Hannah Hopkins
May 16, 2024
Tech giant Google has announced that Wear OS 5, based on Android 14, is now available as a developer preview, focusing on improving battery life and performance, along with new features and guidelines for developers.
This new version of Wear OS 5 Developer Preview brings several improvements and new features that will improve the overall user experience. One of the notable improvements in Wear OS5 is its focus on battery life.
Google has optimised the OS to use less power, making it possible for users to enjoy their smartwatches for longer without needing a recharge. According to GSMARENA, tracking a marathon with Wear OS 5 will use 20% less power than Wear OS 4. This is a significant improvement, and the user will appreciate the extra battery life.
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In addition to improved battery life, Wear OS 5 also brings performance enhancements like workout tracking, which is now more efficient, and overall OS performance is faster and more responsive.
Another feature integrated as the Watch Face Format makes it easier to create watch faces for the platform. This feature is more power-efficient and now supports goal progress and complex types of weighting elements.
Starting in early 2025, all new watch faces published on Google Play must use the watch face format. Existing faces using other libraries will still be able to receive updates without migrating to the new format.
Google is also releasing new guidelines on creating responsive UIs for different watch display sizes and introducing adaptive layouts and components.
