Wear OS

1,462 'Wear OS' stories March 2014 - May 2018

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Wear OS is Google's wearable platform which is designed to run on watches. It's based on a modified version of Android, designed by Google, and used on many third-party smartwatches.

Wear OS is Google’s wearable platform which is designed to run on watches. It’s based on a modified version of Android, designed by Google, and used on smartwatches such as Pixel Watch, Galaxy Watch, and more.

The platform was first introduced in 2014 as “Android Wear,” before being modified until it became “Wear OS” in 2018.

As you’d expect, Wear OS is designed to be an extension of your smartphone. Notifications are mirrored to your wrist while condensed apps can be installed, both with their own independent functionality or as an extension of the smartphone app.

Where Wear OS was once found across a variety of smartwatch brands, the market has condensed in recent years. Names such as Fossil, Mobvoi, and others faded away in favor of first-party smartwatches from Google and Samsung, as other names in Android such as OnePlus, Oppo, Xiaomi, and more.

A few key Wear OS smartwatches include:

Google’s Pixel Watch is the poster child of Wear OS, with a heavy focus on Fitbit features and Gemini integration.

Pixel Watch 4

Pixel Watch 4

You can read the latest news about the platform and its apps below.

Wear OS

Wear OS gains an ‘enhnaced’ battery saver mode w/ Android P DP2

Abner Li May 9 2018 - 1:08 pm PT

The Wear OS rebrand in March simply gave Google’s wearable platform a new name. With the Android P Developer Preview later that month, Google introduced a system dark theme and smart battery saving features. At I/O 2018, Google is further refining the latter aspect with an enhanced battery saver mode.

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Report: New Qualcomm chips for Wear OS coming this fall with ‘lead smartwatch’

Abner Li May 8 2018 - 10:39 pm PT

The rebrand of Android Wear to Wear OS in March was just that, a rebrand. Google reiterated that Wear OS would gain new functionality in smaller, incremental updates. Meanwhile, on the hardware front, even recent and rumored watches are slated to use the same underlying chip.

The Snapdragon 2100 in question contributes to Wear OS being held back technologically, however, that might soon change with new Qualcomm chipsets coming this year.

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Wear OS
LG

New LG smartwatch revealed by FCC ahead of I/O 2018 w/ modified Wear OS app list

Abner Li May 7 2018 - 8:49 am PT

second pixel watch

Late last month, a rumor suggested the arrival of a new LG Wear OS device that would feature a hybrid analog design. A day before I/O 2018, a new FCC filing from LG suggests that this watch is real and could feature a redesigned interface to account for the rumored form factor.

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Google Assistant smart suggestions, audio replies, & Actions update now rolling out to Wear OS

Justin Duino May 6 2018 - 6:49 pm PT

Earlier this week, Google announced that Assistant on Wear OS would be getting a variety of new features. As promised, Google has now begun rolling out this update to users.

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Google Assistant on Wear OS gains smart suggestions, audio replies, & Actions support

Abner Li May 3 2018 - 10:51 am PT

In recent weeks, Wear OS has undergone a lot of notable developments from the rebrand to the Android P Developer Preview. Today, just ahead of I/O 2018 next week, Google is announcing a number of updates to make Google Assistant more full featured.

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Fossil Q Control Review: Another reminder that Wear OS gets the best hardware with disappointing software

Ben Schoon Apr 20 2018 - 9:54 am PT

I’ve never been shy about my distaste for what has become of “Android Wear,” and despite a recent rebrand, there’s still one very true thing about Google’s wearable OS – it gets the best hardware but the worst software. The Fossil Q Control is an incredible example of that.

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Casio unveils a slightly cheaper addition to its Wear OS-based Pro Trek lineup

Stephen Hall Apr 17 2018 - 7:14 am PT

Casio has long been on the Android Wear (and lately, Wear OS) train, and now the company is doubling down with the release of yet another Pro Trek smartwatch. This one, called the WSD-F20A (good luck remembering that name), brings the slew of unique Pro Trek features at a lower price point.
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Wear OS developer preview brings Android P, dark theme, and smart battery saving features

Abner Li Mar 28 2018 - 11:10 am PT

Following the rebrand of the wearable platform earlier this month, Google is today launching a developer preview for Wear OS. Android P for smartwatches introduces features announced for phones and tablets, a dark UI system theme, and smart battery saving features.

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The first Wear OS watch is Hublot’s luxury Big Bang Referee for the 2018 World Cup

Abner Li Mar 21 2018 - 10:13 am PT

Following Google’s rebrand of Android Wear last week, the first Wear OS devices are getting announced at the Baselworld convention. This first honor goes to luxury maker Hublot with the limited edition Big Bang Referee aimed at the 2018 World Cup. With a limited production run, this watch will also be used by soccer referees during matches.

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Which Android-branded product will be next to lose the namesake, if any? [Poll]

Justin Duino Mar 15 2018 - 4:04 pm PT

Today, Google officially announced that it would be renaming Android Wear to Wear OS by Google, “a wearables operating system for everyone.” With this change, we see Google seemingly separating the product from the Android name and making it appear more universal.

Do you think Google will be renaming any other products to remove the Android namesake?

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Here’s the list of Android Wear watches getting updated to Wear OS

Abner Li Mar 15 2018 - 12:46 pm PT

As part of this morning’s rebrand of Android Wear to Wear OS, existing smartwatches will get updated with the new name over the coming weeks. Google has published a list of devices that will receive Wear OS, with the update already rolling out for some today.

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Google officially rebrands Android Wear smartwatches to ‘Wear OS’

Abner Li Mar 15 2018 - 8:50 am PT

Over the weekend, signs emerged that Google was preparing to rebrand Android Wear to a simpler “Wear OS.” This change is now official with a new Google site for smartwatches and a revamped Wear OS companion app for Android.

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Google Keep gets a redesign on Android Wear and ditches ‘open on phone’ shortcut

Ben Schoon Mar 13 2018 - 7:14 am PT

Google Keep is a powerful tool, and one that I love using since I can access it basically anywhere. Whether it’s on Android, iOS, or the web, accessing notes and lists is a breeze. Android Wear, however, might be one of its most convenient locations, and now it’s getting a fresh redesign…

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Google Play services beta hints at Android Wear rebrand to ‘Wear OS’

Abner Li Mar 10 2018 - 5:39 pm PT

Google might be rebranding Android Wear to simply “Wear OS.” The smartwatch operating system still receives new features through frequent updates that no longer require corresponding Android versions. Meanwhile, many fashion brands in recent years have adopted Android Wear while traditional tech companies are holding back on wearables.

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Leaked ‘LG G7 Neo’ is reportedly the company’s next flagship as Android Wear watch planned

Abner Li Mar 1 2018 - 8:09 am PT

One publication at MWC 2018 yesterday went hands-on with a device named the “LG G7 Neo” with an iPhone-like notch, dual-cameras, and more. At the time, it wasn’t clear whether this was a prototype of the reportedly scrapped G7 or the new rumored successor. However, it now appears to be the latter, while a new Android Wear smartwatch is also in the works.

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Misfit Vapor

Wear OS

Android Wear will add support for an unread notification indicator in v2.9

Ben Schoon Feb 19 2018 - 6:43 am PT

We haven’t seen any meaningful development on Android Wear in ages, but Google is still giving its users attention with new features added now and again. Recently, Google revealed that it is bringing support for an unread notification indicator.

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Latest Google app update fixes Android Wear lag caused by ‘Ok Google’ detection

Justin Duino Feb 4 2018 - 6:32 pm PT

Back in December, it was found that disabling Android Wear 2.0’s ‘Ok Google’ voice detection significantly improved performance. At long last, Google is rolling out an app update that fixes the lag…

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More variants of Skagen’s Falster Android Wear smartwatch are now available from $275

Ben Schoon Jan 29 2018 - 8:25 am PT

One of the highlights at CES 2018 earlier this month was checking out Skagen’s first Android Wear smartwatch, the Falster. Now, after first going up for sale a couple of weeks ago, more variants of the device are available for purchase.

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Michael Kors Android Wear collection gets a fresh coat of paint with new color variants

Ben Schoon Jan 26 2018 - 6:33 am PT

We saw quite a few new Android Wear watches and variants announced back at CES 2018, and now, Michael Kors is jumping in on the fun with its new “Spring collection” of Sophie and Grayson watches.

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Upcoming Android Wear 2.9 update adds new notification indicator to all watch faces

Abner Li Jan 25 2018 - 10:32 am PT

Following the rollout of Android Wear 2.0, Google has been pushing more frequent updates to its wearable platform. An upcoming version adds a default notification indicator to all watch faces, with developers able to customize the look.

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Best smartwatches for Android you can buy [January 2018]

Ben Schoon Jan 19 2018 - 1:07 pm PT

With new hardware and software options that continue to get better and better, there’s no time like the present to buy a smartwatch. While iOS users are pretty limited in what they could buy, Android users have too many choices to count. Not sure where to start looking? Let’s go over some of the best options…

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Android Wear 2.8 rolling out with darker background, more compact notification layout

Abner Li Jan 18 2018 - 12:41 pm PT

With Android Wear 2.0, Google switched to a new model that allows updates to be delivered through the companion app on the Play Store. Recent months have seen new features and tweaks, with the latest being a new dark theme and improved glanceability for notifications.

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Tag Heuer’s $180,000 Android Wear device (mercifully) includes a mechanical watch

Abner Li Jan 15 2018 - 4:22 pm PT

The announcement of the Connected Modular 41 was not Tag Heuer’s only Android Wear release today, with the Swiss luxury brand also unveiling an ostentatious, diamond version of the Connected Modular 45.

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Tag Heuer announces the smaller Connected Modular 41 w/ upgraded specs, lower price

Abner Li Jan 14 2018 - 9:51 pm PT

With the launch of Tag Heuer’s second generation Android Wear device last March, the Swiss watchmaker teased a version for smaller wrists. Today, the luxury brand finally unveiled the Connected Modular 41 with a slightly cheaper starting price and upgraded specs.
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