Samsung Galaxy Watch could get new battery-saving feature with One UI 8 Watch (Wear OS 6)
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WearOS 6 is coming soon — here’s 6 new features to try first when it drops including Gemini AI
Google unveiled its upcoming WearOS 6 interface during the Android Show event. The update brings significant improvements to both functionality and design, with Gemini AI integration and a refreshed visual experience at the forefront. The feature works with any WearOS device that currently supports Google Assistant, so existing users won’t need to upgrade their hardware. Wear OS 6 promises up to 10% better battery life through behind-the-scenes performance improvements and power optimization. Check your watch’s current software version and ensure you’re running the latest available update to prepare for the Wearos 6 rollout when it becomes available later this year. The new features work across different watch brands including Samsung Galaxy Watch series and Google Pixel Watch models. Check out how to set up Loss of Pulse Detection on your Pixel Watch 3 to locate you with your Garmin Watch — here’s how. And if you’re torn between a smartwatch or your phone, we’ve got you covered.
This major update brings significant improvements to both functionality and design, with Gemini AI integration and a refreshed visual experience at the forefront.
Whether you’re using a Google Pixel Watch or Samsung Galaxy Watch, these new features promise to make your smartwatch more capable and intuitive. WearOS 6 will roll out to all existing devices that currently support Google Assistant.
Here are the standout features coming to WearOS 6 and how to make the most of them when the update arrives.
1. Talk to Gemini on your wrist (Image: © Future) WearOS 6 introduces Gemini AI integration, allowing you to interact with your smartwatch using natural language queries instead of rigid voice commands. The feature works with any WearOS device that currently supports Google Assistant, so existing users won’t need to upgrade their hardware. You’ll need an active internet connection for Gemini to process your requests, as offline support isn’t included in this initial rollout. To use it, simply raise your wrist and speak conversational requests to your watch.
2. Experience the new design (Image: © Future) Google’s Material 3 Expressive design language puts the circular watch face at the center of everything, creating more intuitive interactions that take advantage of your watch’s round display. The interface now uses depth-based animations where UI elements shrink as they move up or down the screen, creating a sense of three-dimensional space. When scrolling through menus or notifications, you’ll notice this subtle but engaging visual feedback that makes navigation feel more natural. This design approach works across all circular WearOS watches, from smaller displays to larger ones, ensuring a consistent experience regardless of your device size.
3. Get full-width glanceable buttons (Image: © Future) Notification interactions become more accessible with buttons that stretch across the entire width of your circular display, making them easier to tap during activities. When notifications appear, action buttons will automatically expand to fill your watch’s full display width, regardless of screen size. This means fewer missed interactions when you’re in motion or wearing gloves. The larger touch targets are particularly useful during workouts when quick responses are needed without breaking your stride or concentration.
4. Dynamic color theming (Image: © Future) Your chosen watch face color palette now extends throughout the entire WearOS interface, creating a cohesive visual experience across all apps and menus. To customize it, select your preferred colors when setting up your watch face, and the system will automatically apply this theme to notifications, settings menus, and app interfaces. This ensures visual consistency whether you’re checking messages, adjusting settings, or launching apps. The dynamic theming adapts to both light and dark modes, maintaining readability while keeping your personal style preferences intact.
5. Improved battery (Image: © Dan Bracaglia/Tom’s Guide) WearOS 6 promises up to 10% better battery life through behind-the-scenes performance improvements and power optimization. The battery improvements happen automatically through more efficient background processing and smarter resource management. You shouldn’t need to change your usage habits, the system will handle it for you. Combined with existing battery-saving features like theater mode and always-on display settings, this improvement could mean the difference between daily and every-other-day charging for many users.
6. Access features across different watch brands (Image: © Future) Unlike previous updates that favored specific manufacturers, WearOS 6 features work across various brands including Samsung Galaxy Watch series and Google Pixel Watch models. As long as your current WearOS device supports Google Assistant, you’ll be eligible for the WearOS 6 update. Samsung has specifically confirmed these features will come to their Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Watch Ultra models. Check your watch’s current software version and ensure you’re running the latest available update to prepare for the WearOS 6 rollout when it becomes available.
Now you’ve learned about the new WearOS 6 features on the way, why not take a look at our other useful smartwatch guides?
Check out how to set up Loss of Pulse Detection on your Pixel Watch 3 and you can locate your phone with your Garmin Watch — here’s how. And if you’re torn between a smartwatch or a fitness tracker, we’ve got you covered.
Google unveils Wear OS 6; coming to Galaxy Watches later this year
Wear OS 6 is built with the same Material 3 Expressive design language seen on Android 16. It is designed to be more playful, attract user attention to the most important things, and make full use of the round screen on smartwatches. It features a new set of animations based on improved motion physics. It also brings Material You colors, which were earlier only available on Android smartphones and tablets. The new AI assistant understands natural language much more easily, which means you don’t have to be preice when you ask it to do something.
Wear OS 6 brings new design, improved battery life to Galaxy Watches
Wear OS 6 is built with the same Material 3 Expressive design language seen on Android 16. It is designed to be more playful, attract user attention to the most important things, and make full use of the round screen on smartwatches. It features a new set of animations based on improved motion physics. It is space-efficient and makes buttons more easily tappable.
Material 3 Expressive design, new animations, haptic feedback Advertisement
It also brings Material You colors, which were earlier only available on Android smartphones and tablets. With the new design, when a user selects an accent color for their watch face, the same color is applied across the UI and inside apps.
UI elements can switch between shapes more smoothly. For example, a pill-shaped Quick Setting toggle can turn into a rounded rectangle when activated. While scrolling through a list, items in the list trace the curces of the screen, adding a sense of depth to the information. Tiles are now more dense, displaying more information and actions in the same size.
Haptic feedback is used when you interact with certain elements on the screen, such as Quick Setting toggles. It can also be felt when you scroll through a list or enter PIN to unlock the device. Advertisement
Gemini replaces Google Assistant
Wear OS 6 also replaces Google Assistant with Gemini. The new AI assistant understands natural language much more easily, which means you don’t have to be preice when you ask it to do something. It is also more tightly integrated with more apps and services, including Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Drive, Google Home, Spotify, YouTube, and YouTube Music. It can now read aloud and display both text and images. Advertisement
Fast Access To Wear OS 6 & One UI 8 Watch Check Galaxy Watch Ultra Deals Samsung E-Shop
Improved battery life
Despite all these new features and a newer design, Google says Wear OS 6 improves battery life of a smartwatch by up to 10%. Hopefully, it will be noticeable on Galaxy Watches, which currently last a day or a day and a half with AOD turned on.
When will Wear OS 6 (One UI 8 Watch) be released?