January 25, 2024 – In a recent development, it has been reported by foreign technology news outlet 9to5Google that Google is collaborating with Samsung to introduce Wear OS 5, which will be based on the Android 14 system.
The progress of Wear OS updates has been sluggish in recent years. Google launched Wear OS 2.2, based on Android 9, in 2018, primarily introducing cosmetic features such as Tiles. In 2021, they released Wear OS 3, which was based on Android 11, but it didn’t bring significant overhauls.
Last year, in 2023, Google partnered with Samsung to debut Wear OS 4 on the Galaxy Watch 6, bringing Android 13 support, backup functionalities, and several enhancements to compatible watches.
According to the report, Samsung is preparing to bring Android 14 to its upcoming Galaxy Watch 7, which is rumored to feature the Exynos 5535 chipset. Once released, it is anticipated to be known as Wear OS 5.
Based on past trends, it’s likely that the Galaxy Watch 7 series, expected to arrive this summer, will be the first to showcase Wear OS 5.
Regarding the specifics of Wear OS 5, Google has remained tight-lipped, leaving much to speculation. Following last year’s pattern, we may have to wait until Google updates its own Pixel Watch series to gain more insights into Wear OS 5’s features.
It’s worth noting the timing of Wear OS 5’s emergence. Historically, Wear OS has followed a bi-annual upgrade cycle, aligning with Android versions 9, 11, and 13.
However, with the planned release of a new Wear OS version based on Android 14, it appears that Google might be shifting to an annual update cycle for its wearable operating system, aligning more closely with the Android OS releases.
