If you’ve been rocking a Pixel Watch or Pixel Watch 2 lately, you’ve probably noticed it’s been doing everything but taking the day off. And now, Google’s giving your wrist candy a well-deserved upgrade with the Wear OS 5 update. Whether you’re team OG Pixel Watch or the newer second-gen, both are in for a refreshing treat.
Let’s dive into what’s got everyone buzzing.
First off, let’s talk about Wear OS 5, which is based on Android 14. Yep, that’s right — the same Android 14 that’s been making waves on Pixel phones is now strutting its stuff on your watch. This update brings a slew of performance improvements and bug fixes.
A peek into the new Wear OS 5 features
Privacy dashboard: The update brings a new Privacy dashboard under Settings > Apps & Notifications. This gives you a centralized view of how each app is getting cozy with your data, like location and microphone access. Because hey, who doesn’t like knowing when apps are nosing around?
Watch face format: Then there’s the new Watch face format. Think of it as a watch face facelift. You’ll now get preset configurations called flavors (fancy, right?), weather conditions, a heart rate system data source, and two new types of complications: goal progress and weighted elements.
Grid app menu: Tired of scrolling through a list of apps? Now, you can switch to a grid app menu. Just a few taps, and your apps will be laid out in a sleek grid, making it easier to find what you’re looking for.
Media output selection: And if you’ve ever been that person fumbling with your phone to switch music devices, there’s good news. You can now choose your media output directly from your watch. So whether it’s blasting tunes through your speaker or switching to your earbuds, it’s just a wrist tap away.
Screenshot detection: Oh, and Wear OS 5 apps can now detect when you take a screenshot, just like in Android 14. Because, apparently, even your watch is curious about why you’re capturing your step count at 3AM.
For the fitness enthusiasts out there, you’re in for a treat. The Health Services update now tracks some seriously detailed running metrics. Ever wondered about your ground contact time, stride length, or how much you bounce with each step (that’s vertical oscillation, for the uninitiated)? Well, your watch will now give you these insights and more.
There’s also something called “Debounced goals,” which helps you stick to a specific range during your workout, whether that’s your heart rate or any other metric you’re monitoring. Furthermore, the Google Camera app now gives you improved controls right from your Pixel Watch. So, no more awkwardly fumbling with your phone for the perfect shot. Plus, you can now install the new Pixel Recorder app for Wear OS 5.
Now, if you’re impatient or simply curious enough, you might want to speed up that update process. Just put your watch on charge, open the Settings > System > System update page, and tap the watch icon at the top a few times in a row. This should speed up the update for your watch.
For those who like to keep tabs on every detail, here are the build IDs for your detective work:
- Pixel Watch 1: AW2A.240903.005.A2
- Pixel Watch 2: AW2A.240903.005.A1
Hillary Keverenge
2445 Posts
Tech has been my playground for over a decade. While the Android journey began early, it truly took flight with the revolutionary Lollipop update. Since then, it's been a parade of Android devices (with a sprinkle of iOS), culminating in a mostly happy marriage with Google's smart home ecosystem. Expect insightful articles and explorations of the ever-evolving world of Android and Google products coupled with occasional rants on the Nest smart home ecosystem.
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