We just saw Samsung unveil the Galaxy Watch 7 and Galaxy Watch Ultra, the first smartwatches to run the new Wear OS 5 update. It appears the software is already being tested on older Galaxy Watch models too.
From Android AuthorityRevamped beta builds of One UI 6 – Samsung’s version of Wear OS 5 – have rolled out to the Galaxy Watch 6, Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 4, so we’re talking wearables dating back to 2021.
The different variants of these smartwatches, including the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic and the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, are also eligible for the updates, but it appears that older models will not be getting the Wear OS 5 update.
It’s unclear how long the beta testing will last, but a full rollout shouldn’t be far off. To get the beta builds on your smartwatch, you’ll need to register through the Samsung Members app and be in the US or South Korea.
Incoming upgrades
The Wear OS 5 update doesn’t bring a ton of new features, but the usual security, stability, and optimization upgrades are present, so it’s definitely worth upgrading your smartwatch from Wear OS 4 when you can.
One of the biggest new features is an update to the way watch faces are built, supporting a wider range of complication widgets and data types, which should mean you’ll have more watch faces to choose from.
There’s also improved support for different screen sizes and some power consumption optimizations to make the software less demanding. In theory, you should be able to squeeze more battery life out of your wearable between charges.
Google has an event scheduled for Tuesday, August 13, where we might hear more about a full Wear OS 5 launch. There’s also a good chance the Pixel Watch 3 will be unveiled on that date, possibly with Wear OS 5 on board.
