What you need to know
- Recent insights from the Wear OS 6 developer preview and an APK teardown by Android Authority have unveiled exciting features for the upcoming Pixel Watch.
- The anticipated update is set to introduce the Adaptive Charging tool, along with a rebranded Water Lock mode.
- Notably, the Pixel Watch 4 may automatically secure your phone if you inadvertently leave it behind.
- The official rollout of Wear OS 6 is expected to commence with the Pixel Watch 4 in late summer.
Last month, Google took the wraps off Wear OS 6, but the new operating system is revealing layers of functionality that have yet to be disclosed. Within the developer preview, code snippets hint at features that promise to enhance the user experience on the forthcoming Pixel Watch 4. Notably, Mishaal Rahman from Android Authority has identified code strings in the ClockworkSysUiGoogle app that suggest the introduction of an adaptive charging feature. This tool is designed to halt charging at a predetermined percentage—most likely around 80%, akin to the functionality seen in Pixel smartphones. Users will also see a notification indicating, “Charging will be completed by X,” along with an option to “Override” for those who prefer a full charge.
During a hands-on session at I/O, the full-charge screen was observed, reinforcing the belief that this feature is on the horizon. It will complement the “fully charged” notifications that Google introduced last year. Furthermore, code leaks from the Galaxy Watch 8 have hinted at a similar adaptive charging feature, allowing users to set a custom maximum charge percentage. This suggests that such functionality may become standard across devices when Wear OS 6 launches later this summer or early fall.
Another intriguing feature unearthed by Rahman is the Water Lock mode for Pixel Watches. While details remain sparse, it appears to be a rebranding of the existing “Touch Lock” feature, which prevents unintended screen interactions while swimming or showering. This change may encourage more users to utilize the feature regularly.
Perhaps the most compelling revelation from the APK teardown is a new security enhancement that allows the Pixel Watch to lock your phone when it disconnects from it. This feature is a twist on the popular Watch Unlock tool. The code suggests that if your phone is left unattended while wearing the Pixel Watch 4, it will automatically lock once you move out of range. This means that if someone were to take your unlocked Pixel phone, it would secure itself once they distance themselves from your watch.
Wear OS 6 promises to usher in significant changes for Pixel Watches, featuring the new Material 3 Expressive UI, dynamic color theming, and a third-party watch face storefront. The revamped Tiles will offer more tools, enhancing the overall user experience. The Pixel Watch 4 is poised to be the first to receive this update, and early design leaks suggest it may be thicker than its predecessor, potentially to accommodate a larger battery. This enhancement raises hopes that the new adaptive charging feature will extend the watch’s battery life.
As Google prepares to replace Assistant with Gemini on Wear OS, this update stands to be the most substantial since the collaboration between Google and Samsung began with Wear OS 3.
