If you're a big fan of smartwatches, then you probably know that Wear OS is the best platform to run one on when pairing with Android smartphones. You probably also know that Wear OS doesn't receive updates the same way that Android does: yearly. But it looks like we might not need to wait as long as usual, as Wear OS 5 might be coming before you know it.
The Next Major Wearable OS Update Might Be Coming From Samsung and Google Soon
If there's one thing you need to know about the Wear OS platform for Android-focused smartwatches, it is that they don't usually get major updates every year. For instance, walk with me: Wear OS 1.0 launched in 2018, and Wear OS 2.0 a few months later in the same year. However, after that, it was not until 2021 that Wear OS 3 showed up, and then 2023 for WearOS 4.
So, while it looked like Google and Samsung had settled into taking their sweet time with each major Wear OS release, according to 9to5Google, it seems like the next version, Wear OS 5, might be a build of Android 14 to be launched with the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7. If that's accurate, Wear OS 5 should be available this year, potentially marking a switch to yearly OS releases.
Regarding what changes this update might bring to the smartwatch world, there's pretty much no information. We're all going to have to wait until later in the year before we get more insight into what will improve or change.
Which Smartwatches Are Likely To Get Wear OS 5?
If last year's release cycle is anything to go by, our first exposure to Wear OS 5 is likely going to be on the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 series. After that, the next iteration of the Pixel Watch should come with the new OS in tow.
Older Pixel Watch and Samsung Galaxy Watch models are also very likely to be privileged enough to get updates under the hood.
It might be hard to predict smartwatches from other manufacturers that may launch with Wear OS 5 as Samsung and Google are currently the only manufacturers with devices on Wear OS 4. Watches like the Mobvoi TicWatch 3 only recently got an update to Wear OS 3, so it seems Google and Samsung are keeping the club exclusive for now.
What Ever Happened To Samsung's Tizen Smartwatch Platform?
Ah yes, Tizen. The OS that powered all of Samsung's earlier smartwatches. It was turning out to be a pretty solid platform on its own, but if there's something that's become evident in the smartphone industry, it might not always be worth it to take your chances against the market leader.
In 2021, Samsung went into partnership with Google to unify the Tizen and Wear OS wearable platforms into simply Wear OS. Looking back, the move seemed a bit risky, but it has paid off by providing just one mobile OS for all Android smartwatches. It makes the development process a lot easier and reduces confusion for consumers looking to purchase.
