WhatsApp has introduced a beta version of its messenger app for Wear OS 3, allowing users to read chats and send messages directly from their Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 or Google Pixel Watch.
Wear OS 3 is the latest iteration of the Android smartwatch operating system, which has been adopted by various devices, including Samsung’s recent watches and Google’s own watch. The primary aim of the new operating system is to encourage third-party developers to create apps for the platform, and WhatsApp is the latest app to join in, bringing its services to users’ wrists.
Once users have joined the WhatsApp beta, installed the app, and paired it with their smartphones, they can access several WhatsApp functions from the watch screen. The circular complication will display recent conversations and provide a “Chats” option for messaging someone they haven’t contacted in a while. Users can send messages by recording a voice message or using the system’s keyboard to type.
This expanded functionality offers more features compared to the previously limited support for WhatsApp on Wear OS watches. Previously, users would receive new message notifications on their watches and could reply using voice, pre-made responses, or a small on-screen keyboard. However, once the notification disappeared, there was no way to view or send a reply.
To sign up for the WhatsApp smartwatch app beta, users can visit the official Play Store page. If their watch is running the latest version of Wear OS, they should be able to find and install the WhatsApp app from the watch’s Play Store. Alternatively, if they cannot find it, they can install it via the Play Store on their smartphones. It is important to note that the app is in beta, so there may be some limitations or performance issues compared to the full-release version on smartphones.
