Android Wear 2.0 was officially announced today and it is poised to significantly change the smartwatch landscape when it starts rolling out to end users.
Users purchasing a new smartwatch such as the upcoming LG Watch Style or LG Watch Sport will be able to experience Android Wear 2.0 right out of the box, but for owners of older Android Wear smartwatches, we’ll have to wait until an OTA update reaches our devices. Fortunately, we won’t have to wait very long, as Pocket-Lint reports that the next major upgrade to Android Wear will begin rolling out on February 15th. As with any other OTA roll out, not every user or region will see the update at the same time, with some users having to wait weeks until the update hits their device.
We’ll be on the lookout for Android Wear 2.0 OTAs as they roll out and will keep you updated when an XDA member captured the OTA, but for now let’s recap what devices will be included in the roll out.
Devices that will receive Android Wear 2.0
ASUS ZenWatch 2 & 3
Casio Smart Outdoor Watch
Casio PRO TREK Smart
Fossil Q Founder
Fossil Q Marshal
Fossil Q Wander
Huawei Watch
LG Watch R
LG Watch Urbane and 2nd Edition LTE
Michael Kors Access Smartwatches
Moto 360 2nd Gen
Moto 360 for Women
Moto 360 Sport
New Balance RunIQ
Nixon Mission
Polar M600
TAG Heuer Connected
This list, of course, only includes devices that are officially confirmed to receive Android Wear 2.0. Though it is unlikely to happen, it is not out of the ballpark to see unofficial builds pop up on devices not listed here. Development, though relatively scarce when compared to flagship smartphones, does still occur on smartwatches.
Although, no amount of custom development can enable support for services that your hardware doesn’t support. Android Wear 2.0 features Android Pay support (which requires NFC) as well as an improved Google Fit with weight-lifting tracking (requiring additional body sensors), so don’t expect every nifty new feature to work on your older smartwatch. Fortunately, most of the enhancements will still make their way to your smartwatch, so anyone still sporting one of the above smartwatches have much to look forward to when the new update starts rolling out.