Breaking it down simply — while detailing updates to Android, Search, Gemini, and more, Google also announced Wear OS 7 during Google I/O 2026. Set to release later this year, Wear OS 7 will bring several new additions to widgets, notifications, media controls, and a slew of cosmetic changes to keep things fresh and updated. Developers willing to try out the new OS can flash it starting today through the Canary channel.

Improved battery life: One of the most significant updates on Wear OS 7 comes in the form of improved battery endurance. Google notes that people upgrading from Wear OS 6 to Wear OS 7 can expect around 10 percent better battery life. This should go a long way since the small battery capacities on smartwatches don’t hold much charge due to features constantly running in the background.

Live Updates: Introduced with Android 16 last year, Google is now bringing Live Updates to Wear OS 7 to display glanceable information from apps that require you to track status in real-time, such as delivery apps. This also closes the gap between Apple Watch, since Apple already offers Live Activities on WatchOS.

Wear Widgets: Earlier, widgets on Wear OS used to take up the entire display. With Wear OS 7, Google is switching things up by offering dynamic widgets that come in 2×1 and 2×2 formats. The idea behind it is that the widgets look similar to the ones found on Android phones, resulting in a cohesive look across devices. 1 of 2 Live Updates Wear Widgets

Per-app media auto-launch controls: When playing music on your smartphone using apps like YouTube Music or Spotify, you’ll be able to specifically select which apps can automatically summon the media control on the smartwatch. For instance, with the auto-launch setting enabled for Spotify, the media control will automatically appear only when you start playing music on Spotify, and not for YouTube.

Remote Output Switcher: In an attempt to further improve the media playing experience on Wear OS, Google has added an audio output switcher on Wear OS 7 so that you can play music on any of the devices connected to your phone via Bluetooth.

New Wear Workout Tracker: The Workout Tracker has been updated to support a rich, standardised workout tracking experience, which includes heart rate monitoring, media control, and other features. While still in development, this will allow developers to come up with advanced exercise apps.

AppFunctions: AppFunctions is an API through which developers can integrate their apps with agents like Gemini, giving people the functionality to perform tasks using their voice. Some of the everyday instances of this include placing orders from food delivery apps through voice commands.

Wear OS 7 appears to bring major upgrades across the board, while addressing several quirks of the past iterations. With AI-driven widgets, real-time app updates, efficiency gains, and the potential for Gemini integration, could make Wear OS more competitive than ever, especially for power people who want their watch to feel like a true extension of their phone.