Samsung is gearing up for its next major Galaxy Watch OS update, One UI 7 Watch based on Wear OS 6. However, recent signs suggest that Google Assistant may not be included in this upcoming release.
According to a post on X (formerly Twitter) by tipster AlfatĂĽrk, the first signs of the One UI Watch 7.0 beta have been spotted on Samsung’s servers with the build number L310XXU1ZYDA.
While details about the new version of Samsung’s wearable UI are scarce at the moment, it’s worth noting that One UI 6 Watch was rolled out with the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 in July last year.
Wear OS 6, the foundation for One UI Watch 7.0, is expected to debut later this year on the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8, followed by the Google Pixel Watch 4 a few months later.
More Gemini, Less Assistant
Although specifics about Samsung’s plans for One UI 7 Watch remain unknown, there have been hints about the focus of the underlying Wear OS 6. Reports suggest that Google is looking to phase out Google Assistant in the next version of Wear OS, replacing it with Gemini. It is likely that Samsung will align with this transition and introduce its own modifications to the OS.
Google appears to have initiated this process by updating the Assistant app on the Google Play Store. The app now features a subtle change, with the Assistant complications being renamed to ‘Google’ and adorned with a generic sparkle icon. The ‘Assistant’ designation has also been removed from the At a Glance complication, replaced by the classic Google ‘G’ logo.
These alterations indicate a gradual shift away from Google Assistant within the Wear OS ecosystem, hinting at a future where Gemini AI assistant takes center stage. It wouldn’t be surprising if upcoming smartwatches from Samsung and Google fully embrace the Gemini assistant.
As the development of One UI 7 Watch progresses, tech enthusiasts eagerly await further updates and features that Samsung and Google have in store for their respective smartwatch offerings.
