The newly announced Wear platform is a joint effort between Google and Samsung, and it just may have a chance to take on the Apple Watch.
At this moment in time, Apple owns the smartwatch space, and the Apple Watch’s status as the world’s bestselling watch is well-deserved. Google, on the other hand, has let Wear OS stagnate over the years, and while the dedicated companies that use Wear OS keep making great hardware, the software usually feels substandard. Samsung makes the only true competitor to the Apple Watch. The Galaxy Watch 3’s fluid, well-designed Tizen software and innovative control system make it a winner, but it lacks Google apps and services. Neither Google nor Samsung can beat Apple on their own, but perhaps together they can? That’s what was announced at Google I/O 2021. Google’s new “Wear” software is an exciting mash-up of Wear OS and Samsung’s Tizen, complete with Fitbit’s comprehensive health tech for good measure. Apple may not be shaking in its boots yet, but for the first time, it should be looking over its shoulder to see what’s coming. Google said Wear is about three things: Faster performance, longer battery life, and a thriving developer community. Yes, speed and longer battery life will be welcome, but if you’ve ever used both Wear OS- and Tizen-powered smartwatches, you’ll know Samsung has a lot of far more important improvements to bring to this new software platform if it wants to truly compete with the Apple Watch. Samsung’s biggest advantage over Wear OS is the control system. The Galaxy Watch 3’s rotating bezel is a triumph of ergonomic design as it’s so easy to use on your wrist. Some Wear OS watches have rotating crowns, and while it’s a decent alternative to swiping the screen, it’s not always very comfortable to use, and not every company implements it on every watch. The rotating bezel is tied to Tizen’s excellent, natural-to-use menu system.
