Wear OS 5 Archives

AppWizard

May 22, 2025

I got an early look at Wear OS 6 on the Pixel Watch 3 at Google I/O

Wear OS 6 was announced at I/O 2025, featuring a Pixel Watch 3 with a new Material 3 Expressive design and revamped Tiles. The update includes a 10% battery boost and improved performance over Wear OS 5, despite a more complex user interface. The redesigned Tiles are more dynamic, maintaining visual consistency with a 3-slot layout. Developers can customize the main content slot for various functions. Wear OS 6 introduces dynamic theming that integrates colors from watch faces, although some limitations exist with older faces. The Pixel Watch 3 is described as more engaging and dynamic compared to its predecessor, with further optimizations for apps and watch face stores pending.

AppWizard

May 22, 2025

Wear OS 6 will bring Facer back onto Android smartwatches; we asked Facer what to expect

Wear OS 6 will support third-party watch face stores like Facer, which were restricted on Wear OS 5. Facer collaborated with Google to ensure watch faces feature "instant syncing" with Pixel Watches. Third-party faces must utilize the Watch Face Format (WFF), but many older animated and 3D watch faces will not sync. The rollout of Wear OS 6 is anticipated to begin in late summer or early fall 2025. Developers are encouraged to create watch face marketplaces using WFF, addressing previous challenges in promoting watch faces through the Play Store. Facer, TIMEFLIK, WatchMaker, Pujie, and Recreative will be among the first to offer their watch faces on Wear OS 6 devices. The WFF format uses cached sensor data to minimize battery consumption. Facer is preparing to unveil thousands of watch faces for Wear OS 6, available for free or through a premium subscription model. Some legacy faces will be adapted to the WFF standard, but not all previous favorites will be available. Facer aims to equip developers with tools for creating WFF-compliant watch faces and plans to introduce new features and partnerships this summer.

AppWizard

March 29, 2025

Quiet Wear OS 5.1 QoL update brings app icons to Pixel Watch tiles

The Wear OS 5.1 update for Pixel Watch users enhances app visibility by adding a small circular app icon to the top of each tile. This update, part of the March feature drop and based on Android 15, was initially rolled out for Bluetooth and Wi-Fi-enabled Pixel Watches and later made available for LTE-capable devices, including Pixel Watch, Pixel Watch 2, and Pixel Watch 3. It includes features like the FDA-approved Loss of Pulse safety function, menstrual cycle tracking, and improved step tracking. However, the update has caused issues such as delayed notifications and battery performance problems, prompting user frustrations and temporary solutions like restarting or factory resetting watches. Google has acknowledged these problems affecting a small subset of users.

AppWizard

March 7, 2025

Samsung confirms two Health app updates for Galaxy as we spring forward

Samsung will introduce two new features for its Health app on Galaxy phones later this month to help users manage the transition to Daylight Savings Time. The first feature, the Sleep Environment Report, will analyze factors like room temperature and humidity to improve sleep quality. The second feature, an Activity Consistency metric, will enhance the Health app's Energy Score, allowing users to track their daily activity levels and health trends over the past four weeks. These updates are designed for devices running One UI 7, starting with the Galaxy S25 series, with a broader rollout expected in April.

BetaBeacon

February 18, 2025

Today’s Android app deals and freebies: Dead Cells, Lovecraft’s Untold Stories, ELOH, more

- Today's roundup includes Android game and app deals, as well as launch day deals for the new Wear OS 5 OnePlus Watch 3. - There is a discount on the Galaxy S10+ and deals on Lenovo's Snapdragon X Plus IdeaPad 5x Copilot+ PC and the Surface Pro 11 Snapdragon X Elite Copilot+ PC. - Popular app deals include Dead Cells, Lovecraft's Untold Stories, ELOH, Sentinels of the Multiverse, and more.

AppWizard

November 26, 2024

The Wear OS 5.1 preview is now available — and it’s based on Android 15

Google has released the first developer preview of Wear OS 5.1, based on Android 15, for testing in the Android Studio emulator. Key features include audio playback through smartwatch speakers and the new Credential Manager API. The build number for this preview is AP4A.241205.004.F1. Known issues include difficulties in adding accounts during setup, notifications not opening corresponding apps until the screen is scrolled, and potential failures in initiating exercise sessions with Wear Health Services. The audio feature allows users to listen to music or podcasts from the smartwatch's speaker, while the Credential Manager API supports password management and synchronization across devices.

AppWizard

November 21, 2024

I don’t care much for watch apps, but I’m giving them a second chance

The Wear OS platform has gained attention with advancements in devices like the Pixel Watch 3 and Galaxy Watch Ultra. The Recorder app in Wear OS 5 allows seamless audio note-taking that syncs with the Pixel 9 and generates transcripts, making it useful for capturing notes. Google Keep Notes is used for creating weekly to-do lists, allowing tasks to be checked off from the wrist. Despite a growing fondness for Wear OS applications, there are concerns about the platform's overall capabilities due to the small display and limitations of voice-to-text technology. There is hope that advancements in AI, particularly with Gemini AI, will improve the functionality of these applications.

AppWizard

October 16, 2024

Wear OS 5 blocks one of the best watch apps and it’s high time Google fixes things

Google has introduced the XML Watch Face Format (WFF) for Wear OS, optimizing memory usage and enhancing battery life for smartwatches. However, this has led to a decline in creativity for Android watch faces, resulting in the loss of popular apps like Facer. The WFF restricts complex animations and features, limiting memory usage to 10MB in ambient mode and 100MB in interactive mode. Users of the Galaxy Watch 7 and Pixel Watch 3 are left with default options or limited WFF alternatives, discouraging innovation. Facer is working with Google to integrate its service with Wear OS 5, but the transition requires converting its library of 500,000 faces to XML, which would strip away many features. Users would need to repurchase previously acquired faces, as the current Play Store structure lacks adequate support for developers. There are suggestions for Google to allow third-party installations of WFF faces or acquire Facer to improve watch face discovery.

AppWizard

October 7, 2024

Here’s Google Play Store’s watch face incompatibility warning in action (APK teardown)

The Google Play Store is set to introduce two new features for Android users: 1. Google Play Points will be displayed on the app listing page, allowing users to see their accumulated points easily. These points can be earned through purchases and redeemed for discounts or Google Play Credit. 2. A warning system will alert users when downloading apps with Wear OS watch faces that haven't been updated to the new Watch Face Format. This alert will only apply to incompatible apps and will not affect those already compliant or devices that launched with Wear OS 5.

AppWizard

August 13, 2024

The Pixel Watch 3 debuts grid-style app launcher

Google's Pixel Watch 3 features a grid-based app launcher with Wear OS 5, replacing the traditional list-style app drawer. This new layout allows users to view more apps simultaneously and is particularly effective on the new 45mm model with a larger screen. Users can choose to keep the original list-style format if preferred. The watch also includes a new Recorder app and offline Google Maps capabilities. It is available for pre-order, with a release date of September 10.