When the Pixel Watch 3 was announced last month, Google quietly launched it with Wear OS 5. Now, that upgrade is starting to roll out to older Pixel Watch models, including the Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2. All models running Wear OS 3.5 or Wear OS 4 will receive the September 2024 software update with Wear OS 5 starting today.
As per usual, Google is staggering the rollout over the next week in phases, depending on the carrier and device. But you can head into Settings and check for the Update on your watch now.
What’s new in Wear OS 5?
So what’s going to be new on your Pixel Watch? Well, older Pixel Watches will gain the new grid-view app launcher, improved camera controls and the Pixel Recorder functionality. These are all really great additions to the Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2. It should also improve the performance of the device.
This does also come with the September security update, which means there will be loads of bugs and other issues fixed as well, you can check out the Pixel Watch Security Bulletin here for more details.
This is all great news for Pixel Watch users, as Google is actually keeping its word and continuing to update the Pixel Watch. As for the Pixel Watch 3 users, you likely won’t be getting any form of this update, as your device should already be on the September Security Patch and it launched with Wear OS 5. So, unfortunately, there is nothing new for the newest model right now.
As for other non-Google smartwatches, you’ll have to wait and see what the OEMs do with Wear OS 5. Though, we expect Samsung to start rolling it out pretty soon to its Galaxy Watch devices. Wear OS 5 did technically launch on the Galaxy Watch 7 and Galaxy Watch Ultra earlier this Summer, but we expect to see it come to the Galaxy Watch 6, 5, and likely the 4.