Wear OS

The biggest name in Wear OS is Fossil, and the company isn’t showing any signs of slowing down with Google’s platform, either. While Google basically ignores its existence, Fossil is pumping out hardware, and now making some modifications to the software, too. The Fossil Gen 5 smartwatch is currently the best Wear OS has to offer — it’s just a shame that it’s still not enough for most people.

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According to the Wear OS companion app for Android, Xiaomi might be working on a smartwatch powered by Google’s wearable platform. Wear OS 2.28 today features a string that references a “Mi Wear” companion app.

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While we argue over the inherent strengths and weaknesses of Wear OS, Fossil continues to pump out superb smartwatch hardware — a prime example being the Misfit Vapor X.

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Movado’s original Connect smartwatch was one of the most enticing Wear OS smartwatches from a design aspect, and now the company is back with the Movado Connect 2.0. It brings better specs, welcome hardware features, and also a lower starting price of $495.

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The Apple Watch Series 5 last week kickstarted a conversation about Google, smartwatches, and how Wear OS fails to be a meaningful competitor. A new report today sheds light on Made by Google’s smartwatch ambition and how Rick Osterloh in 2016 killed Google-branded devices.

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According to a report yesterday, Google earlier this year bought Fossil’s hybrid smartwatch technology mixing analog hands and screens. Such a wearable from Fossil has now emerged and it’s possibly running Wear OS.

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This week, Apple unveiled the Apple Watch Series 5. It’s the perhaps the most modest year-over-year upgrade for the Apple Watch yet, adding little more than an always-on display. But that’s the thing: Apple doesn’t need to make major strides with its smartwatch offering — they’re far enough ahead that it doesn’t matter. And they could leverage that lead to destroy Wear OS if they wanted to…

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Wear OS doesn’t touch what Apple is doing when it comes to software or health features, but it does give fashion brands a lot of flexibility. Tonight an early listing for the Movado Connect 2.0 has leaked showing off an updated design and heart rate sensor for the upcoming Wear OS smartwatch.

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The latest generation of Wear OS hardware has finally fixed some of the performance problems that have long plagued the platform. Today, Diesel and Emporio Armani are announcing new Wear OS smartwatches which both offer 1GB of RAM.

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With IFA 2019 in full swing, we’re getting new Wear OS watches, too. This morning, Michael Kors has announced three new additions to its Wear OS lineup with the Lexington 2, Bradshaw 2, and the fitness-focused MKGO.

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Known primarily for sportswear, Puma has now officially entered the smartwatch market with its first Wear OS device — the Puma Sport Connected.

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Casio has been on the Wear OS train for quite a while, and today, it’s announcing another new option. The Casio ProTrek WSD-F21HR carriers a lower price tag, similar rugged design, and finally, a heart rate monitor.

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Just last week, Fossil introduced the latest generation Wear OS devices with the newest chipset and 1GB of RAM. A boon to Google’s wearable ambitions on the hardware side, the ecosystem is losing Runkeeper in the coming weeks.

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In Q2 of 2019, North America’s wearable market saw growth of nearly 40% which brought its value up to $2 billion. Driving a big portion of that growth was that of Samsung’s Galaxy lineup, and as you’d probably expect, Wear OS made barely any impact.

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Thanks to more RAM and newer chipsets, things are finally looking up for Wear OS in the performance department. Today, the Misfit Vapor X smartwatch has gone official with a new lightweight design, Qualcomm’s latest chipset, and probably not enough RAM.

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The biggest problem with Wear OS as a platform is hardware, and the biggest problem with most of its hardware is battery life. Last year, the Mobvoi TicWatch Pro implemented a clever solution to that problem with a dual-display. Now, the TicWatch Pro 4G is here, and while LTE might be the feature that earns the new name, it’s the improved performance that should have you interested in this watch.

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Google’s Wear OS has made great strides over the past several months, and that includes the hardware department. Recently, though, I’ve been using the TicWatch Pro 4G, and it reminds me that Wear OS isn’t ready for LTE, despite Google’s best efforts.

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Since its debut last month, the Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 4G has been one of our favorite smartwatches thanks to value and its performance. Now, a key feature of the TicWatch Pro 4G is finally getting activated with Verizon LTE.

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With the debut of its latest Gen 5 Wear OS smartwatch, Fossil is also bringing something new to the table for the platform. With some smart battery saving modes, Fossil is promising “multiple” days of use out of a watch, all without killing core functionality such as your notifications.

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Fossil is the biggest name in Wear OS right now, but the specs on a lot of the company’s offerings have been a bit dissappointing. Today, Fossil is announcing its Gen 5 smartwatches with the Carlyle HR and Juliana HR, and they pack a ton of big improvements for the Wear OS hardware.

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