Last week we showed off a bunch of Android 17 features, with this year’s focus being more Gemini integration. So it’s no surprise that today’s Wear OS 7 launch is also a minor tweak to the interface with a bigger focus on Gemini.
Wear OS 7
Wear OS 7 brings improvements to battery life, UI, new widgets, Gemini integration, and a more consistent fitness and media experience. With Wear OS 7, battery life is up to 10% better than Wear OS 6. Like Android, Gemini Intelligence with enhanced personalization is also coming to select watches.
Widgets
Notifications now appear as small icons on the watch face, with the notification page supporting Live Update for apps like ride hailing or food ordering, for example. Tiles on Wear OS have also been replaced with widgets similar to Android 16.
Live Update
Gemini integration allows voice commands to be made from a Wear OS watch. For example, food orders or concert tickets can be placed directly on the watch. When paired with Android XR smart glasses, photos taken with Nano Banana that have been transformed using the glasses can also be viewed directly on the watch face.
Media controls have been improved, allowing users to set which apps should launch on the watch when it launches on the phone. Each app can be customized. Transferring audio from the watch to other audio equipment is also easier.
For those who like to exercise, the new Wear Workout Tracker makes it easier to track various data during exercise, and media is tracked and displayed more easily. No more having to fiddle around and find small menus on the watch screen.
The Canary version of Wear OS 7 for developers is available today for testing and developing apps with all the new features announced.
