What Wear OS 3 was absent at Google I/O 2022, but that’s just fine

Google purposefully didn’t reveal more during this year's I/O presentation about what it’s doing with Wear OS 3 (and if any more devices are going to get it), but leading industry experts say that was a calculated decision. They note that the cyclical nature of when certain devices are launched plays a key role in why we won’t hear about the software platform until later this year. Google announced Wear OS 3 last year and Samsung then launched the first smartwatch, the Galaxy Watch 4, to house Google’s revamped software. While there have been software updates to the Galaxy Watch 4 (one of the best smartwatches out there) over the course of the past year, there haven’t been any announcements from manufacturers that plan to use Wear OS 3. In fact, companies like Fossil and Mobvoi have still not received the update to use Wear OS 3 on their smartwatches. Android Central reached out to these two companies, but neither responded back in time for publication. During this year’s I/O, the only announcement regarding Wear OS 3 was the forthcoming Emergency SOS feature for Wear OS, Google Wallet (which will be available on the platform), and Google Assistant becoming available on the Galaxy Watch 4. Google did say that more watches were coming with Wear OS 3, including Fossil, Montblanc, and Move, among others, but did not indicate anything more than that. Ashe Sag, a senior analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy, says Google likely wanted to save anything to do with Wear OS 3 for the launch of the Pixel Watch, which is slated for sometime later this year — that would include partner details.“It buys Google more time, plus it gets to talk about Pixel Watch and then mention the adjacent brands in a lesser capacity if that’s how Google ends up positioning the Pixel Watch,” he says. Part of this decision is also because Wear OS 3 isn’t very new, Sejong LIM, research analyst at Counterpoint Research, points out. She notes that because it’s been around since last year’s Galaxy Watch 4 series, Google probably wouldn’t have had to take it seriously this year at I/O. Hitesh Ubrani, research manager for IDC's worldwide device tracker, notes that most manufacturers watch the nature of when products are typically launched to make major announcements about hardware and software. Ubrani says that like many other products, the smartwatch market tends to be seasonal and as such, brands typically release products in the second half of the year. “Making a big splash with Wear OS 3 now without product availability could sour some users or set the wrong expectations. Google’s partners are also likely to appreciate the lack of emphasis. Google teased the OS and products, but now partners have time to shape their products, marketing materials, and help set consumer expectations,” he says. Brain adds that Google is also likely working with other smartphone vendors to create more Wear OS watches.“The initial devices we see from Pixel, Samsung, Fossil, and others will also serve as a proof of concept for other partners, so it’s important Google gets this right,” he notes. Sag agrees, adding that because partners are looking to sell during the holiday season, that will likely be when hardware announcements will be made along with more news about Wear OS 3.