That’s right: beginning today, a select set of Android Wear smartwatches (and all future watches) will work with the iPhone. The app should be rolling out worldwide soon. It’s been a long time coming – and it means that Google will be challenging the Apple Watch on its home turf. Those Android Wear watches will be both cheaper and more varied than the Apple Watch – just like Android itself.
Despite Google’s claims to the contrary, though, older Wear devices seem to work just fine – reports are coming in for the Moto 360 and LG G Watch also working with the iPhone application just fine.
So far Android wear has failed to outsell Apple despite having head start and being, as they say “cheaper and more varied”. So being available on iPhone will somehow tip the scales?
That said assuming smartwatches are even a useful thing (yet to be proven by Apple or Google), eventually I have no doubt Android Wear will outsell the Apple Watch. But I find it funny how supporting the iPhone is supposed to be the killer feature for Android Wear.
Edited 2015-09-01 02:39 UTC
This is clearly due to the ‘Apple released a product, I should have it, because Apple said so’ crowd. Whereas most people are very ‘meh’ about smart watches. I bought one because “Oh, it has a non-android / non-iOS operating system, and I like operating systems” I have the Gear S (and it is pretty sweet, though honestly THE most useful app on it has been the remote camera control. The integration with the health stuff on my phone is nice as well.
Being able to once again tell time or reply to a text without having to dig into my pocket for my phone is a nice convenience as well.