Wear OS 7 brings big changes! Tiles disappear, and Gemini Intelligence makes its mark

While the main focus at this year’s Google I/O conference was on AI models and smart glasses, Google also had a significant new feature for wearables up its sleeve. It introduced Wear OS 7, the next major version of the operating system for smartwatches. There are several changes, and their common denominator is clear – Google wants Wear OS watches to look and function similarly to Android phones.

Widgets instead of tiles and longer battery life

Perhaps the most significant visual change is the departure from full-screen tiles, which Wear OS users have been accustomed to until now. They are replaced by widgets in two sizes – 2×1 and 2×2 blocks. Their appearance and control strikingly resemble the widgets Google introduced in Android 16. Widgets are not only informative but also interactive: for example, you can initiate a call with a selected contact or control music playback through them.

A minor inconvenience is that, unlike Samsung (which customizes Wear OS under the One UI Watch brand), Google does not allow stacking widgets on top of each other on a single screen. This feature remains exclusive to Galaxy Watch devices.

Live Updates, a feature known from Android, will also appear on the main watch face. A small notification icon will be displayed on the screen, and the notification card itself will show dynamic information according to the given application – for example, a countdown for a delivery service or the progress of a music player. A more detailed overview will appear after expanding the card.

Google also promises that Wear OS 7 will be 10% more battery-efficient across watches compared to the sixth generation. The real impact will, of course, depend on the specific model and usage.

Gemini understands third-party applications

Wear OS 7 also brings deeper integration of Gemini Intelligence, though currently only for “selected watches” – Google has not released a specific list, but its own Pixel Watch devices can be expected to be among them. A key new feature for developers is the AppFunctions API. This will allow third-party applications to connect with Gemini in such a way that the assistant can perform specific tasks directly within them.

In practice, this will look like the user giving a voice command, and Gemini will directly perform an action in the given application instead of a web search. Google cites ordering food via DoorDash as an example.

Unified training mode and improved playback

Another specific change is a standardized training mode that Google will build directly into the system. Fitness app developers will thus be able to choose – either use their own user interface, as has been the case until now, or utilize Google’s prepared system design. If they choose the latter, they will automatically gain unified heart rate measurement, media control, and other functions. For users, this means that fitness applications should behave more consistently on watches.

The universal media player has also undergone changes. Users will now be able to decide whether the player should launch automatically when playback starts in a specific application. The playback control page will also gain a new Remote Output Switcher – an audio output switch that will display Google Cast options in addition to Bluetooth devices. This will increase the options for where to play music directly from the watch.

When and for whom

Wear OS 7 will be released “later this year” according to Google’s statement; the company has not provided a specific date or a list of supported watches. New Pixel Watch devices will certainly receive it, and other manufacturers will gradually roll out the update. Developers have access to the Canary version of Wear OS 7 starting today, allowing them to test their applications and prepare watch faces – Google aims to significantly simplify their creation in the new version.

What do you expect from the new Wear OS 7?

Source: Android Developers Blog, 9to5Google