Mobvoi’s recent rocky history with Wear OS updates has certainly been a point of contention for some loyal fans and users, although it should be said that the company has addressed questions regarding Wear OS, and even recently rolled out new updates to several of its watches. With that being said however, it looks like the company is finally working to bringing the latest Wear OS version 4 to its current flagship smartwatch, according to new reports online.
CHECK OUT: Mobvoi’s TicWatch Pro 5 Packs a Smart and Durable User Experience
Testers Wanted
As spotted by the folks over at Notebook Check, Mobvoi recently announced (via Facebook) that it’s started recruiting beta testers for its Wear OS 4 update program for the TicWatch Pro 5. As per the post:
“Hi all… The Wear OS 4 update beta testing recruitment for TicWatch Pro 5 is now open. If you are interested in participating, kindly complete the questionnaire… The recruitment Ends on April 30th. Selected testers will be contacted within a week after closing. We greatly appreciate your continued support and contributions to our community.”
Of course as with any pre-release beta program, Mobvoi would prefer if testers could keep mum regarding the entire project, and will require them to sign a non-disclosure agreement. A private group chat will also be used to discuss and collect feedback from users enrolled in the program. Aside from the announcement however, the company didn’t mention any specific date of release or launch timeline for the Wear OS 4 update, or if it will make its way to older models such as the TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra.
TicWatch Pro 5 Specs
Launched last year, the TicWatch Pro 5 is Mobvoi’s current flagship smartwatch, skipping over the “4” branding (its predecessor was the Pro 3 Ultra). While it does come with a design that resembles the older model, it does feature new improvements in terms of hardware, at the same time retaining some key features such as the double display touch screen.
Mobvoi has equipped the TicWatch Pro 5 with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1 Wearable Platform, which works with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. There’s also a wide variety of sensors inside the device which includes an accelerometer, Heart Rate Sensor, SpO2 Sensor, Skin Temperature Sensor, Gyro Sensor, Low Latency Off-Body Sensor, a Barometer, and a Compass. Other details include a vibration motor for haptics and notifications, a speaker, microphone, Bluetooth 5.2 and 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, as well as NFC. The watch is powered by a 628 mAh battery, which Mobvoi says can last up to 80 hours on average.
The Current State of Wear OS Hardware
With all that being said, the TicWatch Pro 5 is one of several Wear OS devices on the market right now, joined by the likes of the very impressive OnePlus Watch 2, Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 series, and the budget-friendly Xiaomi Watch 2. The platform has undergone a bit of change within the past year, especially with big brands such as Fossil confirming that they’re no longer making any more Wear OS devices for the foreseeable future. Nevertheless, we’re hoping that Mobvoi will be able to bring Wear OS 4 to its devices soon.
