samsung in One UI 6 is the double-tap capability. This allows users to engage with alerts, calls, notifications, and other applications easily. Unfortunately, the Pixel Watch lacks fundamental gesture support, and this update does not enhance that experience.
- Raise to Wake calibration: Tilt-to-wake remains an issue in Wear OS that requires fixing. This latest update was an opportunity to introduce sensitivity calibration for raise-to-wake gestures, but that has not occurred.
- Quick access to settings and notifications: Unlike watchOS, where users can quickly access the Control Center or Notifications from any app, Wear OS doesn’t offer this convenience. Instead, users must navigate back to the home screen for basic tasks like checking notifications. I had hoped Wear OS 5 would address this limitation, but it appears I will need to wait for future updates.
- Enhanced integration of Fitbit’s tracking tools: With Google having acquired Fitbit over three years ago, it is surprising that Wear OS has not yet fully integrated Fitbit’s health-tracking features and insights. I hope that future versions of Wear OS will better incorporate this valuable functionality for users.
This wraps up everything you need to know about Wear OS 5. What additional features would you like to see in future Wear OS updates? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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