Wear OS 5 is being prepared for release later this year by Samsung and Google

Google's next major smartwatch software update - Wear OS 5 - is being prepared for rollout, with a new report indicating Samsung may debut the upgrade later this year. 

According to 9to5Google, Samsung is actively working on a build based on the Android 14 update for its next-gen smartwatch series, the Galaxy Watch 7. The outlet also suggests that it's viewed information relating to the build with multiple references to 'Wear OS 5'.

If it turns out to be the case, the release pattern would ensure Google's Wear OS remains in its tightly-knit bond with Samsung. 

The platform's revival effort - Wear OS 3 - was released back in 2021 alongside the Galaxy Watch 4, while last August also saw the Wear OS 4 update debut on the Galaxy Watch 6 (and, in October, the Pixel Watch 2).

While a summer arrival appears nailed on for the Wear OS 5 reveal, though, we should also point out that this would also slightly break the convention.

We weren't necessarily expecting the next headline update for the platform to land until 2025, given that it's so far skipped every other major Android version.

With that said, moving to an annual update would see Google mimic what we've seen Apple cultivate with its consistent watchOS upgrades, so it's also not entirely unexpected, either.

At this early stage, it's not clear what the major upgrades will be. After a strong couple of years for the platform, however, Google has the luxury of iterating rather than overhauling. 

In reality, the key remaining challenge for Wear OS is delivering the latest software to OEMs outside of Samsung. As a point of reference, the TicWatch E3 is only this week receiving Wear OS 3.5 - the update that arrived in late 2022. 

It appears we'll find out later this year whether Wear OS 5 proves to be a catalyst for change on that front, but stay tuned for more rumors and whispers as we get closer to that potential rollout.