The recent update for the Pixel Watch in August 2023 maintains its focus on incremental enhancements, chiefly highlighting the latest security patch integration.
Presently, the Pixel Watch stands fortified with the security efficacy of the August 5, 2023 patch level, denoted by the global build identifier RWDC.230805.001. The forthcoming substantial update anticipated for the Pixel Watch is anticipated to be Wear OS 4, built upon the Android 13 platform. Notably, a beta testing initiative might precede this release, indicating a prospective delay in the deployment of the next significant stable update.
The release notes by Google for this update primarily underscore the integration of the security patch. The rollout commences “effective immediately,” with full accessibility expected to be realized within the ensuing week. Contrasting with preceding months, the wide-scale distribution of the August Over-The-Air (OTA) update is not yet underway as of this juncture, and the conventional workaround is presently ineffective.
To initiate the downloading of the August update, users can access the “Your watch is up to date” screen through successive interactions (Settings > System > System updates). For an expedited process, it is advisable to access Connectivity preferences and selectively deactivate Bluetooth to instigate a preference for Wi-Fi connectivity.
Simultaneously, Google has introduced a “Wear OS Security Bulletin,” mirroring analogous bulletins for primary Android and Automotive systems. The security patch level of 2023-08-01 highlights the identification of eight issues of notable severity spanning across Framework, Platform, and System components. It is noteworthy that most of these vulnerabilities are relevant for both Android 11 and 13 platforms. Notably, Android 13 is presently exclusive to the Galaxy Watch 6.
In recent times, Google has initiated the dissemination of a Pixel Watch Security Bulletin, commencing from June. However, pertinent updates for July and August are conspicuously absent. This bulletin is an addition to the cohort of hardware-specific bulletins catering to Google’s Pixel/Nexus devices and Chromecast products.