After many delays, Google is gearing up to release Android Wear 2.0 update early next year. A number of the existing Android Wear-powered smartwatches will be getting the update.
Some of the new features you can expect from the new version of Android’s wearable platform include support for Android Pay and Google’s voice-controlled Assistant. The update also brings with it standalone apps that can work without using a smartphone.
It must be noted that Android Pay won’t be coming to all devices since there is a hardware requirement that not all of these smartwatches have.
According to Android Wear Product Manager Jeff Chang, the final developer preview will be coming out in January. Android Wear 2.0 will work on both Android and iOS and will both support Android Pay.
The existing smartwatches that will get Android Wear 2.0 are:
Asus ZenWatch 3
Asus ZenWatch 2
Casio Smart Outdoor Watch
Fossil Q Founder
Fossil Q Marshal
Fossil Q Wander
Huawei Watch
Huawei Watch Ladies
LG G Watch R
LG Watch Urbane
LG Watch Urbane 2nd Edition LTE
Michael Kors Access Bradshaw Smartwatch
Michael Kors Access Dylan Smartwatch
Moto 360 Gen 2
Moto 360 Sport
Nixon Mission
Polar M600
Tag Heuer Connected
New hardware will also be coming out with Android Wear 2. While Chang won’t say which manufacturer they worked with, there will be two flagship Android Wear 2.0 smartwatches coming out early next year. These won’t be Google- or Pixel-branded as speculated by some but will carry the brand of the unnamed manufacturer. Chang says the collaboration with this brand is much like Google Nexus smartphone program of recent past. He adds that we can also expect more Android Wear 2.0 devices starting with CES in a few weeks and later on at Baselworld.
Source: The Verge
