Smartwatch maker Mobvoi has announced it is now recruiting TicWatch Pro 5 owners to participate in a beta program for the upcoming Wear OS 4 software update. This vital info was shared via the company’s official Facebook group.
Beta Test Details
To apply, TicWatch Pro 5 users must fill out a questionnaire that asks for information like name, age, and details about their Android smartphone. The recruitment period is open starting today until the end of April. Selected participants will be notified approximately one week after the recruitment closes.
During the trial program, Mobvoi requires that testers maintain confidentiality and not share any photos, videos, or information about the beta software. Testers will then need to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) before gaining access. The company also encourages selected participants to use their TicWatch Pro 5 daily with the Wear OS 4 beta software installed and provide timely feedback.
Related discussions and other opinions are okay, but must take place only within designated Slack channels set up by Mobvoi for the beta program.
Update Details?
Mobvoi’s Facebook group unfortunately was vague on the specifics of the update. But based on previous beta tests for major OS updates on older models, users generally anticipate that the Wear OS 4 update is slated to refresh its UI, improve data transfer speeds, and possibly even extend battery life.
It is also not confirmed whether the final Wear OS 4 update will become available for all TicWatch Pro 5 devices. The question of whether older Mobvoi smartwatches will receive the update (if ever) is unknown as well (and when, if in case planned).
Well, at the very least, the very news of an upcoming update is already a welcome announcement for its users, who have been wondering about it since the product’s launch last year.
Not a Confident Precedent
Mobvoi had previously struggled with rolling out the Wear OS 3 update to its older smartwatches. Models like the TicWatch Pro 3 LTE and Pro 3 Ultra LTE faced lengthy delays, despite having similar beta test programs, with the update not arriving until nearly two years after Wear OS 3 originally launched. The company attributed the setback to challenges with reworking the devices' proprietary dual-processor architecture to be compatible with the new software.
In comparison, the TicWatch Pro 5 runs on the more modern Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1 chipset, which may streamline the Wear OS 4 update process. By initiating the beta program now, Mobvoi seems intent on avoiding a repeat of the extended wait times that frustrated many customers last cycle.
Fingers Crossed
While it's exciting news that TicWatch Pro 5 owners are finally getting the much-awaited Wear OS 4 update, the question remains: Will Mobvoi deliver the Wear OS 4 update in a timely manner this time around? The success of this initial beta will be an important test of whether Mobvoi has ironed out its software update difficulties.
Regardless, the kickoff of Wear OS 4 beta recruiting is a promising signal that Mobvoi is prioritizing speeding up major OS updates. If all goes smoothly, TicWatch Pro 5 could be among the first smartwatches outside of Google and Samsung’s contenders to offer the revamped Wear OS 4 experience.
