Operating systems are simply programs designed to manage the hardware or device such as a watch or smartphone. Operating Systems are the programs on which Apps run and allow users to interact with their devices.
Examples of operating systems for watches are Wear OS, watchOS, Garmin OS and Fitbit OS.
What Operating Software Does Apple Watch Run On?
Apple watches run on an operating system called watchOS. watchOS is developed by Apple Incorporation based on the iOS operating system running on iPhones and contains similar features and functions designed to suit a smaller screen.
watchOS since its inception in 2015 has had version updates annually. A version of watchOS averagely can last about four years without updating though it might lack newer features.
How To Check Your watchOS version?
Open the Settings app on your Apple watch. Go to General > About > Software version.
You will also find information on Name, Model number, Serial number and many more.
Updates available will install when the watch is charging or at least 50 % charged whilst connected to Wi-Fi.
What Operating Software Does Google Pixel Watch Run On?
Wear OS is the operating system Google Pixel Watch is built and operates. Wear OS is developed by Google for smartwatches and other wearables based on Google’s Android operating system.
Wear OS was initially released in 2014 by Google, the first among smartwatches together with Samsung and LG. Though Google has not been releasing annual updates, Google now commits to providing an annual update to the Wear OS versions.
How To Check Your wear OS version?
Open the Apps list on your Google Pixel and press on the Power Button. Then go to Settings > Systems. Finally, open About > Versions.
You will find information on both the OS version and system version on your Google Pixel Watch.
With Auto-update apps on, updates will download automatically normally overnight when your watch charges and is connected to a Wi-Fi source.
Can A Google Pixel Watch Pair With An iPhone?
The simple answer is NO. The Google Pixel Watch is designed to pair and run on Wear OS, an Android-based operating system that can pair to most smartphones running on Android aside from a Google Pixel smartphone.
Google has not yet made provisions for the Wear OS to be compatible with Apple products running on Apple iOS.
Can An Apple Watch Pair With An Android Phone?
No, the Apple Watch is not compatible with a smartphone running on Android such as Google, Samsung and others. Apple watches are designed to run on the watchOS operating system which is only compatible now with other Apple devices.
Which Smart Watch Is Compatible with Both Android and iPhone?
Most smartwatches are compatible with all phones such as Garmin and Fitbit. Although Garmin and Fitbit have their own operating systems namely Garmin OS and Fitbit OS, they can still run on Apple iOS or Android.
Bigger Brands like Apple and Google also have their own operating systems and will only pair with their respective devices or watches of the same brand.
Garmin OS
Garmin Developers developed the Garmin OS, the operating system Garmin smartwatches run on. The Garmin Connect App can be installed on smart devices running on Android or Apple iOS.
Garmin Express will release a new update for its software roughly every 3 – 4 months.
Fitbit OS
Fitbit watches all run on Fitbit’s own operating system called the Fitbit OS. Fitbit App is compatible with Apple iOS and Android.
Fitbit OS can have updates more often, possibly every 3 – 4 weeks.