Wear OS smartwatches are about to get a major upgrade with two new features: earthquake alerts and Gemini support.

Earthquake Alerts Could Save Lives

Earthquake alerts are a life-saving feature that can warn users of an impending earthquake. This feature is currently available on Android smartphones, but it’s coming soon to Wear OS smartwatches. This is especially useful for users of cellular smartwatches who might leave their phones behind. Getting an earthquake alert directly on their wrist could give them valuable seconds to react. 

Gemini Replaces Assistant on Wear OS

Another exciting update for Wear OS is the integration of Gemini, Google’s next-generation voice assistant. This will replace the current Assistant on smartwatches and offer a more natural and interactive experience. Users will be able to talk back and forth with Gemini, similar to how they interact with Assistant on their phones. This voice control could be a game-changer for Wear OS, making it easier to control the device without needing to use the limited on-screen interface.

Pixel Phone Battery Life: How Many Charge Cycles Can You Expect?

Ever wondered how long your Pixel phone battery will last? Google has just released a new support article that explains how many charge cycles you can expect to get out of your Pixel phone.

How Google Measures Charge Cycles

A charge cycle is one complete discharge and recharge of the battery. So, if you use your phone from 100% to 50% and then recharge it back to 100%, that counts as half a cycle. 

How Many Charge Cycles Can You Expect?

Google says that Pixel phones are designed to retain at least 80% of their initial capacity for a certain number of charge cycles. Here’s the breakdown: 

• Pixel 3 and later, including Fold: Up to 800 charge cycles
• Pixel 8a and later: Up to 1000 charge cycles

This is comparable to Apple’s iPhones, which are designed to retain 80% capacity for 500 cycles (models before iPhone 15) and 1000 cycles (iPhone 15 and later).

Tips to Maximize Your Pixel Battery Life

To get the most out of your Pixel battery, Google recommends following these tips:

• Charge your phone in a cool place using a compatible charger.
• Keep your phone cool and avoid extreme temperatures.
• Use Adaptive Charging, a feature that helps to optimize charging for your usage patterns.

  Turn off features you don’t need to reduce battery drain.

• Store your phone with at least 50% charge if you plan to store it for a long time.

By following these tips, you can help to extend the lifespan of your Pixel phone battery.

If you’re a Google Fi Wireless user, you can snag a Pixel Watch 3 LTE (41mm or 45mm) almost for free. Here’s how you can get this smartwatch and what you need to know about the latest updates for the original Pixel Watch.

Get Pixel Watch 3 LTE for Free with Google Fi

Google Fi Wireless is running an enticing promotion where you can effectively get the Pixel Watch 3 LTE without paying its full retail price. Here’s the breakdown:

Offer Details:

• Discount: Google Fi is offering a $150 instant discount on the Pixel Watch 3 LTE.
• Rebate: If you meet the terms, you can claim a full rebate of $299.99 (for the 41mm) or $349.99 (for the 45mm) over 24 months. This means the watch is essentially free.

How to Get It:

1. Upfront Purchase Option:
   • Pay the full price ($349.99) upfront at checkout.
   • Receive $349.99 back via 24 monthly credits on your bill, effectively making the watch free over time.
2. Financing Option:
   • Choose to pay $0 monthly for the watch with Google Fi’s device financing plan.
   • The device payments are discounted through 24 monthly credits, totaling $349.99.
   • You only need to pay taxes upfront at checkout, calculated based on the pre-credit price.

Important Requirements:

• 24-Month Commitment: You need to stay subscribed to Google Fi for 24 months to receive the full rebate. Canceling your service will stop the remaining credits.
• Credit Check: Financing requires a credit check.
• Promotion Limits:
  • For individual plans, each person can get one device under this offer during the promotion period.
  • For group plans, only one device promotion is allowed per member.

The offer ends on January 7, 2025, at 9:59 AM PST or while supplies last. This is a great deal for Google Fi users, especially compared to other discounts like the $100 price cut at the Google Store during Black Friday.

Wear OS 5 Update Leaves First-Gen Pixel Watch with Roboto Font

While Pixel Watch 3 users enjoy new features, first-gen Pixel Watch owners have encountered a small but noticeable issue after the Wear OS 5 update.

The Problem:

• After updating to Wear OS 5, the original Pixel Watch unexpectedly reverted from using the modern Google Sans font back to the older Roboto font.
• This change affects every part of the interface, including the lock screen, settings menu, and inside apps.

Why It Matters:

• The Roboto font was widely used in Android during the early 2010s but feels outdated now, especially when compared with the sleeker Google Sans font.
• The difference is particularly noticeable in certain characters like the letter ‘G’ and numbers, making the interface look less polished.

Possible Fixes:

• Google has not yet addressed this issue, and users hoping for a quick resolution might be disappointed. The next scheduled update is planned for March 2025, but there’s a chance Google could release an unscheduled fix before then.

Impact:

• While this font change does not affect the watch’s functionality, it’s a visual inconsistency that may bother some users who prefer a more unified look between their devices.

Conclusion

If you’re a Google Fi user, the current deal on the Pixel Watch 3 LTE is a fantastic opportunity to get a high-quality smartwatch at no additional cost. However, if you own the first-gen Pixel Watch, the recent Wear OS 5 update might have left you with an unexpected downgrade in the font appearance. With no immediate fix in sight, users may have to wait a few months for Google to address the issue.

For now, take advantage of the promotional deal if you’re looking to upgrade to the latest Pixel Watch model. And if you’re sticking with the first-gen version, keep an eye out for any upcoming software patches that might restore its original polished look.

Google has announced a notable change in its update schedule for the Pixel Watch series. Instead of following the usual monthly update cadence, the next significant update will only arrive in March 2025. This shift comes after the recent November 2024 update, which rolled out for all three generations of Pixel Watch—Pixel Watch 1, 2, and the latest Pixel Watch 3.

What Happened in the Latest Update?

The November 2024 update resumed the deployment of Wear OS 5, which had initially faced some issues during its October release. Many users reported problems like unresponsiveness and display glitches, especially on the first and second-generation watches. With this update, Google aims to fix these bugs and improve the stability of the devices. For Pixel Watch 3, the update primarily includes security patches and minor performance improvements, making it the first post-launch update for this model.

Why the Delay Until March 2025?

The decision to skip updates until March 2025 marks a departure from the standard practice of monthly updates. Historically, Pixel Watches have received frequent updates, often matching the cadence of Pixel smartphones. However, Google seems to be shifting towards a quarterly release schedule, possibly to conserve engineering resources and focus on delivering more comprehensive and polished updates. This approach could lead to fewer but more substantial updates, aligning with their strategy of bundling significant features into larger releases like the March Feature Drop​.

What to Expect Next?

The upcoming gap suggests that the next update might coincide with the March 2025 Feature Drop, traditionally a time when Google introduces new features across its hardware ecosystem. Until then, users can expect app-level updates via the Play Store, likely bringing enhancements and fixes without the need for a full system update. The next major update will likely continue to refine the Wear OS 5 experience, which serves as this year’s primary upgrade for Pixel Watches​.

Overall, while the delayed update may seem inconvenient for some users, it may result in more significant improvements in the future, as Google refines its approach to better align software releases with its broader hardware ecosystem plans.