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Google Maps just got a massive upgrade for Wear OS smartwatches: it can now work without a smartphone, provided you have an LTE model with a cellular network.
Those of you using some of the best Wear OS smartwatches, such as the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 LTE model or the Google Pixel Watch LTE, can receive navigation data from Google Maps without having to pair your watch with a smartphone. That means the next time you go for a walk, jog, or bike ride, you don’t have to carry your phone with you to know where you’re going.
Smartwatches without LTE Wear OS can also benefit from the Google Maps update, as long as they’re connected to Wi-Fi. But unless you’re traveling through a major city, it’s unlikely you’ll have a stable enough connection to take full advantage of the feature.
To use the new Google Maps tool, open the app on your Wear OS smartwatch, enter a destination using your voice or keyboard, select how you want to get there (on foot, by bike, or in a car). , and press start and go on a journey.
While the Wear OS version of Google Maps lacks some of the functionality of the smartphone version – you can’t get information on public transport routes for now – it does have a useful add-on. If you’ve enabled mirroring and started navigating your smartphone to leave it behind, your watch can take over and give you directions so you can complete the journey – although this is admittedly a relatively niche use case.
If you’ve weighed the pros and cons of opting for an LTE smartwatch versus a (usually less expensive) non-LTE variant, this new Google Maps update gives you one more reason to opt for the former over the the last. If you’ve always struggled to find a comfortable place to put your Android phone when you’re running or cycling, this Maps improvement will probably serve you well (and give LTE models a head start) .
Plus, you can also take advantage of other LTE benefits, including the ability to receive calls and messages without your phone, as well as listen to music from some of the best music streaming services. to remember to get a data plan for your watch.