Last updated: September 5th, 2022 at 11:54 UTC+02:00
It is being reported that the Google Play Store redesign is starting to roll out to compatible Wear OS smartwatches, including the Galaxy Watch 4 and the Galaxy Watch 5. The redesign was earlier showcased at the Galaxy Unpacked 2022 event, where Samsung also unveiled the Galaxy Watch 5 and the Watch 5 Pro. The information was also made public in the September Google Play System Update patch notes.
The first thing that you will notice with the new Wear OS Play Store update is that the search button is now housed inside a pill instead of a circle. The ‘Explore all’ section now displays three apps, and it is followed by the ‘See More’ button. Under both sections, you will see the app names and icons, along with their Play Store ratings, helping you quickly decide if the app is worth your time or not.
Wear OS Play Store redesign is rolling out as a server-side update
Large cards for ‘Watch faces,’ ‘Music streaming,’ ‘Essential watch apps,’ and ‘Healthy mind & body’ come after the ‘Recommended for you’ and ‘Now trending’ sections. The final section is ‘browse and install apps from your other devices’, which does the same as mentioned. The only downside to this revamp is that the ‘Manage apps’ and ‘Settings’ options are placed right at the bottom of the page.
The current design, as noted by 9To5Google, is “very text heavy and boring,” which is true. The new design adds a bit of flair that would prompt users to download and try apps and also boost developers’ interest. The new redesign is rolling out with Google Play for Wear OS version 31.2.10-26. Do note that it is a server-side update, and you will have to wait for your turn for it to be visible on your Wear OS watch.