Wearables
Wear OS 3.5 March 2023 update brings various new features, expect some for Samsung Watch
Google announced a big firmware update on the Wear OS 3.5 platform as part of its March 2023 Feature Drop. The Pixel Watch is getting benefited directly, and we hope, Samsung will also bring crucial bells and whistles to the Galaxy Watch 4 and Watch 5 series running Wear OS 3.5.
According to Google, the Pixel Watch’s March 2023 software update includes numerous bug fixes and improvements for users. However, the changelog lists various a handful of new features, and improvements for a better user experience on Wear OS 3.5 devices.
The March update brings new Watch Faces to the Wear OS 3.5. On the Pixel Watch, the new Digital Clock is available with a button press when the smartwatch is powered down. The time will now appear upon crown push, along with the red low battery indicator.
In addition to Pixel Watch-specific content, the March 2023 update changelog mentions crucial improvements for Wear OS 3.5. That said, Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 and Watch 5 users may also get crucial improvements and optimization, thanks to the Wear OS 3.5 platform.
Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 4 and 5 lineups run Wear OS 3.5-based One UI Watch 4.5 operating system. The company rolls out Galaxy-exclusive firmware updates and features to consumers, and we expect a big yet feature-rich update in the coming weeks.
Wear OS 3.5 March update changelog
- Watch Faces
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- Digital Clock is now available with button press when the device is powered down. The time will now appear upon crown push, alongside the red low battery indicator.
- Display
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- In addition to tap, tilt, button press to wake the watch, you can now rotate the Crown to wake.
- Touch
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- Optimizations have been added to improve sensitivity of touch screen behavior.
- Settings
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- Battery saver enable/disable single tap support in QSS has been fully enabled in this release.
- Alarms
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- In the coming weeks, a fix will be rolled out via PlayStore to update the Clock app that addresses some alarms which have been having a delayed or false start.
- Ensure Auto-update apps is selected in Play Store > Settings on your watch and you will get this update once it’s available when your watch is on charger and connected to Wi-Fi.
As highlighted in the Google Pixel March Feature Drop post, these features are now also available with this software update:
- Settings
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- Mono-audio which limits the disorientation of split-audio
- New color-correction and greyscale modes that better optimize the display for a wider range of vision preferences.
- Fall Detection
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- Your Pixel Watch now has fall detection which can detect if you’ve taken a hard fall and connect you to emergency services. Once connected to emergency services, your Pixel Watch will play an automated message to request help to wherever you are.
- Device Applicability
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- Updates are available for all supported Pixel Watch devices.
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Wearables
Samsung Galaxy Watch 4/5 June 2023 Wear OS update coming with new Keep and Spotify Tiles, Google Wallet transit cards
On June 1st, Google announced the June 2023 Wear OS update, which would bring new bells and whistles for supported smartwatches including Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 4. The June 2023 Wear OS update will rollout gradually and include new apps, tiles, and customization tools.
New Keep and Spotify Tiles
Tiles give you the information you need with just a quick glance or tap.
Three new Spotify tiles are coming soon, so you can easily play new episodes of your favorite podcasts, see what’s in your heavy rotation and jump into a curated lineup of music chosen for you by Spotify’s DJ.
You can add the new Peloton tile to track your workout streak and help you reach your fitness goals. Moreover, Google Keep is getting a single-note Tile, which allows you to pin a list to the left or right of your watch face.
Google Wallet transit cards
Google Wallet app’s Wear OS variant gains support for transit cards, starting with Clipper cards (BART) in the San Francisco Bay Area and Washington, D.C.’s SmarTrip. Select Wear OS smartwatches running Wear OS 2+ are supported for Google Wallet transit cards.
New Google app features
More Google app features are coming to your Wear OS smartwatch.
With new controls in the Google Home app, you’ll be able to check who rang your Nest doorbell right in your notifications, remotely unlock your door and more.
Besides, two Google Workspace services – Gmail and Google Calendar are coming to Wear OS later this year. You will be able to quickly respond to emails in Gmail, check your schedule, and update task statuses in Calendar.
Wear OS 4 coming too
Regular platform updates keep Wear OS watches like the Google Pixel Watch and Samsung Galaxy Watches running faster, safer and longer with stronger battery life. Wear OS 4 will bring even more updates later this year, with new and improved accessibility capabilities like a faster and more reliable text-to-speech experience.
It will also provide backup and restore support, helping you securely transfer data and settings between watches. And if you’re setting up a watch from your phone, any permissions you’ve granted on your phone will automatically carry over.
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Samsung released a new update for the Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 4 Classic in mid-May 2023. Now, the month of May is about to end and Samsung is expanding this update to more Galaxy Watch 4 series users.
May 2023 update for Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 4 Classic can be identified via the build version ending with GWDA. Users will have to download a 296.18 megabytes software package to install the latest update on their Galaxy Watch.
The new software of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 series installs a fresh version of the Samsung Health app to add skin temperature measuring features. It adds a period tracking feature that predicts your period date by taking your skin temperature. In addition, the latest Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 update improves system stability and performance.
At the moment, the South Korean tech giant is expanding the latest software to Galaxy Watch 4 users in European countries including Slovenia. We recommend you install the update to enjoy new features on your watch.
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To check and download this update, go to the Galaxy wearable app on a connected Android phone and navigate to Watch Settings >> Watch software update. On the Home tab, go to Watch software update >> Download and install.
On May 4, 2023, Samsung introduced its new Galaxy Watch OS—One UI 5 Watch—which will be rolled out to eligible smartwatches. The company confirmed that the Beta testing of the new Watch OS will go live in May, and the next-gen Galaxy watches will come pre-installed with the new version.
This means, the Galaxy Watch 6 series will launch pre-loaded with the new One UI 5 Watch OS in the second half. As of now, Samsung just has a handful of models that are eligible for the new software iteration as previous watches run Tizen OS, not Wear OS.
In 2021, Samsung teamed with Google, ditching Tizen OS the One UI Watch debuted as a new hybrid software for Galaxy smartwatches. As One UI 5 Watch is a major upgrade over version “4” and as speculated Google has also upgraded the Wear OS 4 version to Android 13.
All the amazing Galaxy watches running Wear OS are eligible for the One UI Watch’s 5th iteration. Throughout the Beta testing, which starts this month, your smartwatch may get the One UI 5 Watch upgrade sometime in August this year.
Samsung’s One UI 5 Watch features improved sleep management and fitness functions to offer users a better health management experience. In addition, all the available features in One UI Watch 4.5 linked to user safety have also been improved.
Samsung One UI 5 Watch OS Eligible Galaxy Smartwatches:
Galaxy Watch 5 Series
- Galaxy Watch 5 Pro
- Galaxy Watch 5
Galaxy Watch 4 Series
- Galaxy Watch 4 Classic
- Galaxy Watch 4