Galaxy Watch Update Breaks Some Watch Faces
Samsung's latest Galaxy Watch update, bringing Wear OS 5, disables older watch faces. This change is due to Google's updated "Watch Face Format," co-developed with Samsung to improve battery life. This format removes executable code from watch faces, causing incompatibility with older designs.
The update affects Galaxy Watch 4, Watch 5, and Watch 6 series. Xiaomi's HyperOS update, while a different platform, also focuses on performance enhancements. Samsung confirmed that faces not using the new format are incompatible with Galaxy Watch 7 and Ultra.
A prominent example is the Facer app, whose watch faces are currently unusable. Some faces have migrated to the Play Store. For users seeking new options, exploring the best Apple deals might reveal alternatives, though on a different ecosystem. This situation highlights the ongoing evolution of wearable technology, as seen with Apple's move to in-house modems.
Key Takeaways
- Wear OS 5 update disables older watch faces.
- New "Watch Face Format" prioritizes battery life.
- Facer watch faces are currently affected.