With the launch of the Pixel Watch 3, Google has introduced an updated charging screen that is now being rolled out to older Pixel wearable devices. This new interface enhances the user experience by providing a more streamlined design and additional functionality.
Previously, the charging screen featured a more complex green animation that concluded with a two-line clock. The display included the day and date at the bottom, with the battery percentage shown above in a circular ring.
Older UI
In contrast, the new design eliminates the animation and adopts a cleaner look, utilizing a yellow accent for the ring and other elements. The time is now displayed in white for better visibility.
New UI
On the Pixel Watch 3, the updated charging screen includes a feature that estimates the time remaining until the battery is fully charged, which is shown on the right side of the display. When users activate the screen, a brief loading animation appears as the watch calculates the charging time.
Pixel Watch 3 Charging UI
Although the Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2 aim to offer this feature, they currently do not succeed; however, it is expected that a future update may address this limitation. For now, users on these models will see the flipped date/day display on the left, with their next timer indicated on the right. If no timer is set, the left side shows the date/day while the month is displayed on the right.
This new charging screen is available for Pixel Watch devices that have been updated to Wear OS 5. Users who do not see the update should ensure their apps are current and restart their devices.
Additionally, Google has rolled out a “Pixel Watch fully charged” notification, which notifies users when their device reaches 100% battery. Initially limited to a subset of users, this feature is now available for all Pixel Watch owners.
In other news, the Wear OS 5 was temporarily retracted due to a bug that caused some devices to require resets. While many users experienced a smooth performance on both the Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2, Google has acknowledged that the rollout for these devices was paused after reports of some units becoming soft-bricked.
Looking ahead, Google confirmed that they plan to resume the Wear OS 5 rollout later this year, once the identified issues have been resolved. This timeline represents a delay, as Google is actively working to mitigate the problems.
Google Shares Tips to Extend and Improve Your Pixel Watch’s Battery Life
Image credit: 9to5Google