WhatsApp launches on WearOS helping you stay connected without a smartphone
The smartwatch app is still missing some features
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
WhatsAppon WearOS isexiting its beta stageas the messaging platform launches its first-ever smartwatch app.
Originally announced duringGoogle I/O 2023, this version allows you to do a lot of the same things as WhatsApp on smartphones. Users can send texts, send voice messages, emojis, and quick replies through a wearable, all without having to connect their phone. It’s a proper, standalone app. You don’t have to connect your mobile device to respond to messages althoughthe option does exist.Of course, the end-to-end encryption the platform is known for is present here. Be awareWhatsAppon WearOS is not on par with the other versions. It lacks access to large-scale features likeCommunities. It can’t even makeVoIP (voice over internet protocol) calls,only receive them.
You can install WhatsApp on your smartwatch right now through theGoogle Play Store. However, there is one catch: the wearable must be fairly recent as it has to be running on WearOS 3. This includes devices like thePixel Watchor anything from theGalaxy Watch 5series. People with older watches are out of luck.
It’s unknown if theApple Watchwill ever get its own rendition of WhatsApp. Meta has yet to say anything on the matter. It looks like iOS users will have to go the old-fashioned way of opening WhatsApp on their iPhones if they want to respond to a message.
Future update
There is more on the way for WearOS. Back in I/O 2023,Googlerevealed three newSpotifytiles will be “coming soon”. These tiles will allow users to directly “play new episodes of your favorite podcasts,” see what’s in your music rotation, and offer access to a playlist curated by theservice’s AI DJ.
The launch of WhatsApp on WearOS comes at a very interesting time because, on July 26,Samsungis holding itssecond Galaxy Unpacked event. There is a lot of hype surrounding the event because we could see the reveal of the tech giant’s newest foldable phones. Until today, we couldn’t say for sure whether or not theGalaxy Watch 6would be among the announcements. However, the timing of WhatsApp coming to WearOS feels too coincidental.
You see, WhatsApp was originally meant to release on theoperating systemin the weeks following Google I/O 2023. But it got pushed back a couple of months to the week before Galaxy Unpacked. Considering the factWhatsApp has billions of usersaround the world, we can’t help but feel the rollout was delayed in an effort to drive up interest in smartwatches. More specifically, the aforementioned Galaxy Watch 6.
Get the best Black Friday deals direct to your inbox, plus news, reviews, and more.
Sign up to be the first to know about unmissable Black Friday deals on top tech, plus get all your favorite TechRadar content.
We could be wrong, of course, but, we do hope Samsung’s new flagship wearable does make its debut next week.
In the meantime, be sure to check out TechRadar’slist of the best WearOS devicesfor 2023.
Cesar Cadenas has been writing about the tech industry for several years now specializing in consumer electronics, entertainment devices, Windows, and the gaming industry. But he’s also passionate about smartphones, GPUs, and cybersecurity.
How to delete a character from Character AI
How to turn off Meta AI
New fanless cooling technology enhances energy efficiency for AI workloads by achieving a 90% reduction in cooling power consumption
