Google has launched a brand new feature for Wear OS, and it’s made for the summer.
Your Wear OS smartwatch can now show the UV Index score as a watch face complication, alongside other weather information, so you can plan your day accordingly.
The UV Index runs from 0-11. The US Environmental Protection Agency recommends using sunglasses and SP15 sun cream between 2-7 and extra protection if the UV Index reaches 8 or higher.
For Wear OS users, that UV Index score can be seen on the weather watch face, next to the sunrise and sunset times.
Stay safe while catching rays.
Your Weather app on #WearOSbyGoogle now includes the UV Index for your location. pic.twitter.com/8KXDzTq1cV
— Wear OS by Google (@WearOSbyGoogle) April 8, 2021
The feature stops short of using the ambient light sensor to gauge UV strength or recommend sun cream reminders, as we’ve seen explored via wearable such as the L’Oreal My Skin Track UV, which was launched in 2019. That used UV sensors to measure the sun’s strength and alert you when you should take precautions.
However, despite the simplicity of the new Wear OS feature, it’s actually a refreshing and useful addition to a operating system that’s often criticised for a lack of updates.
But as usual, it’s down to manufacturers of each smartwatch to roll the update out – and that means it’s anyone’s guess when it will arrive on specific devices.
Wear OS has been treated to a glut of small updates recently, and Google has enabled new Tiles, the ability for third parties to make their own Tiles and performance-related improvements.
Check our guide to updating Wear OS to see if you have the latest features.
How we test
James is the co-founder of Wareable, and he has been a technology journalist for 15 years.
He started his career at Future Publishing, James became the features editor of T3 Magazine and T3.com and was a regular contributor to TechRadar – before leaving Future Publishing to found Wareable in 2014.
James has been at the helm of Wareable since 2014 and has become one of the leading experts in wearable technologies globally. He has reviewed, tested, and covered pretty much every wearable on the market, and is passionate about the evolving industry, and wearables helping people achieve healthier and happier lives.