We’re waiting for Put on OS 6, the software program that can underline the upcoming Pixel Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 8.
There’s nothing official but in regards to the new Android wearable working system. Nevertheless, we’re pretty sure that Gemini and a serious {hardware} improve will underpin some important function modifications. And the current Galaxy Unpacked gave us some function hints, too.
We even have a reasonably clear thought of which watches will obtain Put on OS 6, when the replace ought to arrive, and what options it ought to obtain, primarily based on our expertise with Put on OS 5.
Let’s look forward at the way forward for Android smartwatches and break down what to anticipate from Put on OS 6 in mid-2025.
Put on OS 6 options
Put on OS 6 ought to arrive first on the Galaxy Watch 8 and Pixel Watch 4, although Samsung’s watch will use One UI 7 Watch and have distinctive options. We’ll focus first on Google’s mainline model of Put on OS 6.
An APK deep dive discovered proof that Google will exchange Assistant with Gemini on Put on OS watches quickly. We do not know if Gemini will arrive with Put on OS 6 or with the upcoming March 2025 replace to Put on OS 5; Google hasn’t up to date the Pixel Watch 3 since November, so it is potential they’re pushing out a serious AI replace earlier than OS 6.
At any time when it arrives, Gemini on Put on OS 6 can be a serious shift, delivering a extra clever assistant and extra helpful well being and health insights.
Not like Android telephones with NPUs for on-device AI, smartwatches haven’t got the capability for actual AI nor the display area for drawn-out LLM responses. The Pixel Watch 4 may have a new Snapdragon chip with quicker efficiency, however Google has to make Gemini suitable with the older watch fashions, too.
That is why Put on OS Gemini instruments would require your telephone to move knowledge backwards and forwards over Bluetooth; nonetheless, we may get the equal of Gemini Reside utilizing your watch’s mic and speaker, solely with a barely longer delay than in your telephone.
In any other case, we assume Gemini on Put on OS will assist extensions with different Google apps, so you possibly can ask Gemini to learn out a Gmail inbox abstract or create a exercise playlist in YouTube Music on the fly.
Past Gemini, we do not know what Put on OS 6 will assist but. Google usually reveals future Put on OS options within the spring round Google I/O, so we’ll be sure you replace this submit then.
One UI 7 Watch
One UI 7 Watch, Samsung’s model of Put on OS 6, already has a number of confirmed options because of Galaxy Unpacked 2025, the place Samsung’s head of Digital Well being, Dr. Praveen Raja, spent a couple of minutes on stage speaking about Samsung Well being options coming this yr.
He described Vascular Load Indicator, a Samsung Well being Labs function that can monitor how your “day by day actions influence your cardiovascular system” so you possibly can “cut back pressure in your coronary heart and preserve long-term coronary heart well being.”
Samsung Well being Labs will even add an antioxidant index graph that can inform the Galaxy AI when making “customized vitamin recommendation” and “tailor-made meal plans and recipes.” These will presumably be out there in your Galaxy Watch 8.
Most intriguing, Raja promised that Samsung Well being may have an AI “Coach” that can allow you to “ask questions, get real-time insights, and obtain customized teaching as when you would from your personal private well being assistant.”
This coach could solely be out there in your telephone, however a wrist-based model will surely be helpful for on-the-go insights!
Apart from these confirmed instruments, we are able to assume that One UI 7 Watch may have different AI or health-focused options, simply as One UI 6 Watch added an Power Rating, AI-based Wellness Suggestions, new gesture controls, and auto-suggested replies in Messages.
Put on OS 6 eligible watches
Put on OS 6 ought to arrive first on the Galaxy Watch 8 and Pixel Watch 4 in late summer time or early fall this yr. After that, there are a dozen different Android smartwatches eligible to obtain Put on OS 6.
Samsung has promised that each one Galaxy Watches will get 4 years of main updates. The Galaxy Watch 4, which began with Put on OS 3 and acquired Put on OS 3.5, 4, and 5 in subsequent years, ought to finish its replace cycle with Put on OS 6.
All different Galaxy Watches with Put on OS software program ought to obtain the most recent replace as nicely. We technically have not gotten affirmation whether or not the price range Galaxy Watch FE will get 4 years, however Put on OS 6 is a given.
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 / Watch 4 Basic
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 / Watch 5 Professional
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 / Watch 6 Basic
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
- Samsung Galaxy Watch Extremely
- Samsung Galaxy Watch FE
Google has promised three years of updates for its Pixel Watches, however wasn’t totally clear on whether or not that meant model updates or safety updates. The first Pixel Watch launched with Put on OS 3.5, so Put on OS 6 can be its last replace if Google does assist it.
- Google Pixel Watch
- Google Pixel Watch 2
- Google Pixel Watch 3
OnePlus confirmed to us final yr that its new Put on OS watches would obtain two model updates and three years of safety patches. Whereas the OnePlus Watch 2 and Watch 2R at present stay on Put on OS 4, we suspect they’re going to obtain Put on OS 5 quickly after the rumored OnePlus Watch 3 and Watch 3 Professional launch.
- OnePlus Watch 2
- OnePlus Watch 2R
Mobvoi would not assure updates, and its most up-to-date fashions just like the TicWatch 5 Enduro and TicWatch Atlas at present stay on Put on OS 4, with that replace arriving in September 2024. It is potential these watches will obtain Put on OS 6 finally, however Put on OS 5 is the primary precedence; plus, TicWatches not assist Google Assistant, so Gemini can be wasted on them.
The one different Put on OS model price mentioning is Xiaomi, which (like Mobvoi) is a couple of yr behind Google and Samsung’s updates. It is potential the Xiaomi Watch 2 and Watch 2 Professional will obtain Put on OS 6, however not till 2026 at this present tempo.
Put on OS 6 wishlist
Apart from our predicted options above like on-wrist Gemini Reside and Samsung coaching load, now we have a number of options that we might wish to see on Put on OS 6 and/or One UI 7 Watch.
As I wrote in my Put on OS 2025 predictions column, I need to see additional battery life enhancements with Put on OS 6. Google did an ideal job extending its present watches with XML watch faces and pushing extra processes to the co-processor that makes use of much less battery; I would wish to see them focus much more on effectivity and low-power idling with this subsequent software program replace to make Android watches extra long-lived.
Put on OS 6 also needs to make watch faces extra thrilling once more. Google banned third-party watch faces on Put on OS 5, which helped with battery life however made your visible choices way more restricted and tougher to search out within the Play Retailer. I would wish to see Put on OS 6 carry again Facer as an official watch face retailer for XML faces, in addition to a strategy to generate AI watch faces utilizing Gemini.
Put on OS 5 made some main health updates with cardio load, operating type evaluation, and the power to observe a goal vary like tempo or coronary heart price for a exercise. Put on OS 6 ought to proceed this health focus: It may add downloadable and shareable programs in Google Maps, higher syncing with equipment like HRMs or biking energy meters, and higher non-running sports activities steerage like counting fitness center reps.
On the Gemini entrance, some sort of Gemini Coach LLM that provides you customized well being recommendation primarily based in your nightly stats or judges your coaching load and walks you thru future exercises can be a pleasant perk.
Lastly, I am hoping Put on OS 6 brings us again to a common replace cadence. After the messy Pixel Watch replace rollback after which a months-long wait for brand spanking new options, it is clear that Google’s ambitions for Put on OS generally exceed what it may well squeeze onto watches at regular intervals. It would be good if Put on OS returned to month-to-month updates to match Pixel drops, and if Google carried out a Put on OS beta program to catch points earlier than steady rollouts.
