It’s About Time We Get a Budget Wear OS Smartwatch
Apr. 7, 2024Google’s Wear OS Policies are Too Restrictive
Android Wear orWear OS is not open sourcelike Android which we use on our smartphones. So manufacturers can’t just pick it up and put it in their watches. It is maintained by Google so to build your own Wear OS watch, you have to sign an agreement with the technology giant. You need to meet their hardware requirements and have them involved throughout the development process.Image Courtesy: Shutterstock
All of this costs a lot given oneof the specific hardware requirements has been to use a Qualcomm chipset. Samsung has been an exception in this case to use their in-house Exynos chipsets, which also powered the firstPixel Watch. I assume these requirements ensure that the platform runs smoothly without any hiccups.
Google, on the other hand, has had years to optimize its platform so that it can function more efficiently on less powerful hardware; albeit it has not managed to do so far. So, Google should first work on improving its platform while also lifting some of its limitations, particularly those tied to hardware. This will allow OEMs to work on the platform, maybe resulting in a Wear OS product at a marginally lower price.
When Android Wear was first announced, only a limited set of manufacturers were on board with Google’s smartwatch plans. But the interest in building smartwatches was quickly lost on them as the sales figures were not compelling enough.
Motorola who built the infamous Moto 360 which was the first smartwatch with a round dial, also stopped working on the platform due to poor sales.
Lifting the limitations that we discussed above and asking brands to build a budget Wear OS watch can help revive interest in the platform. Yeah, I understand that themargins are too thinwhen it comes to these wearables. However, they can act as a launchpad for consumers to buy into more expensive options later on.
Plus, as the number of users grows, it could also motivate developers to start building on the platform. I am being a little too optimistic here, but a lower price will indeed result in higher adoption, which will increase demand for more apps.
In Asian regions like India, people won’t be willing to pay more than $200 (or above Rs 20,000) for a Wear OS smartwatch. That’s because you can get a feature-packed Android smartphone with high-res cameras, AMOLED displays, and even up to 100W charging at that price. This makes it difficult to convince users of such developing regions to be on board with the platform.
But it is not like there isn’t a demand for it. India is one of the biggest smartphone markets in the world, with several brands competing to sell their phones to the masses. Even Pixel devices that were not doing well in the region regained popularity with the cheaper A series. So what’s to say that affordable smartwatches won’t do well?
Plus, there isalready a huge market of glorified fitness bands cosplaying as smartwatches in the region. Samsung Galaxy Watch 4, which is more than two years old at this point, still sells well because it gets discounted to a price of about $100 during sale events.
This proves that people want to buy wearable devices but haven’t had a good option to try out.
Like Apple, Google has managed to build a sort of ecosystem of its own with its Pixel lineup of devices that includes smartphones, smartwatches, and tablets. The same is the case with Samsung with its Galaxy series. The thing is thatto experience the luxury of the Android ecosystem, you have to empty your pocketstill they are dry.
None of the products from the above brands come cheap. While a mere smartwatch won’t give everyone a full-fledged experience of an ecosystem, it could help them get a taste of it. To be honest with you, something about Android feels incomplete, even after years of polish and I guess that’s because it has been limited just to your phone.
Most people won’t get to experience what the platform has to offer on a connected end. A budget Wear OS watchwill allow users to dip their toe into the ecosystemthat Google has been trying to push to the masses over the years.
Coming to the end, I believe brands like Xiaomi, OnePlus, and Samsung would be happy to jump on the opportunity to put out a competitively priced smartwatch in the market. One that is running on Wear OS. It would be a first experience for a lot of users and would help them stay connected even when they don’t have their phones in hand.
As a tech journalist, I dive into the ever-evolving tech landscape with a particular interest for smartphones, apps, and gaming. With a passion for sharing insights, my articles blend expertise with a friendly touch—think of me as your friendly neighborhood tech support.
