Your Pixel Watch might finally get Material You support & a grid app launcher with upcoming Wear OS update

Pixel Watch owners, rejoice! Your smartwatch might finally ditch its bland look and embrace the colorful world of Material You with an upcoming Wear OS update. This development was spotted by 9to5Google and revealed in an “APK Insight” post suggesting both dynamic theming and a grid app launcher are on the horizon, bringing your watch closer to aesthetic and functional parity with other Google platforms.

Say goodbye to generic watch faces and hello to personalized color palettes! Google’s signature design language, already gracing your phone and apps, is poised to extend its influence to your wrist. The update will leverage colors from your watch face, offering a cohesive look and feel. Here’s a screenshot of what you might see in settings once the feature rolls out:

For added control, manual color selection will also be available, letting you choose from a spectrum of options like:

• Almond
• Pomelo
• Champagne
• Limoncello
• Lime
• Pear
• Mint
• Jade
• Spearmint
• Sky
• Sapphire
• Flamingo
• Melon
• Dandelion
• Aqua
• Lilac

While the exact release date remains under wraps, whispers point towards a potential arrival with the March 2024 Pixel Feature Drop. This means your Pixel Watch could be among the first to sport the new Material You look. However, patience is key for owners of other Wear OS devices, as brands like Samsung might take time to integrate the Material You into their custom skins.

But the visual revamp isn’t the only exciting news. The app drawer is also getting a makeover, with hints suggesting a grid view option is in the works. This would be a welcome change from the current list format, allowing you to browse and launch apps more efficiently. While still in its early stages, the “three_column_grid_launcher” code snippet unearthed by the publication hints at a future where navigating your apps becomes faster and more intuitive.

While an official announcement is still awaited, the evidence is clear: exciting changes are coming to Wear OS. With Material You’s dynamic theming and a potential grid app launcher, your Pixel Watch (and other compatible devices) are set to become more visually appealing and functionally efficient. So, keep your eyes peeled for the update.