Overview
- Wear OS 6.1 (build BP4A.251205.005.W7) is now rolling out to Pixel Watch 2, 3 and 4, with feature availability differing by model and the original Pixel Watch left out.
- Pixel Watch 4 gains Double Pinch and Wrist Turn for hands-free control, with Wrist Turn dismissing calls/alerts and Double Pinch handling actions like scrolling, timers, music and sending the first Smart Reply, while call answer/end via Double Pinch is slated to arrive soon.
- Smart Replies on Pixel Watch 3 and 4 now run on a Gemma-derived model directly on the watch, enabling responses without a phone connection.
- New on-screen Gesture Hints show when a gesture is available, with user-set frequency options, and controls live under Settings > Gestures > Hand gestures.
- Google added a Raise to Talk tutorial for Pixel Watch 4, and says the on-device replies are roughly twice as fast, nearly three times more memory efficient and preferred as equal or better by 97% of users in a blind study.