Title: Wear OS 6 Hands-On: An Insight into Google’s Smartwatch Vision with the Pixel Watch 3
During Google I/O 2025, amid the excitement surrounding Gemini AI and Android XR glasses, a less publicized yet equally important announcement was made in the Android Village: Wear OS 6. Although the official launch of Wear OS 6 is still months away, attendees were given a unique chance to test an early version of the smartwatch operating system on the new Pixel Watch 3. Here’s what we discovered from this exclusive hands-on session.
Material You Meets the Wrist: Material 3 Expressive
A key highlight of Wear OS 6 is the rollout of Material 3 Expressive. This redesign introduces dynamic theming to smartwatches, reflecting the style found on Android devices. The user interface now adjusts to the colors of your watch face, resulting in a cohesive and tailored experience.
While this feature is still undergoing refinement—some Quick Settings menus had not yet been colorized—Google assured that complete theming support is on the horizon. Currently, only watch faces compatible with Wear OS 6 utilize this function, but backward compatibility for older faces is being developed.
A More Fluid and Responsive UI
The revamped interface focuses on smooth scrolling and dynamic resizing. A standout addition is the “Edge Hugging button,” a UI feature that activates from the bottom of the display and conforms to the rounded edges of the Pixel Watch 3 screen. This not only enhances the visual appeal but also improves usability on smaller screens.
Google has also introduced a new UI tool called TransformingLazyColumn, which reduces the size of cards at the top and bottom of the display to keep attention centered on the main content. Although the demo unit displayed limited notifications, the interface felt seamless and responsive, with no evident lag.
Tiles Get a Major Upgrade
Tiles in Wear OS 6 have received a significant enhancement, now offering more informative and visually appealing layouts. The new 3-slot configuration includes:
– A top section for the app name and icon
– A central content area customizable by developers
– A bottom-edge button for deeper interaction or launching the full app
On the 45mm Pixel Watch 3, there’s room for up to five shortcut buttons to be displayed clearly, while the 41mm version adeptly adjusts content to fit its smaller display. This results in a more engaging and useful glanceable interface, encouraging users to interact with Tiles more often instead of accessing full apps.
Performance and Battery Life
Despite the more intricate visual design, Google asserts that Wear OS 6 will provide superior performance compared to Wear OS 5. According to John Zoeller, a Dev Relations Engineer at Google, the new OS is designed for efficiency and is anticipated to deliver a 10% improvement in battery life on compatible devices.
Hands-On Limitations
It’s essential to keep in mind that this was an early version of Wear OS 6. Many third-party applications are still awaiting optimization for the new system, and features such as the Watch Face Push Store are not yet operational. The demo units were also secured to stands, limiting the opportunity to assess fitness tracking, notifications, or other practical applications.
Nonetheless, the preview presented an intriguing glimpse of what lies ahead.
Pixel Watch 3: The First to Showcase Wear OS 6
The Pixel Watch 3 is the inaugural device to operate Wear OS 6, albeit currently in a demo capacity. With its edge-to-edge display and enhanced hardware, it serves as the ideal platform for Google’s latest smartwatch concept. The watch’s larger screen and upgraded internals enable it to showcase the new UI and features without compromise.
What’s Next?
Wear OS 6 is anticipated to officially debut alongside the Pixel Watch 4 later in 2025, with updates for older Pixel Watches and other qualifying devices to follow. In the meantime, developers can explore the Wear OS 6 emulator, and I/O attendees can catch an early glimpse of the future of Wear OS within the Android Village.
Final Thoughts
Wear OS 6 is poised to be a noteworthy advancement for Google’s smartwatch ecosystem. With a more expressive design, enhanced performance, and smarter Tiles, it seeks to elevate the functionality and visual appeal of smartwatches. While we await its public release, those fortunate enough to be at Google I/O 2025 can have an early taste of what’s on the way—and it’s looking promising.
So if you’re at I/O 2025, make sure to seize the opportunity to visit the Android Village and experience Wear OS 6 on the Pixel Watch 3. It’s a preview of a brighter, more stylish wearable future.
