TL;DR
- Google has revealed Wear OS 7, the latest version of its smartwatch platform.
- The company says watches upgrading to Wear OS 7 could see up to 10% better battery life.
- Google adds that some watches launching later this year will also get Gemini Intelligence.
Google has already made plenty of announcements at its I/O developer conference, but the company still had a major surprise as it just revealed Wear OS 7 for smartwatches.
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Google promises that Wear OS 7 is smarter and more efficient than its predecessor. In fact, the company says users upgrading their watches from Wear OS 6 to Wear OS 7 could see a 10% improvement in battery life
The company adds that “select” watches launching later in 2026 will also gain access to Gemini Intelligence for agentic tasks. It didn’t reveal more details in this regard, but it’s a safe bet that some of these watches will likely be powered by the Snapdragon Wear Elite processor, which brings on-device AI smarts to smartwatches.
The smart features don’t end here, as Google says Wear OS 7 will also let you launch and track app automations for “selected phone apps.” The company gives the example of placing an order via DoorDash. The firm is also introducing an AppFunctions API so developers can integrate assistants and agents, such as Gemini, into their apps. Google gives the example of starting a run via the Samsung Health app by simply telling Gemini to “start tracking my run.”
Don’t care about AI? Then you’ll be glad to know that Wear OS 7 has plenty of other notable improvements. Google is now offering “flexible and dynamic” widgets with two new layouts (small and large, corresponding with 2×1 and 2×2 widgets on phones). Check out the company’s screenshots below.
Google is also bringing Live Updates to watches as part of Wear OS 7. This will give users important, real-time info with a quick glance at the wrist. “For supporting OEMs, Live Updates published by your phone app will also be bridged to users’ watches,” Google adds. Check out the screenshots below, showing Live Updates for a food delivery app.
Wear OS 7 also brings a couple of media-related additions. For one, we’ve now got per-app media auto-launch controls. In plain English, this means you can choose which apps will show media controls on your watch when they play media on your phone. Secondly, Wear OS 7 now offers a remote audio output switcher in the system media controls, so you can easily switch audio output between your watch, earphones, phone, and more.
This is a breaking story — more to follow.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Google says watches upgrading from Wear OS 6 could see a 10 percent battery life improvement.
Gemini Intelligence for agentic tasks on select watches launching later in 2026, plus the ability to launch and track app automations — like placing a DoorDash order — from the watch.
It lets developers integrate assistants and agents like Gemini into their apps — for example, starting a run in Samsung Health by telling Gemini to start tracking my run.
Flexible, dynamic widgets with small and large layouts matching Android's 2×1 and 2×2 formats, plus Live Updates bridged from phone apps to your watch.
