The Google Pixel Watch is undoubtedly one of the best smartwatches on the market right now. Released late last year alongside the Google Pixel 7 range, the watch marks Google's first attempt at making a Pixel-branded wearable device.
Now, users are getting a great smart home upgrade thanks to a Wear OS update. It means that users can preview notifications from their smart camera or video doorbell, right on their watch. That will allow you to see at a glance who has triggered the camera, and decide if you need to take action on your phone.
To work, users will need a compatible smartwatch. Devices will need to be running Wear OS 3 or newer, with a linked Android phone running Android 9 or newer.
That opens the technology up to a whole host of users. Popular choices like the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 should be more than capable of running the new feature – just make sure everything is up to date and you're good to go.
You'll also need a compatible Nest Camera or Nest Video Doorbell. Google says that those must have been launched in 2021 or later to work with the update.
It's a great upgrade. Users will be able to instantly see who has triggered a camera, without having to dig out their phone. That allows you to make a decision about whether you need to take further action or not, without having to stop what you're doing. It should make the whole smart home experience a lot more convenient.
Users will need to upgrade to Wear OS System UI 1.4 or higher to access the feature. That's expected to start rolling out in June, with availability on all devices pegged for the end of that month.
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Sam Cross is an award-winning journalist, with nine years of experience in the media industry. His work can be found in publications as diverse as Oracle Time, Metro and Last Word on Sports.
Here at T3, Sam is best known as the brand’s go-to guy for all things luxurious – from exquisite watches to fine fragrances; the latest performance vehicles to intricate audio equipment, and more.
He’s often found travelling around the world to test new launches, complete with high-end backpacks and suitcases in tow. And when he’s not adding to his air miles, Sam can be found in front of a video camera, bringing his distinctive brand of storytelling to T3’s social media channels.
Sam also loves all things analogue including listening to music on vinyl or cassette, and photography on vintage film cameras.