Pocket Casts announced that it is bringing its podcasts app to Wear OS a couple of months ago. Now, the company has made its podcasts app available for smartwatches running Wear OS 3 (or newer). However, the app is in beta, and the stable version could be released in a few weeks.
The beta version of Pocket Casts is now available (via 9To5Google) for Wear OS smartwatches in beta form via the Google Play Store. Currently, the app is compatible with the Galaxy Watch 4, Galaxy Watch 5, Pixel, and other Wear OS smartwatches. The app seems to work independently of the smartphone app. However, if you have the app installed on the phone, you wouldn't need to log in separately on the app on the smartwatch.
Once you download, install, and open the app, you can see all your subscribed podcasts and downloads. It can boost the volume, control playback speed, and trim silence while playing podcasts. It can play podcasts through wireless earphones connected to the smartwatch or through the watch's speaker. However, it can't control playback on the Pocket Casts app on the connected smartphone.
The smartwatch version of the Pocket Casts app shows recent unplayed podcasts on the top. It can also download the next podcast in the series in the background, and you can alter this setting as per your preference.
