Why Wear OS still needs to improve

Wear OS by Google, formally known as Android Wear, is the version of the Android mobile operating system optimized for wearable computers, such as smartwatches and fitness bands. There are many similarities and differences between the smartphone and smartwatch versions of the operating systems, but one that stands out is its size as a platform, and its background.

Both versions of the Android platform are used by a variety of different manufacturers on their devices. However, one big difference is how the platform can be used. With the smartphone version of the operating system, any manufacturer is able to use the system for their own liking, as the platform is completely open-source. This is backed by the fact that Android is made by the Open Handset Alliance (OHA), rather than just Google. Although most iterations of Android include the Google Mobile Services, it is not required. With Wear OS, it is a different story. As the new name implies, the system is made completely by Google, rather than the OHA. While Wear OS uses the open-source Android Open Source Project (AOSP) code, like all versions of Android, there isn't a wearable-specific open-source version. Because of this, only companies who partner with Google can use Wear OS.

Why is this an issue? Well, with Android, you have a unique arrangement of devices, not just from the OHA members. Most of the other manufacturers still use the Google Mobile Services, without being members. This is what brought dominance to Android. With Wear OS, only certain partners are using the platform, including deluxe fashion brands, such as Kate Spade. While there are many brands out there which do use the platform, it is still a small fraction of that which uses the smartphone iteration of Android.

The main attraction to Android over many other operating systems is that it consists of devices for an affordable price tag, With Wear OS, a majority of the new devices still consist of a high price point, and each of them are from big names in the wearable technology industry. If any manufacturers want to make devices without Google's services, they would have to start from the AOSP source code. While Wear OS may be getting more compatible with other platforms, and improving over what was formally Android Wear, it still has a long way to go before it can match what its smartphone counterpoint has accomplished.