Google’s smartwatch operating system was originally called Android Wear.
Google announced Android Wear on March 18, 2014, adapting the Android platform for wearable devices. The first watches using it included the LG G Watch and Samsung Gear Live, released later in 2014. Motorola’s round Moto 360 also became an influential early Android Wear watch.
The platform supported notifications, voice commands, fitness features, and downloadable watch applications. It was designed to work primarily with Android phones, although Google later expanded compatibility with iPhones.
Google renamed Android Wear to Wear OS by Google in 2018. The rebranding reflected the platform’s broader ambitions and its compatibility with both Android and iOS. Android Wear is therefore the historical name, while Wear OS is the current successor branding. It should not be confused with watch-specific versions of ordinary Android or with Fitbit’s separate operating-system history.