New Wear OS perks will be unveiled at Google IO 2021, according to an official tweet, which could be anything from extra features to a redesign that could be coming to the operating system later this year.
Google didn’t hint at what’s in store in its tweet by the Wear OS team, only that ‘the time has come’. That’s a cute pun befitting Google’s tame ‘dad joke’ humor, and could just be a simple announcement prefacing some new Wear OS perks.
The time has come for #GoogleIO. Join us tomorrow for a look at what’s new on Wear OS. pic.twitter.com/ylGiIevTc4May 17, 2021
Given how rare Wear OS is updated, this is a big deal for folks toting smartwatches that aren’t sold by Apple or Samsung. Some early scheduling details suggested an update could be coming at Google IO 2021, though it could just be Google pushing third-party app programmers to build more Tile interactions.
Or...another smartwatch?
The tweet’s ‘the time has come’ message could also refer to the Google Pixel Watch, which recent leaks and rumors suggest could be announced soon. Google IO 2021 would obviously be a great stage to debut the wearable, though we’ve only recently seen evidence that the device exists in the form of renders.
But it could also refer to a rumored Wear OS-powered Fitbit: Google acquired the fitness wearable company in January and the company quietly started pumping more resources into the operating system in the months since, suggesting Google may introduce a new product under the Fitbit name running Wear OS. This is all conjecture, of course, and with only a day until Google IO 2021, there’s little wait until the company reveals its plans.
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