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Wear OS

1,462 'Wear OS' stories March 2014 - January 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
Galaxy Watch 8 Classic

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

Review: Mobvoi’s Ticwatch E is the best ‘bang for your buck’ Android Wear smartwatch

Avatar for Ben Schoon Jan 2 2018 - 9:21 am PT
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Smartwatches aren’t exactly in their “prime time” at this point, but for those who have found a place in their lives for them, these devices have become invaluable. To that end, many smartwatch enthusiasts have graduated from entry-level options to high-end devices, and OEMs have followed. It’s been tough for the past couple of years to find a good smartwatch at an affordable price.

Last year I reviewed the Ticwatch 2, a timepiece from Mobvoi, one of Google’s partners in China. While there was plenty on that device to leave me underwhelmed, it was an excellent overall experience for such an affordable device. Now, Mobvoi is back with the Ticwatch E, another affordable smartwatch, this time running on Android Wear…


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Here’s the list of Android Wear watches being updated to 8.0 Oreo

Avatar for Abner Li Dec 10 2017 - 12:43 pm PT
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Following the launch of Android 8.1, Google also released Android Oreo for Android Wear after a brief beta program for the wearable platform. A mostly technical upgrade, there are a handful of convenient new features. On Friday, Google announced a list of smartwatches getting upgraded to Oreo, as well as which devices are now receiving the update.


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Gift Guide: Best smartwatches for Android you can buy [December 2017]

Avatar for Ben Schoon Dec 6 2017 - 10:53 am PT
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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…

Since the holidays are here, you’re probably looking at this list to find the best smartwatch as a gift for someone, so unlike our usual list, this month we’re going to give you a couple of top picks.


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Fossil Q Control brings a neat scroll gesture and fresh design with Android Wear [Gallery]

Avatar for Justin Duino Nov 14 2017 - 4:53 pm PT
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If you thought there were a lot of Fossil-made Android Wear watches already on the market, we have a surprise for you as the company has released yet another: the Q Control. Like the ones before it, this smartwatch features a decent sized bezel, but it at least packs in a neat trick to help you scroll through the interface along with a built-in heart rate sensor…


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Unreleased Misfit Vapor Android Wear smartwatch pops up on Amazon, and at a discount too

Avatar for Ben Schoon Oct 16 2017 - 5:48 am PT
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The Misfit Vapor is a smartwatch with an interesting background. It was first announced at CES with its own proprietary OS, but the company later decided to delay it and swap that out for Android Wear. Now, after months of missed goals and dozens of “vaporware” jokes, the company seems to finally be putting the watch on sale, and Amazon may have jumped the gun a little bit.


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Android Wear disappeared from the Google Store today and no one noticed [Update]

Avatar for Ben Schoon Oct 4 2017 - 9:00 pm PT
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Today’s Google event focused on phones, speakers, and AI over all else. What’s interesting is that the company not even one time mentioned Android Wear. Well, that story gets a bit more interesting when you look closer at the Google Store. After today’s new releases went up for pre-order, the store got a fresh coat of paint, and Android Wear disappeared from it completely without anyone noticing…


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The Michael Kors Access Grayson and Sofie Android Wear watches are now available for $350

Avatar for Joe Maring Sep 7 2017 - 11:38 am PT
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If you’re in the market for a new Android Wear smartwatch, the majority of options available to you come from fashion brands rather than tech-centric OEMs. Companies like Louis Vuitton and Fossil have already released Android Wear watches so far this year, and today, you can now order Micahel Kors’ two latest options — the Access Sofie and Access Grayson.


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Google encourages developers to create standalone Wear 2.0 app w/ new Play Store changes

Avatar for Abner Li Aug 31 2017 - 10:54 am PT
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Android Wear 2.0’s marquee features are the on-device Play Store and standalone applications that work independently of a smartphone and therefore function on iOS. Google is now bringing standalone apps to Android Wear 1.0 and announcing Play Store policy changes that will encourage developers to focus on these new types of apps.


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Opinion: Samsung and Fitbit’s latest wearables will give Android Wear a run for its money

Avatar for Joe Maring Aug 30 2017 - 1:58 pm PT
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Over the past few days, we’ve seen announcements for new smartwatches from Fitbit and Samsung. These latest wearables are shaping up to be some of the best options yet from each company, and in that same breath, possibly two of the best smartwatches for all of 2017. Neither the Fitbit Ionic or Samsung Gear Sport are powered by Android Wear, but in all honesty, that might be a good thing.


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Misfit’s Vapor Wear watch delayed to October, Diesel’s first Android Wear watch available today

Avatar for Ben Schoon Aug 29 2017 - 2:11 pm PT
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2017 has not been kind to Android Wear, and that’s thanks in big part to the disappointing release of Android Wear 2.0. What originally gave a lot of promise for the future of the platform turned out to be a flop, but it did stir up the hardware market. Since the update’s release, we’ve seen lots of new Android Wear partners. Today, we’re getting word on when two upcoming watches will be hitting the market.


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Would you buy Fitbit’s Ionic smartwatch over an Android Wear device? [Poll]

Avatar for Justin Duino Aug 28 2017 - 7:15 pm PT
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After Fitbit purchased Pebble last year, many anxious fans awaited the company’s next fitness-focused device that would ideally incorporate the features loved by the Pebble community. That day has come as Fitbit this morning unveiled the Ionic. While it may not be a Pebble replacement, it is the company’s first real smartwatch.

If you were to buy a smartwatch right now, would you purchase a Fitbit Ionic over an Android Wear device?


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Android 8.0 Oreo will keep you from missing important notifications in battery saver mode on Android Wear

Avatar for Joe Maring Aug 28 2017 - 10:28 am PT
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Following the big 2.0 update that was released at the beginning of the year, Android Wear has been in something of a slump. A lack of truly compelling hardware is keeping new buyers at bay, and upcoming competition from Samsung and Fitbit is giving the platform a run for its money. However, for those of you that still rely on Google’s wearable OS, a new update that’s coming with 8.0 Oreo will help to keep you on top of all incoming notifications — even when your battery’s low.
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