WhatsApp is beta testing an app for the Pixel Watch, Galaxy Watch 5, and other smartwatch devices. This means very soon a public version of Whatsapp for Wear OS 3 will be available. If you want to beta test Whatsapp for WearOS, you can sign-up here: Whatsapp for WearOS

So what does WhatsApp for WearOS include? Here’s some info:

  • a list of recent contacts
  • settings for personal information and security notifications
  • option to open conversations on your phone
  • view past messages in conversations
  • reply with voice messages or the system keyboard
  • view group members and some more stuff.

After you’ve joined the beta, you can install Whatsapp on your smartwatch. During setup you’ll need to enter an 8-digit code from your smartwatch on the phone app, so that you can pair them.

Whatsapp for WearOS also provides a circular complication that displays the number of unread messages and includes quick shortcuts for contacting specific individuals and starting voice recordings.

To access the WhatsApp for WearOS beta, you’ll need to make sure your Android phone and smartwatch are running version 2.23.10.10+ to avoid sign-in issues.

So why is this important? Well, first of all this means that the smartwatch market is going to revive, with the release of WearOS 3 more and more developers (software and hardware) have started releasing something for it.

WhatsApp on WearOS smartwatches will bring a new level of accessibility and convenience to the messaging experience. You’ll be able to keep up with important conversations, receive timely updates, and seamlessly switch between devices without missing a beat. With a glance at your wrist, you can effortlessly manage your chats, view notifications, and stay connected on the go.

I see a few advantages of having Whatsapp on my smartwatch:

  1. Convenience: Stay connected and respond to messages quickly without having to take out your phone. Particularly useful when your smartphone is not easily accessible or when you’re engaged in activities where using a phone is inconvenient.
  2. Instant notifications: With WhatsApp on your smartwatch, you receive instant notifications for incoming conversations.
  3. Quick replies: Right now only voice ones seem to be available, but still good to be able to reply from your smartwatch to Whatsapp conversations.
  4. Seamless synchronization: When using WhatsApp on WearOS, your conversations and message history are synchronized with your smartphone. This means that even if you switch devices, you can easily pick up where you left off and access your entire chat history.

I do have a wishlist for the smartwatch version of Whatsapp though (look at me, they’re not even public yet and I’m thinking of what they can do better):

  1. Emojis and stickers: WhatsApp for WearOS would be great to support the use of emojis and stickers.
  2. Integration with other apps: Would be cool to integrate with other apps on the smartwatch, such as fitness trackers or calendar apps. This integration would allow receiving important notifications or updates from those apps directly within your WhatsApp chat, providing a seamless user experience.
  3. Access to media files: Viewing and sharing media files, such as photos and videos, directly from your smartwatch’s WhatsApp app. While viewing is supported, sharing is another story.

Anyway, can’t wait for more popular app devs to join the WearOS 3 bandwagon and release their apps for Android smartwatches as well.