Wear OS
Smartwatch operating system by Google / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Wear OS (also known simply as Wear[8] and formerly Android Wear[9]) is a version of Google's Android operating system designed for smartwatches and other wearables.[10][11][12] By pairing with mobile phones running Android version 6.0 "Marshmallow" or newer, or iOS version 10.0 or newer with limited support from Google's pairing application,[13] Wear OS integrates Google Assistant[14] technology and mobile notifications into a smartwatch form factor. Wear OS is closed-source, in contrast to the free and open-source Android.[2][3]
Developer | |
---|---|
Written in | C (core), C++, Java[1] |
OS family | Unix-like |
Working state | Current |
Source model | Closed-source[2][3] |
Initial release | March 18, 2014; 10 years ago (2014-03-18) |
Latest release | Wear OS 4.0 (based on Android 13) / 5 October 2023; 7 months ago (2023-10-05)[4] |
Latest preview | Wear OS 4.0 (based on Android 13) / May 2023; 1 year ago (2023-05) |
Marketing target | Smartwatches |
Available in | 93 languages
|
Package manager | APK via Google Play |
Platforms | 32-bit ARM, MIPS, x86 |
Kernel type | Monolithic (modified Linux kernel) |
Userland | Bionic libc,[5] shell from NetBSD,[6] native core utilities with a few from NetBSD[7] |
Default user interface | Graphical (Multi-touch) |
License | Proprietary[2] |
Official website | wearos |
Wear OS supports Bluetooth, NFC, Wi-Fi,[15] 3G, and LTE connectivity, as well as a range of features and applications. Watch face styles include round, square and rectangular. Hardware manufacturing partners include Asus, Broadcom, Fossil, HTC, Intel, LG, MediaTek, Imagination Technologies, Motorola, New Balance, Xiaomi, Qualcomm, Samsung, Huawei, Skagen, Polar, TAG Heuer, Suunto, and Mobvoi.[16]
Canalys estimates that over 720,000 Android Wear smartwatches were shipped in 2014, the year of its launch.[17] By mid-October 2022, the Wear OS app had more than 50 million downloads.[18] Wear OS was estimated to account for 17.3% of the smartwatch market in Q3 2021, behind Apple's 21.8%. Samsung accounts for the majority of Wear OS devices sold,[19] due to its switch back from Tizen to Wear OS in 2021.[20]