In the last few years, Google has consistently kept Wear OS on an older version of Android compared to its smartphone and tablet counterparts. This summer saw the launch of Wear OS 5 for the Galaxy Watch7 and Pixel Watch 3 (currently priced at $279.99 on Amazon), both running Android 14 rather than the latest Android 15. In contrast, the Pixel 9 series has been able to upgrade freely to the most recent version of Android.
Upcoming Changes
It appears that Google is preparing to address this inconsistency between its smartwatch and smartphone platforms. As reported by sources like 9to5Google, the company has officially unveiled the first version of Wear OS based on Android 15, which it has named Wear OS 5.1. It's important to keep in mind that this update is still in beta testing for now.
Caution Recommended
This means we wouldn't advise installing it on your main device just yet. Nonetheless, Google has shared some features that are likely to be included in the stable versions of Wear OS 5.1. One of the highlights of the update is the option to set a Pixel Watch as the preferred choice for media output.
New Features on the Horizon
However, this feature will only work if the app supports the Wear Output Switcher. Additionally, Wear OS 5.1 brings a unified password manager that works with third-party services as well. Currently, Google plans to finalize its Android 15 update for smartwatches by spring 2025.
