Imagine investing in a smartwatch that promises cutting-edge features and long-term support, only to find it fading into obscurity—leaving you wondering if your device will ever get the updates it needs. That's the frustrating reality for many TicWatch owners today, as Mobvoi seems to be waving goodbye to its Wear OS lineup.
For those just dipping their toes into the world of smartwatches, Wear OS is Google's operating system designed for wearable devices, like watches that integrate with your phone for notifications, fitness tracking, and more. It's what powers many popular smartwatches, making them versatile companions for daily life. Mobvoi has been a key player in this space for nearly a decade, starting with its debut in the US back in 2017 with the TicWatch 2, which ran on a custom Android-based platform. Not long after, they embraced Android Wear—now known as Wear OS—and fully committed to it, creating a series of devices that stood out for their affordability and innovative features.
One standout example was the 2018 TicWatch Pro, which introduced a clever dual-layer display. This technology allowed the watch to show a basic time and date view on the outer screen to save battery, while the inner screen handled full smartwatch functions. It was a game-changer for battery life, enabling multi-day usage without constant charging—something that later models kept as a beloved feature. Over the last seven years, Mobvoi has rolled out more than a dozen TicWatch models running on Wear OS, building a loyal following for their bang-for-your-buck value and hardware prowess.
But here's where it gets controversial: while hardware innovation shone, software support lagged painfully behind. Updates were notoriously slow, frustrating users who expected timely improvements. For instance, it took nearly a year for Wear OS 3 to hit any TicWatch devices, and the company has been eerily quiet on Wear OS 6. Even the rollout of Wear OS 5 saw minimal fanfare, leaving customers feeling neglected. This isn't just a minor inconvenience; slow updates can mean missing out on new apps, security patches, and features that keep your watch feeling fresh and safe. Imagine buying a phone that never gets iOS updates—it's a similar letdown.
And this is the part most people miss: the final straw came with the TicWatch Atlas, released over a year ago. This model was a solid step forward, equipped with a Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1 chip for better performance, but it still carried the baggage of outdated software at launch—running on the previous version of Wear OS. Now, it looks like Mobvoi has all but abandoned the platform. Every TicWatch model has disappeared from Amazon searches, with listings marked as "currently unavailable." More strikingly, the Mobvoi website has gutted most of its TicWatch presence; the Products menu now highlights treadmills and the TicNote AI recorder instead. Sure, the TicWatch Atlas and TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro appear in a homepage slider, but their pages are dead ends, saying "not available at the moment" with no purchase options.
We've contacted Mobvoi for clarity, but their response was telling: "We don’t have new information to announce about the TicWatch lineup," though they assure that existing devices will get "essential support." It's a polite way of saying the door isn't slammed shut—but the signs point to an end. With no new products in 12 months and listings vanished, it feels like Mobvoi's Wear OS chapter is closing.
This departure is a blow to the Wear OS ecosystem, which has already seen departures. Remember the 2021 reboot with the Pixel Watch and Galaxy Watch 4? Brands like Fossil shuttered their smartwatch lines entirely in 2024, and Tag Heuer recently switched to its own OS for better iOS compatibility, citing Wear OS's neglect of Apple users. Now, with Mobvoi stepping back, Wear OS is left to brands like Google Pixel, Samsung, OnePlus, and internationally, Xiaomi and Oppo.
Here's a controversial take: is Google dropping the ball by not doing enough to keep third-party developers engaged? Some argue that without stronger incentives or resources for companies like Mobvoi, the platform risks becoming niche, dominated only by big players. Others say brands should invest more in support regardless of Google's efforts. What do you think—should users ditch Wear OS for alternatives like watchOS or Fitbit's system, or is there still hope for the platform?
For more on the evolving world of Wear OS:
- Google Clock for Wear OS is now exclusive to the Pixel Watch
- Wear OS is ignoring iOS, so Tag Heuer made its own Android-based smartwatch OS
- Google Maps for Wear OS now auto-launches when you need it most, and it’s a delight [Video]
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