This lengthy Wear OS 5 replace delay seems like an indication of what is to come back

Wear OS 5 is a delicate however vital enchancment for Wear OS watches throughout manufacturers, with the Pixel Watch 3 and Galaxy Watch 7 showcasing its strengths. But the longer the replace takes to reach on last-gen watches, the extra questions it raises concerning the OS’ future.

Google first added Wear OS 5 to the Pixel Watch 2 and 1 on September 27 earlier than pausing the rollout after experiences of customers’ watches crashing, with “clean screens” forcing manufacturing facility resets. The Wear OS crew promised a resumed rollout “later this yr,” including they’d “share extra updates with our neighborhood as they change into obtainable.”

It’s been almost six weeks since then, with no updates on when “later” will arrive; Samsung added Wear OS 5 to the Galaxy Watch 6 within the interim, beating the inventory Wear OS devs to the punch, nevertheless it, too, hasn’t up to date its older Galaxy Watches since spring.

Last week, I contacted a Wear OS crew member for brand new information on the foundation of the issue and the delay in fixing it. In response, they linked to the unique September assist web page, saying I’d “discover what [I] want” there. I did not, clearly.

Since Google would not clarify the delay, I speculated with my Android Central coworkers. We’re guessing the Wear OS devs most likely have not replicated the configuration situation inflicting these clean screens, so that they’re caught ready to keep away from a repeat of crashing watches. It’s not that the older watches cannot run Wear OS 5, particularly for the reason that Pixel Watch 2 and Pixel Watch 3 largely share the identical tech.

Unlike Samsung, which pushed out eight One UI 6 Watch betas on the Galaxy Watch 6 earlier than the secure construct arrived for these in this system, Google does not supply a Wear OS beta program prefer it does with the cell Android OS. Perhaps this incident will persuade Google that it is value exploring for Wear OS 6 to try to catch these points beforehand and keep away from the QA headache of a rolled-back replace.

Android 15 took longer than typical to reach this yr, too, however telephones have the headroom to implement a ton of recent options, whereas smartwatches use previous Arm Cortex cores and accept a couple of software program tweaks per yr.

With Wear OS 5, you get battery optimization, higher content material reflow optimized to suit totally different display sizes, new “flavors” and objectives for the Watch Face Format, and some new options for runners. Specific to the Pixel Watch, you may see a Nest Cam view, Google TV controls, a recorder app, and a cam viewfinder mode; older Galaxy Watches will add Energy Scores, a brand new Quick Panel, common gestures, and different tweaks.

I’m not saying Wear OS 3.5 and Wear OS 4 had been unimportant updates, however their adjustments positively felt extra pedestrian. Wear OS 5 helped the Pixel Watch 3 and Galaxy Watch 7 have stronger-than-expected battery life in comparison with the final technology whereas additionally including some juicy exclusives.

Maybe that is a partial rationalization for why prospects are having to attend months later than typical for this new replace (the variety of substantial adjustments). And that raises its personal questions.

Wear OS already has a messy replace historical past

Since Google and Samsung teamed up on Wear OS updates in mid-2021, it is change into clear that any OEMs moreover these two would wrestle to maintain up.

Wear OS 3 arrived in 2021, nevertheless it took Fossil till late 2022 so as to add it, after which one other yr for Wear OS 3.5 earlier than abandoning the platform totally. Mobvoi took till December 2023 so as to add Wear OS 3, then launched Wear OS 4 in September; its latest watches nonetheless haven’t got Google Assistant, despite the fact that we assumed the Wear OS 4 replace would make it obtainable. Who is aware of when (or if) they’re going to get Wear OS 5!

The latest Wear OS companions are OnePlus and Xiaomi. We’ve but to check the Xiaomi Watch 2 or Watch 2 Pro, however we all know they solely simply obtained Wear OS 4 in September 2024, a yr behind; as for the OnePlus Watch 2, it is slated to obtain Wear OS 5 and 6, however we do not know when.

We hope OnePlus followers will not have to attend lengthy, however that appears to be the monitor file for everybody moreover Google and Samsung for comparatively minor changelogs. Now that Google itself is struggling to replace its watches speedily, who is aware of what which means for its companions making an attempt so as to add Wear OS 5. Will they want a yr or extra?

Whether Wear OS updates get faster (or longer) will rely upon {hardware}

Google guarantees its Pixel Watches will get three Wear OS updates, whereas Samsung guarantees 4 model updates. Compared to the seven or eight years of updates flagship telephones get as of late, Android watches get brief shrift. Whether that adjustments will rely lots on future Wear OS {hardware}.

I lately wrote about Google’s leaked Pixel Watch chip plans and why it could play it secure with a lesser model of Samsung’s Exynos W1000 with Arm cores moderately than go all on in open-source RISC-V or attempt a Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 with Oryon cores.

If Google chooses Exynos-inspired Tensor {hardware}, it’s going to be as a result of Arm cores preserve watches priced low, permit Google to regulate its software program roadmap, and make it simpler for third events to stay with the identical Wear OS coding that they are aware of. At the identical time, Tensor optimization would preserve the established order, with a restrict on what Wear OS watches can do and different OEMs scrambling to remain a yr behind Google and Samsung.

After listening to Qualcomm VP of Wearables Dino Bekis speak about future Wear OS watches with a aim of week-long battery life, extra AI and compute functionality, and a platform with sufficient “headroom” to “scale for a number of years,” I’ll admit that it made me hope for extra. But that might include its personal replace issues.

On the plus aspect, an optimized RISC-V chip or extra highly effective Snapdragon chip may make future Wear OS updates extra substantive, depart room for future updates past three years, and provides OEMs extra headroom to implement their very own watch software program options as a substitute of getting to remain in lesser lockstep behind Google.

As a damaging, extra highly effective smartwatch chips may make watches costlier and make it a lot more durable to optimize future Wear OS updates for present {hardware} — particularly if Google chooses the RISC-V route.

I do not know what is going to occur with future Wear OS watch {hardware}, and if it will make this yr’s messy replace a factor of the previous or a standard incidence. What I do know is that firms ought to have better transparency round delays and glitches like this.

It’s been three months for the reason that August 2024 Wear OS replace, and Pixel Watch 1 and a couple of customers being stored in radio silence after a glitchy annual replace will keep in mind this delay when selecting their subsequent watch, whether or not it is the wonderful Pixel Watch 3, Pixel Watch 4, or a unique model totally.

Of course, Samsung (the obvious different) has been lax with regards to retaining its older watches up to date each month. It makes me surprise why Wear OS watches are so tough to replace, each for small and main updates!

Google might not need headlines saying what went fallacious, however not explaining the delay is not any higher. Wear OS updates are already sufficient of a messy Wild West, and even if you cannot present a timeline, you may not less than clarify in additional element what went fallacious.