Facer now fully supports Google’s new Watch Face Format (WFF). The popular app has shifted away from the older AndroidX and Wearable Support Library to bring better compatibility and smoother syncing for smartwatch users.
It also promises improved battery performance across all watch faces. If you spot a design with a green lightning bolt, that’s your sign that it’s ultra power-efficient. The update is available now on the Google Play Store. If you’re already on Wear OS 6, it’s worth exploring the app.
Google's new watch standard wants to save your time
Watch faces are among the most essential parts of a smartwatch. You can have all the sensors in the world packed into your wrist. But if the watch face doesn’t show you what you care about at a glance, the whole experience will fall flat. I wouldn’t call a smartwatch personal without being able to set it.
You can have a face that prioritizes fitness metrics, one that mirrors your calendar and reminders, or something minimal that… well… tells time. But beautifully. The use case variability is remarkable, regardless.
The recently announced Facer update brings full support for Wear OS 6, and most of the improvements for you to have a more customizable and simplified experience with the Watch Face Format. WFF is Google’s latest standard for designing watch faces on Wear OS.
It uses a more streamlined, XML-based structure that simplifies how watch faces are built and displayed, replacing traditional Android code and libraries like the Wearable Support Library. Since it's now built around Wear OS 6, more apps will have to adopt it to stay compatible with smartwatches.
Related: Next-Gen Wear OS Smartwatches Could Get a Lot More Qualcomm Power
New and lively faces to stare at all day
Speaking of battery life, you’re probably among people who’ve side-eyed their watch face at some point because of battery drain. You wouldn’t be wrong. Given that many watch faces, especially the flashy or interactive ones, were built using older standards, they refresh too often, and are excessively active.
Google seems to have solved that problem for the long term with its software. Facer also assists those marked with a green lightning bolt, which you should focus on. You'll also see a Power Impact indicator indicating whether consumption is minimal or high before you get the design.
Fresh watch faces licensed from major brands and franchises have also arrived to expand the catalog. We spotted SpongeBob, Call of Duty, and even Starfield with faces among them.
The app still runs on both your phone and your watch. You use the phone app to browse, customize, and select watch faces, while the watch app applies and displays them.
Most of them require payment, but there are also great-looking versions available for free. You can share your setup in the new Looks menu with other users in the community.
