Google I/O 2023 has come to an end, and the tech world is buzzing with the latest updates and announcements. From Wear OS 6 to Android 16, here’s a rundown of the biggest takeaways.

Wear OS 6: A New Era for Smartwatches

Google announced significant UI changes for its Wear OS watches during The Android Show earlier this month. However, it also announced some new features that Wear OS 6 could bring to the table. According to Michael Hicks, who was present at Google I/O, the early build of Wear OS 6 on a Pixel Watch 3 was impressive. He pointed out that the smooth scrolling UI immediately caught his eye, and the most substantial change was with the app Tiles. They’re busier than OS 5 Tiles, which tend to be more understated and basic. Hicks also highlighted the new feature of setting a theme on wearables, which was announced with the Material 3 Expressive. Users can “pull primary and secondary colors from your watch face and color the entire UI to match.”

Garmin Watches Get Google Health Connect

Google announced at I/O this year that Garmin watches will soon gain support for Health Connect, with the rollout starting in June this year. This is a key development as Garmin watch users will finally be able to share their health information across multiple apps. Google says Health Connect will pick up Runna and Mi Fitness, in addition to Garmin. Previously, Garmin users would have to use third-party syncing apps to do the above, which were less secure or wouldn’t track data accurately. Google adds that this integration will let users consolidate health data and record things like allergies and immunizations to “enable richer experiences,” making Health Connect a central hub for fitness and health tracking on Android devices.

Tipster Leaks CAD Renders of Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 8 Classic

Prominent tipster Steve H. McFly (OnLeaks), in collaboration with Sammy Guru, revealed alleged CAD renders of the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic. The leak claims that the smartwatch will launch only in one size, with a 47mm dial, which is much larger than the standard models. The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic will also apparently have a 450mAh battery capacity, which is slightly more than the Galaxy Watch 7 (44mm) battery, at 425mAh. The renders depict the watch in black, showcasing a squircle outer frame like the Galaxy Watch Ultra. A silver rotating bezel encircles the dial. The image also reveals two buttons on one side, flanking a smaller orange button.

Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1 Rolls Out

Google has started rolling out a preview of the first Quarterly Platform Release (QPR) for Android 16, ahead of its official launch slated later this year. The Android 16 QPR1 (BP31.250502.008) Beta 1 comes packed with platform feature updates and a preview of the new features that will appear on the stable version. It brings the all-new Material 3 Expressive UI upgrade, which is said to be the evolution of Material Design 3. For starters, you get a revamped notification shade that adds a customizable, sort of transparent design. The quick toggle section can now fit 12 or more icons, and you can customize their sizes and make them larger and better defined or smaller and more compact. Beta testers also get a sneak peek of Gemini’s latest live notifications and screen recording capabilities. Additionally, it brings a colorful Settings app redesign as well, grouping icons with different colors — sound settings take a shade of red, network icons are blue, display icons are coral, and so on.

Nothing Launches Over-Ear Headphones

Nothing seems to be dipping its fingers in all the possible pots. Earlier this week, the company basically confirmed that they’re working on creating over-ear headphones that could potentially compete with the AirPod Max and other top wireless headphones, but won’t be as expensive as Apple’s offering, we hope. The clue dropped in a YouTube video where the design team broke down what they’re after, though they’re still keeping the name a mystery. The teaser comes after Nothing’s team-up with audio gear company KEF. The London-based company has kept the specs under wraps, only confirming its debut this summer. Assuming its first over-ear headphones are in collab with KEF tells us one thing: these will be its most expensive audio gear yet.

More stories this week

• Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1 starts rolling out
• Tipster leaks CAD renders of Samsung’s rumored Galaxy Watch 8 Classic
• Garmin Watches finally get Google Health Connect
• Nothing is launching its over-ear headphones

Conclusion

This week was all about Google I/O, and Google wrapped up its two-day developer conference, announcing some of the biggest changes to its platform, from AI to Android XR. From Wear OS 6 to Android 16, here’s a recap of the biggest takeaways from this week’s news.