Since Google and Samsung co-developed Wear OS 3 and launched it two years ago, apps have steadily increased on the smartwatch platform. Now, just in time for the launch of the Galaxy Watch 6 series next week, Samsung has announced that three new apps are coming to Wear OS-based Galaxy Watches.
Samsung Wallet, Thermo Check, and WhatsApp apps are coming to Wear OS-based Galaxy smartwatches
Those three new apps are Samsung Wallet, Thermo Check, and WhatsApp. The Samsung Wallet app offers users a way to store their credit and debit cards, membership cards, ID cards, flight boarding passes, tickets, and more. Users can make payments right from their wrists using credit cards, debit cards, and passes. This app will be available on the Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 5 series.
The Thermo Check app will be available only on the Galaxy Watch 5 and the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro from the company's current smartwatch lineup. However, the app will first be available on the Galaxy Watch 6 and the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic, launching later this month. It uses an IR-based temperature sensor to measure the temperature of a user's surroundings, the water they're swimming in, and the meals they're about to eat. All of this can be done without physical contact with the surface.
WhatsApp is also bringing its app to smartwatches running Wear OS 3 (or newer version). It offers easier access to contacts, and users can send voice messages, text messages, and even take calls. The app was announced a few weeks ago, and it looks like a stable version is now available on the Google Play Store.
Samsung says that even more apps will be released for the Wear OS platform and its smartwatches in the future. We can expect more announcements around that during the Galaxy Unpacked 2023 event next week.