Android Wear and iOS they are already officially supportedThis possibility has been mentioned on several occasions recently, and now it's a reality. All users with an iPhone 5 or later, running iOS 8.2 or later, will be able to use a smartwatch with Android Wear by syncing it with their smartphone. However, will it have the same functions as an Android smartphone?
Android Wear and iOS
It seems clear that the watches won't have as many features when connected to an Android smartphone as they do with an iPhone, but the truth is that the features that have been suggested so far are very similar to those we've seen so far in Android Wear with an Android smartphone. There are three main features. There are more limitations on iOS and some depend on the model and version of the watch.
The first one is that of be able to see received calls, messages, and smartphone notifications, on our smartwatch. This is already possible on Android, of course, although there seems to be a shortcoming here, as there's no mention of being able to respond to these notifications from the watch. This is already possible if we use an Android smartphone, although it must be said that it was a feature that could be significantly improved. On iPhone, due to system restrictions, the usual thing is not being able to respond.
In addition, the possibility of using the watch as a quantifying bracelet is also highlighted, when it comes to count steps, or monitor heart rate. This is actually possible because the watch performs many of these functions autonomously, limiting it to syncing data with the smartphone, which can be synced with an Android or iPhone. some apps do not integrate HealthKit, so you may not see the data in the Apple Health app.
And perhaps most notable is the ability to use Google Now (today Google Assistant), for example, to ask what the weather will be like tomorrow or to tell it to set an alarm for a specific time. Of course, this is also possible because these are functions that the watch is capable of performing autonomously. It would only need the Internet connection, which would allow an iPhone connected via Bluetooth to connect the watch itself to the internet. This, in turn, is beneficial for Android users, because from now on, the functions Google releases for watches will be functions they can perform autonomously, and that's the true future of smartwatches: one that doesn't require a smartphone to be truly useful. On iOS, Assistant is not officially available on Wear OS watches.
For now, the LG Watch Urbane is already compatible with iOS, although it is claimed that Huawei, Asus, and Motorola watches will also be compatible. Historically this is how it was with Wear OS 2; currently, watches with Wear OS 3 and later do not natively pair with iPhone. will also be compatible
Current compatibility: Wear OS 3, brands and limits
Google confirms that watches with Wear OS 3 (and later) are not compatible with the Wear OS app for iPhone. This affects models such as the Samsung Galaxy Watch, Google Pixel Watch, or the Xiaomi Watch with Wear OS. Some brands such as Fossil gen 6 o Mobvoi offered support in previous generations with cut-down features: no Google Assistant, no reply to notifications, and no integration with HealthKit.
How to connect a Wear OS to an iPhone with Merge
In the absence of official support for many models, there is an alternative: Go, an app installed on the watch that allows it to be paired with an iPhone to receive notifications and manage calls via Bluetooth. Compatible with (among others):
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 4
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 5
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 6
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic
- Google Pixel Watch
- Google PixelWatch 2
- Fossil gen 6
- Hublot Big Bang e Gen 3
- Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5
- Montblanc Summit Watch
- TAG Heuer Connected Caliber E4
Pairing and Troubleshooting
If your watch is officially supported, use the app Wear OS for iOS and follow the on-screen instructions. If it doesn't connect:
- Reboot iPhone and watch and reset Bluetooth before trying again.
- Update the watch to the latest available version and reinstall the Wear OS app.
Cross-platform alternatives if you use iPhone
If you prioritize stability, brands like Garmin They offer compatibility with iOS and Android with few restrictions; on iPhone, you won't be able to reply to messages from the watch due to Apple policies.
The iPhone experience will depend on the Wear OS version and watch model: Wear OS 2 allows for basic functionality (notifications and fitness with nuances), while Wear OS 3 will require solutions like Merge to regain some of these features. If you're looking for the maximum integration in iOSAn Apple Watch remains the most sensible choice; if you accept limitations and value third-party design or autonomy, a Wear OS-compatible device may be a good fit.
