Wear OS 5 is the version of Google’s smartwatch operating system built on Android 14. Google previewed it at I/O in May 2024, and it reached consumers that July on the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 and Galaxy Watch Ultra before rolling out to Pixel, OnePlus, and Mobvoi TicWatch models. Its headline improvements are better battery efficiency, a new generation of watch faces, and richer workout metrics for runners. If you own a recent Android-compatible smartwatch, there is a good chance it either shipped with Wear OS 5 or has already received it as a free update.
- Wear OS 5 is built on Android 14 and debuted in July 2024 on Samsung's Galaxy Watch 7 and Watch Ultra
- Google says it can use up to 20% less power than Wear OS 4 when tracking a long outdoor workout
- It rolled out as a free update to Pixel Watch 1-3, Galaxy Watch 4 and later, OnePlus Watch 2, and TicWatch Pro 5-era models
- Wear OS 5 watches pair with Android phones only — there is no iPhone support
What exactly is Wear OS 5?
Wear OS is Google’s operating system for smartwatches, the wearable equivalent of Android on phones. Version numbers track the underlying Android release: Wear OS 4 was based on Android 13, while Wear OS 5 moves to Android 14. That foundation matters because it brings the efficiency, security, and developer improvements of a newer Android core to a device with a very small battery.
As with Android phones, each manufacturer layers its own interface on top. On Samsung watches, Wear OS 5 arrives as part of One UI 6 Watch; on the Google Pixel Watch it appears with Google’s own design and Fitbit-powered health features; OnePlus and Mobvoi add their own apps and battery-management tricks. Underneath, the app platform, Google Play store, and core system are the same.
What’s new in Wear OS 5
Better battery efficiency
The most practical upgrade is power management. Google stated that tracking an outdoor marathon-length run consumes up to 20 percent less battery on Wear OS 5 than on Wear OS 4. Real-world gains vary by watch and settings, but published reviews of the Galaxy Watch 7 and Pixel Watch 3 generally reported steadier endurance than their predecessors on the older software. If longevity is your priority, see our guide to which smartwatches last the longest on a charge.
A new generation of watch faces
Wear OS 5 pushes the Watch Face Format, a more efficient way to build watch faces that Google and Samsung introduced a year earlier. Version 2 of the format adds support for more complications, “flavors” (preset style variations), and data such as weather and goal progress. Importantly, watches that ship with Wear OS 5 out of the box no longer support the legacy watch-face system, which is why some older third-party faces had to be rebuilt or disappeared from newer devices.
Advanced running metrics
Wear OS 5 exposes new running dynamics to fitness apps through Google’s Health Services platform, including ground contact time, stride length, vertical oscillation, and vertical ratio. Developers can also create custom workout targets that alert you when you drift outside a chosen pace or heart-rate range. If you’re new to using a watch for training, our walkthrough on how to track a workout on a smartwatch covers the basics.
Smaller refinements
- Faster, more reliable syncing between watch and phone, and smoother phone-transfer flows when you switch handsets.
- Performance and security updates inherited from the Android 14 base.
- Manufacturer extras that arrived alongside it — for example, Samsung’s One UI 6 Watch added the Energy Score readiness metric and a double-pinch gesture on supported models.
Which watches have Wear OS 5?
Two groups of watches run Wear OS 5: those that launched with it in 2024–2025, and older models that received it as an over-the-air update. Here’s the rundown based on manufacturer announcements and update rollouts.
| Watch | Brand | Wear OS 5 status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galaxy Watch 7 / Watch Ultra | Samsung | Shipped with it (July 2024) | First watches to launch on Wear OS 5 (One UI 6 Watch) |
| Pixel Watch 3 | Shipped with it (Sept 2024) | Later updated beyond Wear OS 5 | |
| OnePlus Watch 3 | OnePlus | Shipped with it (2025) | Dual-chip design for long battery life |
| Pixel Watch 1 & 2 | Updated (late 2024) | Free over-the-air update | |
| Galaxy Watch 4, 5, 6 series & Watch FE | Samsung | Updated (late 2024) | Via the One UI 6 Watch update, including Classic models |
| OnePlus Watch 2 / 2R | OnePlus | Updated (2024–2025) | Staged regional rollout |
| TicWatch Pro 5 series & Atlas | Mobvoi | Updated (2025) | Rollout began with newer models first |
Newer flagships such as the Galaxy Watch 8 and Pixel Watch 4 launched on the follow-up release, Wear OS 6, so “supports Wear OS 5” is now mainly a question for 2022–2024 hardware. Note that connectivity is unchanged: LTE models still work standalone while Bluetooth/Wi-Fi models rely on your phone — our explainer on whether you need a data plan for a smartwatch breaks down the difference.
How to check your version and update
Wear OS 5 vs. Wear OS 6: should you care?
Google announced Wear OS 6, based on Android 16, in May 2025. It introduces the Material 3 Expressive design language and replaces Google Assistant with Gemini on supported watches. Most watches that run Wear OS 5 — including the Galaxy Watch 7 generation, Pixel Watch 2 and 3, and OnePlus Watch 3 — were slated for the upgrade, so buying a Wear OS 5 watch today generally doesn’t leave you stranded. Health sensors, water resistance, and battery hardware are unchanged by either software version; those depend on the watch itself.
Frequently asked questions
Does Wear OS 5 work with an iPhone?
No. Since Wear OS 3, Google’s platform has required an Android phone for setup and syncing, and Wear OS 5 continues that. iPhone owners are better served by an Apple Watch or a cross-platform brand such as Garmin.
Is the Wear OS 5 update free?
Yes. Like all Wear OS version updates, it’s delivered free over the air to supported watches through the manufacturer’s companion app or the watch’s settings.
Why didn’t my older watch get Wear OS 5?
Manufacturers commit to a limited number of OS updates per model — Samsung promised four years for the Galaxy Watch 4 and later, for example. Watches older than that, and Wear OS 2-era hardware, lack the support window or the processing hardware for the new release.
Did Wear OS 5 change any health features?
The OS itself mainly added workout metrics for developers; sensor-based features like ECG, SpO2, and sleep staging are determined by each manufacturer’s hardware and apps rather than the Wear OS version.