Wishing completely satisfying holiday seasons to all fellow Put on OS watch enthusiasts and in advance, offering warmest wishes for a joyous new year! As the final week of the year approached, I revisited my earlier promises to reveal my forecasts about the potential developments that could shape the future of Android smartwatches in 2025. Here I am, keeping faith with promised gifts for devoted Android users – alongside a few chunks of dismal disappointment.
By all indications, 2025 is poised to be a pivotal year for innovation, building upon the strong foundation established in 2024 and the highly anticipated benefits of advanced Snapdragon technology and Google’s Gemini initiative.
As we move forward, it’s clear that certain developments in 2024 could cause concern among Android watch owners this year, depending on the specific model you possess. So good and potentially transformative, here’s a breakdown of what we can expect from Google’s Put on OS watches in 2025, with a focus on both hardware and software innovations.
What’s next for Qualcomm? New Snapdragon architecture, now with RISC-V at its core?
In recent years, several prominent tech companies, including Google, Mobvoi, OnePlus, and Xiaomi, have predominantly employed the 2022 iteration of Wear OS in nearly all their smartwatch releases over the past two and a half years. Unlike annual flagship smartphones, smartwatches do not necessitate sophisticated software demanding significant processing power; 2GB of RAM and outdated processor suffice for their limited computational requirements. Despite this seemingly outdated architecture, it remains plausible that Huawei’s performance will experience an uptick by 2025, given the incorporation of a Cortex-A53 core initially unveiled in 2012.
I was informed in October that, although the timeline was delayed, Huawei still planned to introduce a Snapdragon-powered device in 2025. While the executive failed to provide concrete details regarding core counts, he characterized the new processor as a “feature-centric” and “artificial intelligence-powered” chip that can “scale for several years ahead” due to its robust computational capabilities, enabling it to tackle whatever instruments original equipment manufacturers require.
Based on Qualcomm’s naming conventions, the Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 is expected to power most Wear OS watches by 2027. The company may leverage the open-source, energy-efficient platform with tailored core designs that.
Bekis revealed that the two corporations are actively working together to port Wear OS software to RISC-V, a move that could significantly extend the lifespan of Wear OS watches by achieving “a week’s worth of battery life” as their goal. While a rapid breakthrough seems unlikely, it’s still reasonable to nurture optimism.
Anshel Sag, principal analyst for Moor Insights & Technique, referred to as the potential RISC-V swap “extraordinarily attention-grabbing,” praising that they’d have cheaper customized chips specialised for the appliance and that it could “open the door” for brand spanking new instruments. Although he cautioned that RISC-V may take a bit longer to materialize than expected, the potential rewards could be substantial. This raises the possibility that Google will explore alternative solutions for its Pixel Watch 4 if RISC-V isn’t ready by the 2025 deadline.
Google faces a Snapdragon/Tensor crossroads
It’s assumed that the watch would use the Snapdragon W5 Gen 2, but one leak suggests it may feature an in-house Tensor chip, essentially a lower-powered model of the Exynos W1000, powered by a 2020 Cortex-A78 core and two Cortex-A55 cores.
Google’s current Tensor approach prioritizes in-house advancements, partnering with Samsung LSI, while optimising AI performance at the cost of benchmarked power consumption. Google may employ a similar strategy with smartwatches, opting not to prioritize significant processing power and instead focusing on a robust Neural Processing Unit (NPU) for AI-driven tasks in Gemini devices, rather than paying Qualcomm a premium to license its Snapdragon chips?
The success of Wear OS largely relies on Google’s strategic partnership with Samsung, which enables seamless collaboration and facilitates synchronized software advancements. It will go all-in on RISC-V to uniquely position its Pixel brand within the competitive smartphone landscape, distinct from Samsung’s offerings. If Google’s trajectory remains unclear, I’ll merely speculate on its next move; if it decides to venture forth, a Pixel Watch 4 in 2025 would be an alluring prospect, but simultaneously fretting over Google’s potential for cautious decision-making.
Well-being and health will remain a top priority.
It’s an extremely prudent bet, so I won’t indulge in prolonged contemplation about it. Despite being the first to market, OS 6 from Fitbit will continue to vie for dominance in the health tech space alongside established players such as Google, Samsung, Apple, and Garmin.
A substantial update package for Samsung’s One UI, focusing on wellness features such as sleep apnea monitoring, a Vitality Rating to track overall health, and Cardio Load metrics. Additionally, the new software enhances exercise tools with AI-powered training guidance, workout type evaluation, and customizable tempo or heart rate goals during physical activities.
Google is expected to enhance the Put on OS 6 smartwatches with dual-band GPS functionality, similar to that offered by Samsung, while also expanding its tracking capabilities to include various athletic pursuits, such as cycling and weightlifting, to further emphasize its fitness-oriented features. Samsung is poised to follow in the footsteps of Google and Apple by incorporating a coaching feature that highlights the immediate and lasting effects of workouts.
Until new healthcare technologies become a reality, I will remain cautious about embracing them, regardless of the numerous claims made by companies promising their development. The precise nature of such information disparities remains unclear, but potential areas for enhancement might include forthcoming smartwatch developments.
GEMINI WON’T MAKE WAVES ON SMARTWATCHES
In 2024, Google invested heavily in refining its vast array of services and products to integrate potential innovations across its portfolio, culminating in a bold declaration that Gemini would serve as the foundation for the forthcoming Android XR operating system powering its smart glasses initiative. Despite the lack of concrete evidence, I’m confident that Google will create Gemini, a killer app for the Pixel Watch 4, possibly featuring a streamlined version.
This presumes that Google can successfully migrate its on-device AI capabilities from the smallest smartphone, the Gemini Nano, to a smartwatch processor. The performance hinges on the Snapdragon W5 Gen 2’s energy capabilities, effectively excluding legacy devices with outdated hardware not optimized for Gemini.
“Regarding the Gemini entrance, Sag shared with me that Google appears keen to find a way to enable seamless operation of Gemini on even the most resource-constrained hardware.” “That could involve RISC-V or another highly successful platform.” He acknowledged, however, that “Google Assistant’s performance isn’t where it needs to be,” and predicted that AI may become “the connective tissue between all of our wearables.”
Although I may be mistaken about scaling Gemini down to a wearable size, I still expect Google to incorporate more AI-powered features into Wear OS in due course. The forthcoming Pixel Watch 4 update may incorporate features similar to those found on Zepp Coach, allowing users to track their exercise routines by requesting information about ongoing activities, akin to the functionality currently available on Amazfit smartwatches.
Samsung, a longstanding provider of both Bixby and Google Assistant, will also gain access to Gemini. Recently unveiled with large language model capabilities, its availability is currently limited to Chinese phones; it remains unclear whether it will be compatible with the forthcoming Galaxy Watch 8. Despite the uncertainty surrounding its future, One UI 6 Watch leveraged cutting-edge AI capabilities such as Vitality Rating and intelligent reply suggestions. Looking ahead, Samsung is poised to focus on developing niche feature sets that seamlessly integrate cloud computing and on-device solutions.
The rumor mill has been churning out speculation that Samsung might opt for a new design direction with its upcoming Galaxy Watch 8, ditching the circular face in favor of a squircle shape. However, sources close to the matter have now confirmed that the tech giant WON’T be taking the unconventional route.
By March 2024, reports emerged that Samsung is reviving its pursuit of a square-shaped design for its smartwatches, receiving enthusiastic backing from insiders. The candidate who appeared was almost certainly the one.
Samsung has yet to release a squircle smartwatch since debuting the Gear S in 2014, with the latter’s titanium bezel giving it an elliptical appearance that still wraps around a circular display. As attention turned to the Galaxy Watch, enthusiasts searching for an alternative to traditional circular watches fixated on the distinctive squircle design reminiscent of Apple Watches.
I didn’t think to consider the timing and located the report credible. According to reports, Samsung Chairman Lee Jae-yong is said to have publicly rebuked the company’s MX Division for purported design plagiarism, citing similarities between the Galaxy Watch Extreme and Apple’s AirPods Pro in terms of both options and aesthetics.
Samsung’s apparent reluctance to incorporate squircles into its mainline Galaxy Watch, as evidenced by Lee’s seemingly “offended” reaction, raises questions about the company’s genuine enthusiasm for this innovative design element. While Samsung’s earlier release of the squircle watch may have predates Apple’s version, the fact remains that many would still perceive it as an imitation, a perception that clearly rankles with Samsung’s chairman.
Don’t be surprised if the Galaxy Watch 8 appears strikingly similar to its predecessors, with a sleek, machine-cut design featuring a flat and bezel-less profile. With the cycle of fashion updates in mind, the Galaxy Watch 8 Basic is overdue for a refresh. It’s likely that Samsung will continue to market the Extreme model as is for another year before advancing to the Extreme 2 or discontinuing it like they did with the Watch 5 Pro.
The Open Source (OS) will once more bear FaceR.
Since Google set the XML Watch Face Format as default on Wear OS 5 to boost battery life, this endeavour can only be a nostalgic reverie, for the outdated app and its developers are now obsolete and stale. Despite past disappointments, I believe Facer will resurface by 2025.
Google is unlikely to reverse course and allow power-hungry watch faces to dominate Wear OS, which can compromise device longevity for the sake of visual appeal. Despite its current shortcomings, the present answer – scrolling through an extended record of watch faces in the Google Play Store without categorization – is abysmal. Accordingly, Facer is collaborating with Google to resolve the issue in question and provide an alternative, as I envision it.
Google may soon allow third-party apps to share watch faces with Wear OS once more, provided they’re XML-coded, potentially enabling Facer’s return to new Wear OS watches – even though most of its 500,000 faces would need updates. Could enjoying XML watch faces on Facer lead to their increased discoverability, potentially motivating developers to create innovative designs?
What are you thinking about your 2025 Put on OS predictions?
While none of these possibilities are certain, I do have evidence and compelling reasons to hypothesize. Now I’m poised to unveil my 2025 OS forecast, driven by intuition rather than empirical evidence.
I wouldn’t be surprised if they created a Wear OS smartwatch either. Motorola, having previously acquired Android Wear but now concentrating on its own Moto OS-based wearables, appears to be a plausible contender.
I am increasingly apprehensive about the prospects of 2025. While acknowledging potential challenges, I’m concerned that manufacturers such as Mobvoi may struggle to adapt to Wear OS 5, potentially leaving existing OS 4 watches unsupported in the meantime. With the release of Put on OS 6, the gap between new and legacy watch operating systems might grow even more pronounced?
While we may expect to see this technology become mainstream by its primary stage, there’s a possibility that the hardware won’t be ready for integration into wearables until at least 2025.
Lastly, I am going to exit on a limb and speculate that Google will. Despite potentially sacrificing exclusive access to Pixel Watches, the rewards might still justify the compromise for them.
