Ever since Google and Samsung have announced the new unified platform for smartwatches, there have been questions about the availability of this platform on existing smartwatches. Well, Google has now announced the list of compatible smartwatches and also revealed its “unified platform” is actually addressed by Wear OS 3.

Google has announced the previous generation of Wear OS smartwatches will gain Wear OS 3 via a system update. The new platform will bring new experiences and features for the users. However, Google is offering this system upgrade on an opt-in basis for eligible devices. This is because upgrading to the latest upgrade requires a factory reset and Google understands that not everyone would want to reset their smartwatch to the way it was when they first got it.

Wear OS smartwatches that are eligible for upgrade are –

• Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 3 GPS
• Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 3 (Cellular/LTE)
• Mobvoi TicWatch E3.. and follow on TicWatch devices
• Fossil’s new generation of devices launching later this year

The announcement doesn’t mention the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Watches but they are highly suspected to be running the latest Wear OS 3 platform. These watches are Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 4 Classic that will run One UI Watch on top of the newest Wear OS 3. They will launch on August 11 at Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked event alongside the new Galaxy S-series of phones.

Google said that it expects its partners to roll out the system update starting in the mid to second half of 2022.

Also, for all other Wear OS smartwatches that are not eligible for Wear OS 3 upgrade, Google will continue to release security updates for a minimum of two years (from device launch).