Google has reportedly begun testing its upcoming Wear OS 5.1, an advanced operating system tailored for Android-based wearables like smartwatches, specifically the Pixel Watch 2. This testing phase suggests that Wear OS 5.1 could be built on Android 15, marking a shift from Google’s previous approach of using the prior year’s Android version for Wear OS updates. For example, Wear OS 3, launched last year, was based on Android 13 from 2022.
Wear OS 5, which was previewed by Google in May 2024 and officially introduced with the Galaxy Watch 7 in July, brought significant enhancements, including an updated Watch Face Format and a grid-based app launcher. If Wear OS 5.1 rolls out, it would be Google’s first interim point update in two years, with the last such update being Wear OS 3.5 in October 2022. However, the name “Wear OS 5.1” is not yet official, and Google may revise it before the final release.
Reports indicate that the test builds of Wear OS 5.1, particularly for the Pixel Watch 2, have build identifiers starting with “AP4A.” While specific features or a release timeline for Wear OS 5.1 remain unknown, the anticipation for its potential Android 15 foundation is high.
In terms of watch face compatibility, Google confirmed with Wear OS 5 that watch faces created without the Watch Face Format (WFF) would no longer be supported on the Google Play Store. While users of smartwatches running Wear OS 2 or later can still access these non-WFF watch faces, the data will not transfer if they upgrade to a Wear OS 5-powered device. Moreover, some watch faces may no longer be available for download.
