Wear OS was originally called Android Wear when it first launched in 2014, Google’s wearable platform was renamed Wear OS a few years later.
Google is famous for its mobile operating system – Android. It is loaded on its Pixel phone and many other companies have adopted it for their smartphones. Now Google has adapted Android for smartwatches with Wear OS. Yes, Wear OS is a Google-made smartwatch operating system.
Wear OS was initially known as Android Wear when it was first launched on March 18, 2014. However, Google changed this name to Wear OS in 2018.
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Wear OS enables some advanced smart functions for your smartwatches. They are relaying smartphone notifications, messaging and phone calls, and music playback. You can also make contactless payments, read and respond to messages and monitor your health and fitness.
Now if you are getting started with your new smartwatch here is a list of the essential apps every Wear OS owner has on their smartwatch.
Best Apps For Wear OS-Powered Smartwatches
Here’s a full list of apps that you can download for your Wear OS Powered Smartwatches:
- Spotify
- Citymapper
- Shazam
- Calm
- Google Maps
- Todoist
- Outlook
- Google Keep
- Strava
- Wear Casts
- App in the Air
- Facer Watch Faces
- Lifesum
- Hole19
- Cardiogram
Spotify
Spotify is one of the most popular streaming music services across the world. One can store playlists for offline use – providing you have a Spotify Premium account. You also get a playback control option.
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Google Maps
Google Maps on Wear OS helps you get live updates on buses, trains, and trams. Also the precise direction of your journey. Having Google Maps on your wrist makes it easier to navigate while driving in a new city.
Shazam
Shazam, helps you identify the song that’s playing around you. You can use the app on your wrist to identify the song. The song can be downloaded onto your smartphone. Tap the Shazam button on the watch and it automatically updates the song to the phone app.
Calm
It is quite similar to the relaxation exercises on the Apple Watch. But you will need to be a subscriber to use meditations from your smartwatch.
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Todoist
The Wear OS app on your smartwatch lets you browse your lists. It also allows you to add new tasks when needed – it’s really the accompanying Android app that makes Todoist stand out.
Outlook
The Microsoft service’s app Outlook is well-catered for Wear OS users. It not only keeps the user updated about incoming messages and upcoming calendar events.
Google Keep
It’s perhaps no surprise that Google has some fine apps for Wear OS, and near the top of that particular pile is Google Keep.
The note-taking app finds the perfect balance between usefulness and simplicity – all your notes sync over swiftly from your phone, and you can create new notes and lists from your wrist.
Strava
If you own a Wear OS device with both built-in GPS and LTE, you can now track your runs and biking sessions without your smartphone through the dedicated app.The app lets you track activities such as hikes, runs, and even E-bike rides with support for audio cues and auto-pausing. But will have to pay for the full experience.
Google Keep
A popular note-taking app linked to your Google account. It comes pre-installed on most Android phones and is also available as a Wear OS app. You can directly take notes on your watch or refer to the existing ones without reaching for your smartphone.
AccuWeather
It was one of the first weather apps to arrive on Wear OS. It is equipped to show the current weather on your wrist including the current temperature, forecast, weather alerts, and more. The free version of the app has one issue: it does not come ad-free.
Google Translate
You can use Google Translate on your Wear OS smartwatch. While travelling to a foreign country this helps in understanding the local language. For translating one can use text-to-speech.
Facer
Facer is a watch face app meant for customization. This app comes with a whopping collection of watch faces. You can customize watch faces according to your liking. Facer has now partnered with watchmakers like MVMT. It is to provide exclusive watch faces for the users.
Wear Casts
This app creates a playlist. It will also let you know when the latest episode of your favourite podcasts is available and stream them on your watch. You can watch it easily without taking out your phone.
App in the Air
One of the best as it gives you information on your flight, Real-time boarding and flight status. You’ll also get airport tips and maps. It works offline and there is also an automatic check-in.
Lifesum
This is to keep track of your food intake. Users also have screens to track their key food tracking stats.
Hole19
Hole19 is an all-comprehensive golf assistant. The Wear OS extension provides distance details for more than 40,000 courses around the world. You can sync over golf courses when the signal on your connected phone is sketchy.
Cardiogram
Cardiogram is one of the most advanced heart rate apps. it was earlier only on iOS. But now we have it on Wear OS too. You can check your heart rate variability measurements during workouts and also control the monitoring.
These are some of best apps for Wear OS powered Smartwatches.