Information about Wear OS 5

Despite only launching Wear OS 4 in mid-2023, Google is now preparing to roll out the next major update to its wearable platform next week. This may be the first time Wear OS has received a major update in a year. Google partially confirmed this by mentioning 'Wear OS 5' for Google I/O which will take place on May 16. So here's a summary of all that's known about Wear OS 5 so far.

Expected Wear OS 5 release date

It's very likely that Google will announce Wear OS 5 during the Google I/O 2024 keynote on May 14. We also can't rule out the launch of a new low-cost Pixel Watch, which was recently leaked at the FCC.

Unless Google launches a new Pixel Watch next week, the first wearables likely to launch with Wear OS 5 will be Samsung's Galaxy Watch 7 and Watch 7 Pro. These devices are said to be able to launch at the Unpacked event on July 10 in Paris, where the company will also launch the Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Fold 6 models.

We can expect Wear OS 5 to come to Google's smartwatches when the Pixel Watch 3 launches in October, alongside the Pixel 9 series. Google only updated the original Pixel Watch to Wear OS 4 after the release of the Pixel Watch 2. So don't expect an update to Wear OS 5 to arrive for the existing lineup before October.

Features expected on Wear OS 5

Unlike Android 15 which is already in beta, Google is still keeping the development of Wear OS 5 a secret. The biggest change expected to come to the upcoming operating system is that it could be based on Android 14. Because Wear OS 4 was released with Android 13 so the possibility of an operating system based on Android 14 is very high.

While previous versions of Wear OS have skipped the Android version, Wear OS 5 could mark a shift towards consistent annual updates.

In terms of features, not much has been revealed. As mentioned in the description of the Building for the future of Wear OS session, scheduled to take place on May 16, Google suggests that Wear OS could see 'advances in Watch Face Format' .

For those who don't know, Watch Face Format was announced last year in partnership with Samsung to make it easier for designers to create faces for Wear OS watches without writing code. With Wear OS 5, expect Google to update the Watch Face Format with new ways to design watch faces and implement complex functions along with performance and battery optimizations.

Google I/O 2024 also suggests that developers could build faces for different watch sizes. This could make sense if Google plans to launch a larger version of the upcoming Pixel Watch 3. A larger Pixel Watch could help brands target audiences who prefer watches with larger screens, something the Apple Watch has been doing for quite some time.

Additionally, expect minor improvements and upgrades to existing Wear OS 4 features. We could see more Google apps and Fitbit-powered health features on Wear OS watches as well as power consumption and performance optimizations.

Watches that support OS 5 (Expected)

Samsung's Galaxy Watch 4 series was the first to run Wear OS 4 when it launched last year. Next are the Galaxy Watch 6 and Watch 6 Classic. They became the first devices to launch a major Wear OS update.

Judging by Google's ongoing partnership with Samsung, expect the upcoming Galaxy Watch 7 series to be the first to launch with Wear OS 5, albeit with Samsung's One UI interface. So we may see Wear OS for the first time when Samsung announces its next wearable lineup during the Unpacked event.

The Pixel Watch 3, rumored to launch later this year, could be Google's first Wear OS 5 device. Google I/O 2024 could even see the surprise launch of the Pixel Watch 2a, but its existence has yet to be confirmed.

In terms of compatibility, expect recent Wear OS 4 watches to receive the Wear OS 5 update later in the year, including:

1. Google Pixel Watch 2
2. Google Pixel Watch
3. Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 series
4. Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 series
5. Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 series
6. OnePlus Watch 2

This is just a list of devices that are said to be able to run Wear OS 5. As with any Android update, don't expect it to appear on these devices immediately after launch. Availability and release are at the discretion of Google and other OEMs, especially early in the development process.

Kareem Winters

Update 15 May 2024