Google has announced that will soon update its Wear OS which will include several improvements, including the ability to quickly power down your watch and a new battery saver mode. The update is called “H,” and it will roll out to Wear OS smartwatches over the next few months, as detailed in a Google support blog spotted by Droid Life.
With the new update, Wear OS watches will have another way of conserving battery once the charge drops under 10 percent: you’ll be able to turn on Battery Saver Mode and use your watch only to tell time. It will basically become just a regular not-so smart-watch until you charge it again or switch the mode off. The Apple Watch already does this with the Power Reserve mode, and Snapdragon 3100 watches also offer this battery-saving feature.
The new update also lets Wear OS devices detect movement better, so the watches will fall into deep sleep mode after 30 minutes of inactivity. There’s also a “smart app resume” feature that keeps your apps in the state you left them in, so you’ll be able to pick up where you left off once you open them. Powering down your watch is now shortened into a two-step process where you hold down the power button and tap the power off on the display.
Google says the new update will slowly be available on devices, and it noted that device eligibility for the update is up to the device manufacturer.
