Wear OS 5 has officially launched, and while it may seem similar at first glance, there are several exciting changes under the hood that Android developers will appreciate.
Built on Android 14, Wear OS 5 focuses on improving battery life, boosting performance, and enhancing fitness-tracking capabilities.
Google unveiled Wear OS 5 during the Google I/O 2024 event, and shortly after, Samsung announced that it would roll out the update alongside its new Galaxy Watch 7 series and Galaxy Watch Ultra.
The Google Pixel Watch 3 will also feature a pure version of the OS, setting a new standard for future devices. In this blog post, we are going to take a closer look at the standout features of Wear OS 5 and discuss their implications for Android app development in 2025 and beyond.
Let’s begin!
Key Takeaways
Understanding what Wear OS 5 is
Discovering its pivotal features
Looking at some of its best practices
What Is Wear OS 5?
Wear OS 5 is the new smartwatch operating system by Google, which is based on the strong base of Wear OS 4. It is another step by Google to build a coherent, efficient, and developer-friendly wearable technology platform. The operating system is Android 14 and includes performance updates, battery life, and fitness data precision.
Wear OS 5 does not bring any radical changes to the appearance and feel of the interface, but the changes made under the hood are a significant advantage to both the user and the developer.
Google claims a marathon tracking session on Wear OS 5 consumes 20 percent less power than on Wear OS 4, and that is a significant achievement in terms of usability and battery optimization.
Interesting Facts Wear OS 5 tracks Ground Contact Time, Stride Length, Vertical Oscillation, and Vertical Ratio, providing detailed running analysis. (Source)
Key Wear OS 5 Features
Let’s break down the most impactful Wear OS 5 features developers and users should know about:
1. Grid-App Launcher
One of the coolest updates in Wear OS 5 is the new grid-style launcher. Forget the old list view; now you can see your apps laid out in a grid, just like on your smartphone. This makes it way easier to find what you need and jump into your favorite apps faster.
For those providing Android app development services, it’s important to start using adaptive icons. This ensures a consistent visual experience across different watch models and screen shapes, especially when switching between list and grid views.
2. Selectable Media Output
One cool and somewhat sneaky feature in Wear OS 5 is the ability to pick where your music plays from. Now, when you’re jamming to a tune or listening to a podcast, you can easily decide whether you want the sound to come from your watch or your connected smartphone.
For Wear OS 5 for Android developers, this offers a great opportunity to build richer media control experiences. It not only helps reduce battery drain on one device but also keeps playback seamless.
3. Watch Face Format Improvements
Google and Samsung are still partners in the Watch Face Format, and version 2 is currently active with Wear OS 5. The format is based on declarative XML and allows you to define a watch face’s design and behavior, eliminating the need to manually optimize performance.
The new format has new features such as:
Flavor (preset configs to companion apps)
Goal progress and weighted items
Integration of real-time heart rate data
Although it adds more power, the older watch faces might not be compatible. Developers are required to change and ensure that they comply with the new performance and quality requirements of Google.
4. Screenshot Detection
Wear OS 5 has inherited the Android 14 feature of detecting screenshots. The apps that have implemented this API will be notified when a user captures a screenshot. The message of a toast informs the user that a screenshot was identified, increasing transparency and privacy.
This is a key feature in Android app development for wearables that deal with sensitive information, like health or finance apps.
5. API Updates- Health Services
Wear OS 5 puts a lot of emphasis on fitness, and the new Health Services API is one way to prove it. Wearable technology can now track advanced metrics like
Ground contact time
Stride length
Vertical oscillation
Vertical ratio
This detailed information can be accessed by apps via the Health Connect interface and even log a whole workout session in the background.
With Wear OS 5, Android developers gain new capabilities to build fitness apps that offer more accurate, real-time feedback. The update also includes debounced goals, which allow your app to track conditions over time without generating false positives, making it ideal for heart rate or performance-based features.
If you’re planning to build on these improvements, it’s a good time to hire an Android developer who understands Wear OS and can leverage these features effectively.
Intriguing Insights
This infographic shows the global Wear OS smartwatch market size and scope
Best Practices for Wear OS 5 App Optimization
Creating exceptional smartwatch experiences entails more than simply porting your Android application. With Wear OS 5, developers must rethink UI, performance, and accessibility from the wrist up. Here’s how to get it right.
#1. UI/ UX Design Optimized to fit small screens
Wearable design is all about being clear and uncluttered. Each pixel matters, and makes text readable, interactions brief, and animations subtle. EAD design professionals create simple designs that are both functional and visually appealing, making them ideal for the small screen space.
#2. Adaptive Layouts of Watches of Various Shapes
Smartwatches are available in any form: round, square or rectangular. Design fluid UIs with the use of constraint layouts and dynamic padding. EAD creates truly responsive applications that look great on all devices without sacrificing user experience.
#3. Testing the use of Battery with New Developer Tools
Wear OS 5 has more profiling tools to gauge the effect of apps on battery life. Avoid using background drains and unnecessary sensors. At EAD, we put your Wear apps to the test in real-life scenarios to ensure they’re running as energy efficiently as possible.
#4. Localization and Accessibility Enhancement
Support multiple languages, text scaling, and voice controls in your application to make it more inclusive. Wear OS 5 focuses on worldwide accessibility. EAD helps your app not only to work but also to be available to a wide, global audience.
Conclusion
With Wear OS 5, the smartwatch experience is faster, smarter, and more developer-friendly than ever. Businesses have a huge opportunity to create meaningful, high-performing wearable apps, from refined UI layouts to improved health services and power-saving APIs.
But optimizing for Wear OS requires deep platform expertise and an understanding of what users need on their wrists, not just in their pockets.
Ans: Wear OS supports Bluetooth, NFC, Wi-Fi, 3G, and LTE connectivity, as well as a range of features and applications provided through Google Play. Watch face styles include round, square, and rectangular.
Ans: A lot of smartwatch battery drain is due to the screen, so it helps to have the display on as little as possible. Start by going to the Wear OS Watch app on your phone and tapping Watch preferences > Display and gestures to make changes.
Ans: Wear OS 5 includes features that improve system navigation experiences on devices that contain larger displays. In particular, Wear OS 5 supports a denser app selection screen.