Google Released Wear OS 5.1 Featuring Android 15 for Smartwatches

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Google is on a roll right now, as they just released Wear OS 5.1 featuring Androids 15 for wearable devices. The search giant recently released the first Android 16 developer preview, providing a glimpse into the future of Wear OS next year.

Today, Google released the first Wear OS 5.1 developer preview, which you can try using Android Studio Meerkat. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to run it on an actual Pixel Watch, as it’s just a preview of the next-gen OS for Android Wear. Using Android Studio, you can emulate a Pixel Watch and try the new Wear OS update.

Wear OS 5.1 bring Android 15 and upgrades the API level to 35. It also adopts the new standard for Watch Faces called the Watch Face Format; and will be the only format starting Wear OS 5 and later.

As for the improvements, Wear OS 5.1 focuses on energy efficiency for efficient power consumption and better battery life. Google also updated some background activity restrictions for apps. New data-sharing rules requiring user consent have been adopted.

What is Wear OS 5.1?

Wear OS 5.1 is Google’s iteration of wearable operating system for smartwatches like Pixel Watch and Samsung’s Galaxy Watch series and is built on Android 15, offering enhanced APIs and tools tailored for smartwatches. Its focus lies in refining user interactions, expanding app compatibility, and integrating next-generation features for wearables.

Wear OS 5.1 Features and Improvements

API Level 35 Targeting

Wear OS 5.1 shares API level 35 with Android 15, enabling unified development for mobile and wearable devices. Developers can:

Update the compileSdkVersion and targetSdkVersion in build.gradle for API level 35.
Ensure compatibility by addressing changes specific to Android 15’s API level, such as modified permissions and system behavior.

Credential Manager API

This new API unifies authentication methods like passkeys, passwords, and federated logins (e.g., Sign In with Google). Credential syncing across devices enhances security and user experience.

Watch Speaker Playback

For devices with built-in speakers, apps can leverage the Wear Output Switcher to allow users to select their preferred audio output.

Tiles and Complications

Developers can create dynamic Tiles for quick access to app content and improve the interactivity of Complications, such as fitness goals or weather updates, on watch faces.

Behavior Changes for Apps

System Behavior Adjustments: The Android 15 platform includes behavior changes that might affect your app. The behavior changes that affect all apps in Android 15 are listed here, which uses the same API level as Wear OS 5.1.

While most Android 15 behavior changes apply, some notable exceptions for Wear OS 5.1 include:

Private Spaces: Not supported on wearables.
Predictive Back Animations: May not function consistently.

Improvements

Improved energy efficiency.
Updates to background activity restrictions for apps.
New data-sharing rules requiring user consent.

Known Issues in Wear OS 5.1

Despite its advancements, Wear OS 5.1’s emulator system image presents a few bugs:

Adding accounts post-reset might fail during setup.
Notifications occasionally require screen scrolling before opening the related app.
Exercise tracking via Wear Health Services may intermittently fail.

How to install Wear OS 5.1?

The only way to access Wear OS 5.1 is via the official Android Studio emulator. It is only meant for developers to test their apps, stability, and compatibility.

Download and install the latest release of Android Studio Meerkat if you haven’t done so already.
In Android Studio, click Tools > SDK Manager.
In the SDK Platforms tab, expand the Android 15.0 (“VanillaIceCream”) section and select either Wear OS 5.1 – Preview ARM 64 v8a System Image or Wear OS 5.1 – Preview Intel x86_64 Atom System Image:
Click OK. When the Confirm Change window appears, click OK again.
Wait for Android Studio to download and install the system image, and then click Finish.