Wear OS 3: Everything You Need To Know - March 2023

Wear OS 3: Everything You Need To Know - March 2023,The new Wear OS is finally here, finally giving us our hands-on look at what the software will be like for users. Google was initially quiet on which

Wear OS 3: Everything You Need To Know – March 2023

The new Wear OS is finally here, finally giving us our hands-on look at what the software will be like for users. Google was initially quiet on which current devices would get the update to it. But during the Google IO keynote on May 18, and in the months that followed, it did share some details about what to expect from the new version of its wearables platform.

Better battery life is probably the biggest thing that’s available. But it’s not the only notable improvement that Google made. users can also expect better performance, some new features, and overall just a more well-rounded experience.

This guide will break down everything there is to know about the new Wear OS platform now that it’s been available since the launch of Samsung’s new watch. We’ll update this post periodically as more information becomes available.

The new Wear OS is a unified platform

If you missed the keynote from Google IO earlier this year, you can watch a roughly 9-minute recap of the biggest parts here. But in regards to Wear OS specifically, if you missed the keynote then you missed that Google is unifying Wear OS with Samsung’s touch on the software. Officially the software is called Wear OS 3, but the user interface is called One UI Watch 3.

With Google’s smartwatch OS at the helm and Samsung’s user interface layer on top, users are getting the best of both worlds. Google’s expansive collection of smartwatch apps and Samsung’s more pleasing user experience.

As for what the new unified platform includes, there’s not a ton of specifics yet but Google has highlighted some things. Both Wear OS and One UI Watch have their strengths. Which is exactly what Google and Samsung are trying to offer. This means you’ll see things like Google Assistant and Bixby for voice-activated, hands-free functions.

While other services like Google Maps and Google Pay are being brought into the fold on Samsung’s smartwatches for the first time since the Samsung Gear Live.

Google is officially calling the new platform Wear OS 3

A recent support forum post from Google about the new Wear OS platform refers to it as Wear OS 3, confirming that this will be the official name for the software. This goes for any watches that are eligible to receive the upgrade to the software, as well as those that will launch with it out of the box.

It’s reasonable to have suspected that because Google was making this a new unified platform with Samsung, that it would come with a new name. But Google is choosing to keep the Wear OS name and simply add the new version number.

New apps and tiles are coming

Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 76

Back in July Samsung showcased some of the upcoming platform that it’s working on with Google. The new user experience is officially called the One UI Watch 3. Prior to the announcement of the Galaxy Watch 4, this wasn’t an official name for the user experience, as Samsung was simply referring to it as the One UI Watch experience.

The company initially revealed the new experience during its virtual Mobile World Congress event on July 23. Noting that its upcoming smartwatch at the time, now officially known as the Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 4 Classic, would be the first device to run this new software.

This means that no other Wear OS smartwatches are going to have this software for a while following Samsung’s latest device that has just recently hit the market. In fact, Google also confirmed that Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 4 will exclusively feature Wear OS3 until late 2022. So this will be the only Wear OS 3 watch for the better part of a year.

According to Google, it will begin rolling out updates to compatible devices in the middle to second half of 2022.

Google Assistant and YouTube Music are not on the Galaxy Watch 4 at launch

Following the Galaxy Watch 4 announcement, Samsung confirmed that at launch, the Galaxy Watch 4 would not have access to either Google Assistant or YouTube Music. Furthermore, Google Pay is absent too. Though it will these eventually.

Samsung says it’s working closely with Google to get these services up and running on the new watch. In the meantime, users will still have access to Samsung’s own virtual assistant, Bixby. Worth noting is that YouTube Music is now available on Wear OS if you have the Galaxy Watch 4. Having been made available back around August 27.

Will any current smartwatches be upgraded to the new software?

There are three current smartwatches which have been confirmed as eligible to receive the upgrade to Wear OS 3. This includes the TicWatch Pro 3 GPS, the TicWatch Pro 3 Cellular/LTE, and the TicWatch E3.

Google also confirms that follow on TicWatch devices, as well as Fossil Group’s upcoming smartwatches later this year will also be eligible for the Wear OS 3 upgrade.

Devices eligible for upgrade will need a factory reset

In addition confirming which watches are eligible for the new software, Google has also stated that any eligible devices will need a factory reset. In the support forum post where it confirmed the Wear OS 3 name, it notes that eligible watches will need revert back to the way they were when users got the devices. Which means factory settings.

Google cites the changes to the software as the reasoning for the factory reset requirement.