Google has announced some exciting news for smartwatch users with the unveiling of Android 16 and Material 3 Expressive for Wear OS 6. This new design overhaul aims to make the operating system more emotional, fluid, personal, and glanceable.
One of the challenges Google faced was adapting the circular display of smartwatches to the new design, but Material 3 Expressive has been specifically designed to address this issue.
Wear OS 6 introduces scrolling animations that follow the curvature of the display, enhancing the sense of depth and accessibility of information. Google has also revamped daily experiences like using the pin pad and controlling media with motion and responsive feedback.
Other elements of Material 3 Expressive include shape-morphing elements for smaller screens and dynamic color theming throughout the system. Glanceable buttons and space-efficient tiles aim to make interactions more intuitive and efficient.
In addition to the visual changes, Wear OS 6 also brings performance improvements, with Google promising up to 10% longer battery life. The introduction of Gemini to Wear OS and other devices further enhances the user experience.
These enhancements will be available on Pixel devices first, including the anticipated Pixel Watch 4, later this year.
