WearOS: better battery, faster, all about future Google and Samsung watches

During the Google I/O conference on May 18, 2021, the Mountain View company and Samsung announced that they have merged the two operating systems for connected watches. Thus, Tizen joins the WearOS ecosystem, which promises to bring its share of modifications to equipped smartwatches.

Some information about this new operating system has already reached us. The overall performance will be increased, and some applications will be equipped with very practical features. However, some unknowns still remain. We offer you a summary of everything we know at the moment.

The next Galaxy Watch will run on WearOS

Now that it’s official, Samsung’s next smartwatches will run on WearOS. So this applies to the Galaxy Watch as well as any future smartwatch. But Tizen isn’t going away completely. The Korean manufacturer has indeed confirmed the return of several popular features and hardware components.

WearOS watches of the future will be faster

Samsung and Google largely insisted on this point during the conference: The new operating system will bring a significant increase in performance. The two manufacturers claim that apps will open up to 30% faster than current watches. Another notable optimization: Google promised “smooth UI animations and gestures”a point that has been missing in the operating system for a long time.

Samsung brings its expertise in autonomy

This is great for all WearOS watch users who have ever watched the battery performance of Samsung models. “Samsung has leveraged its best technology to deliver optimized performance along with advanced sensor clustering and low-power display technology to ensure an efficient and long-lasting battery”, vice president Janghyun Yoon said. The result: future smartwatches will benefit from much better autonomy. Google says users will benefit “Useful optimizations such as running the heart rate sensor continuously throughout the day, tracking sleep at night, and keeping battery power up for the next day.”

Builders will be able to customize the interface

“All manufacturers will be able to add a personalized user experience to the platform”, said Google. WearOS isn’t just for Samsung and Google, and both companies wanted to make that clear. If their partnership is bound to be a turning point in the connected watch industry, Mountain View does not want to abandon other brands that rely on it. Everyone will be able to own the operating system and add their personal touch like Android on a smartphone.

App development will be easier

Google says that apps can be created faster and easier thanks to the latest Android development methods like Jetpack and Kotlin. In addition, the firm provides developers with new APIs that support Tiles, sensory sensors and many other features. What makes life easier for those who want to publish their apps on WearOS.

Spotify and YouTube Music support offline listening

You no longer need to be connected to the Internet to enjoy Spotify or YouTube Music. Thus, the user will be able to listen to his music without his smartphone. All you have to do is download the songs you want and then play them on the clock. Samsung smartwatches already offer this service, so it’s only natural for it to join the WearOS arsenal. By the way, Apple Watch still doesn’t allow it.

Google Maps will work without a phone

Google is said to be planning to include Maps in upcoming smartwatches. It is said that Mountain View company wants the GPS application to manage itself, always in order to make the user’s life easier and reduce their dependence on smartphones. Therefore, smartwatches will need to be compatible with cellular data.

Fitbit is coming to WearOS

Earlier this year, Google acquired Fitbit with the goal of incorporating activity tracking technologies into its connected watches. This will be done on the next WearOS smartwatches. The app is expected to use multiple sensors located on the devices to display lots of health data.

Some WearOS watches may be updated

There’s no such level of confirmation from Google, but it’s very likely that smartwatches running on the current operating system will be updated to Wear, the tentative name given to its merger with Tizen. “We will have more information to share about the timelines when the new version is released later in the year”said the firm. Therefore, reply within a few months.

But Galaxy Watch is not affected

Samsung watches, on the other hand, will remain on Tizen. Only future models will qualify for the new operating system. However, the manufacturer does not plan to drop its current smartwatches. “For customers who already own Tizen OS-based Galaxy smartwatches, we continue to provide software support for at least three years after product launch”highlighted the firm. But some features will probably never come to light on these models.

Samsung to integrate interface customization tool

Users will be offered a wide variety of skins for their smartwatches, thanks to Samsung’s tool that makes it easy to create them. The manufacturer and Google promised that in addition to the themes specific to each brand already, many different styles will be found in the next models.

Some unknowns remain

That’s enough to wait for Samsung and Google to reveal the first watch running on the brand new WearOS. However, some questions are still unanswered. We still don’t have a launch date for what will happen to the operating system or some apps like Samsung Pay. Should we expect WearOS, a Tizen-like interface, or something completely new? Will the watches support iOS functions? We’ll have to wait to get those answers. As soon as we learn more, we will of course inform you.