Wear OS 6 is Getting Android 16’s Material 3 Expressive Design

Google has announced big news for smartwatch users ahead of its I/O conference with the unveiling of Android 16. The new design overhaul, Material 3 Expressive, is making its way to wearables with Wear OS 6.

This new look and feel for Google’s operating system, described as “emotional UX”, aims to make everything more fluid, personal, and glanceable. While Android 16 features for phones may not always translate to Google-powered smartwatches, it’s great to see this update rolling out across different form factors.

One challenge Google faced in matching its phones and watches, as well as third-party devices, was the circular display. However, Material 3 Expressive has been specifically designed to address this issue.

Wear OS 6 introduces scrolling animations that follow the curvature of the display, providing a sense of depth to enhance accessibility of information. Google also mentioned refreshing daily experiences like using the pin pad and controlling media with motion and responsive feedback.

Other elements of Material 3 Expressive that will benefit devices like the Pixel Watch 3 include shape-morphing elements that adapt to smaller screen sizes and dynamic color theming applied throughout the system.

Google

Additionally, glanceable buttons now “stretch to hug the display”, making them more space-efficient and easier to tap. Tiles have also been redesigned to be more space-efficient and engaging, all aimed at making interactions more intuitive and efficient.

In terms of performance improvements, Wear OS 6 is now more power-efficient, offering up to 10% longer battery life compared to previous versions. Google has also confirmed that Gemini will be coming to Wear OS, along with support for various other devices.

These enhancements in Wear OS 6 will be available for Pixel devices later this year, giving users a first look at what’s to come, including the highly anticipated Pixel Watch 4.