Wear OS 5.1: Google previews new update based on Android 15 for Pixel Watch 3 and other smartwatches
In recent years, Google has had a history of keeping Wear OS on an older base version of Android than its smartphone and tablet equivalent. To that end, Wear OS 5 arrived over the summer for the Galaxy Watch7 and Pixel Watch 3 (curr. $279.99 on Amazon) running Android 14, not Android 15. By contrast, the Pixel 9 series can now be updated freely to Google's latest version of Android.
However, it seems the company will soon rectify this disparity between its smartwatch and smartphone ecosystems. As the likes of 9to5Google have noticed, Google has publicly released the first version of Wear OS based on Android 15, which it is calling Wear OS 5.1. Please note that this update is in beta for the time being.
In other words, we would not recommend installing it on a daily driver just yet. At any rate, Google has revealed a few features that should eventually reach stable Wear OS 5.1 builds. On the one hand, the update introduces the ability to set a Pixel Watch as a preferred media output option.
However, this is only true if an app supports the Wear Output Switcher. On the other hand, Wear OS 5.1 adds a unified password manager that also integrates with third-party services. Currently, Google is expected to finalise its Android 15 update for smartwatches by spring 2025.
Source(s)
Google via 9to5Google
