Alongside the health-focused Feature Drop, Google is beginning to roll out Wear OS 5.1 based on Android 15 to the non-LTE Pixel Watch 2 and 3.
This is a fragmented launch. As of Tuesday afternoon, Wear OS 5.1, which is based on Android 15 in a jump from Wear OS 5 and Android 14 — is only available on the Bluetooth/Wi-Fi variant of the Pixel Watch 2 and 3.
The on-device OTA (which can be triggered by repeatedly tapping the update screen) and manual images are only available for those two models. The LTE versions, as well as the first-generation Pixel Watch, are currently excluded.
Update: According to Google’s changelog, Wear OS 5.1 will (eventually) be available to all generations of devices:
- Pixel Watch 1: BP1A.250305.019.W2
- Pixel Watch 2 & 3: BP1A.250305.019.W3
The rollout will continue over the next few weeks in phases depending on carrier and device.
Google’s changelog highlights Loss of Pulse Detection in the US and Menstrual Health Support (rolling out via on-watch Fitbit app update) on the Pixel Watch 3. Meanwhile, the Pixel Watch 2 is getting Auto Bedtime Mode. All devices benefit the new step count algorithm and a “Media Controls Upgrade”:
Make it easier to control audio content from the watch with control types based on content being played (such as Podcasts within YouTube music).
Notably, the “next planned update will target June 2025, and quarterly thereafter.”
This is the first update since November 2024. The developer changelog notes two new capabilities for apps:
- Credential manager support: The Credential Manager API provides a unified authentication solution, supporting sign-in flows using passwords, Sign In with Google). A user’s credentials are stored in a credential provider, which syncs account information across devices.
- Watch speaker playback: On devices that support media playback through the watch speaker, users can select this speaker as their preferred media output option if your app integrates with the Wear Output Switcher.
The first should be available for all users, but the second capability might be device-dependent since speakers are inherently battery-intensive.
Updating…
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