Google has reportedly started testing Wear OS 5.1, its next operating system for Android-based wearable devices such as smartwatches. Test versions of the operating system have reportedly been found on the Pixel Watch 2, suggesting that it may be based on a different version of Android. Google first announced the Wear OS 5 platform at I/O 2024 in May, unveiling several features including the watch face format and improvements to the web-based app launcher.
Google’s Wear OS 5.1 Test Builds
According to Android Authority, Wear OS 5.1 may be based on Android 15, the next operating system for Android devices. This is intended to break the trend of the previous Wear OS-based Android version from a year ago. For example, Wear OS 3, released last year, was based on Android 13 in 2022.
A similar pattern emerged with Wear OS 5 based on Android 14, which was introduced in July with the Galaxy Watch 7 in the form of the One UI 6 Watch. Should the rumored operating system actually launch, it would be the first time Google has released an interim update in two years, and the latest update will be similar to Wear OS 3.5, which was released in October 2022. However, the report adds that this nickname is not real. Officials and tech giants may decide to make changes before release.
The Wear OS 5.1 betas reportedly have IDs that start with “AP4A.” However, there is no information about the features or release schedule.
New Watch Face Format
Google has confirmed that with Wear OS 5, watch faces designed for smartwatches without the Watch Face Format (WFF) will no longer be supported in the Google Play Store. Smartwatches running Wear OS 2 or later will still have access to existing non-WFF watch faces, but no data will be transferred if the user chooses to switch to a Wear OS 5 smartwatch. Additionally, some watch faces may not be available for download.
The change comes after Google worked with Samsung to launch WFF in 2023.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
