Wear OS

Wear OS (formerly Android Wear) is a closed-source Android distribution designed for smartwatches and other wearable computers, developed by Google. Wear OS is designed to pair with mobile phones running Android (version 6.0 "Marshmallow" or newer) or iOS (version 10.0 or newer), providing mobile notifications into a smartwatch form factor and integration with the Google Assistant technology. Wear OS supports Bluetooth, NFC, Wi-Fi, 3G, 4G, and LTE connectivity, as well as a range of features and applications provided through Google Play. Watch face styles include round, square and rectangular. Hardware manufacturing partners include Asus, Broadcom, Fossil, HTC, Intel, LG, MediaTek, Imagination Technologies, Motorola, OnePlus, Google, New Balance, Xiaomi, Qualcomm, Samsung, Huawei, Skagen, Polar, TAG Heuer, Suunto, and Mobvoi. The operating system was first released in 2014 as Android Wear, and took its current name in 2018. Analysts estimate that over 720,000 Android Wear smartwatches were shipped in 2014, the year of its launch. By mid-October 2022, the Wear OS app had more than 50 million downloads. Wear OS was estimated to account for 17.3% of the smartwatch market in Q3 2021, behind Apple's 21.8%. As of 2025, Samsung accounts for the majority of Wear OS devices sold, due to its switch back from Tizen to Wear OS in 2021.