Wear OS Weekly
A weekly column that will focus on the state of Wear OS, from new developments and updates to the latest apps and features we want to highlight.
Latest about Wear OS Weekly

Wear OS is still missing a major player, and now's the perfect time for a comeback
By Michael L Hicks published
Wear OS Weekly It's high time Motorola rejoined the Wear OS fold and revived that classic Moto 360 look instead of sticking to cheap squircle Moto Watches.

Google's clinical sleep lead has cool ideas for the future of smartwatch sleep data
By Michael L Hicks published
Wear OS Weekly Sleep tracking on smartwatches keeps getting more complicated, but Google's sleep lead has even more ambitious dreams of what comes next.

Wear OS 5.1 represents a new class of slow, substantial Pixel Watch updates
By Michael L Hicks published
Wear OS Weekly Google used to release Pixel Watch updates without fail, but now it wants to slow the releases down. Here's why that could be a good thing.

Here's how Google's medical team envisions the future of wearable health
By Michael L Hicks published
Wear OS Weekly I interviewed Dr. Jacqueline Shreibati about her team's work on Loss of Pulse and the transition from 'wellness' guidance to machine-learning diagnoses.

Wear OS 6: Eligible watches, One UI 7 Watch, Gemini, & more
By Michael L Hicks last updated
Wear OS Weekly Wear OS 6 will likely transform Android watches with Gemini tricks and new fitness coaching. Here's what we know (and hope to see).

Android smartwatches have a flicker problem. The OnePlus Watch 3 fixed it
By Michael L Hicks published
Wear OS Weekly More and more AMOLED phones are letting you switch from eye-straining PWM to DC dimming, but only a couple of smartwatches spare your eyes.

OnePlus set an interesting standard with Watch 3 and Wear OS 5
By Michael L Hicks published
Wear OS Weekly We couldn't be sure how OnePlus would handle Wear OS updates, given the platform's history. Now we have good and bad news about what to expect.

The OnePlus Watch 3 is a bigger deal than you think — here's why
By Michael L Hicks published
Wear OS Weekly Even if the OnePlus Watch 3 can't match Apple or Samsung for sales, it drew first blood in the upcoming battle for battery life supremacy.

Reminder: Android watches don't need sideloading gimmicks for gaming
By Michael L Hicks published
Wear OS Weekly People love hacking Android watches to play "real" video games, but don't forget there are actual Wear OS games you can play.

Android smartwatches have a design problem. Hybrids could be the answer.
By Michael L Hicks published
Wear OS Weekly Samsung and Google should try their hand at hybrid watches and fill the void left behind by Fossil. Gemini AI will be the key.

Android XR needs to copy Android smartwatches to survive
By Michael L Hicks published
Wear OS Weekly Google has a long history of (abandoned) VR & AR projects. If Android XR is to succeed, it'll depend on Samsung, the savior of Google's wearable plans.

I don't know how Google pulls Gemini off on Wear OS, but I'm intrigued
By Michael L Hicks last updated
Wear OS Weekly We know Gemini is coming to Wear OS, but it's hard to know how Google will shrink its AI to work in wearable form.

What we expect from Wear OS smartwatches in 2025
By Michael L Hicks published
Wear OS Weekly We already know what to expect from Android smartwatches in 2025, from a major hardware upgrade to an inevitable AI focus. Let's run through the list!

Wear OS finally achieved its potential in 2024
By Michael L Hicks published
Wear OS Weekly I look back on Wear OS' path in 2024, from messy updates and a major brand lost to new partnerships and promising developments.

I love Garmin watches, but they could learn a thing or two from Android smartwatches
By Michael L Hicks published
Wear OS Weekly Even as Samsung and Google play catch-up with Garmin on fitness, Garmin itself could learn a thing or two from Wear OS watches to keep customers happy.

The OnePlus Watch 3 should arrive soon; it has a lot of Watch 2 problems to fix
By Michael L Hicks published
Wear OS Weekly The OnePlus Watch 3 is expected to arrive in January alongside the new flagship; here is every new feature or upgrade it needs to fix the Watch 2's drawbacks.

Every Android smartwatch has a Black Friday deal; here's how I'd choose as a wearable expert
By Michael L Hicks published
Wear OS Weekly Rather than choose your next Android watch based on price, I'll run through the pros and cons for each Wear OS brand and generation to help you choose.

I don't care much for watch apps, but I'm giving them a second chance
By Michael L Hicks published
Wear OS Weekly Smartwatch apps don't seem much more useful than smartphone apps, but they can sometimes be more convenient.
Be an expert in 5 minutes
Get the latest news from Android Central, your trusted companion in the world of Android