Gmail remains one of the most critical components ofGoogle Workspace, but it hasn’t always been easily accessible. For example, those sporting a smartwatch withWear OShaven’t had many options to manage their Gmail accounts on the go. Phones can push Gmail notifications to Wear OS, but the only options have been to archive, reply, or delete emails. Now, Google is delivering on its promise to bring Gmail to Wear OS.
The Gmail app debuted alongside thePixel Watch 2today, which also happened to be when the Made By Google event was held (via9to5Google). Using the same listing in the Google Play Store as the Gmail app for phones, you can download the watch-optimized version of the app for Wear OS 3 or Wear OS 4 to begin managing your inbox directly on your smartwatch. Google has notably been working on developing a Gmail app for Wear OS for months. Rumors began swirling that ithad been testing such an applicationlast year on a Pixel Watch, but nothing was confirmed.
Despite this, there was evidence that the company had been gearing up to bolster its suite of apps for Wear OS. For instance, Google partnered with Samsung to begin launching updated versions of Wear OS for the Galaxy Watch product line. It also mentioned it wasworking on Wear OS 4less than a year ago, specifically calling it the “next generation OS for Wear.” The development process was based on Android 13. At the time, it was suggested that the company would also be focused on Google Calendar integration. Similar to Gmail, Calendar features have been notably limited on Wear OS.
Although Gmail has made it to the latest version of Wear OS, it’s worth noting that there is no sign that it will be rolling out for the Apple Watch anytime soon. This means that, even though notifications can be pushed to the device, functionality is still limited in terms of email management.
Generally speaking, a smartwatch like the Pixel Watch or Galaxy Watch might be the best option if you frequently rely on Google apps. Google isn’t always quick to integrate its products and services for streamlined use. That being said, there’s at least a chance that it will happen in time, given they are united under the same umbrella. This is ultimately a better bet than hoping competition eases between tech giants like Apple and Google. Cross-brand compatibility isn’t unheard of, but why wait when what you need is already available?
